Securing a dinner reservation has become an ordeal when you live in New York City. The spontaneity of dining out has been replaced by meticulous planning, turning what should be a casual outing into a logistical nightmare. Long gone are the days when a same-day reservation was possible. Now, it’s a race against time and technology, often requiring weeks of planning and emotional investment. For group dinners, pray that your guests won't cancel on you. Otherwise, last-minute cancellations can lead to hefty fees that can amount to twice (or three times) the cost of the meal itself. All of these factors combined add financial stress to social planning - the last thing we need as we feel our friendships stretch thin due to adulthood.
Dining in NYC doesn’t just require planning; it demands emotional and psychological labor as well. After securing a reservation on Resy, many scour menus and Instagram for hours to manage expectations and plan their experience. Especially when it comes to managing expectations prior to dining at the restaurant. The work doesn't end after you put your credit card details on Resy. I have heard so many stories from my peers about what to do after one secures their ‘dream’ reservation. Friends of mine tell me they rummage through the menu beforehand so they know exactly what to order, which to me seems perfectly normal. Whereas others go through hour-long searches on Instagram, clicking on the restaurant's geotag and carefully examining each picture - who goes there, what are they dressing, what are they ordering, why there are so many pictures of people but no food?, what intriguing cocktail is this - spending endless hours scrolling and scrolling.
This exhaustive preparation reflects our reluctance to surprise ourselves, which is perfectly understandable.
The cost of dining has skyrocketed, with many trendy spots failing to deliver on their promises. I think, for example, Misi is incredibly overrated. The food is good, but nothing exceptional. As my parents say “nothing out of this world”. It's true! At this rate, I want to be wowed off my seat and talk about how this food was phenomenal. Menus in several of these restaurants are repetitive, and the food often disappoints. I am particularly exhausted of seeing the same whipped ricotta toast with elderflower honey and burrata on menus. If you promised me novelty, can you at least deliver it? To make matters worse, the pretentious crowd that often frequents these places detracts from the casual chic atmosphere these establishments promise in the first place. With dinner reservations becoming somewhat of a nuisance - yes, a first world problem - it often leads us back to more consistent, nostalgic venues.
Every metropolitan city faces this phenomenon, with seemingly cool spots popping up regularly. In NYC, places like Jean's, Don Angie, and Pastis are nearly impossible to book due to social media buzz. Options like Resy notifications or the Dorsia app, which charges extra to secure reservations, highlight the absurd lengths people go to dine at these trendy places.
The membership-only Dorsia – named for the fictional restaurant in “American Psycho” that Patrick Bateman and his Wall Street bros salivate over – secures hard-to-get-reservations at exclusive Big Apple eateries like Carbone, Bad Roman and Via Carota as long the diners agree to shell out as much as $500 per person - NY Post
When I tell this to my friends in Brazil, they think people in New York are absolutely insane. Yet, they say it with visible smiles, wanting to somehow partake on this insanity altogether.
In this chaotic dining landscape, we find solace in places that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Restaurants like Minetta Tavern, Hillstone, P.J. Clarke's, Bemelmans Bar and so many others offer a consistent experience, combining good food with a charming ambiance. They provide a reliable alternative to the trendy spots, where quality often takes a backseat to popularity.
Monkey Bar is a prime example. It exudes old New York glamour, attracting both newcomers infatuated with its charm and seasoned patrons who know it well. Consistency is key here. I have dined at Monkey Bar multiple times, and the food has always been exceptional. The service, cocktails, and ambiance consistently deliver a pleasant dining experience worthy of your time and money. Yes, securing a reservation can be a hassle, but at least it's worth it.
In contrast, many trendy restaurants serve overly elaborate dishes that convolute our palates, distancing us from the cozy experience we desire. At Monkey Bar, I can enjoy a delicious, praise-worthy burger and indulge in a gigantic sundae topped with mini M&M’s and sprinkles, evoking delightful childhood memories. Pairing this with an extra dirty martini, I feel at home, whether I’m wearing a chic Prada mini-skirt or my oldest pair of jeans.
Dining out has become a luxury, making consistency and quality more valuable than ever. Despite the logistical challenges, nostalgic spots like Monkey Bar offer familiarity and comfort, reminding us of the personal connections we have with food and dining experiences.
In the summer of 2023, I returned to Paris and attempted to dine at Maxim's, only to find dinner reservations near impossible. However, I managed to snag a last-minute seat at the bar, allowing me to soak in the atmosphere. Contrary to its once nearly forgotten status, that crisp August day suggested a revival.
