How do I get a reservation for your dining experience?

Updated: May 15th, 2023

Reverence is currently open for Indoor dining Wednesdays through Sundays, with varied seating times, please check on our reservations page for up to date availability. We’re currently only serving 16 guest maximum in our space.

Please note: days and hours of operations will change based on safety, circumstances and government/city regulations and standards.

You can only make a reservation online directly from the Reverence website by using our booking system that is integrated within the TOCK platform.

All reservations are pre-fix, pre-reserve from our website ONLY. Think of it like a movie or sporting events ticket.

No phone reservations or walk-ins can be accommodated, ever.

From time to time there will be last minute cancellations, we suggest following us on our Instagram profile, last minute seating will be announced if and when they do become available, please note it will be time sensitive and first come first served.

We’ve designed and always run this restaurant differently than most restaurants, with the intentions to prepare well in advance for your dining experiences. This enables us to minimize food waste and environmental degradation and impact, which is very much aligned with the core philosophy behind Reverence as a restaurant, its owners and team. We appreciate you being part of this effort

Have some questions? No problem. We’ve put together this list of FAQs for you - we trust it will answer a lot of your questions...and some that you probably did not think about :).

To be very clear, we are not your traditional restaurant. We have a legacy of not doing dining as usual that is easy to review.

Our rules are simple, yet firm, as they are very much aligned with our restaurant philosophy for food, environmental, and financial sustainability. For your enjoyment and everyone’s safety, there are no exceptions to these standards. Cool. Still with us? Keep reading.

Most Important: How have you prepared and are operating in the Covid Era?

We’ll we’ve been fortunate to be on the cutting edge of new industry standards and the evolution of new tech and practices for restaurant and social operations. Chef Russell has been a vocal and impactful participant with the helping to craft and certify the “Aspen Institute” hospitality standards, working with the local and state governments, CDC and National Restaurant Association. The restaurant has been equipped with Merv-13 pre filters for its fresh air distribution and worked with “PhoneSoap” to outfit the restaurant with additional “AirSoap” filtration units (you can read more here on the systems). We’ve also become a opening member of the  “Safe Eats” program standards that are acting as a resource and unifying organization of higher sanitation and operations in this new way of operating. 

On a daily and weekly basis we test and clean our filtration systems. Utilize a medical grade sanitation fogger and UVC lighting for both the kitchen, counter and seating as well as our bathroom. We’ll also be offering to sanitize phones and mask as you dine with our UVC PhoneSoap Vault tech. 

We’ll require that you arrive to your  reservation within 5 minutes of your pre booked time. In the new "Paradigm" period. For this small restaurant it's the only safe way to operate. We've been preforming for over 16 years this way. It's fabulous...

Our first and foremost concern is the protection of our staff and our guest. We’ll be asking all guest to agree to our “Diner Code of Conduct” (created by the Aspen Institute and adopted by many hospitality organizations including World Central Kitchen) as well as be transparent and ethical in their compliance with that requirement. It's difficult for all of us. We want you to be able to relax, and be focused on your guest and the experience we will guide you through. 

What if I can’t get a reservation?

We can't accommodate everyone at all times since Reverence is kept purposefully small and intimate. We trust you'll enjoy the dining experience much more this way, but we'll try our best to have you as a guest. If you don't get a reservation on the date you want, you can attempt to book for an alternative date and time posted on our online booking system. Reservation blocks will become available monthly, to gain early warning access to that announcement sign up for our email communications.

When/how do I get my dining reservation confirmation?

As soon as you confirm your dining reservations online by using our booking system, your reservation details will be emailed directly to you (check your junk/spam folder first before emailing us with a freak-out), please be careful to save the information and follow any additional instructions.

When are dining slots for reservations available?

Dining slots for reservations are released on the first of the month for the following month. All reservations are online at Reverence.NYC ONLY and for party sizes of 1 to 6 guests per group maximum (attempting to back to back book large parties in the system will have consequences). We do have a Buy Out option. Please check the Tock Platform to put in your request.

Why do you use pre-paid reservations instead of regular reservations?

Reverence is a small space and we want to create an intimate environment for our guests. Pre-paid reservations allow us to anticipate who is coming in and to give guests an all-encompassing experience at the best price possible. This also enables us to minimize food waste and stay environmentally friendly so that we can live up to our restaurant philosophy and business values.

Do you take walk-ins?

No walk-ins. All reservations are to be booked in advance and online only.

How do I book a reservation if I have a “Pre-Sales Gift certificate”?

