I hadn’t dined in The Gallery restaurant in a few years and it seems to have gone downhill quite a bit. The menu is much smaller than I remember it and the service was slow. In their defense it was Thanksgiving weekend so I will give them some grace on that but even so, it was veeeery slow. Pigs in a blanket and sandwiches were fine but the omelette was overdone. Convenient if you are staying in the hotel but not a place I would go out of my way to dine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jordan C
I had high hopes for this tea service, but unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations.
The Food: The food was bland and uninteresting. The scones, which should be a highlight of any tea service, were disappointingly dry. Nothing stood out as memorable or worth the premium price.
Pricing Issue: We were charged $165 per person, not the $125 advertised on their website. This significant price discrepancy needs to be updated immediately—it felt misleading.
Atmosphere: The location of the tea service is a major problem. It's situated in what feels like a lobby area, with constant foot traffic from customers trying to access the bar. When they're turned away, they have to walk back through the tea area. It creates a revolving door effect that completely ruins any sense of elegance or tranquility you'd expect from a proper tea service.
Facilities: Because the venue is open to the public, the bathrooms were in poor condition—frankly, disgusting for an establishment charging premium prices.
Bottom Line: At approximately $200 per person (after tax/tip), this experience is absolutely not worth the money. Save yourself the disappointment and find a tea service that actually delivers on ambiance, quality, and value.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
bradyandkristen1
I spend $300 (after taxes and tip) tk take my daughter to high tea at The Carlyle today. We have had have high tea together around the world and this was by far the worst high tea I’ve ever experienced. We were seated less than two feet away from a European couple who were both typing away at their laptops and taking conference calls throughout the tea (even though there were several other seats available in the small room). A line to the bar kept bumping into me from the back side, and the room was in constant commotion. The lemon verbena tea was the worst tea I’ve ever had (weak, nearly clear, with a strange aftertaste). Each item on the food tray was lacking— we didn’t finish a single item. It was horrible from start to finish. Do not recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Adriana Porter Felt
I've done afternoon tea at many places in many cities, and this was the worst value to dollar ratio I've ever experienced. First of all, the gallery is basically tables in a hallway. People are constantly walking through it. It is not elegant at all. Second, my mother has a shellfish allergy. We told the waiter twice, he said he could substitute another sandwich, and then he proceeded to serve her a crab and shrimp sandwich. Luckily I was suspicious and grabbed it first, but at $400+ for a table of three you'd think they could make sure not to serve shellfish. Third, the food was ambitious but poorly executed. We went here because we were staying at the hotel, next time we stay we will go elsewhere for tea.
Glenda Cortez
Came to The Gallery at the Carlyle to celebrate a birthday lunch and honestly, I wish we had just stayed home. From start to finish, it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in NYC.
Let’s start with the service: disinterested, slow, and almost aggressively inattentive. It felt like we were inconveniencing them by existing.
Then came the food. The lobster roll looked like a plastic prop from a low-budget soap opera, dry, sad, and flavorless. The steak? An insult to the cow. Tough, bland, and wildly overpriced.
Drinks were equally underwhelming, and the entire table left disappointed. For a place that’s supposed to exude classic NYC charm and elegance, it missed the mark completely.
The setting might be beautiful, but trust me: it’s not enough to save the experience. A birthday we won’t forget but for all the wrong reasons.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Susan Small
What a disappointing high tea for an insane amount of money. The scones were rock hard and the little pastries were also inedible. Wish we had gone to The Plaza! $200 later, I owe my child a proper high tea elsewhere! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
TONY HAN
I entered early so there was no waiting time. I enjoyed Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay white wine with Oyster and Cheese plate. Like a gallery, many works are displayed on all walls inside the room.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nina H
My sister and I had an afternoon tea at the Gallery at The Carlyle, and it was a highly disappointing experience. The gluten-free options were notably inferior to their regular option, and the service left much to be desired. We had to ask for basic essentials like cutlery and were not offered any water.
The atmosphere was far from enjoyable – the place felt drafty and chaotic with people bustling in from all directions. the tea selection was quite sad, failing to meet expectations for a venue of this caliber. Overall, a regrettable experience that I would not recommend, especially for that price. I was not expecting an experience like a proper British afternoon tea but from a New York institution like the Carlyle I expected more!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
N P
Ridiculous! Emailed to make a reservation, was casually sent a booking on Tock that asked for the entire payment up front - clearly stating it’s non refundable. I emailed F&B to ask if this is true and was told yes, it may be moved to another day. Guess who’s going to Baccarat!
Obviously this business is doing extremely well for it to not respond to my reservation request for afternoon tea. In order to book, you are asked to either call or email them. I emailed twice and 8 days on from my initial email, I've still not received a reply.
Anthony Chow
I had afternoon tea at the Gallery. Certainly, it was a good experience: tea was good, sandwiches and pastries were good, service was good. At the same time, considering the astronomical price tag, the little things really stood out. My table was in the way of a thoroughfare and people were sidling through constantly. I had to ask for milk and utensils. Cut edges of the cakes were borderline clumsy. I wouldn't strongly recommend afternoon tea here unless money is no object.
