Dining out in New York has become increasingly difficult, with securing a reservation at the city’s popular restaurants turning into a nearly impossible task for many food enthusiasts. Over the past three years, the challenge of obtaining a seat has escalated considerably.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the bookings platform Sevenrooms, recently remarked that certain restaurants are simply inaccessible, stating, “I’ve even talked to restaurateurs, we’ve hosted them on panels and asked them for tips to get in, and they say, ‘I don’t have them.’”
To address this growing concern, the New York state legislature voted last month to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader. These platforms had allowed users to sell their restaurant reservations for inflated prices—sometimes over $200—similar to scalping tickets for concerts or sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed this legislation as a significant victory for the hospitality sector, aiming to lessen competition for reservations and safeguard restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these changes, the reality remains that the demand for exciting, trendy, and upscale dining experiences continues to surpass their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted, “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.”
India owns Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service for high-net-worth individuals, and has worked with clients like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey. She points out that the exclusivity of popular restaurants, hotels, and other luxury experiences can often depend on understanding customer needs and fostering relationships with the restaurants that can meet those demands.
“People have really moved away from fine dining,” she said. “The entire shift in the last three years has been towards trendy restaurants where the focus is not necessarily on food. It’s never about food, it’s sort of about FOMO. It’s about saying that you got in, it’s a bragging right.”
For those eager to secure their own bragging rights by fighting for a reservation, Sienna Charles offers insights into which New York restaurants are the hardest to book.