Fury over NYC restaurant reservation scalpers making $80k a year by hoarding coveted dining slots

Release time：2024-04-26 07:18:27 Source：Cultural Crossings news portal

Some restaurant scalpers have found a way to turn dining into a lucrative business by charging their A-list clients over $1000 for tables at the New York City's most exclusive restaurants

Alex Eisler, a sophomore student at Brown University who studies applied math and computer science, told the New Yorker that he made $70,000 reselling reservations last year. 

The student, also known as 'GloriousSeed75' on Appointment Trader, said he uses fake names and phone numbers to secure tables at Michelin-starred establishments and trendy hotspots.

'Sometimes they recognize my voice, so I have to do different accents. I have to act like a girl sometimes,' he said. 

For decades, diners in the Big Apple have been willing to open their wallets wide for a taste of high-end dining, and technology and social media only make it faster and easier.

Some restaurant scalpers have found a way to turn dining into a lucrative business by charging their A-list clients over $1000 for tables at the New York City 's most exclusive restaurants. Pictured: Italian eatery Carbone where a reservation reportedly fetches upwards of $1000

Justin and Hailey Bieber, were famously turned away from Carbone after they showed up unannounced and without a reservation in 2022

Some restaurant scalpers maintain close connections with the maître d', chefs, and even servers at top eateries to secure coveted reservations ahead of regular patrons

 Another scalper, who goes by the name of PerceptiveWash44 told the New Yorker that he considers restaurant booking a game, which he plays while sitting around watching tv. 

'It’s, like, some people play Candy Crush on their phone. I play "Dinner Reservations,"' he explained to the outlet, adding that he had made $80,000 in one year by selling his bookings.

Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, who handled reservations at some of the city's hottest restaurants in the 1980s and 1990s, recalled a man offered him $600 for a table at River Café, a one-star Michelin restaurant in Brooklyn.

'My whole career, that's what you did. And you damn well knew every customer,' he said, adding that he always managed to accommodate celebrities who showed up without reservations.

'There's some kind of alchemy in the restaurant world,' he said. 'Somebody cancels, somebody's late, and you're out of the weeds.' 

Ben Leventhal, co-founder of the reservation site Resy, said possible approaches to secure a table at exclusive restaurants include phone calls, e-mail, Instagram DMs, and in-person. 

'Before you leave a place, you could make another reservation. It's a great way to get one,' he said. 

Some restaurant scalpers maintain close connections with the maître d', chefs, and even servers at top eateries to secure coveted reservations ahead of regular patrons. 

At Carbone, an Italian eatery nestled in NYC's Greenwich Village and renowned as one of the city's most elusive dining destinations, a reservation could fetch upwards of a thousand dollars for restaurant scalpers

Eisler said he sold a table at Carbone for $1050 recently on Appointment Trader, an online marketplace where users sell and buy reservations

And in a more recent occasion, Hailey Bieber secured a coveted spot at 4 Charles Prime Rib(pictured) thanks to a private restaurant scalper named Nicky DiMaggio, who charges between $5000 and $1000 per reservation

The steakhouse serving burgers, steaks, and mashed potatoes in NYC's West Village is renowned for its intimate size and modest exterior 

 At Carbone, an Italian eatery nestled in NYC's Greenwich Village and renowned as one of the city's most elusive dining destinations, a reservation could fetch upwards of a thousand dollars for restaurant scalpers. 

Eisler said he sold a table at Carbone for $1050 recently on Appointment Trader, an online marketplace where users sell and buy reservations. 

On the members-only app Dorsia, where users' contacts, job titles, and social media data are scanned, a two-top reservation on a Saturday night at Carbone comes with a hefty price tag of $1,000.

Justin and Hailey Bieber, were famously turned away from the restaurant after they showed up unannounced and without a reservation in 2022. They were finally granted a seat several months later. 

And in a more recent occasion, the 27-year-old model secured a coveted spot at 4 Charles Prime Rib thanks to a private restaurant scalper named Nicky DiMaggio, who charges between $500 and $1000 per reservation. 

'My client list is, like, the N.B.A., Megan Fox,' DiMaggio said, adding that he also worked with Serena Williams, a manager at a Rolex store, and a lot of 'Goldman Sachs guys.'

Last month, DiMaggio spoke to DailyMail.com exclusively, revealing his secrets to securing the best tables at all the hottest restaurants in town.

DiMaggio first became interested in securing reservations at restaurant hotspots after visiting Rao's in Harlem. 

The 125-year-old ten-table dinner spot doesn't accept walk ins or reservations and there is virtually no way to contact the restaurant unless you have an 'in' - even if you are a celebrity. 

But after his cousin helped him get a table aged just 17, he became hooked, as he said: 'I realized, if I walked through these doors, I could walk through any door.' 

At Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar, a five-o’clock table was listed for $400 on an online marketplace for reselling tables

DiMaggio first became interested in securing reservations at restaurant hotspots after visiting Rao's in Harlem 

His clientele not only includes celebrities but the NFL, Morgan Stanley and the United Nations

 From there he began building his rolodex by networking with the owners of the most exclusive restaurants in New York.

As foodies got word of DiMaggio connections, they began asking him if he could get a reservation for them in his name. 

They would send DiMaggio money as a 'thank you' for the favor, but as more and more people put in requests, he decided to make his business official with an LLC.

'The whole reservation thing is a science,' said DiMaggio. 'People want what they can't have. [Restaurants] want you to want it more and be frustrated that you can't secure a reservation.'

'People will say "I've been waiting six months to get a reservation, and you got in in six minutes." So then they want to know, "who's Nicky?'''

The most DiMaggio has been paid for a reservation was $5,000.

'A woman called me and said her boss (who was a billionaire) was flying into New York for a meeting and he wanted to take his clients to dinner. 

'She said he was flying into Teterboro, the driver was going to pick him up, take them to a restaurant called Per Se, and he's going back home.'

'I got the Per Se Reservation done in ten minutes. She sent me the wire within five minutes.

Some restaurants who ask DiMaggio to help bring in some business will give him a percentage of the client's spend on the restaurant 

'Say someone comes into town and I get them into a club and they spend $10,000, then I'll invoice the club 20%,' he said. 

1. Sign up for Resy Notifications

Resy Notify has a nifty tool that allows you to select restaurants you are interested in and will then send alerts to your phone when there has been a cancellation. May the fastest fingers win.

2. Be the early bird

Try your luck on the day as a walk-in - but be sure to arrive when the restaurant doors open at the latest as others might have the same idea. If all else fails you may be able to secure a bar seat or charm the manager into putting your name down for a table on another day. 

3. Check for cancelations

Find out your desired restaurant's cancelation deadline. If it's 72 hours out, for example, go online then and check to see if there are sudden openings. Just prepare to be patient and keep hitting the refresh button. 

4. Follow the foodies

Many people make a living from selling reservations. Following professionals in the concierge industry on social media could increase your chances of snagging a reservation from a reliable source. 

5. Brave the outdoors 

It can often be easier to secure a table outside - particularly if the weather is gloomy. So if you're dead set on trying a restaurant's food, wrap up and see if you can bag a less coveted table. Dining at less popular times of the day could also boost your chances.

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