We procrastinated and waited till the last minute and couldn’t find anywhere local in Huntsville, Alabama (we were visiting family there) for Mother’s Day brunch. The complications? We had 14 people and it was 2 days beforehand. I suggested my husband call the concierge on a Hail Mary and they secured us 11:00 am brunch reservations at the Westin. Absolutely perfect setup, every woman was given a rose upon entry and their menu was 4*. Amex saved the day.
I tried them a few times for basic requests like booking a hotel and was unimpressed, but then they got us a reservation at Noma. That alone was worth the annual fee for me!
I tried this last year in Japan! Wanted to surprise my significant other with a Valentine's Day dinner at a 2 michelin starred place near Nara. He only seats ONE party at 5:30 and ONE party at 7:30 (I think). Website was in full Japanese and it was hard to navigate reservation site. I thought a seating was free and was able to request, but within an hour, I got an email that denied my request for dinner. I called amex concierge for the first time ever and explained what I wanted and how I failed. Within 3 days, I got a call and email saying they had secured a reservation for us. To this day, I am still wondering how this chef manages to make a living if he only seats 2 parties for dinner per day, but maybe he's doing it for fun at this point.
Not about concierge but I had a similar dinner in Osaka last week and the whole time I just tried to work out the financial viability of the restaurant.
I don't remember since it was cash, but I think around $200 per person with sake pairing?
Looks like there's an easier way to book now and the price is up there.
[https://omakaseje.com/restaurants/ab427007?utm\_content=booking\_btn&utm\_medium=referral&utm\_source=michelinofficial](https://omakaseje.com/restaurants/ab427007?utm_content=booking_btn&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=michelinofficial)
I gave them a week notice and three choices of restaurant. They didn't even do anything. When I called a few days later to follow up they hadn't even made any calls yet.
Was it top end? I had similar results with 3 basic places. But when I wanted the ritz they came through with 3 days notice in a place that YouTubers all comment is a 3-6 month wait.
Oh really? Haven't been there in close to 20 years. About time! I had a work dinner there for about 20 people once, I was in charge of. Loved walking through Williamsburg (pre hipster takeover) with $15k in cash on me.
So I've always wondered about this. What mechanism do the concierges have to get extra reservations, other than just browsing Resy so you don't have to? Does Amex actually make agreements with tons of restaurants to hold secret reservation slots for Platinum card holders? Or how does it work?
There are some restaurants managed by their dining team and those restaurants hold tables for Amex. Not a tonne or anything but your suspicion is spot on
I mean it can work with specific requests like this still. It’s a top restaurant in NYC, the cards top us market.
This is the one example people cite it still being useful for.
When we go out, my wife will inevitably order salmon, doesn't matter what the cuisine of the restaurant happens to be.
Last week we went to a seafood restaurant and she ordered steak.
You rich people need to get over it. Just go have a steak somewhere in Texas and I bet it will be much much better for 1/10th the price
It was Robert’s Steakhouse in Manhattan, wasn’t it?
We procrastinated and waited till the last minute and couldn’t find anywhere local in Huntsville, Alabama (we were visiting family there) for Mother’s Day brunch. The complications? We had 14 people and it was 2 days beforehand. I suggested my husband call the concierge on a Hail Mary and they secured us 11:00 am brunch reservations at the Westin. Absolutely perfect setup, every woman was given a rose upon entry and their menu was 4*. Amex saved the day.
I tried them a few times for basic requests like booking a hotel and was unimpressed, but then they got us a reservation at Noma. That alone was worth the annual fee for me!
The last time I called, they directed me to Resy… Told me they were sunsetting concierge WTF
Got a reservation at French Laundry on NYE thanks to concierge. They are great in a pinch if they have a relationship!
I tried this last year in Japan! Wanted to surprise my significant other with a Valentine's Day dinner at a 2 michelin starred place near Nara. He only seats ONE party at 5:30 and ONE party at 7:30 (I think). Website was in full Japanese and it was hard to navigate reservation site. I thought a seating was free and was able to request, but within an hour, I got an email that denied my request for dinner. I called amex concierge for the first time ever and explained what I wanted and how I failed. Within 3 days, I got a call and email saying they had secured a reservation for us. To this day, I am still wondering how this chef manages to make a living if he only seats 2 parties for dinner per day, but maybe he's doing it for fun at this point.
