El Bulli Reservation

Every year for the past 4 years, just for the heck of it, I apply for a dinner reservation at El Bulli near Barcelona. Now, I don't necessarily have the means for my wife and I to travel to Spain for dinner, but the fun is in the attempt to have the option. Every single year, though I send in my request very early, I receive a nicely worded reply letting me know that they were not able to offer me a table again this year. I know that some people are able to get one or more reservations every year. What gives? Has anyone here ever won the El Bulli lottery? Any tips?

Know someone. It helps to be a celebrity chef or winemaker.

I forgot the number, but it's something like 3 million applications for reservations there. Several of my well-connected friends bypass the system and get tables on a regular basis. This, of course, makes the lottery odds longer.

but it's something like 3 million applications for reservations there

That is amazing. Wow. A restaurateur's dream.

My Aunt and Uncle have been there a couple of times. The reservations were procured from a restaurant reservation broker.

but it's something like 3 million applications for reservations there

That is amazing. Wow. A restaurateur's dream.

Or nightmare. I'm sure some of the clientele are impossible to please. Combine that with a "Well don't you know who I am!?" attitude.

Wow, what a story.

Every year for the past 4 years, just for the heck of it, I apply for a dinner reservation at El Bulli near Barcelona. Now, I don't necessarily have the means for my wife and I to travel to Spain for dinner, but the fun is in the attempt to have the option. Every single year, though I send in my request very early, I receive a nicely worded reply letting me know that they were not able to offer me a table again this year. I know that some people are able to get one or more reservations every year. What gives? Has anyone here ever won the El Bulli lottery? Any tips?

You didn't get it 'cuz you didn't enclose your bank statement along with the application, and when you do, make sure it's at least in 8 figures!

[Jenise]

The reservations were procured from a restaurant reservation broker.

I didn't know there was such a thing. Tell us more.

Every year for the past 4 years, just for the heck of it, I apply for a dinner reservation at El Bulli near Barcelona. Now, I don't necessarily have the means for my wife and I to travel to Spain for dinner, but the fun is in the attempt to have the option. Every single year, though I send in my request very early, I receive a nicely worded reply letting me know that they were not able to offer me a table again this year. I know that some people are able to get one or more reservations every year. What gives? Has anyone here ever won the El Bulli lottery? Any tips?

No tips on how to get reservations....not sure if I could spend six hours eating anyway. However, here is an interesting blog about someone who did, including photos, and some tips on making reservations.
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2006/08/dinner_at_el_bulli.php

The reservations were procured from a restaurant reservation broker.

I didn't know there was such a thing. Tell us more.

It's become a very big business. Here's alink to a typical one.
http://www.dinnerbroker.com/

[Jenise]

The reservations were procured from a restaurant reservation broker.

I didn't know there was such a thing. Tell us more.

It's become a very big business. Here's alink to a typical one.
http://www.dinnerbroker.com/

Okay, those kinds of websites I'm aware of. Ones that can get you reservations at Per Se and El Bulli, I'm not.

The reservations were procured from a restaurant reservation broker.

I didn't know there was such a thing. Tell us more.

It's become a very big business. Here's alink to a typical one.
http://www.dinnerbroker.com/

Shel, you are thinking of something like Open Table where there are open reservations. My relatives used an actual reservation broker because there were not any open reservations.

Right Dave, that wasn't a good example.
More along the lines of what you wrote is:
http://www.primetimetables.com/
Frank Bruni, the NY Times resto critic, wrote an article about the "uneven playing field" citing this online site who charges at least $35 per table for a reservation to a "hot" restaurant.
Lots of them around now, how long before Ticket Master and TickeTron get into the act, of not already doing it, and what would be the charge for procuring a reservation to El Bulli?
So LOL, what have we learned here...that with enough clout and the bread to back it up, you could have your own personal lever and just like Archimedes, move the Earth!

My wife's boss has some kind of "in" with the French Laundry. Not sure how it works. They used to get in there by staying at Auberge du Soleil and having the concierge make their reservations. The FL has stopped that practice but she still gets in there pretty much within a week or so of whenever they want. I suppose it's possible that they've just gone there enough that they get preferential treatment. (Wish I could afford to be on such a list!)

