For those seeking dining experiences in New York, securing a reservation has become increasingly challenging. Over the past three years, the difficulty of obtaining a seat at the city’s most popular restaurants has escalated, leaving many food enthusiasts feeling frustrated.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, recently shared with Bloomberg that certain restaurants are simply inaccessible. He noted that even restaurant owners, during discussions, have admitted they lack tips for overcoming the reservation hurdles.
The competition for dinner reservations has grown so fierce that last month, the New York state legislature passed a law banning third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where users were reselling restaurant reservations for upwards of $200—an approach typically associated with concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, praised the law as a significant win for the hospitality sector, stating it will lessen the competition for reservations and shield restaurants from costly no-shows.
Nonetheless, even with new legislation, the reality persists that since the pandemic, the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to exceed their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted that post-COVID, everything from dining to flights and accommodations is in high demand, making it tricky to secure reservations for sought-after experiences.
With 16 years of experience managing Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service for the wealthy, India understands the intricacies of restaurant access. Her clientele includes families with fortunes exceeding $100 million, as well as high-profile figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
India highlights that gaining entry to the most coveted dining venues often hinges on grasping what clients desire and fostering strong relationships with restaurants. She remarked that clients are increasingly moving away from traditional fine dining, with a notable shift towards trendy establishments where the focus is less on the food itself and more on the experience and exclusivity of being there.
For those determined to claim their own dining bragging rights and navigate the effort of securing a difficult reservation, Sienna Charles has insights on which New York restaurants are the toughest to get into.