Obtaining a reservation at New York’s top restaurants has become increasingly difficult, with many food enthusiasts finding it nearly impossible to secure a table in the past three years.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, highlighted the struggle, stating that even restaurant owners have no clear advice on how to get a reservation. “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” he noted in a recent interview.
The competition for dinner reservations has escalated to the point where the New York state legislature recently passed a law banning third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to buy restaurant bookings for exorbitant prices. This shift is seen as a significant win for the hospitality sector, according to Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, who believes it will ease reservation competition and protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these changes, the demand for trendy, luxurious dining experiences continues to exceed supply. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India remarked on the post-pandemic landscape, noting that everything from flights to restaurants to hotels is fully booked. She has extensive experience managing reservations for wealthy clients through her concierge service, Sienna Charles, which caters to families with substantial incomes.
India points out that success in securing coveted dining spots hinges on understanding customer desires and nurturing relationships with restaurants. She observed a shift away from traditional fine dining to more trendy venues, where the social aspect and the experience often take precedence over the food itself.
For those eager to secure their own coveted reservations, she outlines which New York restaurants are currently the most difficult to book.