How to Get a Reservation at Raoul's in New York

The short answer

Raoul's takes reservations on Resy, and prime tables in the dining room go quickly. The reliable approach is to watch for cancellations in the days before service, and to use the bar, where the celebrated off-menu burger is typically served on a first-come basis.

Openings appear and disappear as plans change. Confirm the current release timing and any walk-in or bar policy on the live listing before you go.

What Raoul's is, and the room to know

Raoul's is the enduring SoHo French bistro on Prince Street, a Manhattan institution since 1975, known for steak au poivre, a famously good (and limited) bar burger, and a clubby, candlelit room that has never gone out of style. It draws an in-the-know crowd that keeps it busy decade after decade.

Because the dining room is reservation-driven while the bar runs on walk-ins, you have two routes in. The bar is the move on a whim; the dining room rewards cancellation watching.

The best strategy for Raoul's

For the dining room, watch your exact date and party size continuously and confirm the instant a cancellation lands. For a spontaneous night, aim for the bar early, on a weeknight, where you can also chase the burger.

• Weeknights are easier than weekends.
• The bar is the route for walk-ins and the limited burger.
• Off-peak seatings open more often than prime time.
• Watch the final 48 hours for the heaviest cancellation churn.

Frequently asked