Dining in New York has become increasingly challenging, with securing a reservation at the city’s most popular restaurants reaching new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, the struggle to land a coveted seat has escalated from a tough task to a nearly impossible feat for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of bookings platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg about the situation, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into. I’ve even spoken with restaurateurs, and when we’ve asked for tips on getting reservations, they often don’t have any.”
The competition for dinner reservations has become so fierce that last month, New York state lawmakers decided to prohibit third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, where users were allegedly reselling restaurant reservations for exorbitant prices, akin to scalping tickets for concerts and sports events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislative move as a significant triumph for the hospitality sector, asserting it would help mitigate reservation competition and shield restaurants from costly no-shows.
Despite these legislative efforts, the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to far exceed supply. Jaclyn Sienna India, a travel advisor with 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a concierge service for high-net-worth families, noted that since the pandemic, bookings across all sectors have surged. She highlighted the importance of navigating access to restaurants, hotels, and exclusive experiences that are often fully booked.
India, whose clientele has included prominent figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey, stressed that gaining access to top-tier dining experiences relies on understanding customer preferences and cultivating relationships with restaurateurs.
She observed a shift in dining trends, stating, “People have moved away from fine dining; we very rarely have a client that wants to go through a tasting menu. The focus is now on trendy restaurants where the experience is more about the environment than the food itself. It’s less about the meal and more about the status that comes with them.”
For those determined to secure a reservation at one of New York’s hardest-to-book restaurants, India has insights to share on which establishments are currently the most sought after.