10 Tips to Bribe NYC’s Top Restaurants
Moderator Note (Andy): this was originally posted on 4/24/12
With full time recruiting well out of the way, I thought I would address a more pressing issue at hand- What are you going to blow all that front-office cash on? We all hear about the usual models bottles thing, but flashing coin in the club is so 2007.
I, for one, truly enjoy a great meal. In all honestly, I would much rather spend a few hundred on a dinner date than fist pumping with the boys at the club. So, how does a 20-something-year-old-analyst get into NYC’s top restaurants? Apparently, the answer is to bribe your way in.
Take it from Bruce Feller of gourmet.com, a man brave enough to find out if greasing the palms of New York City’s maître d’s would really get him into top restaurants like Daniel, Union Square Café, Nobu, and Balthazar. The short answer is, yes, bribing works with astonishing ease. Through his little social experiment, he came up with 10 tips that will surely get you and your date past the wait and seated in less than 20 minutes.
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1. Go. You’d be surprised what you can get just by showing up
2. Dress appropriately. Your chances improve considerably if you look like you belong.
3. Don’t feel ashamed. They don’t. You shouldn’t.
4. Have the money ready. Pre-folded, in thirds or fourths, with the amount showing.
5. Identify the person who’s in charge, even if you have to ask.
6. Isolate the person in charge. Ask to speak with that person, if necessary.
7. Look the person in the eye when you slip him the money. Don’t look at the money.
8. Be specific about what you want. “Do you have a better table?” “Can you speed up my wait?” A good fallback: “This is a really important night for me.”
9. Tip the maître d’ on the way out. if he turned down the money but still gave you a table.
10. Ask for the maître d’s card as you’re leaving. .You are now one of his best customers.
Well, I guess you could also make a reservation a month in advance, but that’s certainly no fun. So, grab a gold digging shiksa and try it out, who knows who you might be seated next to.
Have any monkeys here tried to bribe your way into a club or restaurant?






Comments
Just make a res... It's a
Just make a res... It's a restaurant, don't make a big deal out of it.
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
im more of the jumping on the
im more of the jumping on the couch rick james style "f**k ur couch"!
I only make reservations if
I only make reservations if they have good bathrooms to do coke in.
"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan
Relinquis: Just make a res...
Just make a res... It's a restaurant, don't make a big deal out of it.
You can't "just make a res" at an exclusive restaurant.
About 4 years ago, my dad and I went to a restaurant in DC called Komi. My dad's college roommate was the president of a large private university and invited us to dinner. We didn't think anything of it, but I guess the only way into the restaurant is by making a reservation exactly one month in advance (but they only take like 5 reservations per night, around 1000 calls per day, you figure it out), or by being a boss like this dude. I remember the guy ended up spending around $1000 on four of us. Best meal of my life.
professionalmonkey: Relinqu
Just make a res... It's a restaurant, don't make a big deal out of it.
You can't "just make a res" at an exclusive restaurant.
About 4 years ago, my dad and I went to a restaurant in DC called Komi. My dad's college roommate was the president of a large private university and invited us to dinner. We didn't think anything of it, but I guess the only way into the restaurant is by making a reservation exactly one month in advance (but they only take like 5 reservations per night, around 1000 calls per day, you figure it out), or by being a boss like this dude. I remember the guy ended up spending around $1000 on four of us. Best meal of my life.
whatd chu order?
fish filet?
Relinquis: Just make a res...
Just make a res... It's a restaurant, don't make a big deal out of it.
I think he is saying that if you don't have a reservation you can do this.
M Friedman: So, grab a gold
So, grab a gold digging shiksa and try it out, who knows who you might be seated next to.
Love the Shiksa line... I cantreally speak to that
$50 to you MF if you use your
$50 to you MF if you use your "tips" to get into Raos while you're in NYC
http://www.raos.com/raos-restaurant-new-york.aspx
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Are you serious? Steak N
Are you serious? Steak N Shake doesn't even take reservations; how do you expect to get away with bribing the host?
Work hard, play hard.
So that's how he got a table
So that's how he got a table at Dorsia.
"Have you ever tried to use a chain with 3 weak links? I have, and now I no longer own an arctic wolf."
-Dwight Schrute
Hamilton: So that's how he
So that's how he got a table at Dorsia.
Bateman finally decided to give the maitre d' head.
My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
There are so many great
There are so many great restaurants in the city so why would someone go all out to eat at one of these "super exclusive" ones? Ego boost?
It's just food. You can get the best quality food and service without slipping 50s and wasting effort on all those tips. With regards to restaurants, the buyer should always remain in control. Just my 2 cents.
IlliniProgrammer: Are you
Are you serious? Steak N Shake doesn't even take reservations; how do you expect to get away with bribing the host?
You have a point. Steak N Shake is still one of my favorites haha
professionalmonkey: Relinqu
Just make a res... It's a restaurant, don't make a big deal out of it.
You can't "just make a res" at an exclusive restaurant.
About 4 years ago, my dad and I went to a restaurant in DC called Komi. My dad's college roommate was the president of a large private university and invited us to dinner. We didn't think anything of it, but I guess the only way into the restaurant is by making a reservation exactly one month in advance (but they only take like 5 reservations per night, around 1000 calls per day, you figure it out), or by being a boss like this dude. I remember the guy ended up spending around $1000 on four of us. Best meal of my life.
You can just call Nobu and make a res... it's not that big a deal... Try it... Hell, there are two Nobu's in the West End alone... There are not that many restaurants where you can't just call and make a booking. I usually have one or two bookings at a nice restaurant every weekend. I'll take whomever I'm with at the time. Not a big deal if you call a few days in advance.
Yes, there are some top rated michelin star restaurants where you have to book months in advance, but they tend not to be where pretty party girls hang out, or care to go. Mostly old guys, business folk and such who book far in advance.
Want a real pro tip?
Reserve a table for 2 or 4 at a very exclusive restaurant weeks / months in advance (not Nobu, etc.. but properly exclusive)... Then, when the time comes just go with whomever you are with at the time... a girlfriend, your food connoisseur buddies, or a client... Easy.
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
This looks like a good time
This looks like a good time for me to hop in and ask: Any good restaurant recommendations, along with how far in advance I'd have to make a reservation? Preferably looking for good restaurants that I wouldn't have to make reservations at, if that's even possible.
Gonna be in NYC in July, and I'm looking for places to satisfy my lust for good food. Making reservations more than a few days or couple of weeks in advance might be problematic, with a stay of only a month.
Is it bad that I don't give a
My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
I have a couple of foodie
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
Union Square Cafe, Nobu, and
^ Paul Allen sighting.
My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
Per Se Masa River Café
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How about ordering Pizza,
I still am skeptical whether
Why the fuck are you pussys
Does Tony Perkis eat pizza?
Eventus stultorum magister.
Johnny Ringo: Does Tony
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maître d’ at Lavo is a close
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Johnny Ringo: maître d’ at
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ProfessionalMonkey:
I rich, smarts, and totally in debt.
Unless a restaurant is in the
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Shit, maybe I hang with the
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what is a "maître d’"?? how
Money Never Sleeps? More like Money Never SUCKS amirite?!?!?!?
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swagon: professionalmonkey:
bfin: Johnny Ringo: maître
Eventus stultorum magister.
53rd and 6th..
Johnny
I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
For those who have done this,
A2Allegiance: For those who
My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
aempirei: A2Allegiance: For
I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
Ha! a roll of Susan B.
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You are putting too much
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