The hardest tables in New York City — and how to actually get them

57 near-impossible reservations and 39 more beloved rooms, each vetted against real critics. We watch the ones that never have availability and alert you the second a table for two opens up.

Every spot below is endorsed by a named critic or publication — never Yelp, Google reviews, or SEO listicles.

• Carbone

  ●●●●●
  Greenwich Village · Italian · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Don Angie

  ●●●●●
  West Village · Italian-American · $$$ · OpenTable
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on OpenTable

• Torrisi

  ●●●●●
  Nolita · Italian · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• 4 Charles Prime Rib

  ●●●●●
  West Village · Steakhouse · $$$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• The Polo Bar

  ●●●●●
  Midtown · American · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Atomix

  ●●●●●
  NoMad · Korean Tasting Menu · $$$$ · Tock
  3:00 PM ET · monthly drop
  Vetted by MichelinWorld's 50 Best
  Book on Tock

• Via Carota

  ●●●●○
  West Village · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on Resy

• Lilia

  ●●●●○
  Williamsburg · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on Resy

• Rao's

  ●●●●●
  East Harlem · Italian · $$$$ · Invitation Only

• The Corner Store

  ●●●●●
  SoHo · American · $$$$ · SevenRooms
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms

• Tatiana

  ●●●●●
  Upper West Side · Afro-Caribbean · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Cote Korean Steakhouse

  ●●●●○
  Flatiron · Korean BBQ / Steakhouse · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Le Bernardin

  ●●●●○
  Midtown West · French Seafood · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by MichelinEater NY
  Book on Resy

• Le Veau d'Or

  ●●●●○
  Upper East Side · French Bistro · $$$$ · OpenTable
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on OpenTable

• The Four Horsemen

  ●●●●○
  Williamsburg · New American / Wine Bar · $$$ · Resy
  7:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by MichelinEater NY
  Book on Resy

• Ha's Snack Bar

  ●●●●○
  East Village · French-Vietnamese · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Aquavit

  ●●●○○
  Midtown East · Nordic · $$$$ · Tock
  3:00 PM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Aska

  ●●●●○
  Williamsburg, Brooklyn · Nordic Tasting · $$$$ · OpenTable
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on OpenTable

• Atera

  ●●●●○
  Tribeca · New American Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Atoboy

  ●●●○○
  NoMad · Korean · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Au Cheval

  ●●●●○
  Tribeca · American Diner · $$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Balthazar

  ●●●○○
  SoHo · French Brasserie · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · weekly drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on Resy

• Bird Dog

  ●●●○○
  West Village · Italian-Southern · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Bonnie's

  ●●●●○
  Williamsburg · Cantonese-American · $$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Buvette

  ●●●○○
  West Village · French · $$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Charlie Bird

  ●●●○○
  SoHo · Italian-American · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Ci Siamo

  ●●●○○
  Hudson Yards · Italian · $$$ · SevenRooms
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms

• Claud

  ●●●●○
  East Village · European · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on Resy

• COQODAQ

  ●●●●○
  Flatiron · Korean Fried Chicken · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Corner Bar

  ●●●●○
  Lower East Side · American · $$$ · OpenTable
  5:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on OpenTable

• Cosme

  ●●●●○
  Flatiron · Mexican · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Crown Shy

  ●●●○○
  Financial District · New American · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Dame

  ●●●●○
  West Village · British Seafood · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Daniel

  ●●●●○
  Upper East Side · French · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Dhamaka

  ●●●●●
  Lower East Side · Indian · $$$ · SevenRooms
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms

• Eleven Madison Park

  ●●●●●
  Flatiron · Contemporary American / Plant-Forward Tasting · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Estela

  ●●●●○
  Nolita · New American · $$$ · Website
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Website

• Foxface Natural

  ●●●●○
  East Village · Seafood · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Frenchette

  ●●●○○
  Tribeca · French Brasserie · $$$ · Website
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Website

• Frevo

  ●●●●○
  Greenwich Village · French Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  2:00 PM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Gabriel Kreuther

  ●●●●○
  Midtown · French Alsatian · $$$$ · Tock
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Gramercy Tavern

  ●●●●○
  Gramercy · New American · $$$ · Website
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Website

• i Sodi

  ●●●●●
  West Village · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Indian Accent

  ●●●○○
  Midtown West · Indian · $$$ · OpenTable
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on OpenTable

• Ito

  ●●●●○
  Tribeca · Sushi Tasting / Omakase · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Jean-Georges

  ●●●○○
  Columbus Circle · French · $$$$ · Tock
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Jua

  ●●●○○
  Flatiron · Korean Tasting · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Keens Steakhouse

