20 Of The Hardest Restaurants To Book In New York City Right Now

Getting a table at New York’s hottest restaurants can feel like winning the lottery.

These coveted dining spots combine extraordinary food with limited seating, creating reservation systems that fill up weeks or even months in advance.

No matter if you’re a local foodie or planning a special NYC trip, knowing which restaurants require serious planning can save you disappointment.

1. Carbone: The Italian Powerhouse

Snagging a table at this Greenwich Village hotspot requires military-grade planning.

The red-sauce Italian menu attracts celebrities and food enthusiasts alike, making reservations disappear within seconds of release.

Their spicy rigatoni vodka alone justifies the reservation battle.

Pro tip: Try booking exactly 30 days out at midnight when new slots open.

2. Rao’s: The Century-Old Exclusive Club

Money can’t buy you love – or a table at Rao’s. This 10-table East Harlem institution operates on a near-impossible system of “table rights” passed down through generations. Regular folks? Good luck.

Opened in 1896, it’s less restaurant and more private dining club. Your best shot? Befriend a table owner or hope for a miracle charity auction win.

3. 4 Charles Prime Rib: Underground Burger Heaven

Hidden in the West Village, this intimate steakhouse releases reservations 30 days ahead at midnight. Blink and you’ll miss your chance to taste their legendary burger.

The tiny basement space only accommodates about 30 diners per seating. Smart move: Check for last-minute cancellations around 3-4 PM on the day you want to dine.

4. COTE: Korean Steakhouse Sensation

Michelin-starred Korean BBQ meets American steakhouse in this Flatiron hotspot. The reservation system crashes regularly when new tables drop at midnight.

Everyone wants the Butcher’s Feast experience – a parade of prime cuts grilled tableside on smokeless grills. Counter seats sometimes free up for walk-ins, but don’t count on it during prime hours.

5. The Corner Store: Not Your Average Bodega

Despite the unassuming name, this Lower East Side gem is reservation gold. Chef Flynn McGarry’s follow-up to Gem offers innovative small plates that have food critics swooning.

The tiny 18-seat space books out within minutes. The move? Follow their Instagram religiously for last-minute cancellation announcements, which they occasionally post as Stories.

6. Misi: Pasta Perfection in Brooklyn

Missy Robbins’ pasta temple in Williamsburg has maintained impossible-to-get status since opening. Reservations vanish within seconds when released at midnight, 30 days in advance.

The glass-enclosed pasta room, visible to diners, showcases the fresh pasta magic. Bar seats are first-come, first-served, but expect to line up before opening time for any shot at them.

7. Don Angie: West Village’s Pasta Darling

Married chef-owners Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli created a modern Italian hotspot that books out faster than you can say “pinwheel lasagna.”

Reservations open 30 days ahead at midnight. Your secret weapon? The restaurant occasionally holds two tables for same-day walk-ins – arrive right at 5 PM.

8. Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi: Lincoln Center’s Crown Jewel

Celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi’s ode to Afro-Caribbean flavors at Lincoln Center became an instant hit. The reservation system crashes regularly when new tables are released.

Short rib pastrami suya and braised oxtails draw food lovers from across the city. Last-minute strategy? Check for cancellations around 3 PM when people typically confirm or cancel their evening plans.

9. Semma: South Indian Treasure

Chef Vijay Kumar’s regional South Indian cooking earned a Michelin star and reservation madness. The small Greenwich Village space showcases rare dishes from Tamil Nadu that you won’t find elsewhere in NYC.

The nathai pirattal (Chettinad-style snails) alone justifies the reservation struggle. Insider move: Try booking for Tuesday or Wednesday at 5:30 PM for slightly better odds.

10. Atomix: The Korean Tasting Menu Temple

Junghyun and Ellia Park’s two-Michelin-starred Korean tasting menu experience releases reservations months in advance – and they’re gone within seconds.

The 10-course journey comes with custom-designed cards explaining each dish.