I had drinks and dessert with a friend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
I hadn’t dined in The Gallery restaurant in a few years and it seems to have gone downhill quite a bit. The menu is much smaller than I remember it and the service was slow. In their defense it was Thanksgiving weekend so I will give them some grace on that but even so, it was veeeery slow. Pigs in a blanket and sandwiches were fine but the omelette was overdone. Convenient if you are staying in the hotel but not a place I would go out of my way to dine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
I had high hopes for this tea service, but unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations.
The Food: The food was bland and uninteresting. The scones, which should be a highlight of any tea service, were disappointingly dry. Nothing stood out as memorable or worth the premium price.
Pricing Issue: We were charged $165 per person, not the $125 advertised on their website. This significant price discrepancy needs to be updated immediately—it felt misleading.
Atmosphere: The location of the tea service is a major problem. It's situated in what feels like a lobby area, with constant foot traffic from customers trying to access the bar. When they're turned away, they have to walk back through the tea area. It creates a revolving door effect that completely ruins any sense of elegance or tranquility you'd expect from a proper tea service.
Facilities: Because the venue is open to the public, the bathrooms were in poor condition—frankly, disgusting for an establishment charging premium prices.
Bottom Line: At approximately $200 per person (after tax/tip), this experience is absolutely not worth the money. Save yourself the disappointment and find a tea service that actually delivers on ambiance, quality, and value.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
I spend $300 (after taxes and tip) tk take my daughter to high tea at The Carlyle today. We have had have high tea together around the world and this was by far the worst high tea I’ve ever experienced. We were seated less than two feet away from a European couple who were both typing away at their laptops and taking conference calls throughout the tea (even though there were several other seats available in the small room). A line to the bar kept bumping into me from the back side, and the room was in constant commotion. The lemon verbena tea was the worst tea I’ve ever had (weak, nearly clear, with a strange aftertaste). Each item on the food tray was lacking— we didn’t finish a single item. It was horrible from start to finish. Do not recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I've done afternoon tea at many places in many cities, and this was the worst value to dollar ratio I've ever experienced. First of all, the gallery is basically tables in a hallway. People are constantly walking through it. It is not elegant at all. Second, my mother has a shellfish allergy. We told the waiter twice, he said he could substitute another sandwich, and then he proceeded to serve her a crab and shrimp sandwich. Luckily I was suspicious and grabbed it first, but at $400+ for a table of three you'd think they could make sure not to serve shellfish. Third, the food was ambitious but poorly executed. We went here because we were staying at the hotel, next time we stay we will go elsewhere for tea.
Came to The Gallery at the Carlyle to celebrate a birthday lunch and honestly, I wish we had just stayed home. From start to finish, it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in NYC.
Let’s start with the service: disinterested, slow, and almost aggressively inattentive. It felt like we were inconveniencing them by existing.
Then came the food. The lobster roll looked like a plastic prop from a low-budget soap opera, dry, sad, and flavorless. The steak? An insult to the cow. Tough, bland, and wildly overpriced.
Drinks were equally underwhelming, and the entire table left disappointed. For a place that’s supposed to exude classic NYC charm and elegance, it missed the mark completely.
The setting might be beautiful, but trust me: it’s not enough to save the experience. A birthday we won’t forget but for all the wrong reasons.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
What a disappointing high tea for an insane amount of money. The scones were rock hard and the little pastries were also inedible. Wish we had gone to The Plaza! $200 later, I owe my child a proper high tea elsewhere! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
I entered early so there was no waiting time. I enjoyed Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay white wine with Oyster and Cheese plate.
Like a gallery, many works are displayed on all walls inside the room.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My sister and I had an afternoon tea at the Gallery at The Carlyle, and it was a highly disappointing experience. The gluten-free options were notably inferior to their regular option, and the service left much to be desired. We had to ask for basic essentials like cutlery and were not offered any water.
The atmosphere was far from enjoyable – the place felt drafty and chaotic with people bustling in from all directions. the tea selection was quite sad, failing to meet expectations for a venue of this caliber. Overall, a regrettable experience that I would not recommend, especially for that price. I was not expecting an experience like a proper British afternoon tea but from a New York institution like the Carlyle I expected more!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Ridiculous! Emailed to make a reservation, was casually sent a booking on Tock that asked for the entire payment up front - clearly stating it’s non refundable. I emailed F&B to ask if this is true and was told yes, it may be moved to another day.
Guess who’s going to Baccarat!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Obviously this business is doing extremely well for it to not respond to my reservation request for afternoon tea. In order to book, you are asked to either call or email them. I emailed twice and 8 days on from my initial email, I've still not received a reply.
I had afternoon tea at the Gallery.
Certainly, it was a good experience: tea was good, sandwiches and pastries were good, service was good.
At the same time, considering the astronomical price tag, the little things really stood out. My table was in the way of a thoroughfare and people were sidling through constantly. I had to ask for milk and utensils. Cut edges of the cakes were borderline clumsy.
I wouldn't strongly recommend afternoon tea here unless money is no object.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
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