For those eager to indulge in dining experiences in New York, securing a reservation has increasingly become a significant challenge. Over the past three years, obtaining a seat at the city’s most sought-after restaurants has transitioned from difficult to nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
According to Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, the issue is reaching critical levels. He noted, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” and even restaurateurs he has spoken with admit they have no tips on how to secure a reservation.
The competition for table bookings has become so intense that last month, the New York state legislature voted to prohibit third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, where users were selling restaurant reservations for upwards of $200, mirroring practices typically seen in concert and sports event ticket scalping.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, welcomed the legislation as a significant win for the hospitality sector. She believes it will lessen the competition for reservations and shield restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative measures, the demand for exclusive and fashionable experiences continues to surpass availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India noted the trend, stating, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up. Every plane is full, every restaurant is busy, every hotel is at capacity.” India, who runs Sienna Charles, a concierge service for high-net-worth individuals, explained that her clientele typically includes those with wealth surpassing $100 million, including notable figures like George W. Bush and Mariah Carey.
Even with her impressive list of clients, India asserts that gaining access to the most desirable dining spots hinges on a few critical elements: understanding client preferences and nurturing relationships with the restaurants capable of fulfilling those needs.
She observed a shift away from fine dining, saying, “We very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu.” Instead, patrons are gravitating towards trendy spots where the experience is more about status than cuisine. “It’s sort of about FOMO. It’s about saying you got in; it’s a bragging right.”
For those determined to secure their own bragging rights, India has outlined which New York restaurants are deemed the hardest to book.