Why you can't get a restaurant reservation

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/why-you-cant-get-a-restaurant-reservation

by mycologos • 2 years ago

17 21 2 years ago

ethbr16• 2 years ago

It's interesting traveling for work and oscillating between the two types of cities:

   - Reservations only
   - No reservation needed

The most fascinating thing is people in each type expect their way is perfectly normal, and everywhere else is like that too.

toomuchtodo• 2 years ago

Mental models are rigid, cultural inertia, etc.

sublinear• 2 years ago

The article is interesting, but doesn't seem to address that the pandemic ruined the illusion of fine dining.

This is especially true for single people. What used to be a red flag is now a litmus test. Inviting people back to your place to entertain is a prime opportunity to flex. It's not even about the cost. Your home says a lot more about you than ever before.

ryandrake• 2 years ago

So interesting to read about weird cultures. I'm not a New Yorker, so the world described in this article is so foreign it might as well be a different planet. I would never drop $600 on a restaurant bill, let alone just to reserve a table. If I'm spending that kind of money, I want something tangible in return, not just some vague cachet of having sat down on some "exclusive" restaurant seats. It's so weird that a cottage industry has sprung up to monetize and trade these reservations. People really care about this stuff. SMH

ethbr16• 2 years ago

It's a supply and demand thing.

At a certain size, cities seem to tip from "there's always somewhere quality to eat" to "there are more people than places."

And then it's off on the crazy train as to how far down the rabbit hole restaurants want to go.

To be fair, NYC has been doing this a long time (on US timescales).

thaumasiotes4• 2 years ago

At a certain size, cities seem to tip from "there's always somewhere quality to eat" to "there are more people than places."

Nope. There's always somewhere quality to eat. It's just as true in NYC as it is everywhere else.

The reservations described in the article are just there to provide a certain Fine Dining Experience. If you don't want that, go to different restaurants. They are not in short supply.

throwaway35777• 2 years ago

Living in a city is like being in a trance. The experience reminds me of Insomnia.

elzbardico• 2 years ago

I'd drop 600 in a bill in a special occasion with a somewhat good wine. But never for a reservation.

creaghpatr• 2 years ago

I enjoyed the article, a lot of detailed reporting that was refreshingly nonjudgemental (the substance itself is kind of mortifying though but maybe this is more of a NYC thing?).

Side note, the hosts using the nickname "Eagle" for a bald guy is awesome, never heard that one before.

hiatus• 2 years ago

Does financialization know no bounds? What's next, bots booking up doctor's appointments and reselling the slots? Many restaurants in NYC have started to add a charge for no-shows—I wonder if it were more widespread would it help to dampen the market a bit.

elthran• 2 years ago

Unfortunately you missed this bit

Frey launched Appointment Trader, an online marketplace for people to buy and sell reservations—everything from private shopping experiences (the Hermès store in Paris), doctors’ appointments (a hot commodity in Miami and Beverly Hills)

vitek• 2 years ago

How much does this same problem exist outside of Manhattan? I've had difficulty getting reservations in other major cities, but nowhere near as much as in NYC.

Why you can't get a restaurant reservation

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