I just fought for my life and still lost out on every single restaurant I tried to book for my birthday, in 30 days time, even with alarms. I’ve been doing this for days because everyone’s phrasing and rules are different for what 30 days means. Now, I’m going to have to do this again at 20 days out, 2 weeks out, 10 days, etc. to see if I get to any of my other backups. I’m so over this, and this is coming from someone formerly in the industry- up to and at the Michelin level. (No, I don’t want to dine anywhere I used to work or abuse connections). I will not pay a resale scammer that used bots to get them all, and I will not pay someone to get in a line for me.
This shit ruins experience, spontaneity (something NYC had cornered the market on at one point) and the overall allure of dining out. I think I’m just…done. I’m not sure who the blame lands on, because restaurants might not have wished for this, but the reservation platforms are a joke, and the secretive ways to book otherwise are just insane.
Yes, I’m bitter for me and my celebration, but I’m also bitter about what restaurants have to become in order to make it here now. I strongly dislike gimmicky foods, trend items, etc. At this point, also thanks to socials, I can’t even get into places that NYC considers regular ol’ city institutions anymore because now THOSE are “hidden gems” and “I bet you’ve never heard about” and “don’t tell anyone I told you”s because *everything* sacred becomes content. Don’t even get me started on the blank market for reservations and bookings/ticket resale culture here that becomes intertwined.
Thanks for letting me rant!
submitted by /u/Lett3rsandnum8er5
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