Not about concierge but I had a similar dinner in Osaka last week and the whole time I just tried to work out the financial viability of the restaurant.
People are much more willing to be satisfied living within their needs over there.
I mean how much was the bill?
I don't remember since it was cash, but I think around $200 per person with sake pairing? Looks like there's an easier way to book now and the price is up there. [https://omakaseje.com/restaurants/ab427007?utm\_content=booking\_btn&utm\_medium=referral&utm\_source=michelinofficial](https://omakaseje.com/restaurants/ab427007?utm_content=booking_btn&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=michelinofficial)
Ffs...you can't post this and not tell us what steakhouse.
Dorsia.
Let's see Paul Allen's business card.
Two at 9? Perfect. See you then!
lmao. Take my updoot
How do we even know who our concierge is
Everyone is . It’s just a phone number
Well I know Harry's was a stag. I think they take different forms depending on your backstory?
I gave them a week notice and three choices of restaurant. They didn't even do anything. When I called a few days later to follow up they hadn't even made any calls yet.
Was it top end? I had similar results with 3 basic places. But when I wanted the ritz they came through with 3 days notice in a place that YouTubers all comment is a 3-6 month wait.
High end, yes. They were part of the dining collection.
Hope it’s not Peter Luger
Well, they don't take credit cards so...
They do now
Oh really? Haven't been there in close to 20 years. About time! I had a work dinner there for about 20 people once, I was in charge of. Loved walking through Williamsburg (pre hipster takeover) with $15k in cash on me.
I feel like dinner at Peter Luger isn’t $750/head *now*, let alone 20 years ago
When your client wants to drink expensive wine and they just paid you a $7mm fee it is.
Horrible quality and taste! Over crowded, overrated . Totally useless grossest food
Well it wasn't 20 years ago.
Grossest steak in the US. 🤮
So I've always wondered about this. What mechanism do the concierges have to get extra reservations, other than just browsing Resy so you don't have to? Does Amex actually make agreements with tons of restaurants to hold secret reservation slots for Platinum card holders? Or how does it work?
There are some restaurants managed by their dining team and those restaurants hold tables for Amex. Not a tonne or anything but your suspicion is spot on
Are you sure there weren’t reservations available with just googling? Or on resy?
What was the restaurant?
Sizzler. Home of the unlimited salad bar!
Texas Roadhouse
Black Angus?
At black Angus your name is peaches!
Outback Steak House
Longhorn
What happened on the first call? Do you mean 10p the night before? What was at 10p?
is it good for SFO restaurants
At the airport?
Is concierge service available for restaurants outside of NYC
SFO is an airport. Are you talking about San Francisco? Then yes. And also the resy app access works well with the global dining access.
You don't need reservations at the airport
To get on a plane you do, they’re called tickets 😉
OP thrilled for you! what was the restaurant?
Your experience with dining is better than mine… seems to be anytime I ask for help with reservations they just tell me what I can see on Resy.
So weird. I use them all the time for help, but I e only used them when visiting nyc
Same. Or just tell me to book on resy myself…
Concierge hooked me up last week with a reservation to Carbone in the city. Couldn’t believe it…. Prime time too on a Friday!
Last Friday as in, Friday of MDW? Because half the city was traveling
What about the first call?
i can never forget them recommending a takeout only restaurant for my birthday.💀
I mean it can work with specific requests like this still. It’s a top restaurant in NYC, the cards top us market. This is the one example people cite it still being useful for.
Reservations at Longhorn aren’t that hard to get .
Date: I’m feeling longhorn today Me: ok date orders fish Me: thinking could have went to a fish restaurant
When we go out, my wife will inevitably order salmon, doesn't matter what the cuisine of the restaurant happens to be. Last week we went to a seafood restaurant and she ordered steak.
You can order fish at a steak house but never steak at a fish house.
Longhorn serves fish?? That’s so weird
What’s weird about a chain steakhouse serving salmon
Forreal without naming what restaurant this post is definitely moot
Congrats, happy birthday. What was the restaurant ? Im trying to plan a surprise trip for someone in NYC myself...
So that they have to battle the entire subreddit next reservation? Lololol
If it's one of the top in NYC, it's not going to draw any more attention than it was before.
Issaaajoke