Dining out in New York has become increasingly challenging as securing a reservation at the city’s hottest restaurants has reached new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, the process of obtaining a table has evolved from difficult to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He noted that restaurateurs often have no tips to offer on how to navigate the reservation landscape.
The competition for dinner reservations has spurred the New York state legislature to take action, recently voting to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell restaurant reservations for exorbitant prices—sometimes over $200—similar to practices seen in concert ticket sales.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, called the new legislation a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” as it aims to lessen the competition for tables and protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the ongoing trend of increasing demand for unique and trendy experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted the post-COVID landscape, commenting, “Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full.” She emphasizes the challenges of securing access to these already booked venues.
India, who has spent 16 years operating Sienna Charles—a concierge service catering to ultra-wealthy clients—has worked with high-profile individuals, including former President George W. Bush and singer Mariah Carey. She highlights that gaining access to exclusive dining spots or luxury experiences hinges on understanding client preferences and cultivating relationships with the establishments they wish to visit.
She remarked on a noticeable shift away from fine dining, stating, “People have really moved away from fine dining; we very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” India explains that recent trends lean towards chic eateries where the experience revolves less around the food and more around the prestige of being there, driven by the desire for social validation.
For those eager to secure their own coveted reservations, persistence is key. Below, you can explore which New York restaurants are currently the hardest to book, as identified by Sienna Charles.