Behind the velvet rope hierarchies of NYC restaurant reservations

I wonder if people who happen to share names with famous celebrities have an easier time getting reservations? Also, what happens when celebrities who happen to have fairly common names try to make a reservation over the phone?

I imagine there have to be a lot of working-class guys out there who have names like “Will Smith” and “Tom Jones,” but it seems like it would be rude of the reservationist to ask “are you that Will Smith?” before offering a table.

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