Securing a reservation at New York City’s most popular restaurants has become increasingly challenging, according to recent reports. Over the past three years, the difficulty has surged, making it nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts to snag a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, shared insights on the issue, mentioning that even restaurateurs struggle to provide tips for securing spots at their own venues. The intense competition for dinner reservations prompted the New York state legislature to ban third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell restaurant reservations for exorbitant rates, akin to practices seen in concert and sporting event ticket scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a significant win for the hospitality industry. She believes it will help reduce reservation competition and shield restaurants from costly last-minute cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the trend of high demand for exclusive and trendy dining experiences continues to surpass availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted that since the pandemic, reservations for all types of venues, including restaurants, hotels, and experiences, have become increasingly scarce.
India, who leads a concierge and travel planning service for affluent clients, emphasized that gaining access to popular restaurants relies heavily on understanding client desires and nurturing relationships with restaurant owners. She observed a shift in customer preferences away from elaborate dining experiences toward trendy establishments focused more on social cachet than culinary prestige.
For those determined to secure their own dining bragging rights in New York, there remains an understanding of the competition and persistence required to navigate this bustling culinary landscape.