Securing a reservation at New York’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly difficult, reaching levels never seen before. Over the past three years, the challenge of getting a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots has escalated, leaving many culinary enthusiasts feeling excluded.
“There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” stated Joel Montaniel, CEO of booking platform Sevenrooms, in a recent conversation with Bloomberg. He recounted discussions with restaurateurs who admitted to having no solutions for the reservation dilemma.
The competitive nature of dining out has prompted the New York state legislature to take action. Last month, legislators voted to prohibit third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, where users were reselling reservations for prices exceeding $200—a practice more commonly associated with concerts and sports events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” aiming to lessen the competition for reservations and protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the demand for unique, fashionable, and high-end experiences continues to exceed supply. “Post-COVID, I’m sure you’ve noticed that everything is booked up, right? Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full,” said travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India. “So how do you navigate getting people into restaurants, hotels, and yachts that are already booked?”
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service catering to the ultra-wealthy, India has extensive knowledge in securing dining experiences. Her clientele includes high-profile figures, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and cultivating relationships with restaurants.
“People have really moved away from fine dining; we very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu,” India noted. “The entire shift in the last three years has been towards trendy restaurants where the focus is not necessarily on food but on the experience. It’s about having the opportunity to say you got in—a status symbol.”
For those determined to secure a reservation and gain their own bragging rights, India offers insights into the New York restaurants that are currently the hardest to access.