America’s toughest-to-secure restaurant reservations revealed in new Dojo report
A Dojo analysis identified the ten U.S. restaurants with the hardest-to-get reservations, including the postcard-only Lost Kitchen and invitation-only Rao’s.
Dojo’s latest hospitality report ranks the United States’ most difficult restaurants to book, using metrics such as average wait time, overall demand and the likelihood of resale. The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, earned the highest score, requiring diners to mail a postcard that enters a lottery, with successful applicants called in April for the upcoming season. New York’s historic Rao’s, operating since 1896 with only ten tables, grants access solely through personal invitations from longtime patrons.
San Francisco’s House of Prime Rib, a 77-year-old institution, fills reservations months ahead but still accepts early walk-ins. Additional highly coveted venues include chef Damon Baehrel’s 12-acre Earlton, NY farm-to-table experience, Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Yountville, and niche spots like Tsuke Edomae in Austin and MILA in Miami. The report also notes that a secondary market for reselling reservations exists, though it warns consumers to verify platform legitimacy and local regulations.
Why it matters
Understanding reservation scarcity helps diners navigate exclusive restaurants and highlights a niche resale market.
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