Dining out in New York City has become increasingly challenging as securing a reservation at popular restaurants has reached new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, the process of obtaining a table at the city’s most sought-after venues has shifted from merely tough to virtually impossible for many diners.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservations platform Sevenrooms, shared insights about the situation, indicating that some restaurants have become exclusive to the point where even restaurant owners admit they do not have strategies to help people get in.
The competition for dinner reservations led the New York state legislature to take action last month, voting to outlaw third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, which had allowed users to sell their reserved spots for exorbitant prices—similar to ticket scalping for concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed this legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, aiming to lessen the rivalry over reservations and safeguard restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the demand for unique and luxurious experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India notes that since the pandemic, every aspect of travel and dining has been fully booked, making it more difficult to find openings at restaurants, hotels, and other exclusive venues.
India, who leads Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel service for affluent families, understands the intricacies of securing reservations. Her clientele includes those with fortunes exceeding $100 million, and she has worked with high-profile individuals such as George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
She points out that accessing the most in-demand restaurants and other luxury experiences hinges on understanding customer expectations and fostering relationships with the establishments offering those experiences.
According to India, dining trends have shifted significantly. Clients are moving away from traditional fine dining in favor of trendy spots where the experience often surpasses the culinary aspect. The modern dining ethos revolves around the “fear of missing out” (FOMO), where successfully securing a reservation becomes a status symbol.
For those eager to gain their own bragging rights and willing to persist in the fight for reservations, India provides insights into which New York restaurants are currently the hardest to book.