Diners in New York are facing unprecedented challenges in securing reservations at the city’s most sought-after restaurants. Over the past three years, the process has transformed from challenging to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, stating that certain restaurants are inaccessible. He noted that even restaurateurs who have appeared on industry panels struggle to provide tips for securing a spot.
The high demand for dinner reservations led to a legislative decision last month in New York, where lawmakers voted to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, notorious for scalping restaurant reservations for prices exceeding $200—practices that were previously only seen in the concert and sporting event arenas.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, aiming to lessen reservation competition and protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative changes, the persistent trend over recent years shows that the appetite for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to far exceed availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India remarked that post-COVID, there’s an overwhelming demand across various sectors—every flight, hotel, and restaurant is fully booked.
India, who has spent 16 years managing Sienna Charles, a luxury concierge service, understands the dynamics of reservations better than most. Her clientele typically includes families worth over $100 million, with past notables like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
Though her client list is star-studded, India stresses that gaining access to exclusive dining experiences hinges on critical factors such as knowing what customers desire and cultivating relationships with the restaurants that can meet those expectations.
She pointed out a trend away from fine dining among her clients, stating, “We very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” In recent years, dining preferences have shifted toward trendy spots, where the focus is more on the experience itself than the quality of food. Dining has become about the “fear of missing out” and the bragging rights that come with a successful reservation.
For those eager to secure their own bragging rights and willing to persist in their quest for reservations, Sienna Charles has compiled a list of the hardest New York restaurants to get into.