Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
How Long Do Sane People Wait For A Table Before They Go Mad?
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 8, 2011
Modified Aug 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 8, 2011
Modified Aug 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last week, we reported that Long Island City destination diner M. Wells will be closing at the end of the month due to a lease dispute with the landlord, and now, desperate customers with deep pockets are flooding the restaurant for a last-minute taste of glory.
Shortly after owners Hugh Dufour and Sarah Obraitis announced the impending closure, they also announced a series of $200 a pop "farewell dinners" at the space, with themes like "‘Our Trip to the Fulton Fish Market" and cartoon characters. When we visited the restaurant this weekend for brunch, the line was pushing two hours for a table (who do they think they are, Alexander McQueen?!), and diners were being encouraged to "order as much as you can possibly handle," which lead to some disturbing displays of gluttony.
New Yorkers are no strangers to obscene wait times for a meal (see: Shake Shack, Ippudo, Momofuku, et al), but with many restaurants no longer accepting reservations, we find ourselves increasingly wondering if it's worth it in the end? Maybe so many people line up for restaurant food because fat is flavor and no home cook is using even an eighth of the amount of butter tossed around at M. Wells. And maybe there's a certain unspoken sense of status that comes with plunking down half your paycheck for a marquee meal. Also, some people who see a line just can't resist getting on it, assuming that whatever awaits at the end MUST be worth it.
But will New Yorkers ever reach a breaking point when it comes to waiting "forever" to spend a fortune on food? Or will the situation just keep devolving until there's a permanent tent city waiting outside Torrisi Italian Specialties? What's your limit when you're told how long the wait for a table will be?
Tagged
closing
farewell dinner
lines
m wells
restaurants
waiting
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .