Dining in New York City has become increasingly difficult, with securing a reservation now more challenging than ever. Over the past three years, obtaining a table at some of the city’s most sought-after restaurants has become nearly impossible for many food enthusiasts.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of the booking platform Sevenrooms, shared insights on the current reservation climate, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into,” indicating that even restaurateurs struggle with the booking process and have no tips to share.
The competitive nature of dinner reservations prompted the New York state legislature to take action, recently voting to outlaw third-party booking sites like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell restaurant reservations for prices exceeding $200. This practice has drawn parallels to scalping tickets for concerts and sports events.
According to Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, this legislation is a significant win for the hospitality sector, aiming to reduce reservation competition and protect restaurants from costly no-shows.
Despite these legislative efforts, the reality remains that demand for unique, trendy activities continues to surpass supply. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India points out, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up—every plane, every restaurant, every hotel.” India, who has over 16 years of experience running a concierge and travel planning service for high-net-worth families, notes that achieving access to popular venues hinges on understanding customer preferences and establishing strong relationships with restaurant operators.
She highlights a noticeable shift in dining preferences, revealing that clients are moving away from fine dining and tasting menus to trendy spots where the experience is more about social status than food. “It’s about FOMO. It’s about saying that you got in; it’s a bragging right,” she explains.
For those eager to secure their own bragging rights, a list of the hardest restaurant reservations to obtain in New York, based on Sienna Charles’ expertise, is on the horizon.