In order to book a reservation with a gift certificate, please contact us directly with your gift card number. Guests are not able to book with gift cards through Tock. If you have one of the Golden Ticket Pre Reserve Certificates, you should have been provided a link and email to reserve your spot in advance. Please do so at least 7-30 days in advance, we can not guarantee availability for last minute bookings.

Note: this was a very specialized opportunity for our long-term friends and following.. Loyalty has privileges..

Do you accommodate larger groups?

The maximum party size at the restaurant is 6 and we currently seat no more than 16 guest each seating. This is part of our effort to create and maintain an intimate environment for our guests. If you, however, prefer to entertain a much larger group privately, please see more details about arranging a private event with us below.

Do you accommodate private events?

For private event inquiries, the only option available is a full restaurant buyout, please email us at info@reverence.nyc

Why is a service charge added?

Service is an integral part of your dining experience and since you will not receive a bill for your meal at the end of your meal, we are adding a 22% service charge at the time of purchase. Not having to pull your card for payment at the end of your meal is another intentional part of our experience that will allow you to be fully present and remove any pressure from these details, should you join us for your first date, business meeting or a similar special event. We’re also a “HighRoads Kitchen and One Fair Wage House”, this allows us to legally and fairly pay our staff their worth and respect for the hard work and excellent service they are committed to providing each and every diner. If after your experience you’d like to add additional gratuity, we will provide you with our Venmo to tip the staff. Cash is also King..

Can I get a refund once a ticket is purchased?

Sorry Never. We have a strict NO REFUND POLICY. Just as with attending a sporting event, concert or the theater, all sales are final. We cannot cancel your reservation or reschedule it for another night. If you cannot come, we recommend that you transfer your reservation to someone else, please make sure to inform us of that change.

Can I give my reservation away or sell it?

Yes. The reservation is completely transferable. Please note, however, that selling reservations for greater than face value may be illegal in your area. Anyone who purchases a reservation from another patron should take care to ensure that they have received a formal transfer of the reservation through the restaurant’s official website. Any reservations purchased on the secondary market are at the purchaser’s risk. We cannot accept responsibility for forgeries or misrepresentations.

How do I transfer my reservation?

To transfer a reservation, log in to your account and then select, “Reservations”. Each reservation has a transfer button next to it.

What should I expect on the Menu?

Chef Jackson’s version of “Modern California” really is an interpretation and homage to his upbring and career in Southern and Northern California. Styles of French, Italian, Japanese, Hispanic and Korean make up the overall concept, incorporating products locally sourced to items imported specifically from regions of California. The menu is Vegetable forward, (but not vegan) with Seafood. (there maybe some dairy or eggs included). (dated: Summer/Fall/Winter sessions of 2021).

How much food will I get?

Dinner will be 5-9 courses (pending on how adventurous we’re feeling and what the market and your appetites may bare, in some cases we’ve severed as few as 5 courses and as many as 17, again it just depends on a multitude of factors). You should expect dinner to last around 2 hours. If you have any food allergies, please let us know ahead of time and we'll try to accommodate to the best of our ability. If there’s something you truly hate and dare tell us, expect that it will be incorporated into an evenings service, we play rough. Please note, we are currently not taking request for menu changes or amendments at this time.

Tasting Menu -Reverence offers 1 .

-This seasons menu is $115.00US - $179.00US per person (not including tax, service charge or add-on’s.

-optional Alcoholic Beverage Pairings consisting of Wine, Beer, Saki and Cider Available for $110.00US - $160.00US

- Our expansive and robust Non-Alcoholic tasting is $100.00US - $135.00 per person

-water service per guest is 10.00US

Please note: there are no options to split tastings of any nature.

Are drinks included in the tasting menu?

No, you have the option to purchase a beverage tasting or option to order from our list at the restaurant. We highly recommend if you wish to do bottle service, you choose that option and our beverage director will guide you thorough our process to pre-select your options before your visit.

Is there a bottle corkage policy?

Yes, we do have a corkage fee, it’s $105.00 Per bottle with a 2 bottle per party limit. And maybe pre paid or at the restaurant. We do allow magnums as well at one per reservation in lieu of two bottles, not in addition to two bottles and at $190.00 per magnum.

What is the dress code?

We are creating a fine dining experience for you and you are an important part of that experience. While we don’t expect you to show up in an Oscar-style outfit or tuxedo, we plan to roll the red carpet for you during this experience and we’d appreciate if you dress up. You can still keep this fun, yet elegant. We don’t create stuffy corporate experiences.

