Securing a reservation at New York’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly challenging. Over the past three years, the task of landing a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots has escalated from difficult to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, noting, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” Despite hosting restaurateurs and discussing strategies for securing a table, he noted that even they often lack effective solutions.
The competitive landscape of dinner reservations prompted the New York state legislature to vote to ban third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where users were reselling reservations for $200 or more, a practice typically associated with concert and sporting event tickets.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector. She emphasized that it would alleviate the reservation competition and shield restaurants from costly cancellations.
Nevertheless, the reality remains that the demand for unique, trendy, and luxurious experiences continues to surpass availability in recent years. 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, who has spent 16 years operating Sienna Charles — a concierge and travel planning service for the wealthy — explains that access to exclusive dining experiences hinges on key elements, such as understanding customer desires and establishing connections with restaurants.
She pointed out a significant shift in dining trends, stating, “People have really moved away from fine dining; we very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” According to her, the focus has shifted towards trendy spots, where the experience is less about the food and more about the social clout of securing a reservation.
For those eager to secure their own bragging rights and willing to persist in their quest for a reservation, Sienna Charles has identified which New York restaurant tables are the toughest to book.