Raoul's

A 1975 SoHo French bistro whose bar sells just 12 peppercorn-crusted burgers a night, first-come, first-served.

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//The line

Raoul's runs two separate access problems. The dining room is reservation-only. Resy's own guide says tables drop 30 days out at 8am and are gone within a couple of hours; the notification list ran 167 tables (463 people) on one Thursday and 500-600 tables (1,700-1,900 people) on a weekend. Resy puts the dinner crush at Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30pm.

The actual sidewalk line is at the bar. It is walk-in only: 8 seats, 12 peppercorn-crusted burgers a night, first-come first-served, no holding spots for friends. Regulars queue around 4:30pm for the 5pm open. A Nylon writer who first tried at 7pm got shut out, came back at 4:30, found a line already waiting, watched 'seven more people teleport behind' her, and was eating by roughly 5:20. Forbes quotes a Yelp regular on 'the line down the sidewalk of patrons hoping to snag one of the few bar seats.'

If you miss the first eight, the manager takes your details and you wait on premises for a drop-out, or you take a table without the burger. The lower-friction routes, per Resy and Forbes: weekend brunch (11am-3pm), when the 12-burger cap is lifted, or a late 10:30pm bar seat before the 11pm kitchen close.

//When the line peaks

▸Weekdays around 4:30pm: the bar-burger line forms on the sidewalk before the 5pm open (Nylon, Resy)
▸Dinner peak Tuesday-Saturday, 7:30-9:30pm (Resy)
▸Reservations open 30 days out at 8am and sell out within a couple of hours (Resy)
▸Weekend brunch 11am-3pm: burgers served beyond the 12-a-night cap, per Forbes
▸Late bar window around 10:30pm before the 11pm kitchen close is Resy's recommended lower-demand time

Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines. Sources below.

//Live lines nearby

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//FAQ

How long is the line for the Raoul's burger?

There is no measured wait, but the math is tight: the bar has 8 seats and sells only 12 burgers a night. A Nylon writer arrived at 4:30pm for the 5pm open and was eating by about 5:20. If you are not in the first group in the door, you wait on premises for a drop-out or may not get one at all (Nylon, Forbes).

What time should I line up at Raoul's for a bar seat?

Resy and firsthand accounts say regulars queue around 4:30pm, before the 5pm open. Seating is first-come, first-served in line order, you must be physically present, and spots cannot be held for friends (Resy, Forbes).

Do I need a reservation at Raoul's?

For the dining room, effectively yes. Resy's guide says reservations drop 30 days out at 8am and are gone within a couple of hours. The bar is walk-in only, which is why the sidewalk line exists (Resy, The Infatuation).

Can I get the Raoul's burger without waiting in the bar line?

Weekend brunch, roughly 11am to 3pm, is the easier route. Forbes reports burgers are served then beyond the 12-a-night cap because checks are lower and tables turn faster.

When is Raoul's busiest?

Resy pegs the dinner peak at Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30pm. Reservation demand runs 500-600 tables deep on weekend notification lists per the same source.

//Sources