Welcome To New York’s Oldest Restaurant!
You may not have heard of Delmonico’s, but you probably know some of the dishes that were created here: like Eggs Benedict, the Delmonico cut of steak, Lobster Newberg and Baked Alaska!
More on this unique and “fiery” dessert in a moment, but first, here’s a terrific article I found at TheInfatuation.com discussing the restaurant’s return to form in New York:
“There are a lot of rumors out there about Delmonico’s, most of them started by Delmonico’s. Elizabeth Taylor, Marylin Monroe, and even Abraham Lincoln ate there. An early Delmonico’s chef invented Eggs Benedict and Baked Alaska. They were the first to bring avocados to New York. Allegedly.”
So a lot of history here to be sure! New York’s oldest restaurant originally opened in 1827 as a pastry shop – started by the Swiss Delmonico brothers. In 1831, it became a restaurant and moved to the corner of Williams and Beaver in 1837, where it has been since.
The area is called Wall Street, heart of the American economy – and home to one of New York’s most impressive churches:
Trinity Church is a historic parish in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, whose church is located at 89 Broadway opposite Wall Street, in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City…you know, where the Stock Market exists and the Bulls run and run and run:
This area is rich with history, and that includes Delmonico’s – which re-opened after a three year hiatus caused by the pandemic…my wife Alex and I went for the first time and here’s what we ate!
As for the claim to be the oldest restaurant in the city, the article noted:
“Delmonico’s is, in fact, the oldest steakhouse in New York. (Old Homestead slips into that spot sometimes, on a technicality. Homestead is the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in New York.) It has changed ownership, remodeled a couple times, and even burnt down once before reopening in 1837, at its current building on Beaver Street.”
Here’s what you see when you enter. A huge painting depicting the haute monde overlooks a refurbished dining room. A more modern portrait is hung on the opposite wall, right behind us.
We sat near the new painting and checked out the menu:
Oh wait, that’s the menu from 1898! I will walk you through their signature dishes today but first: a classic Martini! Mine was dirty, Alex’s clean!
Delicious!
Now here are some of the classics, beginning with a gorgeously unique crab cake – I shared this on social media yesterday as a tease and everyone guessed it was green Matcha tea over a dessert:
Culinary Art – And A Crab Cake!
Yes, this crab cake is gorgeous to look at – and fun to eat as well!
The Chefs take Lump Maine crab meat seasoned and stuffed inside crispy potato strings woven together like a basket. The Infatuation says it’s a strong contender for best crab cake in the city!
That is a tarragon dill tartar sauce as the base and tarragon powder on top…love it! It tasted delicious: the crab inside was big and meaty and full of flavor.
Another unique appetizer was next:
Here is “OSCAR’S WEDGE SALAD”
This salad as Iceberg, lettuce with Heirloom Tomato, Red Onion, Kikorangi Blue Cheese, and Yuzu Honey Vinaigrette – all held together by Prosciutto Chips!
Yes, that is cured Prosciutto, and it provides the perfect crunch to the salad – again, innovative and delicious!
Now, onto a signature main course – named after the restaurant!
The “SIGNATURE DELMONICO RIBEYE”
AS Infatuation noted: “Delmonico’s signature steak has a legacy of its own. Though Delmonico refers specifically to a thick, boneless chunk of meat sourced from somewhere between the rib and short loin, it’s become a universal term for any steak that’s at least two-inches thick.”
This one, the original, is a juicy, 18 oz cut of ribeye – deliciously served one the rare side of medium rare. Infatuation says that this steak, and the 12 oz Eye of Delmonico are consistently the restaurant’s best work.
And wait until you see what we ordered with it!
Curious what that topping on the steak is? Well, we ordered a special butter alongside it….
That’s black garlic butter and it brings a heavenly rich, garlic smooth pop to each bite of steak! Oh, and if you have a steak you must have a potato:
Delmonico “HASH BROWNS”
These shredded potato are served like this with Espelette, Crème Fraîche and fresh Chives. Watch me dig in:
We were too full to try the restaurants other signature dish, but they at least have a massive portrait of it being held by a Chef:
The 1876 Classic “Lobster Newberg” Was Created Here!
According to Infatuation, “Delmonico’s claims to have invented this legendary lobster dish, but there are apparently a few ships and one salty sea captain who’d say otherwise. So we’ll focus on Delmonico’s particular take.”
The seafood dish is thickened with egg yolks and cream, then spiked with cognac, and gets its bright red color from lobster coral.
We will absolutely order this the next time!
We saved room for one last dish – a dessert that was created here!
Yep, the restaurant takes credit for creating this fiery dessert in 1867.
Here is how they deliver it:
As you can see, that is Banana Gelato, walnut cake and apricot jam – or a close proximation of those ingredients for the purpose of showing you the inside…so there you have it, a feast at Delmonico’s worth revisiting!
I actually made the Lobster Newberg at home!
Of course, I made sure to add a big dollop of Caviar on top! It was part of a culinary exchange with my friend and terrific Author / Food Blogger Robbie Cheadle! Here are both recipes:
New York is such a great food city, and my wife and I have eaten at a number of classic New York restaurants:
Here are five dishes from Tatiana, named New York’s best restaurant…we went and here is my taste test:
I’ve shared some really unique dining experiences from New York, like a Sunday brunch with a gospel choir! Take a listen!
See more of the “Sing Harlem” choir and get an unclose look at our food – created by acclaimed Chef Marcus Samuelsson – by clicking on my story here:
Speaking of iconic New York restaurants, I have eaten a few times at one that was memorialized forever in a movie:
Katz’s Deli was the location for the hilarious scene from “When Harry Met Sally” – and they filmed it there – and it’s also home to one of the world’s greatest pastrami sandwiches:
You can see my meal there, along with a celebration of all things pastrami by clicking on my story here:
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Categories: Alcohol And Bars, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Cookbooks, Eat This!, Fine Dining, Food, Food Travel, Recipes, Restaurants, Travel, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
What fun! Those are gorgeous presentations!
I’ve walked by there a couple of times. It’s definitely on the bucket list. The crab cake and Delmonico look mouthwatering! Glad you guys had a great time!
It was great fun and worth going back…not an everyday place to be sure but very retro cool. thanks for the comment!
It all looks amazing!!
It’s classic and fun
I remember my dad talking about this place when he would go there for business dinners in the early days of his advertising career – a classic
It is indeed…like stepping into an episode of “Mad Men!” Thanks for the comment, great hearing from you!
totally
I have never been to America, but I have heard of Delmonico’s, which is very famous. I could not eat that steak though, I would consider that to be ‘raw meat’. And I imagine the prices must be fierce, probably out of reach of my dining-out budget.
Best wishes, Pete.
My husband and I ate there years ago and I recall it was quite a fun experience; we ordered martinis as well!
Hi John, a terrific post. That crab cake looks incredible. I do like crab cakes. Thanks for the shoutout, it’s appreciated.