What is the secret with Noma reservations?

[galka]

I tried for a few days for November and there is NO availability. Tried October- nothing. Tried September- nothing. Is this as bad as it looks? Should I try to call them instead? Wanted to build a weekend trip from Amsterdam around a dinner there but it seems more difficult than I thought. Any suggestions?

[estufarian]

As background - when it hit #1, the next day he had enough 'attempted' reservations to fill the restaurant for 10 years! So you're competing with thousands of others.
That means you have to be ready when reservations are opened up (at 10:00 Copenhagen time, once a month - for 4 months later). Typically ALL reservations for the month are taken up within maybe 2 minutes (or less). He tweets the exact day (and time) each month that reservations open plus they are listed on his website. I have friends that failed even during the first minute - the site is swamped at exactly the opening second. Even if you get in, pick your time/date immediately and be the fastest typist/form filler around - I twice found a time 'open', but before I could insert my personal details, someone else had grabbed those times - but 'third attempt lucky'.
You've already missed November!

Here's the upcoming schedule:
On Monday the 5th of September at 10 a.m. we start taking table reservations for December 2011
Please note that noma will be closed in the period 23rd of December 2011 - 4th of January 2012

On Monday the 3rd of October at 10 a.m. we start taking table reservations for January 2012
Please note that noma will be closed in the period 23rd of December 2011 - 4th of January 2012

On Monday the 31st of October at 10 a.m. we start taking table reservations for February 2012

[galka]

Thank you! I do not think I can compete for a meal this way! My schedule is just not that flexible. Oh, well, I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me. I will look for some other nice options in the city, sigh....

[estufarian]

I also went to AOC and Geranium.
Both are excellent - great meals.
I slightly preferred AOC as it seems more 'local' wheras Geranium seeemed more 'International' - but you can't go wrong with either (Geranium is a harder reservation - especially on weekends).

[fanoffrance]

I tried via internet at exactly 10:00 the day reservations for November opened up, but didn't even get through until around 10:30 and by then the entire month was full. I'm on the waiting list but haven't heard anything. It really seems that one has as much chance of winning the lottery as of reaching Noma's online system before the place is fully booked. (The same goes for The Fat Duck in England.) Why don't they allow reservations farther in advance? Or raise prices to thin out the queue while making themselves rich? Or put everybody in a lottery pool and do a daily drawing by computer to award reservations to the winners? Seems strange that they allow such a hopeless system to continue.