For those eager to enjoy a meal out in New York City, securing a reservation has become increasingly difficult. Over the past three years, obtaining a seat at the most popular eateries in the city has transitioned from being a challenge to nearly unattainable for many diners.
“There are some restaurants that people simply cannot get into,” Joel Montaniel, the CEO of Sevenrooms, told Bloomberg. He noted that even when speaking with restaurateurs during panel discussions, they often confess they have no tips to share for securing a table.
The competitive nature of dinner reservations led to the New York state legislature passing a ban on third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell their reservation slots for exorbitant fees – a practice typically seen in the realms of concerts and sporting events.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, regarded the new legislation as a “major victory for the hospitality industry,” aiming to reduce reservation competition and protect restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the reality remains that the post-COVID surge in demand for unique, trendy, and luxurious experiences greatly exceeds availability.
“Post-COVID, it’s clear that everything is fully booked. Every flight, every restaurant, every hotel is at capacity,” said travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India. She posed the challenge of finding ways to secure spots in restaurants, hotels, and luxury experiences that are already in high demand.
India, who has spent 16 years managing Sienna Charles, a concierge and travel planning service for wealthy clients, knows the landscape well. Her clientele comprises families making over $100 million, including notable figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
Despite her impressive background, India highlights that gaining access to the trendiest restaurants, hotels, yachts, and luxury experiences often depends on understanding customer desires and fostering relationships with the restaurants that cater to those needs.
“Clients have steered away from fine dining; we seldom encounter a request for tasting menus,” she stated. “The recent shift is towards trendy restaurants, where the appeal lies less in the food and more in the experience and exclusivity. It’s about the fear of missing out and having the bragging rights that come with securing a reservation.”
For those determined to claim their own bragging rights and willing to put in the effort to secure a reservation, there are certain New York restaurants identified by Sienna Charles as the most challenging to access.