Latest news with #Resy
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2Fshare_image_2048x2048-53c462d9eb504718860c7c514b6ce475.png&w=3840&q=100)
23-05-2025
Martha Stewart Just Revealed Her Favorite Food Country—and Why She's Never Going Back Again
Martha Stewart has a standout favorite destination, but she says she never plans on going back to this place again. In fact, Stewart says that she never likes to visit the same place twice, preferring to branch out to a new destination instead. Martha Stewart is just like the rest of us when it comes to travel. We all have our favorite destinations we love to rave about, along with a list of destinations we likely will never bother going to again. The only difference for Stewart is that she feels those two things for one single place. During a recent event to celebrate the launch of Resy's Dream Team Dinners, which pairs chefs with their dream collaborators, Stewart told our friends at People that Japan is her favorite travel destination "by far." And, naturally, it's all thanks to the fantastic food you can get all over the nation. "I could probably eat a fish tartare every day," Stewart said. "I would probably change the fish from day to day, like between fluke and flounder and tuna and hake. Anything ultra fresh. That would be very good." Still, Stewart noted that she'll likely never return again. But her reasoning is actually pretty solid. "I don't travel back to places anymore," Stewart said. "There are still so many places I must see that I don't like revisiting places. Although I do have a trip to Sydney coming up, and I've been there before, after my speaking engagement, we're going to do some sightseeing, see some really good stuff, and make it an adventure." Though this isn't the first time Stewart has shared her travel secrets. In 2024, she sat down with Travel + Leisure to share a few more of her on-the-go must-haves, including her favorite travel hack: an airport greeter. "I pretty much always insist on having a greeter [at the airport.] A greeter is my big travel luxury if I am traveling commercial because that greeter facilitates a lot and makes it much, much easier," she shared. They are worth the money and I'm always traveling with other people. It makes it very exciting for all of us." Stewart also spilled one very fun plane tradition: "We always take playing cards on most trips. It's so much fun to play cards." And naturally, she has some pretty over-the-top go-to plane snacks, too, because, c'mon, this is Martha Stewart we're talking about. "I will take homemade yogurt," she shared. "If it's a long trip, I'll take a can of caviar, some brioche." If only one day, she'd let me be her plus-one. See her full interview on T+L, which includes her sharing one of her all-time favorite hotels, here.
Eater
23-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Illinois Third-Party Reservation Ban Bill Awaits Gov. Pritzker's Approval
Illinois Senators have approved a proposal that would ban the sale of restaurant reservations by third parties (the black market). The bill, which was passed by the House in April, now awaits Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's signature. The Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act was unanimously passed with 58 votes on Thursday, May 22. The Illinois bill is modeled after a New York policy signed into law in December. The measure seemingly targets Appointment Trader, a website where users sell reservations to trendy restaurants. Lawmakers contend users deploy bots on sites like OpenTable and Resy to scoop up desirable times before customers can book tables. Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke says the difficulty in finding reservations at restaurants like Armitage Alehouse led her to introduce the legislation in February in Springfield. Appointment Trader was mentioned in a press release sent by Croke, while a release from the bill's sponsor in the Senate, Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, included words of support from Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia. Appointment Trader founder Jonas Frey previously told Eater that his company already takes the necessary steps to keep users employing bots off the site. Third-party sales complicate matters if no one purchases a reservation posted for sale online; a restaurant is left with an empty table that appears reserved. No-shows mean wasted labor and food costs that hurt restaurants' bottom lines. The issue became noteworthy after a New Yorker story shared the tale of a Brown University student who made $80,000 by selling reservations. No-shows have long been an issue for restaurants and have led to the rise of prepaid meals. The business practice was pioneered by Tock, a reservation platform founded in 2014 in Chicago as a way for Michelin-starred Alinea to book tables and ensure customers took on the financial risk of reserving. Diners were skeptical about prepaying for a meal. But in 2025, it's more of an accepted practice with restaurants looking for ways to mitigate rising costs five years after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Tock was sold to American Express for $400 million. There's money to be made in the world of reservations. The New York Times reports how the platforms have been throwing money at restaurants, hoping they'll join their listings. American Express also owns Resy, and Visa has a partnership with OpenTable in which certain credit card holders gain exclusive access to hot restaurants. Frey from Appointment Trader argues that lobbyists from credit card companies have been behind the surge in efforts to make his website illegal. Beyond Illinois, there are also bills in California, Florida, and Nevada. The credit companies disagree that they're the catalysts behind the measures, saying that they're merely protecting the interests of their partner restaurants. Sign up for our newsletter.
