02/07/09

Go for the entertainment, Not the food

by hubriis

Two things - if I could, I would rate the Cafe Carlyle as a restaurant about a 2.5 or 3. But, I would rate the entertainment portion an absolute 5.

We went to see Christine Ebersole, as she was the replacement for the incomparable Eartha Kitt. She was absolutely amazing, and we had a terrific table front and center. The entertainment portion of the evening was just magical!

Dinner, however, was just okay. I guess my expectation level was too high, but I expected more than just standard fare when dining at the Carlyle. I started with the green salad, which was pretty minimally dressed with green lettuce, peeled tomatoes and a dressing which was far too lemony for my taste. It was enough that I finally gave up midway through because I just wasn't enjoying my salad.

My entree was the salmon. While the salmon was adequate, I suppose I expected a notch above from the Cafe Carlyle. All in all, dinner was fine but nothing to write home about. We felt a bit hurried throughout dinner and I finished about half of my salmon before the show started. We did not have dessert because it would have meant an interruption during the performance. The wine list, however, was impeccable.

After the show we headed over to Bemelman's Bar and the piano player made up for the missed dessert...he was amazing!

11/16/08

cozyy

by JESSEE28

This is one of the finest restaurants I've ever been to. And that's saying a lot since I am such a miser when it comes to five star ratings. A classic "you get what you pay for," and here, you don't get much for $5... or $50... or $100. At Cafe Carlyle, everything is grade A from ambiance, service, and food. They are flawless.

Legendary singers cast the spell at one of New York's most famous cabarets.

by Erin Behan

In Short
What do Eartha Kitt, Bobby Short and Woody Allen have in common? They've all wowed audiences at the Carlyle Hotel's 70-seat supper club. The renovated room (last touched in 1955) shows off the musically playfull Marcel Vertes murals, and dinner-and-a-song lovers can take advantage of chef James Sakatos's menu of upscale classics like foie gras terrine, dover sole and creme brulee. Banquettes rim the room and cast the focal point on the stage, and beyond the elegant table seating, there's a first-come, first-served bar.

04/18/08

Wow. In more ways than one.

by mapleleaves

We saw Elaine Stritch perform here last year, but I'm just getting around to writing a review.

We had 7:00 reservations for dinner, so we were already most of the way through our wonderful (but VERY expensive) dinner by the time her show started at 8:45. (Important note - check the hotel's web site and see if dinner is required with tickets; sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, and you may be able to go just for the later show and drinks) The show was incredible - the room is so small you feel like you pushed the coffee table out of the way and hosted Elaine Stritch and a five-piece band in your living room!

It was our first time there, but they gave us a table with a great view right on the walkway between the back door and the stage. Ms. Stritch stopped and shook hands with everyone along that row on the way out!

Looking forward to returning to New York, and checking out the recently renovated Cafe!

• Pros: Incomparable performances, timeless room
• Cons: Get comfortable at the teeny table; you'll be there a while!

07/12/06

Take Me Back to Manhattan

by dpezza02

The room, service and ambience truly speak of a bygone elegance and capture the spirit of Old New York. I went to see Eartha Kitt and was as impressed by the service as I was by her amazing performance. The food was basic, America fare - very well-prepared but nothing too exciting. And it was extremely expensive, but worth every penny. I would strongly recommend Cafe Carlyle as THE BEST special occasion restaurant in the city.

07/07/06

Great Woody Allen Show, lousy service

by chalina

I booked a table weeks in advance for my mother and me to see Woody Allen's show in the Carlyle Cafe. Upon timely arrival they put us in the last corner of the room, next to the stage behind the drummer. It was not that there weren't any other tables free and we weren't dressed in jeans either. We were about to dine there for more than $500 including grat and cover! The food was ok but definitely not worth this money. The partial view table either. I did not want to spoil the party cause my mother really loved the show, but I do not recommend this place to anyone. If at all, try to get a place at the bar and hold on to a beer while enjoying the fabulous band!

• Pros: Woody Allen and his band
• Cons: Price, Service

02/18/06

Cabaret great, prices not.

by smasher71

We went to go see Ute Lemper. During the first 15 minutes of the performance, the sound system gave horrible feedback. It was so bad, at one point she said, "Should I keep going? Paying $75 each just for the show, I expected the hotel to have a working and high end sound system. I naively thought dinner was served during the show, but the waiters don't come by once the shows start, so order your wine 30 mins before the show start time.

The captain will expect a tip on your tab. Also, the Evian they put on your table is $10.

I think it's a great "experience", but the sofas weren't that comfortable, and I would've been mad if Ute wasn't so great. I would go during a weekday when it's not so crowded and you have the place to yourselves. Also, it's $10pp cheaper on a weeknight.

• Pros: Great performers, Good lighting
• Cons: Expensive, Romantic

04/28/04

MMMM...

by elaia

Has the character, has Woody Allen every Monday...why would they care for more. The ambience is super! It was a pricey night but i can't even describe the retro magical feelings...a night to remember for sure. Cool and swing!

• Pros: ambience, music, feelings

01/22/04

Great place, poor food

by ethanklemperer

We went there to see Ute Lemper and she was fantastic. The venue is great. The people were nice and we had a great table.

The food is bad and expensive. $15 for appetizer, $40 for main dish, no choice of tap water. You can either have sparkling or still for $10/bottle. My lamp was way too salty and my wife's porcini crusted chicken had not a hint of porcini.

I would recommend going for the show and drinks, but not dinner.

• Pros: great room, drinks, fun
• Cons: bad food, snooty servers

06/19/02

hidden gem

by elvistaco1

We treated ourselves to see Woody Allen play with his jazz band (mondays; $75 cover). We didn't want to dine there, but our concierge said that it was standing room only without dinner reservations, and she was correct. We had a very good meal, nothing too ambitious. You can't go wrong with smoked salmon and an excellent new york strip sirloin, perfectly done and served with a too-seldom seen bearnaise sauce. Not a good selection of wine for less than $50. Real professional service. Expensive, but worth it!

• Pros: a classy joint
• Cons: expensive