Is parking available?

We don’t offer valet services. Sorry its New York City- Harlem

There is street parking available, but it’s difficult, we suggest getting to the area, 45mins or more to try to find parking. Or better yet. Utilize Via or Uber.

What is the nearest public transportation option?

We are conveniently located within walking distance from the 135 Street subway stop (A & C trains on the blue line, B train on the orange line) as well as 135 Street subway stop on the 2 and 3 trains on the red line.

What is the Communal Chef's Counter?

Our restaurant features a Communal Chef's Counter-style seating with side-by-side seating overlooking the open kitchen. This way you get to see us create each of your meals and drinks as well as interact with our team more closely. This is part of our effort to create an intimate experience for you. We offer chairs with supportive backs that we have tested ourselves.

Children

Young Guests are welcome provided they enjoy the full tasting menu and the good company of their guests. We have had diners in our past as young as 6-7 years of age and have destroyed 16 courses laughing at the adults the entire time..

Please note: We are asking all of our guests to take a chance on pre-paying for a meal, seated communally, and lasting at least one and a half hours and up-to three hours through a dining experience. When dining, you’ll be seated right next to adults who have paid a lot for a dining experience, but also for an adult social experience. Bringing a child risks disrupting the experiences of the other guests, so we ask that you carefully consider the other diners who will be right next to your party at the same counter. Our recommendation is not to bring children under ten. Ultimately, though, it is up to the judgment of our guests whether to bring their children. Either way, any child requiring a seat of their own must have a reservation, and we will serve them the same meal we serve adult diners, without kid-specific modifications. And yes, they love it.. We have children that have been eating with us since day 1 and are now teenagers and adults that come frequently.

What is Chef Russell's ethnic background?

Chef Russell's parents are African-American. If you must know, based on his genetic report, his ancestors were largely from Western Europe and Western Africa. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.

Why is your website so minimal?

We like things to be simple, clean, and to the point. We run Reverence differently and our website is another expression of our philosophy. This is not a traditional restaurant. Our main goal is to create an exceptional dining experience for you. We live in a world saturated by social media, Instagram food photos and hashtags, and excessive use of phones during dinners. We want our dining experiences to remind our guests that food is about being present, connecting and engaging with other guests, sharing the experience with them, and disconnecting from your phone to fully indulge the food and drinks we prepare for you with deep passion. This is why you won’t see food photos on our website.

Times of Operations

Updated: May 15th, 2023

We operate Wednesdays through Saturdays, dinners only. And bi-monthly Sunday Supper Services.

Dining times are now set between 5pm and 830pm for Communal Seatings. Wednesday -Friday seatings at 530/630/730/830 options. Saturdays 1 seating at 7pm. Sunday Supper at 5pm.

If you do not reach the restaurant within the scheduled reservation window (within the 15min grace period), you risk the possibility of missing your dining experience. No exceptions. We are all adults, you know how to get somewhere, anywhere within a scheduled time, ON TIME. Not early, not late.

Dietary Restrictions, Allergies, and Aversions

We are happy to accommodate most allergy restrictions with 72-hours notice. Please indicate them when the reservation is made by responding on the form. We will do our best to accommodate you.. With that said, we are not taking menu request or adjustments to our current set. See more details under the tasting menu section.

Forms of Payment Accepted

We accept all major debit and credit cards on our reservations system. IN HOUSE, we prefer to accept only credit cards, ApplePay or GooglePay.

Gratuity

We don't have a wait staff. But we have an amazing team all of whom are involved to create an amazing dining experience for you. If you’d like to show them gratitude for their efforts, we’ll provide you an electronic way to say thanks. This is a HighRoads Kitchen restaurant.

No Shows/Cancellations/Cancellation Policy

Just like a sporting event, concert, or theater ticket all sales are final. However, bookings of all types are always transferable. You can review all your confirmed bookings and/or transfer your bookings from your Tock profile. Please see below for instructions on how to transfer your ticket.

No attitude and no pretentious BS please, ITS OVER.

This is a small intimate restaurant and we want this to be exciting and fun, not drab and serious (we play the music loud!). We pride ourselves on years of exceptional life changing events, you are an enormous part of the chemistry that creates that. Again, open hearts, minds and stomachs is a requirement. With our new protocols and issues stemming from policies and requirements from the CDC and local government, we ask that you commit to our “Diner Code of Conduct” and frankly lead with love.

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Have additional questions?

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