Dining out in New York has become increasingly challenging, with securing reservations at popular restaurants reaching new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, many food enthusiasts find it harder than ever to get into the city’s most sought-after eateries.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, noted that some restaurants are virtually impossible to enter. He mentioned having discussions with restaurant owners, many of whom admit they don’t have solutions for the reservation crisis.
In response to the intense competition for dinner spots, the New York state legislature recently voted to ban third-party reservation platforms like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell their reserved tables for prices upwards of $200, a practice more commonly seen in concert and sports ticket scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, aimed at reducing reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly cancellations.
Nevertheless, the appetite for trendy and unique experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India observed that, following the pandemic, demand has soared, leaving many sectors—airlines, hotels, and restaurants—at full capacity.
India, who has spent 16 years managing Sienna Charles, a luxury concierge and travel service catering to ultra-wealthy clients, highlighted the importance of understanding customer needs and fostering relationships with restaurants to improve access to high-demand locations.
She noted a notable shift from traditional fine dining to more trendy and Instagram-worthy spots, where the experience often takes precedence over the food itself. For many diners, the thrill lies in the bragging rights of securing a reservation at a hot restaurant.
For those eager to join the ranks of diners with hard-to-get reservations, India shares insights on which New York restaurants are currently the most elusive.