Food - Drink
The Most Exclusive Restaurant Reservations Are Found On A Mysterious Site
By MICHELLE WELSCH
Landing a restaurant reservation can be tricky, but one entrepreneur is changing that with a website that helps diners find reservations at even the most exclusive establishments.
Named Appointment Trader, the website allows users to bid on reservations posted by people unable to make the reservation or restaurants announcing their availability.
The initial bidding price is set by an algorithm that uses cell phone data to pinpoint busy times at restaurants and estimate the value of the reservation.
The site's creator Jonas Frey says the service is geared towards people who struggle to plan ahead, and one user says it's worth it to pay to have access to certain restaurants.
Thus far, over $2 million of reservations have been sold, and although some criticize the site’s customer service, it could be a useful resource to snag that coveted reservation.