New York: 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.


The spread at Laser Wolf in Brooklyn.

The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Laser Wolf in Brooklyn

When Laser Wolf opened on the rooftop of Williamsburg’s Hoxton hotel in May, it quickly became one of the city’s…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Double Chicken Please

What started as a pop-up bar in a 1970’s Volkswagen camper van traveling across the country is now one of…

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A spread of dishes and wine from Claud

The One Who Keeps the Book

How To Get Into Claud in New York’s East Village

If you happen to be walking down East 10th Street, you might miss Claud. It’s downstairs, for one thing, and…

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The bar at Dhamaka

The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into New York’s Dhamaka

When Dhamaka first opened in the Essex Street Market in March 2021, the spot’s sister restaurants, Adda and Rahi (now…

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The Nines opened in January and it's since become one of the hardest-to-get-into supper club and piano bars in the entire city.

The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into The Nines, and What to Order Once You’re There

After a turbulent past two years, one of the most sought-after places these days is a spot that gives New…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Balthazar — And Why It’s Still Packed 25 Years Later

Not many restaurants make it to 25 years, and even fewer are as perpetually packed as Balthazar has been from…

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

The One Who Keeps the Book

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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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get into New York’s Ci Siamo, and What to Order

The latest opening from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, Ci Siamo (which translates to “here we are” or “we’ve…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

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

Scoring a table at Rezdôra, the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in the Flatiron District has become one of the most prized…

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The ricotta pasta from Saint Theo's.

The One Who Keeps the Book

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

Saint Theo’s in the West Village has only been open for five months, but it’s already one of the hardest…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

What to Order at Kokomo (and How to Get a Table There)

Williamsburg’s hardest-to-get-into venue isn’t some nightlife hotspot. In fact, it’s a restaurant. We’re talking about Kokomo, the perpetually packed dinner…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

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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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Cucina Alba

Freshly milled grains are the star of the delectable pastas and breads you’ll find at Cucina Alba, the latest restaurant…

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The dining room at Shukette.

The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Shukette


Since opening in the summer of 2021, Shukette has quickly become one of New York’s most lauded restaurants (especially among…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Double Chicken Please

What started as a pop-up bar in a 1970’s Volkswagen camper van traveling across the country is now one of…

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The dining room at Tatiana, By Kwame Onwuachi

The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Tatiana

James Beard Award-winning chef and cookbook author Kwame Onwuachi has covered a lot of ground since his “Top Chef” appearance…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Holiday Bar

Located on a prime corner in New York’s West Village is Holiday Bar, the latest spot from restaurateur Kyle Hotchkiss…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Semma

Despite its name, the crew at Unapologetic Foods, the restaurant group behind New York hits Dhamaka, Masalawala & Sons, Rowdy…

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A spread of dishes and wine from Claud

The One Who Keeps the Book

How To Get Into Claud in New York’s East Village

If you happen to be walking down East 10th Street, you might miss Claud. It’s downstairs, for one thing, and…

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The One Who Keeps the Book

How to Get Into Barbuto

Since Barbuto first opened in 2004, scoring a table at Jonathan Waxman’s restaurant has been considered a treasured feat by…

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