DiningBuzz! - Finest restaurants that are reasonably bookable on short notice

Title kinds of says it all. I travel quite extensively on short notice to many of the capitols/larger cities in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, so often find my request for last minute reservations at nice restaurants unaccommodatable. For example, I am headed to London and Washington DC in the next couple of weeks and am having no luck getting a reservation at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (London) or Komi's (DC) on short notice. So my question is, what are the most highly rated restaurants that are reservation-friendly for short notice travelers? For example, what about the Fat Duck? I did manage to get a reservation at Murano in London, so maybe that is the first entry on my list.

I'll keep the list handy when I travel. I'm fairly price insensitive and love to eat/drink, so looking for the finest dining experiences I can find without having to plan ahead.

I was looking on OpenTable an hour ago for reservations tonight (Saturday) in Chicago and saw that tables at Charlie Trotter's (2 Michelin stars) and L2O (3 Michelin stars, granted the chef quit a couple days before the award was announced) were available. In fact, I see both with some frequency on OpenTable.

I can't give any specifics, but if you're staying at a hotel with a reasonably competent concierge, virtually any restaurant should be bookable.

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I can't give any specifics, but if you're staying at a hotel with a reasonably competent concierge, virtually any restaurant should be bookable.

That has not been my experience at really busy places.

I think the new Alain Ducasse restaurant in NY and also Le Bernardin are not too bad.

I have always had success with concierges outside of my home town. However, it always amazes me how successful I am in securing an "impossible" reservation via Open Table. (most often at the last minute)

My credit card concierge service is presently batting 100% at being able to get "impossible" dinner reservations on short notice, though for the really hard places I call personally. I've noticed that in the past 2 years it has become far easier to get a booking at the top places -- GFC has its benefits! Also repeat guests are often accomodated preferentially, at least in Europe.

But, some of the best food is not at those "highly rated" restaurants. Especially when traveling, and lighter meals are desirable at times. Some really great flavours and food quality can be found in cheap neighbourhood places, often best found by walking around and trusting your nose. That's how I found Le Bernardin (before it became famous and 5-star rated).

But, some of the best food is not at those "highly rated" restaurants. Especially when traveling, and lighter meals are desirable at times. Some really great flavours and food quality can be found in cheap neighbourhood places, often best found by walking around and trusting your nose. That's how I found Le Bernardin (before it became famous and 5-star rated).

You do have a point. I wandered into the Rustic Stone in Dublin a couple of weeks ago and thought it was really good, much better than the reviews it has gotten on Trip Advisor. On the other hand, we went to a nice restaurant in Hollywood last year, I've forgotten the name already, and thought it was absolutely ordinary.

My credit card concierge service is presently batting 100% at being able to get "impossible" dinner reservations on short notice, though for the really hard places I call personally.
I was about to bring up the credit card route.

If you are an Amex Centurion Card holder, they can get you (almost) anything you ask/desire. Just this Feb, The Black Card got a private charter flight for a billionaire member to escape Egypt and returned home (http://thecenturioncard.com/2011/man-spends-us-102000-00-to-fly-back-from-egypt/). I am sure finding finest restaurants on short notice should be a piece a cake. :D

I was about to bring up the credit card route.

If you are an Amex Centurion Card holder, they can get you (almost) anything you ask/desire. Just this Feb, The Black Card got a private charter flight for a billionaire member to escape Egypt and returned home (http://thecenturioncard.com/2011/man-spends-us-102000-00-to-fly-back-from-egypt/). I am sure finding finest restaurants on short notice should be a piece a cake. :D

This is why I love FlyerTalk. Not sure I could justify the Centurion Card fees and it is invitation only so that might lock me out, but it is a great idea. I'll look into it further though as it looks like there are some tangible benefits that might make the value proposition okay.

Not sure I could justify the Centurion Card fees and it is invitation only so that might lock me out, but it is a great idea. I'll look into it further though as it looks like there are some tangible benefits that might make the value proposition okay.

