Empellón
Alex Stupak's love letter to Mexico, plated with the precision of a four-star tasting kitchen.
510 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022 · hours vary by night
Sign in or create a free account to see pricing and book this table. Joining is free — you only pay when we land your reservation.
Why Empellón is hard to book
A New York Times 100 Best room draws a constant line, and the two prime windows that matter most, the pre-theater seating and the late dinner rush, vanish the moment tables open. The flagship spans two floors on Madison Avenue, yet the seats that everyone actually wants, the ones at the right hour on a Friday or Saturday, are a fraction of that count. Reservations release on a rolling calendar and the best nights are claimed within minutes, long before a casual booker thinks to look.
We hold your exact night. The moment the calendar opens we are already there, and we keep watching as cancellations surface in the hours and days before service, the quiet windows most diners never see. When the seat you want appears, we secure it in your name, at your time, for your party. Same room, same date, every time. We never offer you a different night or a different restaurant as a consolation.
How we work this room.
Pay when we get you in.
Your card is authorized when you submit the request. We charge it only when we confirm your table. No confirmation, no charge. Ever.
Authorize, do not captureThe host is expecting you.
You walk in to Empellón and the table is yours, held for your party at your time.
Confirmed for your partyOne posted price.
One number, every night, every party size. No auctions, no surge, no Friday markup. Whatever the room is doing, the price does not move. Sign in to see it.
No auctions. No surge.Empellón, the FAQ.
How do I get a reservation at Empellón?
Name Empellón and the night you want. We book it on your account the instant a table opens or a cancellation appears, and you only pay if we actually get it.
Why is Empellón so hard to book?
Empellón is one of the most in-demand tables in Midtown. Prime-time seats are claimed within seconds of release, and many never reach the public at all, so refreshing on your own rarely works.
When do Empellón reservations open up?
Empellón releases tables on a set schedule, and seats also reappear when other guests cancel. We watch both around the clock and move the instant one opens, so you never have to refresh at midnight.
How much does it cost to book Empellón through The Elusive List?
One flat fee, charged only when we confirm your table. No table, no charge. Sign in to see the exact fee for Empellón.
Five steps, start to seated.
You ask.
Tell us the night, the time window, the party size. Two minutes on this page. Card on file, not charged.
We confirm the request.
An operator reviews the request, checks the room, and sends a confirmation that we are working it. Usually within thirty minutes.
We work the room.
We reach the floor manager directly, by phone or by text, depending on the night. We make the call.
You are confirmed.
We charge the card and send your confirmation — the time and the name to give the host.
You eat.
Walk into 510 Madison Ave, give your name at the host stand, sit down. The room takes it from there. We do not see you again until the next request.
Contemporary Mexican, New York, Tier II.
Bad Roman
Comedy Cellar
Dhamaka
Tonight, tomorrow,
or three months out.
We work this restaurant every day. You pay only when we confirm your table.