The Sign of the Dove (restaurant)

The Sign of the Dove

Restaurant information
Established	1962 (1962)
Closed	February 16, 1998 (1998-02-16)^[1]
Previous owner(s)	Joseph Santo DDS
Street address	1110 Third Avenue
City	Manhattan
State	New York
Coordinates	40°45′56″N 73°57′50″W / 40.76556°N 73.96389°W / 40.76556; -73.96389

The Sign of the Dove was a fine dining restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan which opened in 1962 by dentist Joseph Santo, which he designed himself.^[2]

The Santo Family Group sold the 65th Street and 3rd Avenue Property to Related Properties Ltd. who had plans for a mixed use highrise development.^[3] Since its closure, it has been considered "one of the lost gems of New York City".^[4]

Jessica Mitford wrote a less than flattering story about Sign of the Dove in 1977 for New York (magazine). Letters were sent saying Mitford was drunk and disorderly and it turns out the letters were written by someone doing PR work for Santo, and wrote about someone else without getting their permission and said it was her.^[2]^[5]

Reviews

The New York Times, in one of their early reviews, praised the decor, saying it was "one of New York’s most enchanting restaurants", but the food was mediocre to very good and the table service was terrible. They became a destination place for special occasions like a wedding proposal, an anniversary dinner and Valentine's Day. They attracted what was described as an elite clientele, including a party in 1965 for John Kenneth Galbraith thrown by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.^[2] In an article published after the restaurant closed, the paper also said "for years (Ithaca one of Manhattan's most beloved dining spots."^[6]

Gael Greene wrote that it was overrated and for culinary snobs.^[2]

References

^ Ramirez, Anthony (February 8, 1998). "NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: UPPER EAST SIDE; At the Sign of the Dove, a Sign of the Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Weber, Bruce (December 28, 2013). "Joseph Santo Dies at 84; Restaurateur of Romance". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
^ Keil, Braeden (June 29, 1999). "SANTO FAMILY READY TO LET THREE DOVE RESTAURANTS FLY; EXCLUSIVE". The New York Post. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ Chilton, Charlotte (October 15, 2019). "40 Iconic Restaurants That No Longer Exist". Delish. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ Cushing, Belle (December 31, 2013). "Remembering Joseph Santo". Grub Street. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ Grimes, William (November 24, 1999). "A Reincarnated Dove, Smaller but Genuine". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