This article in the New York Times caught my attention ‘Can a Forgotten Spot Reclaim Its Cool?. The story talked about Maxim's, an infamous Parisian hotspot, frequented in its early days by Peggy Guggenheim, Max Ernst, and everyone belonging to the upper echelon and the creative class of society. The article gets one thing right; its forceful expansion and wrongful business decisions made it fall into obsoletion. Furthermore, the Paris food scene had kept up with the food trends all around the world, focusing on more casual dining and low key experiences. The crowd wanted more natural wine bars that they could go in jeans, caps, and New Balance shoes. Maxim's, to some extent, represented a demodé - out of fashion - way of living. The article also mentions the restaurants efforts - focusing on hosting events and updating the menu - in order to consistently create novelty and spark curiosity.
Sitting at the bar, however, I felt quite the opposite of outdated. I felt nostalgic for its art nouveau elegance and at the same time I was offered a glimpse of its glamorous past. Concomitantly, I was looking at the present intertwining with the future. The mix of curious tourists, loyal regulars, and the new ‘cool crowd’ all gathering at the same place to dine. Even if they are coming for different expectations, they all converge at this institutional landmark. For me, the experience was a bittersweet reminder that places - like fashion - must evolve or risk obsolescence. At the same time, legacy and nostalgia still hold significant value.
Thoughts on fashion x nostalgia (a tangent?) :
After attending the National Retail Federation (NRF) event in January, I had the opportunity to sit in on several panels hosted by renowned brands such as Levi's, Reformation, and BÈIS. It was an enlightening experience that deepened my understanding of the global retail landscape. More importantly, it confirmed a theory I had been contemplating for a few years: most Gen-Z consumers not only appreciate legacy brands but are also driving their revival. It was reassuring to learn that my suspicions were not merely a product of my imagination, but rather the result of keen observation and thoughtful analysis.
It's not unusual for consumers to retreat to familiar designs and aesthetics during times of crisis. However, I believe there's an additional factor at play here. We are all aware of the detrimental impacts of fast fashion, which I don't need to elaborate on. Gen-Z, being highly politically motivated, finds it particularly challenging to support an industry that pollutes and profits from suffering. According to recent research, 51% of Gen-Z consumers want to stop or reduce their spending on fast fashion, and 65% express a desire to shop sustainably. This shift underscores their commitment to ethical consumption and a more sustainable future.
Comparable to the 'restaurant experience,' legacy brands provide better quality coupled with the promise of familiarity. The conscious consumer feels more comfortable spending $150 on a J.Crew cashmere sweater than making a $150 haul at Zara, for example. Legacy brands offer what fast fashion often cannot: product longevity and timeless style, regardless of trend cycles. The combination of quality and expertise that most legacy brands possess is crucial to their everlasting appeal. Of course, this is just one aspect; other key strategies also contribute to the resurgence of many brands.
In terms of style, we see a similar trend with legacy clothing brands, particularly American ones like J.Crew, Levi's, and Gap.
J.Crew: The fight to achieve the archival J.Crew look has led to a revival of their old catalogs, creating a nostalgic aesthetic on Instagram, spearheaded by Olympia Gayot, J.Crew's Creative Director. People are drawn to the old Americana aesthetic that the brand has always embodied. Our friend Erika Veurink at Long Live, often draws style inspiration from their fabulous old catalogues and contributed to their skyrocketing popularity. Also, she gives fabulous styling and shopping suggestions that are life changing (and so much more!)
Levi's: Fueled by the subculture of vintage shopping, the craze for 501 and 550 jeans is all over the internet. Levi's even launched a website specializing in their vintage and secondhand items to attract this new audience - I went to Awoke Vintage with my friend and found a gorgeous pair of 501 shorts for a fabulous price!
GAP: Once considered a dying brand by some, Gap remains an American sweetheart—my Brazilian mother adores their jeans. Alongside J.Crew, they helped define the Americana aesthetic, focusing more on a casual American feel. The brand's recent appointment of Zac Posen as Creative Director, who created a stunning white shirt moment on Anne Hathaway, definitely knows how to lure the audience in.
Hope you liked this!
I have infinite thoughts about this but I was asked by my main editor - my sister - to be concise.
Nostalgia is absolutely selling for Vacation Inc and I think it’s so smart, tbh.