The downstairs counter seats just 14 lucky diners per night. Plan ahead: Set calendar alerts for reservation drops, which happen on the first of each month.

11. Coqodaq: The Korean Fried Chicken Phenomenon

Hand-breaded Korean fried chicken from Atomix’s chef Junghyun Park created an overnight sensation. The tiny Flatiron spot books out weeks ahead despite being a casual concept.

The secret’s in the double-frying technique and housemade sauces. Lunch reservations tend to be slightly easier to score than dinner ones, though neither is a sure thing.

12. Chez Fifi: The Speakeasy French Bistro

This hidden French gem requires both knowing where it is (behind an unmarked door in NoHo) and securing the elusive reservation. Chef Philippe Bertineau’s classic bistro fare has created a cult following.

The tiny 24-seat space feels like dining in a Parisian apartment. Reservations open just once monthly and disappear within minutes. Email subscribers get first dibs on booking windows.

13. ADDA East Village: Unapologetic Indian

Chef Chintan Pandya’s second location after the wildly successful Lower East Side original maintains the same impossible reservation status. The East Village space is slightly larger but books out just as quickly.

Goat neck biryani and tandoori poussin keep devotees refreshing the reservation page obsessively. Pro move: Check for tables during off-hours like Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

14. Le Chêne: French-American Phenomenon

Chef Marie-Aude Rose’s intimate West Village restaurant became an overnight sensation after Pete Wells’ rave review. Just 28 seats and a no-phone policy make snagging a table a digital bloodsport.

The online reservation system opens at midnight 30 days ahead. Locals swear by showing up at 4:45 PM for the handful of walk-in bar seats that might—emphasis on might—be available.

15. Bemelmans Bar: Cocktail Royalty

Not technically a restaurant, but this legendary bar inside The Carlyle hotel now requires reservations that disappear faster than their $25 martinis.

Live jazz and perfectly crafted cocktails justify the planning effort. Insider tip: Monday evenings at 9 PM sometimes have last-minute availability.

16. The Polo Bar: Ralph Lauren’s Dining Room

Ralph Lauren’s clubby restaurant remains one of NYC’s toughest tables years after opening. The equestrian-themed dining room exudes old-money charm that attracts celebrities and socialites nightly.

The burger alone justifies the reservation struggle. Getting in requires connections or extreme persistence – call exactly 30 days ahead at 10 AM sharp, and even then, prepare for disappointment.

17. Torrisi: Little Italy’s Modern Marvel

Major Food Group’s homage to Italian-American cuisine in historic Puck Building books out the moment reservations drop. Chef Rich Torrisi’s menu elevates red-sauce classics to fine-dining status.

The dining room’s old-world glamour matches the refined food. Reservation strategy: Try booking for the bar, which sometimes has slightly better availability than the main dining room.

18. Via Carota: The Village Italian Institution

Jody Williams and Rita Sodi’s beloved West Village trattoria famously takes no reservations, creating legendary waits. Put your name on the list and expect to kill 2-3 hours nearby before your table is ready.

The cacio e pepe and insalata verde justify the wait. Survival strategy: Arrive right at opening (noon for lunch, 5 PM for dinner) or during off-hours like 3-4 PM.

19. I Sodi: Tuscan Perfection

Chef Rita Sodi’s first West Village restaurant remains as impossible to book as her joint venture Via Carota.

The tiny space serves the most authentic Tuscan food outside of Italy, with a lasagna that has its own fan club.

Reservations open 30 days ahead and disappear within minutes. Counter seats occasionally open up for walk-ins willing to dine early or late.

20. Sushi Noz: The $400 Omakase Experience

This eight-seat Upper East Side sushi counter offers an authentic Edomae experience that books out months in advance.

The 200-year-old hinoki wood counter and custom refrigerators imported from Japan create museum-worthy dining.

The $400+ omakase experience lasts about two hours. Reservation strategy: Join their waiting list and pounce immediately when you receive the text that a spot opened up.