I thought you were fairly "price insensitive?" :p

Centurion seems to be a touchy subject that I only read few thread over Amex Forum. Here are two for your sampling, in case you want to pursue further:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1213738-centurion-card-what-did-you-buy-hit-spending-requirements.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/973699-anyone-been-declined-cent-card.html

I think there are other CC Concierge Services with similar benefits that can tailor to your needs w/r/t dining reservations. You may want to post in Credit Card Programs/Partners Section (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs-partners-390/) so folks in the know can give you the headsup.

So my question is, what are the most highly rated restaurants that are reservation-friendly for short notice travelers? For example, what about the Fat Duck? I did manage to get a reservation at Murano in London, so maybe that is the first entry on my list.


Let's take London (and the surrounding areas) as an example. A good concierge at a well known hotel will have contacts with the restaurant manager at several well known Michelin starred (and non starred) restaurants.

Depending on his on her personal relationship with the manager, they might be able to secure you either (i) a table that has been cancelled at short notice or (ii) the/one of the few tables within the manager's gift. The latter can depend based on the day of the week, the time of year and general demand.

Restaurants aren't keen to hand out tables in the two categories above to those who randomly ring them. With many restaurants, part of the mystique is based on the difficulty with which 'the public' can secure a reservation. They would much rather pass on these unseen tables to regulars who ring the manager direct (or in some cases, a separate unlisted telephone number) or concierges where they are fairly sure of a high spending customer who tips generously.

The Fat Duck has thirteen tables. Their telephone lines get deluged every morning as people try and book. The reserve list is huge. I can say with some authority that it's virtually impossible to get a last minute reservation there.

Other 2 and 3 star restaurants in London - it's all down to your concierge, be at a 5* hotel or Amex if you are looking for a table on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Sunday-Wednesday you may have some success via Opentable.

Chez Panisse often has "week of" reservations for the downstairs dining room - when the menu is posted for the week, some people cancel if they don't care for that night's offerings.

Eleven Madison Park in NYC maintains a wait list. If reserved tables are not reconfirmed by 11 am, they will dip into the list for substitutes.

If you're going to San Francisco..be sure to think about:

Keep in mind, San Francisco, 1-2 weeks out is considered "fairly easy". If you try to get something 3-4 days out, it's nearly impossible if it's a popular restaurant.

Michael Mina, usually pretty easy to get in.

RN74, Michael Mina's "2nd branch", also easy to get in.

Bourbon Steak, Michael Mina's steakhouse, fairly easy.

La Folie and Acquerello are also pretty reasonable to get into, as long as you're about 1-2 weeks out. If you try within a week, they can be tough.

Marlowe (top 100 in SF) is more casual, but fabulous food and pretty easy to get into.

Commonwealth (also top 100) is not too bad 1 week out if you get the 5pm seating.


Places that are incredibly difficult to get into:

1) Frances. This is probably the hardest place to get into right now in SF. I booked 2 months to the day to get in here. And I got 5:45pm seating.

2) Flour & Water. Nearly as hard as Frances, but just a tad easier. I think I booked 7 weeks in advance, not 8.

That has not been my experience at really busy places.

Then we've had vastly different experiences. I've never been told "no" by a concierge for any restaurant I've asked to try. I don't necessarily get a table at the prime dining hour, but nor have I been seated 15 minutes prior to the closing of the kitchen.

"Tip rating" is sometimes considered by both concierges and restaurants when taking a last-minute booking. It helps if you are known to tip really well, and order expensive wines. Just as pulling up in a Rolls or Ferrari helps with valet parking. Finally a few hotels have suites that come with guaranteed reservations to certain restaurants; you book the suite, you inherit their standing reservation, but that is an expensive way to do it.

If you're going to San Francisco..be sure to think about:

Keep in mind, San Francisco, 1-2 weeks out is considered "fairly easy". If you try to get something 3-4 days out, it's nearly impossible if it's a popular restaurant.

Michael Mina, usually pretty easy to get in.

RN74, Michael Mina's "2nd branch", also easy to get in.

