286596 Fri Sep 22 11:23:56 -0700 2000 9 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1537699 There was a fascinating article in yesterday's NYPost - which I've failed to find online for purposes of posting a link - but anyway... The reporter went to several hot restaurants w/out a reservation and bribed the maitre d' ($50-$100) and in all cases, the bribe was accepted and the reporter was seated instantly. What do we CHers think about this? Have people done this? I always play by the rules and make my reservation 3 decades in advance... Bribing the maitre d' seems unethical not to mention expensive, but could come in handy for those last minute special occasions that do come up from time to time. Does someone else get screwed if you do this? Or do restaurants keep a table or two for just this purpose? Fri Sep 22 11:23:56 -0700 2000 0 Elaine 1 1537701 Sounds like a great article. Are you sure it was in yesterday's Post? I did a VERY thorough check of their site--they keep most of their stories for seven days--and couldn't find it anywhere. Do you remember which section, by any chance? As to what I think of it...I find it toally gross and totally unsurprising. And most restaurants do keep a table or two open in case Naomi Campbell shows up (you ever see the show "Fully Committed"?). And if Naomi hasn't appeared, you can probably cop it for a price. ciao Fri Sep 22 12:02:12 -0700 2000 1537699 0 Jim Leff 2 1537704 It was in yesterday's Post - if you go to "Last 7 Days" on the website and view the front page, you can see the headline "Dining for Dollar$" in the upper left hand corner, but they don't seem to have included the article on the site. (Threats from the restaurant industry, perhaps?). Fri Sep 22 12:24:30 -0700 2000 1537701 0 Elaine 3 1537717 Isn't this just what is happening online now? At least in SF? There is one company saying they can get you into Masa's etc, and it costs $20 bucks. They apparently do this with the cooperation of the restaurants listed. This is outrageous to me, because they must be saving tables and making it harder to get a reservation. OTOH, I never mind if someone who works in a restuarant winds up with extra $. If you have it then why not? Fri Sep 22 16:03:56 -0700 2000 1537704 0 Anne 4 1537735 Someone on this board told me about restaurantrow.com a while back. I used this site to make a reservation at Nobu. You have to call them more than 30 days in advance (for that particular restaurant, others have different policies), then they call the morning of the day that is 30 days before the day you want, and get you a reservation. It worked, and they don't charge a dime (unless you don't call if you have to cancel). Link: http://www.restaurantrow.com/ Sat Sep 23 00:06:12 -0700 2000 1537717 0 Rachel Perlow 2 1537707 I saw that article in yesterday's Post; they said the story came from the new issue of Gourmet, so perhaps they don't have permission to reprint. Maybe check the restaurant issue of Gourmet. Fri Sep 22 13:03:40 -0700 2000 1537701 0 Caitlin 1 1537713 The article was a reprint from Gourmet so that may have something to do with why it isn't on the POST'S web site. It was written by Bruce Feiller. It is inaccurate to post here that: "and in all cases, the bribe was accepted and the reporter was seated instantly." The bribe was not accepted for a table at Nobu nor Le Bernardin. Feiller identified a person in power at Le Cirque 2000 and was given a table but no money changed hands. In the weirdest event, he was told up front that there was a table for him at Jean Georges and asked to wait at the bar. 15 minutes into his wait he gave the "gentleman in charge" $50. and returned to wait another half an hour. 45 minutes for a table he already had for nothing? And the $100 proffered at ADNY served only as an attention getter for a canellation the next evening.It is unclear whether the money changed hands. Given the detailed descriptions of each flesh to flesh exchange when the money was received, I am inclined to believe it did not do so at ADNY. There is no escaping though that, regrettably, a BRIBE did work at other establishments. But he does end with something very important: Dress properly, act dignified, be poite, smile. Christopher Russell Captain Gramercy(not bribed)Tavern Fri Sep 22 15:06:52 -0700 2000 1537699 0 Chris 2 1537716 Actually, at Le Bernardin, the maitre d' (the reporter implies) sped them to a table once the bribe was offered, and then came over several times (I eat there regularly and this doesn't happen to me) during the meal to check on them, thereby earning a "tip" which he took instead of the "bribe." At Nobu, the hostess accepted the bribe, then apparently learned there was nothing available, and only then gave the bribe back. And the reporter states that "for as little as $100" he jumped the reservations line at Alain Ducasse, thereby making it pretty clear that the money did change hands. Fri Sep 22 16:01:08 -0700 2000 1537713 0 Elaine 2 1537878 Chris--I thought it was pretty clear that the ADNY guy took the tip; if he hadn't, it would have been pretty sloppy reporting by Feiler to not specifically say so. As is, context leads us to believe he did. IMO, anyway. But the real question is, of course: has anyone been fired yet? ciao Sat Sep 30 18:58:11 -0700 2000 1537713 0 Jim Leff 1 1537877 I just read the article (in the new issue of Gourmet). In addition to being pretty revelatory, it's a beautifully written piece. Highly recommended. Sat Sep 30 18:44:38 -0700 2000 1537699 0 Jim Leff