Dining out in New York City has never been more challenging, as securing a reservation at the city’s most sought-after restaurants has become increasingly difficult over the past three years. The trendiest tables are now often beyond the reach of many diners.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights that illustrate this predicament, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into.” He noted that even restaurateurs struggle with tips on how to secure a table.
The competitive nature of dinner reservations spurred the New York state legislature to vote on a ban against third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where individuals were scalping restaurant reservations for inflated prices of $200 or more, similar to the practices seen in concert or sporting event ticket sales.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector, aimed at reducing reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these new regulations, the demand for unique and luxurious dining experiences remains high. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India observed that the post-COVID landscape has seen skyrocketing bookings across all sectors, stating, “Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full.” She emphasized the challenge of arranging access to fully booked restaurants and luxury experiences.
With 16 years of experience running Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service catering to the wealthy, India has worked with high-profile clients, including George W. Bush and Mariah Carey. She highlighted that gaining access to top restaurants usually involves understanding customer preferences and establishing strong relationships with eateries.
India noted a shift away from traditional fine dining toward modern, trendy restaurants that prioritize the experience over the food itself. She explained, “It’s sort of about FOMO. It’s about saying that you got in, it’s a bragging right.”
For those eager to secure their own bragging rights and willing to put in the effort to land a reservation, read on to learn which New York restaurants have become the hardest to book, according to Sienna Charles.