Securing a dining reservation in New York has become increasingly difficult, with competition reaching new heights in the past three years. For many food enthusiasts, getting a seat at the city’s most popular restaurants now feels nearly impossible.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, highlighted the intense struggle for reservations during a recent conversation with Bloomberg, noting, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” Even restaurant owners admit to having no secrets to offer for snagging a table.
The situation has escalated to the point that last month, New York’s state legislature passed a law prohibiting third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell their restaurant bookings for exorbitant prices, similar to scalping tickets for concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new law as a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” intended to lower competition for reservations and shield restaurants from the financial blow of costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the ongoing trend sees demand for unique, trendy, and high-end dining experiences continuing to surge without the supply to meet it. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India stated, “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.”
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a luxury concierge and travel planning service for affluent clients, India understands the nuances of accessing popular dining locations. Her clientele includes families with fortunes exceeding $100 million, and she has worked with high-profile figures such as George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
India noted that gaining entry to top restaurants hinges on several key elements: recognizing customer preferences and fostering relationships with restaurants capable of accommodating those wants. She explained that there has been a shift away from fine dining, with fewer clients expressing interest in lengthy tasting menus. Instead, the focus has gravitated towards trendy establishments that prioritize the experience itself over the food—where the appeal often lies in the exclusivity and bragging rights of being able to secure a reservation.
For those determined to secure their own coveted table, Sienna Charles has insight into the hardest-to-book restaurants in New York.