Reservations at top New York City restaurants are selling for hundreds of dollars

Alex Eisler, a Brown University sophomore, has made $100,000 in 19 months by selling reservations at top New York City restaurants through Appointment Trader, an app that allows users to buy spots at popular eateries. This practice, while lucrative for sellers, has faced criticism from restaurant managers and violates the terms of reservation platforms like Resy, which prohibit the resale of reservations.

Appointment Trader, launched in 2021 by Jonas Frey, has seen significant demand, selling $5.7 million in reservations last year. The platform operates by allowing sellers to secure and then sell reservations at high demand, often leading to prices that can significantly mark up the cost of dining out. This system has sparked debate over access to high-end dining experiences, with some arguing it makes exclusive restaurants even more inaccessible to the average person.