House rules

The playbook

Caccia is a drop sniper, not a bot that logs into OpenTable. Use it like a maître d' who already has a finger on the book.

1. 01

   The drop is 9:00 AM Eastern

   Don Angie releases exclusively on OpenTable, 7 days in advance, at 9:00 AM ET. Not Resy. Not a phone list. If you are late by a minute, prime is gone.

2. 02

   Be logged into OpenTable at 8:59

   Caccia finds the table and prefills the book. You still hit confirm on OpenTable with your own account. Have the app open, payment on file, logged in.

3. 03

   The hardest SKU

   Two people, Friday or Saturday, 7:30–8:30, dining room. That combination evaporates first. Loosen any one of those and your odds jump.

4. 04

   Flexibility is the cheat code

   Tuesday at 5:30, Thursday at 9:15, the bar, weekend lunch. Same kitchen. Same pinwheel lasagna. Much quieter book.

5. 05

   Lunch is the sleeper

   Friday–Sunday, 11:30 AM–2:00 PM. Same restaurant, half the heat. If dinner is impossible, eat at noon.

6. 06

   Walk-ins still exist

   Arrive at open (5:00 weeknights, 4:00 Friday–Sunday). Put a name in. Wait at the bar. Call (212) 838-2558 if you want a human on the book.

7. 07

   Cancellations all week

   Keep Caccia armed after the drop. People dump tables. A drill-fire during the day is how you catch a 2-top that just came back.

8. 08

   San Sabino is the sister

   A few doors down, same family. If Don Angie is a brick, walk over. It is not a consolation prize.