Want to book a table? I’ll have to check you out on Google
in New York DISCERNING diners wanting a reservation at one of New York’s most exclusive restaurants were being driven mad. How was it possible that Fleming Le Bilboquet was constantly refusing their requests?
Now they know, after a New York tabloid lifted the lid on the hotspot’s saucy secret: staff at the Upper East Side venue were Googling their guests to see if they were glamorous enough.
Josh Vlasto, a spokesman for the 20-seater restaurant, confirmed that they did Google their guests.
Robert de Niro, Paul McCartney and Ivanka Trump have all been known to dine at the venue, which serves Provencal cuisine. But if your name is not familiar to the reservations team, you will be vetted online.
“We want to keep the restaurant for special people only,” one waiter told the New York Post. “We want to maintain a certain environment for our customers, rich people.”
A second employee, who works in the kitchen, told the newspaper that anyone who tried to make a reservation and was not acceptable after being Googled did not get a call back.
Asked what made someone acceptable, the worker replied: “Rich.”
Mr Vlasto denied the two staff members’ claims, insisting that although they did Google their guests, it was not to confirm they were rich or famous.
“What the staff is claiming is absolutely not true and whoever said it is making it up,” he told the paper.
He did not expand on why the restaurant Googled its guests, before accepting their reservation. The Sunday Telegraph inquired why, but has yet to receive a response.
Reservations are made through the website. There is no telephone number. The Telegraph attempted to make a reservation, in the name of a friend, but did not receive a response. The reasons remain unclear.
The restaurant was opened last year by billionaire mogul Ronald Perelman, the 49th richest man in America according to Forbes, and restaurateur Philippe Delgrange.
‘We want to keep maintain a certain environment for our customers, rich people’