How to get into the Hottest Restaurants in Town

[iigs]

Thanks for posting this, I found it really interesting.

As a 20-something geek I was surprised to read how virtually every place accepted the bribe in one way or another. It really contradicts my low confidence + true/false mentality.

His attitude appears to have been the magic for making those deals... had he been holding the money timidly he implies they certainly would have turned him away. I will take away from the article the reminder that more self confidence (to a point) reaps benefits in ways I wouldn't always expect.

[bootload]

"... As a 20-something geek I was surprised to read how virtually every place accepted the bribe in one way or another. It really contradicts my low confidence + true/false mentality ..."

The downside of this approach is the associated psychology. If you give out bribes there is possibility bribery can also be used against you. So be careful how you deal with this kind of activity. Don't be surprised if the people you bribe try it back on yourself.

[amrithk]

Agree with you. Interesting to see what a little self-confidence thus even if you don't feel great inside.

[baltoo]

I firm outside can hide oceans of internal insecurity.

This is so true and such a cliché that we often suspect people with too firm outsides to do just that.

[neilc]

Wow, I'm jealous. I think the real question is how you can get a job writing about your experience bribing maître d's and eating free meals at some of the best restaurants in New York.

[litewulf]

For one... the meals weren't free. I'm sure he was tipping generously those nights though.

The one thing that really strikes me is I wonder if this bribing is relatively rare, and the novelty is what made it work.

[andyking]

This article is as alien to me as a newspaper written in Greenlandic. Perhaps it's something to do with spending too much of my life in Stoke-on-Trent, one of the less salubrious corners of England. It just seems to be taking the bland consumerism that has taken over life in most cities to a new extreme.

[mattmaroon]

I've always done the whole "If you could squeeze me in, I'd be VERY grateful" bit, followed by a tip later. The meaning is implied so clearly that it might as well have been stated explicitly, plus the host doesn't risk losing his job. Works like a charm.

[opal]

I'm still stuck on the get hot girl to accompany me step. I hear that's where the expense lies.

[fallentimes]

If it doesn't help, at least you'll be entertained:

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artist...

[jcromartie]

I'd rather get into the best restaurants.

[Alex3917]

Agreed, I have yet to go to a trendy restaurant that actually has good food. Strictly speaking it's not impossible that a trendy restaurant would be good, but in practice the kinds of people who spend millions of dollars hiring an interior decorator aren't the kind of people who wake up at 4am every day to drive an hour to the fish market.

[evilneanderthal]

Haha -

"Would you turn on the A/C? Tonight is a very important for me..."

[konsl]

eh? Daniel and Le Bernardin are pretty damn good -- both have more than one michelin star

[waynep]

Money talks.... nothing new :)

[rudyfink]

Exactly, cash is king.

[run4yourlives]

one part Decline of the Roman Empire

That line pretty much sums up the idea of "trendy restaurants".

If you want a good night out, avoid this shit and find an old money haunt: better food, better service, and better diners. No, you won't see any celebrities (another plus).

[bigthboy]

I liked the article and found it extremely interesting how easy it was for him to circumvent the lines and policies of these places and get service that could in many ways be considered "above the rest."

However, in the mind of an entrepreneur I have to say that it seems as generally a waste of money to do such things, at least on a regular basis. Even if you had the money to do it, it would be extremely unwise. This would be the kind of thing you do and the kind of restaraunts you should eat at when it IS a special occassion... not because you're hungry.

[eru]

There may be a need to create impressions in some lines of business.

[rglovejoy]

I am sure we will be seeing less of this, as the world of high finance falls on hard times.

[iron_ball]

Or more of it, as the titans (and affiliated hecatoncheires etc) of finance quit being able to out-tip those of us with still-marketable skills.

[vaksel]

just make a fake press pass and tell them you want to review them for your newspaper.

[NonEUCitizen]

this is a forum for engineering, not marketing.

[danielh]

It's called Hacker News. Didn't he hack his way into the restaurants?

[steveplace]

Social engineering?

[msie]

I think many HN readers dream of getting rich and dining at the best NY restaurants.