Hardest Restaurants To Get A Reservation In US | Top 10
Wondering which are the hardest restaurants in the US to get a table at?
We have the answer!
If you thought that dining is pretty easy and straight forward, you couldn’t be more wrong. Getting a reservation at one of the best restaurants in US might be a hassle, and it can take months or even years before you actually get to dine in the top class restaurants.
Everybody wants in, but a few people get a chance.
They are top class restaurants with a limited amount of tables that serve the elite, and if you do manage to get in, make sure you enjoy the experience.
So in no particular order, let’s now see which are the hardest restaurants to get a reservation in US!
1.French Laundry, Napa Valley
The first restaurant on our list is the famous French Laundry.
The 3 Michelin stars restaurant is one luxurious place to dine for sure. Chef Thomas Keller not only runs the best restaurant in California, but he is US’ No 1 chef.
For more information, check out the entire list of USA’s best chefs.
And considering how famous and top class the French Laundry is, you can probably imagine that getting a spot at their tables might be quite difficult.
You can put yourself on the waiting list, and call in advance, 2 months or more before. Also, you can try the Open Table, and see when the next available spot is.
“We are humbled by the interest we receive for reservations at all of our restaurants. We understand that with such interest, comes expectations and we continue to strive to overreach them, for each of our guests.”
Nevertheless, trying has never harmed anybody, and if you are lucky enough to get in, you will have the chance to try some Napa Valley wine, an one-of-a-kind menu (it changes nightly) with dishes such as sautéed filet of Atlantic striped bass with spätzle, ash-baked truffle with Satsuma mandarin, Marcona almonds, sunchoke and petite lettuce.
2.Travail Kitchen, Robbinsdale
The next on our list of tough restaurants to get into in USA is Travail Kitchen.
This little Minneapolis hot spot is known for its huge queues of people in front of it, all waiting to get a table.
With a no-reservation policy, Travail Kitchen has people standing in line outside for hours (in the Minneapolis cold winter), just so they could get a taste of the delicious dishes prepared by the staff.
People even bring their own folding chairs so their wait could be more comfy, while they sit around and expect the restaurant to open.
“Travail is nothing short of a phenomenon. People line up to wait in the dead of Minnesota winter wearing snowmobile suits and facemasks, but it’s worth it because of the fabulous, world-class molecular gastronomy food — at corner diner prices.”
If you manage to go inside, you can enjoy some spiced pumpkin soup with brown butter cotton candy, pepitos and rye bread croutons. Delicious, right?
3.LudoBites, Los Angeles
One of the hardest restaurants to get reservations in US is LudoBites.
And one of the reasons for it is that the restaurant is a touring one, moving around LA, changing its location, around every six weeks.
And to reserve a spot in those 6 weeks might be impossible after as long as a minute, because tables are instantly booked. To get the sense of how hard it actually is, just imagine that in LudoBites’ eight location, approximately 10.000 requests were made in 24 hours.
And there are just 550 seats available. So the lucky small percent of people probably felt like their dream came true.
The official website where you can get an open table crashed because more than 150.000 requests were coming along in a really short amount of time.
“Running LudoBites is both exciting and beyond stressful all at once. With each iteration the demand continues to grow, which also means that the number of people who actually get reservations is reduced, and hence the expectation of the experience continues to get higher each time.”
But if you do get in, you experience will be amazing, with menus that change more often that its location, and include dishes such as uni (sea urchin) crème brulee, boat scallops with leek, potato and black truffles.
4.Talula’s Table, Philadelphia
The next restaurant that is hard to get into is Talula’s Table, in Philadelphia.
With only 12 seats available, Talula’s Table has one of the longest waiting lists out there. If you REALLY want to get in, make sure you have a lot of patience, because you need to book your place one year in advance.
If you are on the waiting list it might be longer than a year until you will actually be able to enjoy the Talula’s Table experience.
“Beyond proud for sure, but we take it really seriously. We want our guests to remember it forever. Our staff puts the most incredible talent and heart in it daily. It really is a magical thing to be part of.”
If you are one of the lucky ones, you can enjoy the $100 tasting menu that changes seasonally. Delicious dishes include halibut with preserved lemon, grapefruit gelee, olive oil mousse, Marcona almonds and romaine.
If you are a fan of cheese, there’s a cheese course as well, so be ready to dive in!
5.Next, Chicago
One of the most interesting experiences is offered by Next, one of the best restaurants in Chicago.
