Might a restaurant become more famous because people cannot get a table?
Difficulty can become a signal of desirability.
Yes. Limited availability can increase curiosity and social prestige, making restaurants seem more desirable than equally good but easier-to-book competitors.
People rarely brag about easily available experiences.
The hidden mechanism is scarcity signaling. Difficulty obtaining something often makes others assume it must be valuable.
Imagine hearing that reservations are impossible to get for months. Even before tasting the food, expectations begin rising.
A second-order effect develops because scarcity attracts attention, attention attracts media coverage, and media coverage attracts even more demand.
People often think restaurants become famous because everyone eats there. Sometimes they become famous because most people cannot.
