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Delmonico's
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
56 Beaver St(between Broad St & William St)
New York, NY 10004
Neighborhood: Financial District
(212) 509-1144
- Nearest Transit:
-
Broad St (J, Z)
Wall St (2, 3)
Wall St (4, 5)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Erica K. said: "Going to the 9/11 Memorial or Ground Zero Museum (this restaurant is directly across the street from the entrance) ... or just looking for a great new, reasonably priced choice in the World Trade Center/Wall Street area? This is a real…" read more »
233 reviews for Delmonico's
Review Highlights
"The filet is great and so is the baked alaska."
(in 59 reviews)
"FILET MIGNON WAS SOO DELICIOUS."
(in 53 reviews)
"We went all out and got that and the Lobster Newberg."
(in 14 reviews)
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233 reviews in English
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Review from Nora V.
ASTORIA, NY
2/3/2012 2 photos
Restaurant Week is in progress! Most of the time I remember the ambiance of the restaurant(s) I try during Restaurant Week, but the meal itself doesn't leave a lasting memory.
That changed with my visit to Delmonico's. I've never used the term "melt in your mouth" with meat before but their 24 Hour Braised Beef was truly "melt in your mouth" good. The only change I would have made to my meal is picking the "Baked Alaska" for desert - our waiter told us that the dessert originated there so take note.
The service is seamless and no-nonsense. A very classy establishment that you can wear jeans to but may have wished you wore something a bit dressier when you get there and see your surroundings.
Since my friend and I went there for lunch on MLK Jr. Day the place wasn't very full and allowed for easy wandering. They had older menus and articles on display on the right side about half way back near their ample supply of liquor. (The display fills in more of the details to what you can find about the restaurant's history on their website.) For instance, DYK: Delmonico's played host to a debate over whether baseball truly was "All-American" or merely a variation of an English game called "Rounders"? Well, now you do. ;)
It is definitely a stop worth making during Restaurant Week - or another week if your budget/schedule obliges. I will certainly recommend it as a stop for visitors as well!
On my way out the door I noticed the establishment year and Delmonico's will be celebrating 175 years this year - they are definitely doing something right! -
Review from Alice L.
New York, NY
2/9/2012
I am still waiting to fall in love..
Came here for restaurant week, excited by the possibility of brilliance from the reviews I read about Delmonico on Yelp! and because I wanted some meat.
And was instead met with bland braised beef and rude waiters.
Needless to say I am not in love, and hope to be wowed the next time, possibly during dinnertime and over some good old fashioned steak~ -
Review from Douglas K.
Briarwood, Queens, NY
2/9/2012
Came here yesterday with my girlfriend for Winter RW. We've never been here before but I've been to other well known steakhouses.
When you walk in, the first thing you notice is that it has a very classy interior - perfect for a special ocassion. For some reason, it reminded me of the 18/19th century with all it's furnishings.
We ordered:
Appetizers - Diver Scallops with Braised vealand Lobster Newberg.
Entrees - Braised Beef and Filet Mignon
Dessert - Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie Cake, and some Raspbery Cheesecake that was not on the original RW menu.
2 glasses of the RW week red wine.
Both appetizers were delicious. Scallops were cooked perfectly with a sweet potato puree and the veal was very tender. The lobster was a great portion and it was tasty as well.
Entrees were a different story. The filet was a great size and it was tender and delicious. It came with some vegtables and mashed potato. The braised beef was not as tender as I imagined and it lacked flavor. I was not impressed and regret ordering it.
The desserts were delicous, but nothing special.
Overall, it was a nice dinner but was not blown away. Service at first started very slowly but then picked up. We left full so that says that the portions were a good size for the average person.
I give it 3 stars because I was not blown away from the food. Also, this is for RW only, not sure how it is for other days, but I don't see why it should be any different. Other steakhouses have tastier dishes. If anything, Delmonico's decor is beautiful and would give it 3.5 stars if I could. -
Review from Jonathan W.
New York, NY
2/7/2012
A group of four friends and I went here last Thursday for Restaurant Week. I am giving Delmonico's two stars, one of which is my way of giving them the benefit of the doubt since it was Restaurant Week. The experience I had there would have otherwise been worthy of only one star.
We had made a reservation for five a week earlier for 7:15 on a Thursday night. While one of our party members arrived about five minutes late and the traffic increased significantly between 7:15 and 7:30, there is no excuse for not getting seated until after 8:00 with a reservation. Twice I asked when we could expect to be seated and both times I was told our table was being prepared as we spoke. We were approached around 7:45 and asked to follow to our table for four, to which we responded that we were a group of five, just as our reservation stated, and ended up waiting nearly 20 minutes more.
Once we were seated, without any apology for the delay, if our waited showed any acknowledgement toward our table, it was hard to tell. Our party was pretty hungry by this point after waiting 45 minutes longer than we expected and we had all looked over the menu before, more or less deciding what we were going to eat, so having to wait an additional 15 minutes to order wasn't exactly ideal. Considering how busy the restaurant was, I will say that once we had ordered, the time for the food to come out to the table was not too long. By this point, after all the waiting, I had expected the food to take forever as well, so I guess that was some sort of silver lining to our dining experience.
