NYC Eatery Sees Surge in Reservations After Featuring in JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Drama

Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant becomes a hot spot for fans looking to emulate the iconic couple's first date.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant in New York City's East Village has seen a 40% surge in reservations after being featured as the location of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's first date in the new FX and Hulu series "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette". Customers are flocking to the longtime Indian eatery, which was a regular haunt for the famous couple in the 1990s, to take photos in the booth where the fictionalized first date took place and try to recreate the experience.

Why it matters

The renewed interest in Panna II highlights the enduring popularity and fascination with JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, whose tragic romance and untimely deaths in a 1999 plane crash have captured the public's imagination for decades. The restaurant's sudden surge in business also demonstrates the power of TV and streaming to drive consumer behavior and boost local businesses that are featured in popular shows.

The details

Panna II owner Bashir Khan says the restaurant has been inundated with customers, mostly couples, who are requesting to sit at the specific booth featured in the show and take photos. Khan says he initially thought the spike in reservations was just a Valentine's Day fluke, but it has continued throughout the week as more people tune into the new series. The restaurant, which opened in 1989, was a regular haunt for JFK Jr. and Bessette Kennedy back in the 90s, and Khan was eager to let the production film a scene there when they approached him.

  • Panna II saw a 40% surge in reservations just days after the FX and Hulu series "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" premiered on February 12, 2026.
  • The restaurant is almost entirely booked this week as the show continues to drive interest.

The players

Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant

A longtime East Village Indian restaurant that was a regular haunt for John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the 1990s.

Bashir Khan

The owner of Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant who took over the business from his parents in 2001.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

The son of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was known as "America's Prince" and whose tragic romance with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy captivated the public.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

The wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., whose relationship and untimely death in a 1999 plane crash with her husband and sister Lauren have become the subject of renewed public fascination.

Michelle Zaffino

A diner who was inspired to visit Panna II after watching the new FX and Hulu series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're getting a lot of couples. A lot of people take a picture in the booth [from the show] and post it. They say, 'Which table was it? Can I have that table?'”

— Bashir Khan, Owner, Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant

“I watched the show and I remembered all the lights and I'm like, 'Oh, I have to go back there! It reminded me that it was there and it was really, really good.'”

— Michelle Zaffino

What’s next

Panna II owner Bashir Khan expects the surge in reservations to continue climbing as more people tune into the new FX and Hulu series about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

The takeaway

The renewed interest in Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant highlights the enduring fascination with the tragic romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and demonstrates the power of popular TV shows to drive consumer behavior and boost local businesses that are featured on-screen.