When Evan Felcher and Mattia Ros first crossed paths at a tennis tournament during their days playing for Division I universities—Evan at the University of Oregon and Mattia at the University of Denver—they never imagined their friendship would one day spark a business venture. Years later, after reconnecting in New York City while working in finance, the pair bonded over their shared love for the city’s vibrant dining and social scene.
Recognizing a frustrating gap in traditional reservation apps, they saw firsthand how locals were often left scrambling for coveted dining spots, only to come up short. Determined to create a solution, they launched Access—a subscription-based reservation app designed to guarantee prime dining slots at Manhattan’s hottest restaurants, without the endless search.
Evan (University of Oregon) and Mattia (University of Denver) first met during a tennis tournament while attending different D1 universities. The two became close friends after reconnecting in New York and working in finance. They enjoyed dining out together but were surprised to find they couldn’t get reservations at the city’s top restaurants. And thus, Access was born.
What inspired the creation of Access in New York?
“I always wanted to do something in hospitality,” Mattia says. “I’m originally from Italy and grew up surrounded by the industry, with my family owning hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs. I spent a lot of time hearing my dad talk about it at dinner, so it felt like a natural fit for me. Some of my best memories are around the dinner table. It may sound cliché, but I’m the type of person who loves restaurants and nightclubs. I’ve always been immersed in it.”
“Whether it’s the prime dining hours between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., the resellers snapping up reservations, or just the sheer congestion on platforms like Resy or OpenTable, we identified a major pain point for customers who lack connections in hospitality or don’t know the chef. There’s no better city than New York to address this issue. Being an entrepreneur involves meeting a diverse range of people—potential investors, your co-founder, and more,” Evan explains
How does Access work?
“Your reservation inventory is pre-secured for members at these restaurants. All the time slots are pre-selected at desirable dining hours, so members can land the tables they want without competing against the thousands of people in New York City. It’s all about the dining experience. It’s not just for billionaires; it’s for anyone looking for an elevated booking experience. Our customer base values ease and a seamless experience. They’re willing to pay a premium for that stress-free experience,” says Evan.
“There are four membership categories: Free, Core, Select, and Premium,” he continues. “From a financial perspective, there’s much higher value in becoming a member to secure reservations. The Free category has seen an influx of members, particularly from tourists, but it’s flexible for anyone who wants to use the app. We offer products and services that cater to various customer profiles, but if you dine out twice a month, we’d recommend a membership.”
What exclusive benefits do members receive when they sign up?
“With our subscription-based platform, members receive an e-balance (similar to the ClassPass credit system) and can deploy their ‘Key’ balance (reservation currency) across all the restaurants, bars, and events on the app. Whether it’s a reservation at Bungalow or a corporate event in a private dining room, our service extends to fashion, art, and even sports events down the line. Phase two of the model will introduce this.”
“We’ve launched with 15 restaurants on the app and will continue to expand that number,” he adds. “The beauty of this launch is that we have top-tier brands across various niches. For example, Roscioli in SoHo is an institution in the neighborhood known for casual but elevated Italian dining. We also have Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa, The Office of Mr. Moto in the East Village, and trendy spots like Sip & Guzzle and Pearl Box.”
Can you describe the experience for members who are part of Access?
“Our customer base is passionate about dining experiences,” Mattia shares. “The average time spent in the app is under two minutes. It’s quick, easy, and efficient—perfect for curated experiences. Take something like NYFW: getting into those events without hassle is impossible. Our service isn’t just for multi-millionaires. It’s for individuals who love dining and want an elevated booking experience. We also cater to corporate customers who are swamped with requests for unique dining experiences.”
“Since launching, we’ve received strong feedback about the app’s user experience,” Mattia elaborates. “The fact that users are spending less than two minutes in the app is a testament to how seamless and fast the experience is. We don’t want people waiting on the app for 20 minutes to book a reservation.”
Which restaurants are currently part of Access, and are there any exciting new additions on the horizon?
“We have to keep everything internal until it’s officially released on our socials, unfortunately,” shares Evan. “However, we recently brought on the former President and COO of Union Square Hospitality Group as advisors to help select restaurants for the app. This is a significant development and speaks to our thoughtful approach to curating partnerships.”
Mattia adds, “It varies by restaurant and event, but we primarily announce new additions through social media, especially Instagram. We’re proud to be the first company that doesn’t ask restaurants for a single penny to join Access.”
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