  ●●●○○
  Midtown · Steakhouse · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Kono

  ●●●○○
  Chinatown · Yakitori Omakase · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Kosaka

  ●●●○○
  West Village · Sushi Omakase · $$$$ · Tock
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• l'abeille

  ●●●○○
  Tribeca · French-Japanese Tasting · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• L'Artusi

  ●●●●○
  West Village · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Laser Wolf

  ●●●○○
  Williamsburg · Israeli · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Le Coucou

  ●●●●○
  SoHo · French · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Le Jardinier

  ●●●○○
  Midtown East · French Vegetable-Forward · $$$ · SevenRooms
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on SevenRooms

• Le Pavillon

  ●●●○○
  Midtown East · French · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Le Rock

  ●●●●○
  Rockefeller Center · French Brasserie · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Manhatta

  ●●●○○
  Financial District · New American · $$$ · SevenRooms
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms

• Marea

  ●●●○○
  Central Park South · Italian Seafood · $$$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Mari

  ●●●○○
  Hell's Kitchen · Korean Tasting / Handroll Omakase · $$$ · Website
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Website

• Masa

  ●●●●●
  Columbus Circle · Sushi Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  9:00 AM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Minetta Tavern

  ●●●●○
  Greenwich Village · French Bistro · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Misi

  ●●●●○
  Williamsburg · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Nakaji

  ●●●○○
  Chinatown · Edomae Sushi Omakase · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Naks

  ●●●●○
  East Village · Filipino · $$$ · SevenRooms
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms

• Noda

  ●●●○○
  NoMad · Sushi Omakase · $$$$ · Tock
  3:00 PM ET · monthly drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Noz 17

  ●●●●○
  Chelsea · Sushi Omakase · $$$$ · SevenRooms
  10:00 AM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on SevenRooms

• Odo

  ●●●○○
  Flatiron · Sushi Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  9:00 AM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Oiji Mi

  ●●●○○
  Flatiron · Korean · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• One White Street

  ●●●●○
  Tribeca · New American · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Oxomoco

  ●●●○○
  Greenpoint, Brooklyn · Mexican · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Pasquale Jones

  ●●●○○
  Nolita · Italian / Wood-fired Pizza · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Pastis

  ●●●○○
  Meatpacking District · French Brasserie · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Per Se

  ●●●●●
  Columbus Circle · French Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  2:00 PM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Peter Luger

  ●●●○○
  Williamsburg · Steakhouse · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Raf's

  ●●●●○
  Nolita · French-Italian · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Raoul's

  ●●●○○
  SoHo · French Bistro · $$$ · Resy
  8:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Rezdôra

  ●●●●●
  Flatiron · Italian (Emilia-Romagna) · $$$ · Website
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Website

• Rubirosa

  ●●●●○
  Nolita · Italian · $$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Saga

  ●●●●○
  Financial District · New American Tasting · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · calendar-month drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Sailor

  ●●●○○
  Fort Greene · New American · $$$ · OpenTable
  11:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on OpenTable

• Saint Theo's

  ●●●○○
  Williamsburg · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Sartiano's

  ●●●●○
  SoHo · Italian · $$$$ · Phone
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Phone

• Scarpetta

  ●●●○○
  NoMad · Italian · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Semma

  ●●●●●
  Greenwich Village · South Indian · $$$ · SevenRooms
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on SevenRooms

• Shukette

  ●●●○○
  Chelsea · Middle Eastern · $$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• St. Anselm

  ●●●○○
  Williamsburg · Steakhouse · $$$ · Resy
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• Sushi Nakazawa

  ●●●●○
  West Village · Sushi Omakase · $$$$ · Resy
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Resy

• Sushi Noz

  ●●●●○
  Upper East Side · Sushi Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Tempura Matsui

  ●●●○○
  Murray Hill · Tempura Omakase · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 AM (Midnight) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• The Grill

  ●●●○○
  Midtown East · American Chophouse · $$$$ · Resy
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on Resy

• The Modern

  ●●●○○
  Midtown · New American · $$$$ · Website
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Website

• Yoshino

  ●●●●○
  NoHo · Sushi Tasting · $$$$ · Tock
  12:00 PM (Noon) ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Michelin
  Book on Tock

• Adda

  ●●●●●
  East Village · Indian · $$$ · SevenRooms
  9:00 AM ET · daily drop
  Vetted by Eater NY
  Book on SevenRooms

• Ramen by Ra

  ●●●●●
  East Village · Ramen · $$$ · Resy
  9:00 AM ET · twice-monthly drop Book on Resy

• Or'esh

  ●●●●●
  SoHo · Mediterranean · $$$$ · SevenRooms
  10:00 AM ET · daily drop Book on SevenRooms