All Cities: The One Who Keeps the Book

Welcome back to The One Who Keeps The Book, a regular series that aims to answer all the most important of questions about how to get into a restaurant. The first answer is Resy, of course. But every restaurant manages its tables differently and there are always tips, tricks, and shortcuts to be discovered. So here, we go straight to the source to get them for you.


Diners feasting on pasta at Lilia.

New York

How to Get Into Lilia

Ask any New Yorker which restaurant they’ve always wanted to go to but have struggled to get a reservation for,…

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Mandolin chicken dish

Miami

How to Snag a Table at Mandolin Aegean Bistro, and What to Order

For more than a decade, Mandolin Aegean Bistro has been a whimsical beacon of fresh, housemade fare and warm hospitality.…

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Charleston

How To Get Into FIG in Charleston

Ask anyone who’s ever dined in Charleston where to eat, and FIG is bound to be name-dropped. A leader of…

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Elephante

Los Angeles

How to Score a Table at Élephante in Santa Monica (Even During Sunset)

In a lot of ways, Élephante is a transporting experience. For one, you take an elevator to get to the…

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Getting to know our staff, on an actual, real human level is honestly probably the best way to get a table. Jorie Morales, general manager of L’Artusi

Atlanta

How to Score a Table at BoccaLupo, Atlanta’s Palace of Pasta

Jason Furst, general manager at BoccaLupo, jokingly calls himself a “reservations systems nerd.” That’s not a bad type of nerd…

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Dallas

How to Get Into Lucia in Dallas

Who in Dallas hasn’t heard of Lucia? Since opening in 2010, Jennifer and David Uygur’s small Bishop Arts restaurant has…

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Chicago

How To Nab a Seat at Monteverde, and What To Order Once You’re In

No one does pasta like Monteverde does, and everybody seems to know it. The West Loop Italian charmer has cultivated…

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Los Angeles

How to Get a Table At Ka’teen, Wes Avila’s Latest Hit Restaurant

Is it possible that everyone in L.A. is vacationing in Tulum right now, or are they all just dining at…

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Houston

How to Get Into Hidden Omakase

Like all great things, securing a seat at Hidden Omakase requires some work. First, you’ll need to find the restaurant: Concealed…

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A spread of dishes from Dame, one of the hardest reservations to get in all of New York right now.

New York

How to Get Into New York’s Dame, and What to Order

Ever since Dame transitioned from pop-up to permanent restaurant in June 2021, it’s been one of New York’s hardest reservations…

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Los Angeles

How to Get Into Taco María, Southern California’s Acclaimed Mexican Restaurant

In the ten years since Taco María first opened, the Costa Mesa restaurant has earned itself a Michelin star, been…

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Chicago

How to Get Into Armitage Alehouse, Lincoln Park’s Poshest Pub

Lincoln Park’s Armitage Alehouse has one of the headiest vibes in a town full of heady vibes, nailing the sweet…

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New York

How to Get Into Foul Witch, and What to Expect While You’re There

In the early years of Roberta’s, the restaurant felt like a wild space where anything might happen behind that cinder…

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London

What To Expect at Rambutan, London’s Buzziest Sri Lankan Restaurant

Following the publication of her acclaimed Sri Lankan cookbook of the same name, chef Cynthia Shanmugalingam premiered her first restaurant…

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London

How To Get Into Kurisu Omakase

Named after his Japanese name, Kurisu Omakase offers a sensorial omakase experience drawing from the Thai-Colombian heritage of Tokyo-trained chef…

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London

How To Get Into Ikoyi, One of London’s Most Exciting Restaurants Right Now

Welcome to The One Who Keeps the Book, a regular series that aims to answer the question that matters most,…

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London

“Bring a Bottle For The Kitchen.” How to Do FKA Black Axe Mangal Right

Introducing The One Who Keeps the Book, a regular series that aims to answer the question that matters most, “How…

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Miami

Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Table at Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe’s Stone Crab is a South Florida icon and a destination for tourists and locals alike. For generations, getting a…

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Le Diplomate's booths.

Washington D.C.

How to Get Into Le Diplomate, and What to Order Once You’re There

Is it too late to wish Le Diplomate a very happy 10th birthday? What is arguably D.C.’s most cherished French brasserie,…

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San Francisco

How to Score a Table at Penny Roma

Perhaps you’ve recently partaken in the glory that is the multi-hour pasta tasting menu at Flour + Water, and now…

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