Axios
23-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
A 5pm dinner rez in SF? Obviously
Compared to the rest of the country, 5 o'clock dinners in San Francisco are much more popular. Why it matters: Eating earlier in the day supports your body's natural clock — boosting metabolism and improving sleep, experts say. By the numbers: 19.8% of Resy reservations were made during the 5 o'clock hour in 2024, according to Resy data shared with Axios. That's the time slot with the biggest discrepancy from national data — which has also shifted earlier since pre-pandemic times. Between the lines: If you have a later dinner, but eat the same amount, "that by itself leads to an increase in cravings, changes in appetite hormones and fewer calories burnt across the waking hours," Frank Scheer, Harvard Medical School professor and Medical Chronobiology Program director, told Axios. The intrigue: Even during simulated night shifts, eating during the day could benefit heart health, per a new study coauthored by Scheer.
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Time Out
These apps are turning restaurant reservations into a lifestyle flex
Booking dinner used to involve talking to another human. Now, it involves avoiding one. Because apps. You open OpenTable or Resy, pick your time slot and let the algorithm decide your night. Congratulations, you've made a reservation without accidentally speaking to a human being. Restaurant reservation apps have fully embedded themselves into the American going-out experience, especially among people who flinch at the idea of calling someone. Gen Z and Millennials live on these apps. Gen X uses them too, but mostly to avoid being the one stuck making the call. Boomers still ask, 'Can't we just walk in?' Restaurants love the crowd control but hate the fees. And the apps themselves? Useful, yes. But like everything in late-stage capitalism, they come with strings—fees, flakiness and an ongoing contribution to the death of human interaction. Let's see how it all breaks down. OpenTable – Reliable with Boomer-proof buttons Best for: Group dinners, date nights, or booking a place your parents picked Who uses it: Boomers, group organizers Why we love it: OpenTable is the Toyota Camry of reservation apps; it's everywhere, it's reliable, it's easy to use and it looks just dated enough to make it feel legit. You can rack up points, modify reservations easily and the confirmation emails arrive faster than you can text 'on my way.' Room for improvement: It's the Amazon of dining apps—ubiquitous and super convenient, but a little too transactional. Best for: Trendy spots, natural wine bars, tasting menus Who uses it: Cool people, foodies, people with tote bags Why we love it: The UX is slick, the branding is curated and it makes us feel like we got invited to a speakeasy even if it's just a pasta dinner. It also has a feature that tells you when to book for hard-to-get spots. Room for improvement: Not all restaurants use it, and the 'Notify' list can feel like sitting in a waiting room, minus your mom's magazines. Use it if: You say 'vibe check' unironically or go to restaurants for the lighting. Where to find it: Apple App Store, Google Play Store Yelp Reservations – Yes, they're a thing Best for: Last-minute tables you stumble upon while Googling Who uses it: Hungover bruncers, map scrollers Why we love it: It's accidentally useful—like finding $5 in your coat pocket—thanks to its Google Maps integration. While seeing what's around, you can now book directly from search results, which means that yes, you can find a brunch spot while half-dressed and hungover. Room for improvement: If the restaurant uses Yelp Reservations, great, you're in. If not, prepare to casually spend an hour convincing yourself you need to try six new places rather than the others on your list. Use it if: You're already on Google Maps and your friends are all 'whatever's nearby.' Where to find it: Apple App Store, Google Play Store Toast Tables – The new kid with a trust fund Best for: Spots that already use Toast for payments Who uses it: Restaurant regulars, tech-friendly folks Why we love it: Toast already powers tons of restaurant systems, so the transition into reservations was inevitable. If you like when your check and your table booking come from the same source, this is for you. Room for improvement: The interface isn't always pretty and you probably didn't know it was an app. Use it if: You're already using Toast when you split the bill—might as well make it official. Where to find it: Apple App Store, Google Play Store SevenRooms – The one your favorite restaurant secretly swears by Best for: Hospitality-forward spots, indie darlings, restaurants that don't want to get extorted by OpenTable Who uses it: Hospitality nerds, restaurant insiders Why we love it: SevenRooms isn't flashy and doesn't bother with loyalty points or sleek UX. It gives restaurants control over guest data and the full experience—translation: better treatment, less middleman noise. Room for improvement: You often don't know you're using it because the restaurant handles the whole thing on its site. It's the stealth mode of reservation tech. Use it if: You've ever been mysteriously remembered by name or seated at 'your usual,' you've probably used SevenRooms. Respect it. Where to find it: Apple App Store, Google Play Store Tock – The one that makes you pay before you even show up Best for: Fancy tasting menus, high-commitment dining, places where bread costs extra Who uses it: Anyone who's ever uttered 'we prepaid for the experience' with pride Why we love it: Tock wants you to plan, pay and behave. Prepaid reservations cut down no-shows and make dinner feel like an event. It's great for restaurants that would rather lose your money than your table. Room for improvement: Zero flexibility. Canceling feels like breaking up. Use it if: You want to eat fermented radish foam and don't mind paying for it three weeks in advance. Where to find it: Apple App Store ', Google Play Store Eat App – The underrated one that actually respects restaurants Best for: Real-time