v t e Restaurants in the City of New York
Current	15 East 54 Below 63 Clinton ABC Kitchen ABCV L'Abeille Ai Fiori L'Appart Atoboy Aquavit Asiate Atera Atlantic Grill Atomix B&H Dairy Babbo Baby Brasa Bad Roman Balthazar Bar Next Door at La Lanterna di Vittorio Barbetta Barbuto Barney Greengrass Blue Hill Le Bernardin Bōm Bungalow Burp Castle BurritoVille Butter Restaurant Café Boulud Café Carmellini Café China Caffe Reggio Caravaggio Carbone Carlyle Restaurant Casa Mono Caviar Russe Charles' Southern Style Kitchen Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare CheLi Ci Siamo Cipriani S.A. Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant The Clocktower Coqodaq Corima Cote Le Coucou Crown Shy Dame Daniel Danji Dimes Dirt Candy Don Angie Dorrian's Red Hand Restaurant Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop Eleven Madison Park Ellen's Stardust Diner Essential by Christophe Estela Fanelli Cafe Foul Witch Four Twenty Five Foxface Natural Fraunces Tavern Frenchette Frevo Gabriel Kreuther Gallagher's Steakhouse Gotham Bar and Grill La Goulue Gramercy Tavern Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant Gray's Papaya La Grenouille The Halal Guys Hamburger America Hav & Mar H&H Bagels Hirohisa Hop Kee Houseman The Hungarian Pastry Shop Icca Ivan Ramen J.G. Melon Le Jardinier Jean-Georges Jeju Noodle Bar Joe Allen Joe's Shanghai JoJo Joomak Banjum Jua Jungsik Junoon Kanoyama Kanyakumari Kappo Masa Restaurant Katz's Delicatessen Keens Steakhouse Kesté King King's Carriage House Kochi Koloman Kono Kosaka Kossar's Bialys Kurumazushi Lan Sheng Laut Lombardi's Pizza Lord's Lucciola Lucien Lusardi's Mắm Marea Mari Masa McSorley's Old Ale House The Meatball Shop Michael's Milk Bar Minetta Tavern Murray's Sturgeon Shop The Musket Room Naro Noda Nom Wah Tea Parlor Noz 17 Numero 28 Oceana Odo Oiji Mi Okdongsik Old Homestead Steakhouse One If By Land, Two If By Sea One White Street P. J. Clarke's The Palm Pastrami Queen Patsy's Patsy's Pizzeria Le Pavillon Per Se Perry Street Pete's Tavern Pommes Frites Rainbow Room Rao's Ray's Candy Store Red Paper Clip Rezdôra Rizzo's Fine Pizza Romany Marie Russian Tea Room Russ and Daughters Safari Saga Salumeria Biellese Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto Sardi's Sarge's Deli Sasabune Satsuki Second Avenue Deli Semma Serendipity 3 Sevilla Shopsin's Shun Lee Palace Le Soleil Somtum Der Sparks Steak House Strip House Sushi Amane Sushi Azabu Sushi Nakazawa Sushi Noz Sushi Seki Sushi Yasuda Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem Tamarind Tribeca Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi Tavern on the Green Tempura Matsui The Odeon Tolo Tom's Restaurant Torien Torishin Torrisi Les Trois Chevaux Tribeca Grill Tuome Una Pizza Napoletana Umbertos Clam House Union Square Cafe Upland Ushiwakamaru Le Veau d'Or Veniero's Veselka Vestry Wallsé The Water Club Wo Hop Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery Yoshino Zabar's
Defunct	21 Club A Voce Columbus Agern Al Coro Aldea Alto Andanada Anthos Aquagrill Asti Aureole Bar Uchū Bâtard The Beatrice Inn Benno Betony BiCE Ristorante BLT Fish Bouley Brasserie Julien Brasserie Les Halles Bridge Cafe Browne's Chop House Brushstroke Burger Heaven Cafe Chambord Café Clover Café des Artistes Café Gray Café Nicholson Cafe Rouge Cagen Candle Cafe La Caravelle Carnegie Deli Chanterelle Chelsea Place Chinese Tuxedo Christ Cella Le Cirque Cloud Club The Coffee Shop Convivio Cornelia Street Cafe Contra Corton La Côte Basque Cru Da Silvano Del Pezzo Restaurant Del Posto Delmonico's Devi Dovetail Dubrow's Cafeteria Eighty One Elaine's Etats-Unis Fashion Cafe Fiamma Osteria Fleur de Sel Florent FOOD Four Seasons Restaurant The Gaslight Cafe Hallo Berlin Harry & Ida's Meat and Supply Co. Heartbreak Horn & Hardart Ichimura at Brushstroke Jekyll & Hyde Club Jewel Bako Juni Kajitsu Kiev Restaurant Kyo Ya Lafayette Lanza's Lespinasse Lindy's Lobster Palace Longchamps Lüchow's Lutèce Manganaro's Mars 2112 Mas Matsugen Maxwell's Plum Mischa Montrachet Moondance Diner Mori Munson Diner Nedick's Nix The NoMad O Ya Oak Room Okuda The Original Soupman Papaya King Le Pavillon Penny Cafeteria Piora Prime Burger Public The Quilted Giraffe Quo Vadis Ratner's Rebelle Reisenweber's Cafe Reuben's Restaurant Rhong-Tiam Rocco Restaurant Rolfe's Chop House Rosanjin Rumpelmayer’s Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse Lo Scalco La Sirena Shanley's Restaurants Sherry's The Sign of the Dove Soto The Spotted Pig Stage Deli Stock Exchange Luncheon Club Stork Club Teany Telepan Tetsu Toots Shor's Restaurant Tramezzini NYC La Tulipe Tulsi Ukiyo Uncle Boons Veritas The Village Den Vong wd~50 Windows on the World The World ZZ's Clam Bar
Related	Chinatown, Manhattan Curry Row Little Brazil, Manhattan Little Italy, Manhattan Restaurant Row

