Dining out in New York has become increasingly challenging as securing a reservation at the city’s hottest restaurants has reached new levels of difficulty. Over the past three years, the once tough task of booking a table has transformed into an almost unattainable goal for many diners.
Joel Montaniel, CEO of bookings platform Sevenrooms, shared insights with Bloomberg, stating, “There are some restaurants that people can’t get into. I’ve asked restaurateurs for tips on how to get in, and they say, ‘I don’t have them.’”
The competitive nature of dinner reservations prompted the New York state legislature to recently pass a law banning third-party booking platforms like Appointment Trader, which allowed users to resell restaurant reservations for exorbitant prices—similar to practices seen in the concert and sports ticket markets.
Melissa Fleischut, President & CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, called the legislation a significant win for the hospitality sector, aiming to lessen competition for reservations and shield restaurants from costly cancellations.
However, even with these regulatory changes, the demand for trendy and luxurious dining experiences continues to outweigh availability. Jaclyn Sienna India, a travel advisor with 16 years of experience running a concierge service for the ultra-wealthy, noted, “Post-COVID, everything is booked up. Every plane is full, every restaurant is full, every hotel is full. So how do you navigate getting people into places that are already packed?”
India’s clientele includes families with substantial wealth, and her expertise in securing access to sought-after restaurants emphasizes the importance of understanding customer preferences and nurturing relationships with restaurant owners.
She pointed out a shift in dining preferences, saying, “People have really moved away from fine dining. We very rarely have a client that wants to sit through a tasting menu. The trend has moved towards restaurants that are more about the experience and social status rather than the food itself.”
For those eager for a memorable dining experience in New York and prepared to persist in their reservation efforts, a look at the city’s most elusive restaurant tables, according to Sienna Charles, may be a helpful guide.