Dowling's at The Carlyle

A simple menu of perfectly executed classics, jaw-dropping decor, and an aristocratic yet soporific atmosphere made for a memorable dining experience.

As soon as we walked into the main dining room we were taken aback by the cornucopia of modern art in ormolu frames, Art Deco aesthetic, and waitstaff in their sartorial splendor. If Billie Holliday, Howard Hughes, and Greta Garbo were still alive, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them all having a drink here while Glenn Miller performed Moonlight Serenade with his orchestra.

Although the decor was top-notch, most of our fellow patrons looked old enough to have attended the grand opening of The Carlyle. While we’re not ageists, we felt as though our lack of a trust fund or pied-à-terre in Monte Carlo would have excluded us from most of their conversations.

As for the food, it was mostly an afterthought. Thanks to the Fingerling potatoes and Cream of Sorrel, my Faroe Island Salmon was absolute perfection. My fiancé, however, was not as enthusiastic about her meal; she described her salt-baked Branzino and (Lilliputian-sized) mashed potatoes as, “Acceptable.” After tasting them both myself, I would also describe them as pedestrian.

First, the service is about as good as anyone would ever want. The main server was knowledgeable and helpful with menu choices. And the Captain was a local who gave great background information about the rich history of the restaurant and how your order was sourced.

Dowling's was renovated and the decor is stunning. The atmosphere is amazing which keeps it far from the madding crowd of restaurants-in-hotels vibe.

The tuna tartare was light, cheerful and a great way to start off.

The dover sole is a rarity in the city. It is prepared and deboned table-side. It has a light, lemon, taste that melts in your mouth.

Similarly, the lamb shank is tender and falls off the bone.

Do not pass up on Dowling's at the Carlyle! The staff made us feel like VIPs. And the food backed it up. It was a wonderful experience that we will definitely have again.

I loved it. But let it be known I’m a fan of the classics.

It may not be Gen Z friendly, (Though parts of the service are TIkTok content worthy. Namely the preparation of table side dishes, A flambe station adds a touch of drama to the steak Diane dish for instance, set on fire with a pour of cognac). But where Dowling’s “lacks” in the trendy it excels in service, ambiance and decor.

The menu isn’t adventurous or ground breaking. Mainstays you might expect - Branzino, Salmon, Steak… But you don’t come to a place like Dowling’s for a culinary challenge or quirky cocktails. You come for the old school Manhatten charm that many have forgotten . In this area Dowling’s excels. One of the earlier reviews described it as “stuffy” and I agree. But luckily for me that was exactly what I was in the mood for !

I would say run, don’t walk over especially while it’s restaurant week pricing. But that behavior would be frowned upon, so maybe just walk briskly over to Dowling’s. 😅