Dining in New York City has become increasingly challenging over the past few years, with reservations for popular restaurants feeling nearly impossible to secure. Joel Montaniel, CEO of the reservation platform Sevenrooms, noted in a recent Bloomberg interview that there are certain restaurants that many simply cannot access. He spoke with restaurateurs who admitted they lacked strategies for securing reservations.
The competition for dinner reservations intensified to such an extent that last month, New York state lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting third-party booking services like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to sell restaurant reservations for exorbitant prices, often over $200, similar to the practices seen in concert ticket sales.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, hailed the new law as a significant achievement for the hospitality sector, aimed at reducing reservation competition and shielding restaurants from costly cancellations.
Despite these legislative efforts, the high demand for unique and extravagant experiences continues to outpace availability. Travel advisor Jaclyn Sienna India highlighted that in the post-COVID landscape, nearly every flight, restaurant, and hotel is fully booked. India, who has spent 16 years managing Sienna Charles—a concierge service catering to high-net-worth families—acknowledges the challenge of securing spots at desired venues.
India’s experience includes working with clients who have amassed fortunes exceeding $100 million, including notable figures like former President George W. Bush and singer Mariah Carey. She emphasizes that gaining access to sought-after restaurants, hotels, and luxury experiences relies on a deep understanding of clients’ desires and nurturing relationships with restaurant owners.
She notes a shift away from traditional fine dining, as most clients are less interested in lengthy tasting menus. Instead, the current trend leans towards trendy venues, where the allure is more about the experience and status, or “FOMO,” rather than the food itself.
For those determined to secure hard-to-get reservations, India offers insights on which New York City restaurants are currently the most coveted.