Securing a reservation at New York’s most popular restaurants has become increasingly difficult, with the challenge reaching new heights in recent years. According to Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, obtaining a seat at the city’s hottest dining spots has shifted from a challenge to a near impossibility for many food enthusiasts.
In response to this trend, New York state lawmakers voted last month to prohibit third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, where customers were reselling restaurant reservations for prices as high as $200. This practice has drawn parallels to ticket scalping in the concert and sports markets.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, which aims to lessen competition for bookings and safeguard restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these regulatory changes, the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to exceed supply. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India notes that the post-COVID landscape has seen a surge in bookings across all sectors, making it challenging to secure tables.
Having spent 16 years overseeing Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service catering to affluent clients, India understands the intricacies of obtaining restaurant reservations. Her clientele usually includes families with a net worth exceeding $100 million, and notable former clients include George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
India points out that gaining access to the most sought-after restaurants hinges on understanding customer preferences and cultivating relationships with those establishments. She notes a shift away from traditional fine dining, with clients increasingly favoring trendy venues. For many, the appeal lies not in the food itself but in the experience and the prestige associated with being able to secure a reservation.
For those eager to claim their own bragging rights—and prepared to put in the effort to secure a reservation—India has insights into which New York restaurants are currently the most difficult to book.