Born in Denver, young Chris Dooley lived in multiple states before attending middle and high school in Dublin, Ohio. Moving to Cincinnati, then Boston, and eventually New York City, Chris became well-cultured amongst the United States, contributing to his excellent people skills. His storytelling skills only grew stronger when he attended Northern Kentucky University to obtain a BFA in Acting. What started as a way to get over his stage fright, turned into a passion for connecting with an audience; a joy that transpired into his role as Head Sommelier at Restaurant DANIEL.
As an actor, Chris always had a side gig. The transient nature of hospitality lent perfectly to his schedule, allowing him to transfer his love for storytelling on stage to tableside in restaurants. Taking care of people came naturally to Chris, and his charismatic temperament allowed him to ensure a seamless night where guests could simply focus on eachother. While working at L'Espalier in Boston, he met one of his mentors, Lauren Daddona, a wine expert who was instrumental in his learning about the field. When the time was right, Chris took a leap in his career moving to New York City for a sommelier position at chef Daniel Humm’s three-michelin-starred restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, where he advanced to Assistant Wine Director. There, he learned that the smallest gestures can enhance someone’s evening and developed his business acumen, giving him a sense of ownership during his time at Eleven Madison Park, as well as an eye for extreme detail. Chris had finally discovered what it takes to not only be a sommelier, but a wine expert in a refined dining setting: “Ultimately, it is about being present in the moment and learning to manage the ever evolving to-do list inside my head, while developing connections with the guests I take care of.” This energy and attitude is what led Chris to Chef Daniel Boulud’s flagship on the Upper East Side in the Fall of 2021.
Chris is thrilled to join the team at Restaurant DANIEL, an institution that he has always considered one of the pillars of fine dining. For Chris, it is a privilege to hold the cellar keys to such a storied restaurant and space, with a wine list being one of the best in New York City. The history of Restaurant DANIEL and the legacies of previous sommeliers, inspire him to preserve the quality and integrity of the award-winning wine program, while taking the happenings in the greater world of wine into consideration. Ultimately, Chris strives to make people feel special, no matter the occasion, and to continue recognizing what each guest desires and tailoring his service to them.
In his pastime, Chris enjoys visiting emerging wine regions, like his recent trip to New Zealand’s South Island, focusing on Pinot Noir in Central Otago. He is looking forward to future travels and visiting modern destinations that have been growing wine for a short time compared to Burgundy or Bordeaux.