Bourbon Steak, Michael Mina's steakhouse, fairly easy.

La Folie and Acquerello are also pretty reasonable to get into, as long as you're about 1-2 weeks out. If you try within a week, they can be tough.

Marlowe (top 100 in SF) is more casual, but fabulous food and pretty easy to get into.

Commonwealth (also top 100) is not too bad 1 week out if you get the 5pm seating.


Places that are incredibly difficult to get into:

1) Frances. This is probably the hardest place to get into right now in SF. I booked 2 months to the day to get in here. And I got 5:45pm seating.

2) Flour & Water. Nearly as hard as Frances, but just a tad easier. I think I booked 7 weeks in advance, not 8.

This is great info.

Any suggestions for DC/NOVA? Currently on a two week assignment.

Places that are incredibly difficult to get into:

1) Frances. This is probably the hardest place to get into right now in SF. I booked 2 months to the day to get in here. And I got 5:45pm seating.

2) Flour & Water. Nearly as hard as Frances, but just a tad easier. I think I booked 7 weeks in advance, not 8.

I agree that these are difficult, but I've had just the opposite - I've scored two same day reservations at Frances (both for after 10 pm, but that's good for me on weekend nights), and never had luck at Flour & Water. Frances is one of my favorites in SF right now - I've been four times: once before it was reviewed (and easy to get into), once on a walk in at the bar, and twice on same day reservations from Open Table. The food is much higher quality than the prices indicate.

To the OP: in NYC, Momofuku Ko is one of those places that can have last minute availability. On my last trip to NY, I managed to snag a reservation for two while connecting in DEN. I regularly see stuff for the following night appear and then disappear fairly quickly.

Back in the Bay Area, Manresa can be bookable on short notice, and it's one of my favorite restaurants in the U.S.

Thank you for your SF recommendations - we've secured tables at both Chez Panisse and Frances for our Big Giant Expensive Holiday at the end of September. I am ever so, rather so, completely excited!!! :D

Happily accepting recommendations now for Las Vegas (we celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary when we're there) and New York ;)

Another SF recommendation: Commonwealth, which is not difficult to get into right now and has some of the most interesting food in the city. It reminds me a lot of Frances with somewhat more creative dishes, and there is a multi-course tasting menu. Great place.

Edited to add: I see that SFflyer123 has this on his or her list, so I'll just add my voice to the chorus.

concierge services and luxury hotel concierges can be of real help here

concierge services and luxury hotel concierges can be of real help here

For the hotel concierge, particularly if this is the first visit to the hotel, what is the appropriate tip?

For the hotel concierge, particularly if this is the first visit to the hotel, what is the appropriate tip?What city, hotel and service? Within the US my rule of thumb is $20 minimum (or don't tip at all), though my really great concierges get no cash tips, instead I give them something far more valuable (tips as in info and contacts). In Vegas you pretty much have to be in Franklin territory for it to be worthwhile (>$100).

I was looking on OpenTable an hour ago for reservations tonight (Saturday) in Chicago and saw that tables at Charlie Trotter's (2 Michelin stars) and L2O (3 Michelin stars, granted the chef quit a couple days before the award was announced) were available. In fact, I see both with some frequency on OpenTable.

I would save your money on Charlie Trotter's --$600 for 2 including a decent bottle of wine and mandatory service charge for a highly mediocre dining experience, from the quality of the food to the non-existent service.

Not all luxury hotel concierge are equal in ability -- even if they are Clefs D'Or.... if you find a great Concierge I would do anything possible to maintain that relationship. A great Concierge has fantastic networks in that particular region AND in other cities and regions.

in the suburbs in my area would be the HoHokus inn a very expensive restaurant and the Saddle river inn. these restaurants are very expensive and can be very difficult to get into on last minutes notice.

My experience is that it makes a big difference what day of the week you are looking for. Saturday nights may be booked a month or two in advance but mid-week could be available same day. It also depends on the time - obviously very early or very late is more available than between 7 and 8 pm.