For those wanting to dine in New York City, securing a reservation has become increasingly difficult. Over the past three years, getting a table at the city’s most sought-after restaurants has transitioned from being a challenge to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, recently commented on the situation, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He noted that even restaurateurs he has spoken with don’t have solutions for the overcrowded reservation landscape.
The challenge of obtaining dinner reservations prompted the New York state legislature to act, as they voted last month to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader. These platforms had allowed users to resell their restaurant bookings for prices exceeding $200, a practice previously associated with concert and sports ticket scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant victory for the hospitality sector, aimed at easing competition for reservations and protecting eateries from costly cancellations.
Nevertheless, even with new laws in place, the reality remains that the demand for exciting and trendy experiences continues to surpass their availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted the post-COVID environment where “every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full,” highlighting the struggle in finding spots for diners in already-booked establishments.
India, who has managed Sienna Charles for 16 years—serving ultra-wealthy clients such as George W. Bush and Mariah Carey—understands the nuances of securing table reservations. She emphasizes that success lies in recognizing customer desires and developing relationships with the right restaurants.
She points out a significant shift in preferences, saying, “People have really moved away from fine dining; we very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” Instead, there’s been a trend toward popular spots that prioritize the experience over the food, indicating that the excitement often lies in the social status of dining at a sought-after location.
For those eager to secure a reservation at one of New York’s hardest-to-get restaurants, persistence and awareness of current trends are essential.