Securing a reservation at New York’s most popular restaurants has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Over the past three years, many food enthusiasts have found accessing the city’s top dining spots more challenging than ever.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservations platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, saying, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into… I’ve talked to restaurateurs, and they admit, ‘I don’t have [reservation tips].’”
The competition for dinner reservations has intensified to such an extent that last month, the New York state legislature passed a law prohibiting third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell their restaurant reservations for exorbitant fees, sometimes exceeding $200.
Melissa Fleischut, the President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, termed the legislation a significant win for the hospitality sector that would lessen competition for reservations and offer protection to restaurants against costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the demand for unique, fashionable, and lavish dining experiences continues to surpass availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up—every plane, every restaurant, every hotel.”
India, who has operated Sienna Charles, a concierge service for high-net-worth individuals, for 16 years, acknowledges the difficulties in securing spots at these popular venues. Her clientele includes families with fortunes exceeding $100 million, along with notable figures such as George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
She emphasizes that gaining access to exclusive restaurants hinges on understanding clients’ preferences and developing strong relationships with restaurants. “People have really moved away from fine dining; we rarely have a client who wants to endure a tasting menu,” she explains. “The trend has shifted towards trendy restaurants where the experience is more about the social aspect, often referred to as FOMO (fear of missing out). It’s about the status of saying that you got in.”
For those eager to secure their own coveted reservations and willing to make an effort, Sienna Charles identifies the New York restaurants with the hardest-to-get tables.