The Complete Resy Guide: How to Get Reservations at the Best Restaurants

If you've ever tried to book a table at Carbone, Lilia, or any of the most talked-about restaurants in America, you've likely encountered Resy. This platform has become the go-to reservation system for the country's most coveted dining destinations.

But Resy isn't just a booking tool—it's an ecosystem with features most diners never discover. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything from the basics to advanced tactics that will help you secure reservations at even the most competitive restaurants.

What Is Resy?

Resy's History and Rise

Founded in 2014, Resy quickly became the platform of choice for high-end and trendy restaurants. In 2019, American Express acquired Resy, integrating it with their dining benefits and creating the Global Dining Access program.

Today, Resy powers reservations for thousands of restaurants, with particular strength in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. If a restaurant is "hard to book," there's a good chance it's on Resy.

Which Restaurants Use Resy?

Resy is particularly popular with:

• Fine dining establishments: Atomix, Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernardin
• Hot spots and celebrity chef restaurants: Carbone, Lilia, Don Angie
• Trendy neighborhood spots: Restaurants that care about hospitality and guest experience
• LA hotspots: Bestia, Bavel, n/naka, and most of the city's buzzy openings

Resy vs. The Competition

Setting Up Your Resy Account

Profile Optimization

A complete Resy profile isn't just about convenience—some restaurants prioritize guests with complete profiles and good dining history.

• Complete your profile: Add your phone number, dietary preferences, and dining occasions
• Add a card on file: Required for many high-demand restaurants with no-show fees
• Enable notifications: Push notifications can be faster than email for time-sensitive alerts

Credit Card Linking

Adding a credit card serves two purposes:

• No-show protection: Restaurants can charge your card if you don't show up
• Amex benefits: Link an American Express card to unlock Global Dining Access perks

Mastering Resy Notify

What Is Resy Notify?

When a restaurant shows no availability, you can tap "Notify Me" on any time slot. Resy will then email you when a table opens up for that time.

Sounds perfect, right? Here's the catch: you're not the only one on that list. For popular restaurants, thousands of people may be waiting for the same notification.

Notify Success Rates (An Honest Assessment)

Let's be real: Resy Notify has significant limitations:

• Slow notifications: Resy doesn't always check in real-time; there can be delays
• Crowded lists: For hot restaurants, thousands are on the same Notify
• Email delays: By the time you see the email and click, the table may be gone

Common Notify Frustrations

Reddit and dining forums are full of complaints about Resy Notify:

• "I got the email and clicked within a minute—already gone."
• "I've been on Carbone's Notify for 3 months and never got a table."
• "Why does Notify even exist if it never works?"

Why Third-Party Services Are Faster

This is where services like ReservationFinder come in. Unlike native Notify, third-party alert services:

• Continuous checking: Far more frequently than Resy's batch processing
• Instant notifications: Alerts sent within seconds of detecting availability
• Direct booking links: One tap to go straight to the reservation page

Resy Priority Notify (Amex Global Dining Access)

What Is Priority Notify?

Priority Notify is a perk available to American Express cardholders. When you link an eligible Amex card to your Resy account, your Notify requests get prioritized over standard users.

In practice, this means you're closer to the front of the line—but you're not alone. Many Amex cardholders are competing for the same Priority Notify advantage.

Which Amex Cards Qualify?

• American Express Platinum Card
• American Express Gold Card
• American Express Centurion (Black Card)

Is Priority Notify Worth It?

Priority Notify is valuable, but it's not a magic solution:

• Pro: You're ahead of standard Notify users
• Con: Many Amex holders are also competing with Priority
• Con: Still subject to email delays and slow checking

Pro tip: Combine Priority Notify with a third-party alert service like ReservationFinder for maximum coverage.

Resy Power User Tips

The Midnight Drop Strategy

Many Resy restaurants release new reservations at midnight. If you're serious about a specific restaurant, here's the approach:

• 1. Research the drop time: Check online or call the restaurant to confirm
• 2. Calculate the date: If they release 14 days out, count back from your target
• 3. Be logged in at 11:59 PM: Have Resy open with your party size selected
• 4. Refresh at midnight: New times should appear; book immediately

Setting Multiple Notifies

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Set Notify alerts for:

• Multiple time slots (5:30, 7:00, 8:30, etc.)
• Multiple days if you're flexible
• Bar seating as well as main dining room

Desktop vs. Mobile

For booking at release time (midnight drops), desktop is often faster. The larger screen makes it easier to select options quickly. Use the mobile app for browsing and setting Notifies.

Browser Auto-Refresh Tools

Some diners use browser extensions to auto-refresh Resy pages. While this can help catch openings, be aware:

• May violate Resy's terms of service
• Can trigger rate limiting or blocks
• Better alternative: Use a legitimate alert service that handles monitoring for you

Top Resy Restaurants Worth the Hunt

Common Resy Mistakes to Avoid

• Not setting Notifies early: The earlier you set a Notify, the better your position in the queue
• Ignoring off-peak times: 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM+ are often available when 7:30 PM is fully booked
• Only using Resy: Some restaurants are also on OpenTable or SevenRooms—check multiple platforms
• Relying only on Notify: Combine with third-party alerts for the best chance

Start Getting Resy Reservations

Resy is an incredible platform for discovering and booking amazing restaurants. But for the most competitive tables, you need more than just the basic Notify feature.

By combining a well-set-up Resy account, strategic Notify usage, and a third-party alert service like ReservationFinder, you'll dramatically increase your chances of landing those impossible reservations.