Every year for the past 4 years, just for the heck of it, I apply for a dinner reservation at El Bulli near Barcelona. Now, I don't necessarily have the means for my wife and I to travel to Spain for dinner, but the fun is in the attempt to have the option. Every single year, though I send in my request very early, I receive a nicely worded reply letting me know that they were not able to offer me a table again this year. I know that some people are able to get one or more reservations every year. What gives? Has anyone here ever won the El Bulli lottery? Any tips?

Sam, isn't this the restaurant that serves stuff that looks like it might have been regurgitated? If I am right, I really have doubts that I will ever take advantage....even after I win a A$200,000,000 lottery.

Sam, isn't this the restaurant that serves stuff that looks like it might have been regurgitated? If I am right, I really have doubts that I will ever take advantage....even after I win a A$200,000,000 lottery.

Bob,

Yes, that's the place. From what I understand it is more about the taste experience than it is about the act of eating dinner. I became intrigued with the idea of being offered a reservation after reading about the restaurant, and the microscopically small percentage of reservation request that get filled, several years ago. It sounds like I need to add several figures to my bank account before I would rate a table. Unless the stars aligned I would not be able to use the reservation anyway, so it's no big deal. I guess it's the thrill of the chase. Luckily I'm a Cub fan and as such am well aware that "there is always next year"!

Is anyone else reminded of the interview scene with Steve Martin in "LA Story"?

My wife's boss has some kind of "in" with the French Laundry. Not sure how it works. They used to get in there by staying at Auberge du Soleil and having the concierge make their reservations. The FL has stopped that practice but she still gets in there pretty much within a week or so of whenever they want. I suppose it's possible that they've just gone there enough that they get preferential treatment. (Wish I could afford to be on such a list!)

Auberge du Soleil was, at one time in a galaxy far away, the place to eat in Napa - when Masa was there. Ate there several times and had some nice chats with him in the kitchen.

Auberge du Soleil was, at one time in a galaxy far away, the place to eat in Napa - when Masa was there.

Yup. My mother took me to dinner there back then (during my days as a penurious grad student). We had a great meal, but as it was winding down the waiter told me that there was a phone call for me, an interesting statement since no one knew that I was there. As I followed him away from the table, he informed me that my mother's credit card had been declined. I returned to the table, passed on the information to my mother and, after she paid with another card, we both had a good laugh about the delicate handling of the situation.

Mark Lipton

I would be furious if my credit card were declined and a restaurant staff member pulled my dining companion away to tell them about the problem. What they should have done was told her that she had a phone call and explain the situation to her in private.

I would be furious if my credit card were declined and a restaurant staff member pulled my dining companion away to tell them about the problem..

Well from your name I'm guessing you are a man. So I am also guessing that this staff person would have spoken to you directly if such a problem arose.

To be clear, I don't condone such gendered treatment but I do suspect that is what was going on.

I would be furious if my credit card were declined and a restaurant staff member pulled my dining companion away to tell them about the problem..

Well from your name I'm guessing you are a man. So I am also guessing that this staff person would have spoken to you directly if such a problem arose.

To be clear, I don't condone such gendered treatment but I do suspect that is what was going on.

Nailed it in one, Rahsaan. We were both sure that sex (not gender ) was the deciding factor, despite the fact that it was her card, she was in her late 50s at the time and I was in my mid-20s. Go figger.

Mark Lipton

Here come the pedants!!

We were both sure that sex (not gender ) was the deciding factor

Yes, sex (i.e. biology) was the problem.

But his treatment was still gendered (i.e. based on his social constructs).

despite the fact that it was her card, she was in her late 50s at the time and I was in my mid-20s. Go figger.

Mark Lipton

My mother has told me of similar stories from when I was a (quite tall) teenager and servers in restaurants would respond better to me than to her. Despite the fact that anyone with a fraction of a brain could tell she was calling the shots and paying for the meal.