With an unique ticket-based service, Next had all its tables booked right since the day it opened. The meals can take up to 5 hours, and they are the event of the evening.
The website where you can get the tickets crashed at some point, because of the huge number of requests, so just imagine how many people want to get their ticket!
But if you can’t make it to dinner, you simply lose your spot.
“If you can’t make a play or a Bears game you don’t call the venue and tell them your wife isn’t feeling well or the baby sitter no-showed. You simply miss the event.”
With 29-courses meals, make sure you enjoy the molecular gastronomy that serves gorgonzola balloons, smoke foam and carrot air with coconut milk.
6.The Catbird Seat, Nashville
Next on our list is The Catbird Seat.
With only 32 seats, this interesting restaurant will offer you an amazing dining experience because of its set-up. The seats are surrounding an U-shaped kitchen, so you get to see the food cooked in front of you.
Make sure you call at least 1 month before to make a reservation, because it’s not so easy to get in.
“It’s high-end cuisine that doesn’t feel pretentious. I think that comfort they feel is a really neat juxtaposition of fine dining and easy-going hospitality.”
If you get you spot at a table, don’t ask for the menu because there isn’t one. Each course is a surprise, and for $100 you will get the seven course tasting menu that changes nightly, and includes dishes such as porcini mushrooms Oreos with parmesan cream, and malted cream with chicory gel and dark chocolate pistachio crisp.
So enjoy your surprise!
7.Chef’s Table, Brooklyn Fare, Brooklyn
Another tough restaurant to get into in the US is Chef’s Table.
With only 18 seats, Chef’s Table is not located in the usual glitzy spot, but in Brooklyn. But with 3 Michelin stars, we can pretty much agree that this is a fancy spot.
The reservations are made 6 weeks before, and only on Mondays, starting 10:30. That is the time to call in and book your spot for the sixth week coming. But make sure you call fast, because in less than an hour and a half all the spots are booked.
The only problem is that you have to book in pairs of 2 or 4, so make sure you choose your party right. If you are one of the lucky ones to get in, be sure you are privileged, because more than 1000 requests are made per week.
For $225 you get the 20+ course menu, which is a big secret, the restaurant not allowing people to take pictures.
8.Prime 112, Miami Beach
Next on our list of hard restaurants to book a reservation is Prime 112.
The fancy steakhouse has been booked solid since the day they opened, so success came pretty much easy. And even if all the spots are filled, people are willing to stay and wait for no-shows up to even 3 hours.
This only shows how respected and prestigious the restaurant is.
“We are one of the most popular restaurants in the country and not to sound self-promoting, Prime 112 has a local, national and international following.”
Apart from the full steak menu, Prime 112 has dishes that include sesame crusted Hawaiian big eye tuna with a crispy ginger rice ball, wasabi sauce & sweet soy.
And if you want a delicious desert go for the chocolate peanut butter s’mores or the fried oreos!
9.é by José Andrés, Las Vegas
One of the most difficult restaurants to get a reservation at is é by José Andrés.
Hidden inside Jaleo in the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Vegas Strip, é by José Andrés has only 8 seats available, twice a night, at 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
The restaurant is opened from Wednesday until Sunday, and you can book your spot via email, one month in advance. If you make it, you get a golden ticket in the mail that will confirm your spot.
“I want é by José Andrés to be a discovery, to be a journey. I want people to find it, and be astonished.”
There are no menus, and the meals are prepared in front you, so you get to enjoy the cooking and dining experience. For $160 you will get 20+ small courses, that in the past have included smoky oysters with onion confit and toasted honey air, gold dusted beet jewelry and a nitrogen almond cup topped with caviar.
José Andrés owns minibar (in Washington) as well, which has even less seats, 6 to be more exact, that are booked within 15 minutes since the line is opened for reservations.
10.Komi, Washington D.C.
And the last on our list, one of the hardest restaurants to get a reservation in US is Komi.
Located in Waschington D.C., Komi is pleased to announce everyone that the president Barack Obama and the First Lady have dined there.
But I bet they didn’t have to book one month in advance! Komi’s booking policy expects you to book exactly one month before, and the number of people in your party can’t exceed 4.
So think well, and choose wisely, because only you and 3 of your friends will have the opportunity to get in (if you’re lucky enough).
The Greek inspired menu offers at least 10 courses for around $135, and it includes fried spanakopita with a liquid center, trout caviar with leek and frozen baklava.
These were the hardest restaurant to get a reservation in US!
