Securing a reservation at a restaurant in New York City has become increasingly difficult, reaching new levels of challenge in recent years. The landscape has shifted from being simply tough to virtually unattainable for many dining enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, noting, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He also indicated that restaurateurs, when asked for tips on securing reservations, admitted they have none to offer.
The competition for dinner reservations intensified so much that the New York state legislature recently voted to prohibit third-party booking sites such as Appointment Trader, where users had been reselling restaurant reservations for substantial sums, sometimes exceeding $200. This practice had become akin to ticket scalping for concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” asserting that it would decrease competition for reservations and help restaurants avoid costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences remains high, often surpassing their availability. Travel consultant Jaclyn Sienna India observed, “Post-COVID, I’m sure you’ve noticed that everything is booked up. Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full.” She specializes in navigating reservations for elite clients, including those worth over $100 million.
India, who has operated her concierge service for 16 years, emphasizes that gaining access to popular dining spots hinges on understanding client preferences and fostering 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,” she noted, highlighting a shift towards trendy options that emphasize social status over culinary experience.
For those determined to snag a reservation at these elusive spots, India has identified which New York restaurants are the most challenging to book.