Dovetail

Not sure about the negative reviews. We live in the neighborhood and finally tried Dovetail. Warm greeting at the door, we were promptly seated. Though the rear of the restaurant was way overheated (change of seasons I guess), it was comfortable though crowded. Service was really attentive, from soliciting questions to refolding napkins quickly. Starter list was quite varied, we enjoyed the chowder and pork belly. Lots of seafood choices - scallops grilled perfectly and presented well, though a touch too much salt. Striped bass and polenta were on target. Rest of the menu seemed fresh and inviting. Dessert chocolate coffee parfait was sweet for our palate, but blended texture and taste. Wine list was pretty varied, but tended on the high price side. All in all, we'll be back.

We live in the neighborhood. Took the out of town folks to have a nice dinner. Service was extremely slow - did the tasting menu, the food was great. The wine came after our 2nd dish. Dessert was served before the waitress even asked if we wanted coffee and then she had attitude. The manager reduced the bill but we would not go back.

What a disappointing experience. My boyfriend and I were so excited that we got a reservation at Dovetail, and I couldn't believe the colossal mistake! The proscuitto on the brussels sprouts salad was completely overcooked, the "wings" appetizer inedible, the duck so tough you will need a saw. To make it worse, our server was completely pretentious and didnt even ask why we left almost everything on the plate! Crepe Souffle was the only bright spot about this meal. Too bad.

Like many of the previously posted reviews, I was excited to try Dovetail because I live in the neighborhood. It is rare that we on the West Side enjoy such hype about someplace right in our neighborhood. My wife and I had the clam chowder and the gnocchi to start. Both good choices - the clam chowder was very good, although the bits of chorizo in the soup tended to overpower the rest of the dish. The gnocchi were good, but the short ribs that the gnocchi were served with were the true star in the dish. For dinner we had the sirloin with beef cheek lasagna and the monkfish with lobster and foie gras. The sirloin dish was very good, with a very good sauce, excellently salted and seasoned trumpet mushrooms and the lasagne was savory and delicious. The monkfish dish was good, but not great. The lobster had a slight bitter taste to it, the foie gras didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the dish, and the monkfish was good, but a bit tough. All in all, I'd say it was a fine meal, but not deserving of some of the accolades showered upon the menu to date. Both desserts were spectacular and the true highlight of the meal - the brioche bread pudding was really great and the sorbets served over a piece of white chocolate and pineapple were also fantastic. The wine list was okay, but definitely not put together by any expert. We decided to order by the glass and were disappointed by the pours. My chardonnary, my wife's pinot noir, my cabarnet and the riesling I had with dessert were served in such small amounts that it was difficult to truly enjoy the wine. The service was not good. For a restaurant trying to be what Dovetail is trying to be, service should be impeccable. Our water glasses remained empty for much of the meal and by my count, our waiter visited our table only to take orders and clear dishes, and never to inquire how our meal was progressing. Very disappointing. The interior was, contrary to some other reviews, fine. It is apparent though that Dovetail is trying to pack too many people into its dining room. We sat at a table along the back wall that gave little space for private conversation. Walking in and out of the dining room also showcased the tight quarters. All in all, the food was good, but not enough to justify the other issues with the restaurant, and not enough to justify the truly spectacular bill at the end of the evening. I'm glad we went, but am disappointed to say that I won't return.

If I had to give any attention to a remote little kitchen on the upper west that was suddenly appraised to astonishing value, I would hope my trip left something for the times and the imagination. But upon leaving, it left nothing to be desired to say the least. The dining room is soft but boring, textured with wood, carpet, brick, and metal, but in a way that makes each one lackluster and dank. The padded walls sooner channel the first class lounges of an airport than the outdoor-esque colors attempted by the room. The food went hand in hand with the cheerless decor. Not delivered on time or at the appropriate temperature, the experience left a little frustration and lukewarm lamb to be remembered, at best. I cannot underestimate the effort here, evident in the once again airport-inspired aimless bustle of waitors, but then again, not all was channeled into a product worthy of 3 stars. Far too many customers and Bruni get their palate wet with unique newcomers to the scene, but Dovetail goes to show you that the imagination does indeed play tricks.

The cuisine is absolutely top notch like a less formal place one might find in the 17th Arrondissement in Paris. There's nothing more to say about the cooking. It's fresh, boldly articulated and moderately proportioned. The service is well-meaning but not as polished as one would find downtown. The markups on the wine, approaching, 200% on the better bottles, is ridiculous. If enough of us bring wine from our own cellars maybe they'll wake up and get the message about the offensive markups. Who are they kidding?

We went to Dovetail right before the NYT review came out and thought it was over priced and mediocre. Maybe at the most a 2star restaurant. It's interesting to see how much slack Bruni gives to certain restaurants in certain areas. Did he not notice how many times the chef used the exact same ingredient in several dishes? Most of our dishes came out cold and there was nothing memorable about them. Not impressed by the food, decor, or value. Could they have made the place darker and used more metal grates above the windows? Dovetails decor made Telepan's decor seem hip. In fact, Telepan is a much more inviting restaurant with better value. Our bill at the end of the night was not cheap and only two of us drank. We felt ripped off and still hungry. Go eat for yourself and see if Bruni was just feeling generous that night?