The challenge of securing dining reservations in New York City has reached a new level of difficulty. Over the past three years, getting a table at the city’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly elusive for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, recently shared insights with Bloomberg on the reservations landscape, noting the competitiveness. “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” he stated. Restaurateurs have expressed their struggle to provide tips on securing a table, acknowledging the situation is beyond their control.
The competitive nature of dinner reservations led the New York state legislature to enact a ban on third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell reservations for inflated prices, sometimes exceeding $200. This practice mirrors strategies typically seen in concert and sports event ticket scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality industry, aimed at reducing reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly no-shows.
Despite this legislative effort, the reality persists that the demand for trendy and luxurious experiences continues to surpass availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up. Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full.” Her extensive experience running Sienna Charles, a concierge service for affluent clients, highlights her unique insights into navigating this crowded space.
India points out that securing access to popular dining spots hinges on understanding customer desires and cultivating relationships with restaurants. She observes a shift in client preferences, noting that “people have really moved away from fine dining,” with a growing inclination toward trendy eateries where the experience often takes precedence over the food itself.
For those eager to secure a reservation and gain some bragging rights, India suggests persistence and insight into which New York restaurants are currently among the hardest to book.