Another pub-crawling strategy that I used to use back in my rugby-playing days is that you send out a scouting-party, even up to half your group, to the next pub, while the rest holds the fort at your first one. If your scouts can't get seats there, they go on to a third one. When they find a spot, they call and wave the rest of the group on.

I don't know how well that will work in NYC, where many restaurants might have the Stout/St. Andrew's policy of not seating you until all your party shows up, but it works well in the regular world...

-- Cirthalion