5 Secrets of Delmonico’s Restaurant
One of the best restaurants in NYC is unquestionably Delmonico’s. Delmonico’s is a luxurious steakhouse, located in Lower Manhattan, and known for its juicy cuts of beef that melt in your mouth. Delmonico’s has certainly had time to perfect its recipes. They can trace their roots all the way back to 1827. Back then, Delmonic’s was just a small shop owned by the Delmonico brothers selling pastries, cigars, and coffee. Over the years, it would grow, and change locations several times, before eventually securing its spot in history as one of New York City’s finest restaurants. Today, Delmonico’s is located at 56 Beaver Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. Reservations to Delmonico’s are strongly recommended, as it’s often full of excited diners making lively conversation within the restaurant’s historic walls. If those walls could talk, there are some delicious secrets they could reveal.
Delmonico’s Pillars from Pompeii
Before you enter Delmonico’s, check out these pillars in front of the building. There are two sets. One is reddish brown that matches the red of the building. Then you’ll find a pair of white pillars. These white pillars in front of Delmonico’s are reported to have come from Pompeii. If true, that would make them one of the oldest artifacts in New York City dating back to 79 AD. The reality of the situation is that the pillars are most likely not from Pompeii, but they are still history. In 1895, The Great Fire of 1895 burned an early incarnation of Delmonico’s to the ground, but the pillars, whatever their origins, survived. In 1981, Delmonico’s opened its current location at 85 Beaver Street. It incorporated these surviving pillars into the design, where they continue to be a symbol of the restaurant’s resilience. It should also be noted the employees at the restaurant are adamant the pillars are indeed from Pompeii, so don’t try to fight them on this topic.
First Restaurant with a Menu
Delmonico’s was the first known restaurant in NYC to offer a “bill of fare” more commonly known as a menu. Before this, people would dine at inns where essentially everyone was served the same meal for a set price, but at Delmonico’s, each diner could choose what they wanted, changing NYC dining forever.
First Restaurant in NYC fo Women
Another important first for Delmonico’s was being the first restaurant in NYC where unaccompanied women could dine. Usually, inns and bars were seen as a space for men, and maybe as a space for men and their family, but never for an unaccompanied woman. Delmonico’s even allowed groups of unaccompanied women, which was truly groundbreaking, if not truly scandalous!
Lobster Newberg
Delmonico’s introduced several famous dishes to the culinary world. Lobster Newberg is one of them. Lobster Newberg is lobster cooked in a creamy sauce with a hint of sherry, and available at Delmonico’s currently, with a sticky rice patty. Legend has it that this dish was created for a seafaring captain who frequented Delmonico’s named Ben Wenberg. The dish was originally called Lobster Wenberg. Then, Ben Wenberg and the owner of Delmonic’s got into a scuffle, Ben Wenberg was banned from the Delmonico’s and the dish scratched off the menu. However, the dish was so popular patrons revolted. The dish magically reappeared, but with a new name, Lobster Newberg.
Baked Alaska
Many of the dishes introduced at Delmonico’s were the creations of chef Charles Ranhofer. One such dish was known as the Alaska Florida. This was ice cream and cake covered in a meringue, and the name was given to hint at the contrast of temperatures in the dish. However, to appeal to the dignitaries who frequented Delmonico’s the name of the dish was changed to Baked Alaska, in order to celebrate the US acquiring Alaska from Russia.
Want a perfect NYC night? Dine at Delmonico’s, take lots of photos, then showcase those photos on the Welcome To Times Square Billboard! Prices start at $150 per day, which is less than many of Delmonico’s steaks! Your face in lights and a delicious meal, the perfect pairing.