updates on your table, because waiting blind is so 2012 Who uses it: Globetrotting food nerds, data-savvy chefs, reservation control freaks Why we love it: Eat App is sleek, efficient and doesn't scream for attention. It helps restaurants manage bookings without losing their brand to a giant platform. Room for improvement: Still growing in the U.S., so don't expect your neighborhood trattoria to be on it. Yet. Use it if: You care how the sausage gets made—literally and digitally. Where to find it: Apple App Store, Google Play Store Most of these apps charge restaurants a fee per booking or per person. That means your 'free' reservation might actually cost the place $1 to $3 just for you to no-show. Multiply that by 10 flaky people and, yeah, it adds up. Some platforms now let restaurants set deposits or prepaid experiences to avoid getting ghosted. Be prepared to put some skin in the game. No-shows: The real villains of the story 1 in 7 reservations never shows. Not cancels. Just ghosts. Like a Tinder date. What that means for the restaurant is lost revenue, empty seats and wasted staff hours. It's the digital version of RSVP-ing 'yes' to brunch and then never getting out of bed. If you can't make it, cancel in the app. It's literally two taps. Be better. Who uses what: Gen Z vs Boomers Gen Z and Millennials are obsessed with convenience, allergic to calls and use some combination of these apps weekly. Boomers still prefer calling and still get annoyed when places are fully booked. Gen X is somewhere in between, and sometimes forgets to cancel. AI is now running your dinner plans Apps. They're growing up right before our eyes. They're integrating AI to predict diner behavior, optimize tables and send smarter reminders. But, just remember that no app can stop your flaky friend from ghosting last-minute or help you decide between two places with identical menus and $18 fries. For now. The future is seamless and maybe a little boring What we want is less friction, more personalization, maybe even an app that figures out who's going to cancel before they do. With OpenTable, Resy and Toast dominating the game, there's less room for innovation. Unless a disruptor jumps in, we're headed for a perfectly optimized but totally predictable dining future. Reservation apps without (and with) borders Outside the U.S., reservation apps are just as essential—only you end up with better bread and less tipping drama. From Tokyo to Madrid, diners are using region-specific platforms to snag tables, skip lines and generally avoid having to call anyone (because Gen Z is Gen Z around the world). Some focus on exclusivity, others on discounts, and a few just quietly run entire dining scenes without needing the spotlight. Here's a look at the apps keeping the rest of the world well-fed and overbooked. TheFork (LaFourchette) A mainstay in Europe and Australia, TheFork does it all—reservations, reviews and the occasional too-good-to-be-true deal. Think of it as OpenTable's chattier, more continent-hopping cousin. Quandoo Efficient and quietly everywhere, Quandoo is big in Germany, Italy and several parts of Asia. It's like a spreadsheet that learned how to make dinner plans. Chope Singapore's go-to for booking everything from rooftop cocktails to hawker-adjacent hotspots. Also popular in Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bangkok where it's basically a lifestyle accessory. Eatigo Offers time-based discounts that reward punctuality—a radical concept in nightlife-loving cities like Bangkok and Hong Kong. Dinner at 5pm? If the price is right, maybe. ResDiary Favored in the UK, Ireland and parts of Australasia, ResDiary is loved by restaurants (customizable and robust with no booking fees) and is what they use when they want solid tech without selling their souls to Silicon Valley. Omakase The polished gatekeeper to Japan's hardest-to-book counters and tasting menus. If you manage to snag a seat, someone probably respects you more now. Tabelog Japan's ultimate combination of restaurant reviews and booking. Equal parts helpful and brutally honest, like a food-obsessed friend who doesn't sugarcoat anything. Restaurant reservation apps aren't going anywhere. They're fast, efficient and absolutely draining the last bit of spontaneity out of our social lives. But they work—and at the end of the day, that 7:45 reservation isn't going to book itself.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
The Five-Figure Reason Hot Restaurants Are Moving to OpenTable
During one of the busiest times in New Orleans this year — Super Bowl weekend — Lydia Castro realized that a glitch in Resy had made reservations for her Mexican restaurant, Acamaya, appear unavailable to diners. On what should have been a banner night, tables would be empty. As if on cue, an OpenTable employee walked into the restaurant with a cooler filled with Gatorade and candy, and wished her luck for the weekend ahead. Not long after, the company reached out with an offer: Switch to OpenTable and set a few prime-time reservations aside for select Visa customers. In exchange, the restaurant would receive a generous one-time payment. Ms. Castro declined to disclose the amount because she hasn't decided whether or not she is taking the deal, but it was enough for her to seriously consider a change. 'How do they have so much money to give out to people?' she said. The answer: credit card companies. Last year, OpenTable, home to more than 60,000 restaurant clients, signed a partnership with Visa that gives certain cardholders access to coveted reservation slots at popular restaurants. Six years ago, American Express purchased Resy — used by more than 20,000 restaurants — and added Tock to its portfolio last year. Since 2021, American Express has offered premium cardholders access to in-demand reservations on Resy. As a result, some of the country's best-known chefs have been placed squarely in the center of the credit card wars as restaurants become invaluable cultural currency for financial institutions chasing young, wealthy customers. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
