Why You Can’t Get Restaurant Reservations at 7:30 in the Evening

When Resy launched in 2014, the online restaurant reservation business was dominated by one company, OpenTable Inc. Resy innovated the landscape, adding features like ‘Notify’ to put users on a waiting list, and partnering with Airbnb Inc to book restaurants. In May 2019, a person familiar with the transaction confirmed Resy was sold to American Express for about $200 million.

At the time of the acquisition, the company had 4,000 restaurants on its roster. It has since tripled that number, to 12,000 dining spots, while hosting events like Resy Drive-Thru, a Covid-safe way to experience a 10-course tasting menu.