Upper East Side (including Carnegie Hill, Lenox Hill, and Yorkville)

Manhattan, New York City

Buildings

59th–72nd Sts	19 East 64th Street 36 East 72nd Street 131 East 66th Street 520 Park Avenue 535 Park Avenue 550 Park Avenue 620 Park Avenue 625 Park Avenue 655 Park Avenue 720 Park Avenue 730 Park Avenue 737 Park Avenue 740 Park Avenue 810 Fifth Avenue 820 Fifth Avenue 825 Fifth Avenue 834 Fifth Avenue 880 Fifth Avenue 907 Fifth Avenue Arthur Curtiss James House Barbizon 63 Edward J. Berwind House Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo House Harold Pratt House Henry Clay Frick House Herbert N. Straus House Imperial House Manhattan House Marshall Orme Wilson House Millan House Park Avenue Armory Park Avenue Houses Henry P. Davison House Oliver D. Filley House Percy R. Pyne House William Sloane House Park Cinq The Pierre Rowhouses at 322–344 East 69th Street Sara Delano Roosevelt Memorial House Trump Palace Condominiums Trump Park Avenue Trump Plaza United States Post Office
72nd–86th Sts	10 Gracie Square 903 Park Avenue 927 Fifth Avenue 930 Fifth Avenue 960 Fifth Avenue 970 Park Avenue 980 Madison Avenue 995 Fifth Avenue 998 Fifth Avenue 1000 Park Avenue 1020 Fifth Avenue 1040 Fifth Avenue 1049 Fifth Avenue Belaire Apartments Benjamin N. Duke House Casa 74 The Charles Cherokee Apartments Clarence Whitman Mansion Consulate General of France, New York City East 73rd Street Historic District East 80th Street Houses Edward S. Harkness House The Forum at 343 East 74th Street Harry F. Sinclair House Henry T. Sloane House Houses at 157–165 East 78th Street Houses at 208–218 East 78th Street James B. Duke House Joseph Pulitzer House Lewis G. Morris House Nathaniel L. McCready House Oliver Gould Jennings House Payne Whitney House Raymond C. and Mildred Kramer House Stuyvesant Fish House William Starr Miller House Yorkville Bank Building
86th–96th Sts	Andrew Carnegie Mansion Carnegie Hill Tower Edith Fabbri House Felix M. Warburg House George F. Baker Jr. Houses Gracie Mansion Holmes Towers Isaacs Houses James A. Burden House John Henry Hammond House Lucy Drexel Dahlgren House Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilt House Municipal Asphalt Plant Ogden Codman House Otto H. Kahn House Willard D. Straight House William Goadby Loew House Yorkville Bank Building
Former	C. Ledyard Blair House Elbridge T. Gerry Mansion George Blumenthal House George J. Gould House Henry Phipps House Hotel New Netherland Isaac Stern House James Speyer House Jay Gould House Lenox Library Mrs. William B. Astor House Ogden Mills House William A. Clark House William C. Whitney House William Salomon House William Ziegler House

