There are few things more satisfying than watching someone you love unwrap a big box stuffed with something fancy and pretty that they can’t believe you knew they wanted. Last Christmas, I was gifted a Drake’s chore coat that I gaze at every time I open my closet. A few months ago, I bought my first Rimowa suitcase as a celebration for a work milestone. Even that personal indulgence makes packing for a trip feel more joyful than cumbersome. Material gifts are cool. Things are good.
But my instincts trend toward experiential gifting — a riskier proposition. You can’t return an experience. You can’t check calendar availabilities beforehand. There’s a delayed payoff upon opening the card. You’re claiming hours of someone’s time, which inherently raises the stakes. It’s dicey.
You know what universally hits, though? The exact right dinner reservation. People fucking love a good dinner. And that’s my one gift guide recommendation for the holiday season. Book your loved ones a table, handle the logistics, call ahead to fully cover their tab, and give them a night where the only thing they do is show up and enjoy the treat. If you pick the right place — somewhere they’ve always wanted to try, somewhere they love but can’t easily book, or even their regular neighborhood spot — you elevate a thing they could technically do themselves into a luxurious act of care.
Some people give gift cards, and that’s sweet. But there’s a gulf between “Here’s $200 toward a meal” and “There’s a reservation on Saturday at 8, corner table, the tab is handled, just live it up.” There’s ease and intention built in. It says you thought about the where, the when, and the how—not just the dollar amount. Plus, if the date and time don’t work, it’s easy enough to alter.
I like to coordinate these treats over the phone with the restaurant. (Email is fine, if necessary). Let the team know it’s a celebration. For most good restaurants, this kind of thing energizes the staff on an otherwise grueling evening. I’ll send a bottle of wine over to make the night feel even more special, but that’s optional. What matters is removing all the friction.
Get this for a couple. Get it for the person at work who kept you sane during all the year’s bullshit and tell them to bring a friend. Get it for your parents. It works in any scenario.
Based on past experience, here are my top restaurants in New York and LA to pull off such a move. A range of different vibes and executions, all guaranteed to deliver via a staff that takes this kind of ask seriously.
Los Angeles
Bell’s: Perfect for the young parents in your life who don’t get out enough. If you’re a really good friend, you’ll offer to babysit for the occasion.
Wilde’s: The thing people keep saying about Wilde’s is that LA hasn’t had anything like it. That’s true. I went on opening night and simply … can’t shut up about how magical what owners Tatiana Ettensberger and Natasha Price have pulled off at this little British-inspired beauty in Los Feliz. It’s already a tough table. Sit on Resy and show someone how much you care.
Baroo: Too many LA food obsessives concede they haven’t visited the new iteration of Baroo yet. Fix that for them. And make sure to book one regular and one vegetarian tasting menu, so they can try all of Kwang Uh’s brilliance.
Etra: An intimate, mature restaurant with impeccable service. This is where the mere act of booking elevates what’s already a lovely meal.
New York
Torrisi: I’ll pull the trigger on a Dorsia-supported, absurdly high minimum-spend banger here once a year or so for my favorite people.
Estela: Falls in the “people forget how amazing it is and you need to remind them” camp.
The full Frenchette restaurant group: These folks know how to go above and beyond if you make a heartfelt ask. Particularly good for your parents.
Penny: Letting your friends raw bar their ass off on you is one of the nicest things I can think of.
King: King is great, but it’s even better when you never see the bill. Take advantage.
One more thing
My friend
has a new romantic comedy 31 Candles coming out that I’m stoked about. Here’s the trailer:It’s opening next weekend in New York (grab tickets) and I’ll be catching it in LA in December. There aren’t nearly enough good rom-coms out in the world — a genre I’ve always adored. Jonah is my favorite person to talk to about what works and what doesn’t in a modern love story. He lives and breathes this stuff. So we’re gonna do a Substack Live on Wednesday at 1pm ET to get into all of that, plus some food and film crossover topics. Tune in.