BigSpender-
My experience booking through Fine Dining/Hot Plates has been that they've been able to get me some requested reservations, other times have had no luck. Whether this is a function of Amex's ability remains unclear. My post was based on talking with the restaurant manager I know who told me that although they are part of Hot Plates, they do not "reserve" a table every day for Amex as the program claims. What I wonder is if some top restaurants realize that a Centurion card holder might be more likely to order really expensive bottles of wine, and thus sneak in a reservation on a full night, which has led to some peoples success booking. Or I wonder if it is particular concierges who know how to play up that expense angle? I just don't know if I fully believe that the program actually has a table available every day at each restaurant they list for Amex's exclusive guarantee.