Dining out in New York has become increasingly challenging as securing a reservation at top restaurants has reached new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, many food enthusiasts have found it nearly impossible to snag a seat at the city’s most sought-after eateries.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, recently discussed the issue with Bloomberg, noting that even restaurateurs struggle to provide tips on how to get reservations at their own venues.
The competitiveness for dinner reservations led New York’s state legislature to vote last month in favor of banning third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where individuals were reselling restaurant slots for upwards of $200, reminiscent of ticket scalping for concerts and sports events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, labeled this legislation a significant victory for the hospitality sector, as it aims to lessen competition for reservations and mitigate costly cancellations faced by restaurants.
Despite these legislative efforts, the reality remains that the demand for unique, trendy, and luxurious experiences continues to exceed availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India highlighted this trend, pointing out that post-COVID, restaurants, hotels, and flights are all booked to capacity.
India, who operates Sienna Charles—a concierge and travel planning service for high-net-worth individuals—stresses the importance of understanding client desires and fostering relationships with preferred restaurants to secure coveted reservations.
She noted a shift in client preferences away from traditional fine dining, as many now seek out trendy establishments where the experience often revolves more around social status than the cuisine itself. The emphasis has shifted towards the status of securing a reservation rather than the meal itself.
For those eager to claim their own bragging rights and willing to put in the effort to score a reservation, India provides insights into which New York restaurants are considered the toughest to book.