Culture

Shops, restaurants	A La Vieille Russie Albertine Books Bemelmans Bar Brasserie Julien Café Boulud Caravaggio Carlyle Restaurant Daniel Dorrian's Red Hand Restaurant Galerie Chalette J.G. Melon JoJo King's Carriage House La Goulue Lusardi's Kappo Masa Restaurant Orwashers Bakery Sasabune Serendipity 3 Sushi of Gari Sushi Noz Sushi Seki Le Veau d'Or
Museums	Bernard Museum of Judaica Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Frick Collection Jewish Museum Metropolitan Museum of Art The Met Fifth Avenue Mount Vernon Hotel Museum Neue Galerie New York Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Theaters/performing arts	59E59 Theaters Bohemian National Hall East 74th Street Theater
Galleries	Acquavella Galleries Anita Shapolsky Gallery Di Donna Galleries Doyle New York Florian Papp Gagosian Gallery Jane Kahan Gallery Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery Kraushaar Galleries Venus Over Manhattan
Hotels	Bentley Hotel Carlyle Hotel Lowell Hotel The Mark Hotel Hotel Plaza Athénée
Social clubs	92nd Street Y Cosmopolitan Club Harmonie Club Knickerbocker Club Lotos Club Metropolitan Club
Former	Bodley Gallery Brasserie Julien Buck House NYC Cachaça The Colony Dangerfield's Elaine's Etats-Unis Magic Towne House Maxwell's Plum Met Breuer Quo Vadis Salon 94 The Sign of the Dove Stable Gallery

Green spaces/recreation
Carl Schurz Park Central Park John Jay Park

Education

Libraries	Frick Art Reference Library Frick Art Reference Library Photoarchive New York Society Library Robert Goldwater Library Thomas J. Watson Library Yorkville Library
Primary and secondary	Allen-Stevenson School Brearley School Birch Wathen Lenox School Buckley School Caedmon School* Chapin School Dalton School Eleanor Roosevelt High School Hewitt School Hunter College Elementary School Hunter College High School Julia Richman Education Complex Talent Unlimited High School Urban Academy Laboratory High School La Scuola d'Italia Guglielmo Marconi Loyola School Lycée Français de New York Marymount School of New York Nightingale-Bamford School PS 6 PS 158 Ramaz School Regis High School St. Jean Baptiste High School St. Vincent Ferrer High School Sephardic Academy of Manhattan Spence School The Town School Trevor Day School
Post-secondary	Hunter College Assembly Hall Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College Institute for the Study of the Ancient World Marymount Manhattan College New York School of Interior Design Rockefeller University Nurses Residence Welch Hall
Other institutions	Cornell School of Nursing Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance National Academy of Design

Religion

Churches, chapels	Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Brick Presbyterian Church Central Presbyterian Church Christ Church United Methodist Church of the Epiphany Church of the Heavenly Rest Church of Our Lady of Peace Church of St. Ignatius Loyola Church of St. Vincent Ferrer Holy Trinity Church, St. Christopher House and Parsonage Jan Hus Presbyterian Church Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Park Avenue Christian Church St. Catherine of Siena Church St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church St. James' Episcopal Church St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church St. Joseph Church St. Mary Church St. Monica Church St. Stephen of Hungary Church St. Thomas More Church Unitarian Church of All Souls Zion-St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Synagogues	Altneu Congregation Emanu-El of New York Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Congregation Or Zarua Edmond J. Safra Synagogue Fifth Avenue Synagogue Park Avenue Synagogue Park East Synagogue Temple Beth-El Temple Israel of the City of New York Temple Shaaray Tefila
Other	New York Zendo Shobo-Ji

Health

Defunct	James Ewing Hospital Madison Avenue Hospital Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic Trafalgar Hospital

Transportation

Subway stations	Fifth Avenue/59th Street Lexington Avenue/59th Street Lexington Avenue/63rd Street Lexington Avenue/68th Street Lexington Avenue/77th Street Lexington Avenue/86th Street Lexington Avenue/96th Street Second Avenue/72nd Street Second Avenue/86th Street Second Avenue/96th Street
Streets	66th Street 72nd Street 74th Street 79th Street 85th Street 86th Street 89th Street 93rd Street 95th Street 96th Street FDR Drive East End Avenue York Avenue First Avenue Second Avenue Third Avenue Lexington Avenue Park Avenue Madison Avenue Fifth Avenue