Dining out in New York City has become increasingly difficult, with securing a reservation at the hottest restaurants reaching new levels of challenge. Over the past three years, many prospective diners have found it nearly impossible to snag a table at the most sought-after venues.
“There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” said Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, in a recent interview. He shared that restaurateurs themselves often can’t offer tips on how to successfully make a reservation.
Competition for dinner spots has escalated so much that last month, New York state lawmakers voted to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where users could resell restaurant reservations for exorbitant prices, akin to practices seen in concert and sporting event ticket sales.
Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, intending to lessen competition for reservations and protect restaurants from costly no-shows.
However, despite legislative efforts, the fact remains that the demand for exclusive, trendy experiences in dining continues to exceed supply.
“With the post-COVID boom, it’s noticeable that everything is fully booked—planes, restaurants, hotels,” commented travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India. “Navigating reservations for restaurants, hotels, and luxury experiences is challenging when they are already at capacity.”
India has specialized in securing reservations for elite clientele for 16 years through her concierge and travel planning service, Sienna Charles. Her clients include high-net-worth individuals, and she highlights a few key strategies for accessing top restaurants: understanding client needs and fostering relationships with restaurant staff.
“Clients have largely shifted away from fine dining; few are interested in tasting menus,” India noted. “The trend now leans towards trendy venues where the emphasis is more on the experience and social status than on the food itself. It’s about the fear of missing out; people want the bragging rights of saying they got a reservation.”
For those eager to chase their own reservation bragging rights and willing to put in the effort, India has identified which New York restaurants are currently the hardest to book.