Difficult dining reservations article

Hey, great article, Tammy! I've played that game in several large cities, but never to the extent the Semma diners do. Of course, now I immediately want to head to New York and try it out!

Ha, Ha Mardee, that is how I felt too! Need to go to NYC and dine at this restaurant! One thing the article doesn't mention. After a few years, the demand, no matter how good the restaurant is, usually dies down. So, maybe I will check it out in another couple of years!

Good idea! Let me know when and I'll come and meet you there!

There was a different story a few days ago about the plague of electronic pirates that overbook Online reservations for high-demand restaurants in new York, then resell them for $150 to $175 - just for the party who buys from the reservation scalper to get a table. Apparently there are people (organized digital gangsters?) with sophisticated algorithms that claim most reservations when they are first available, shutting out individual foodies who just want to dine at a trendy place. Then, the only way to get into a place is by purchasing a reservation from the scalper.

The restaurants lose, if no one buys some of the inflated, second-hand reservations, and the table goes empty. Other potential diners also lose, since the scalper’s reservation prevents legitimate would-be diners from getting in, while the scalper is a no-show.

If nobody buys some of the scalper’s reservations, they miss out on the resale revenue, but still profit from the reservations they did make, then resold. Sounds a bit like what happens with trying to get tickets for the Vatican Museums (and maybe other high-demand attractions) - entry is sold Online in advance, but moments after the tickets become available, they seem to be sold out. Someone or something is grabbing tickets, with an ulterior motive, shutting out those without super-fast computers or the skill, or just the luck to defeat the pirates.

As for the article in this thread, Bon Appétit, if you can beat the system.

Cyn, the article addressed that. In fact, that is precisely the reason that Semma started charging a base $50 fee for a reservation.

It’s unfortunate, Mardee.

I agree--it's sad when the actions of money-hungry people force changes like that.

Am I glad that food isn't important enough to me to want to play that game. Good luck to you foodies though.

I’m native New Yorker and we don’t go to restaurants like this that have this stupid online game of getting a table. Silliness like this has nothing to do with going out to a restaurant with a great menu, a wonderful ambience, & an enjoyable time.

$50 per person PREPAYMENT? 😂😂😂

Thank you for sharing this article. It is pathetically hilarious!