Again, I'll attribute part of this to the fact that it was Restaurant Week, but I was not impressed by the food at all. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out or showed any real creativity. I started with the diver scallops and braised veal, which was well-prepared but uninspired. My thoughts were echoed by both the diners who also got the scallops as well as those who ordered the chowder as their appetizer. For the entree, I ordered the filet, which came over whipped potatoes and an assortment of vegetables (i.e.; a few carrots and string beans). The filet was just ok; by far the least flavor of the numerous higher-quality establishments at which I've ordered a filet. It also seemed that there was no discernible difference between those of us that ordered medium rare and those that ordered medium. The table also debated whether or not the potatoes were freshly-made or of the store-bought variety. Finally, for dessert, the table split between the mousse cake and cheesecake. Both were tasty, but again, lacked any sort of creativity behind them.
Once we finished our meal, it took numerous efforts to get our waiter's attention to deliver the check. Looking it over, we were mistakenly charged for a bottle of wine when only one person had a single glass. No apology was offered - the waiter took our check without saying a word and returned the corrected bill. I understand that the restaurant was extremely busy and perhaps understaffed by a waiter or two, but that is not an excuse for cold, unfriendly service. In fact, this seemed to be a theme of all the staff with which we dealt.
Perhaps these bad experiences were influenced by it being Restaurant Week, but for an establishment with a reputation like this, that cannot be used as an excuse. -
Review from Alyssa M.
1/22/2012
Go Big for Restaurant Week or Go Home! I chose the former and went with Delmonico's as I don't see paying $35 for a "$$ or $$$" restaurant really worth it (you can do that on the regular-ya feel me?)
Luckily I was able to snag a Friday night reservation with the help of Open Table. Even though I called the restaurant and they told me they were booked for the night, I continuously refreshed my Open Table website and quickly snatched up a reservation (people cancel all the time so definitely try this!)
Anyway, on to the food:
For the appetizer, opted for the diver scallops and braised veal with the sweet potato puree-Delicious! Definitely the star of the night! It set the bar very high for the future courses. It was so good, I scrapped the plate, yup!
For dinner, I ordered the "24hr Braised Beef" which came with mashed potatoes and carrots. Good, not great and fabulous like the scallops, but good. I had to order more gravy because the meat was slightly dry...maybe they should change the name to "20hr Braised Beef" for a more juicy cut-ha! I also tried my friend's filet mignon, which was good, but not the best filet I've ever had.
For dessert, I tried the cheesecake and some sort of praline chocolate cake. Both were quite tasty. I'd opt for the chocolate cake because it's original and offers a variety of flavors in each layer.
We also ordered a bottle of Malbec which was quite good and complemented the meat courses nicely.
All in All, I had a wonderful dining experience at Delmonico's. In general, the food and the service were top notch! I'd love to come back. -
Review from Kurt A.
Long Island City, NY
1/23/2012
I liked the decor, the food was good to very good, but our server thought way too much of himself, to the point that we had to argue for what we wanted.
We arrived early for our 6:30 reservation, and we planned to have a drink in the bar, but the hostess said we could have drinks at a table. We were brought menus, but no wine menu, then after ten minutes, we were asked for our order. We explained that we wanted to order wine and relax first. We got a wine menu, and after the wine was poured, the server again asked for our order. It was 6:15, and I hadn't even tried the wine. The server explained that it was Winter Restaurant Week, and they had many reservations that evening, and it would be better if we ordered. He also told us that he didn't like Restaurant Week. To appease him, we said we'd order our appetizers, but he said he preferred to take our entire order.
It went on like this throughout the evening. The low point was when the server argued with me after I asked him not to refill my wine glass. Only after we had ordered a second bottle of wine did his attitude change, and he cheerily told us to take as much time as we wanted. What happened to all those reservations they had?
The food was very good, but NYC is full of great food. Why go somewhere where you have to battle with the staff? -
Review from Terrie C.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
1/20/2012
My third time coming here and my third try of the rib-eye steak. Totally divine. The medium way of cooking was absolutely to my liking. I think Delmonico's is one of the finest... and this is coming from someone who used to eat well-done steak.. and for me to convert to being a "medium" person, Delmonico's is one of the places that would have been the reason for that transition (damn, sorry for the run-on sentence, just wanted to get it all in there at once!haha)
Anyways, I have also tried the salads, the wild mushroom sides, brocolli rabe, brussel sprouts, mac n cheese, creamed spinach, tuna tartar, etc. ALL were excellent.
This is a relatively upscale place in the financial district (like the wall street investors type of atmosphere) with coat check and whatnot. This is not for everyone. For me, I ignore all that and just get right down to the point : the steak.
YUMMY!!!!! -
Review from Leslie W.
Manhattan, NY
1/21/2012
OMG, the steak is RIDICULOUS and I don't even eat meat.
And if you don't get the Baked Alaska for dessert you are out of your mind! -
Review from Jeanette F.
Carteret, NJ
1/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Restaurant week and late afternoon/ early evenings are the best times to go!! Was a little annoyed when they sat us in a tiny corner booth I had to squeeze into when restaurant was empty (it was 5:20pm on a Wed). I then understood why when we left at 7:15 and place was packed!
Classic Manhattan Crab and Corn Chowder was ok, didn't taste much crab. The Filet Mignon was very good but nothing unique about it. Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie Cake was awesome!!! So delicious! I tasted my friend's Baked Alaska which wasn't anything special. The red wine featured was excellent. It was an Argentinian Malbec named Ruta 22. Only $29 for the bottle! Entire meal, with tip was under $130, gotta love restaurant week!
Food was good but nothing to call home about. -
Review from Christopher D.
Youngstown, OH
2/4/2012
Restaurant Week Lunch:
Checked my coat and was promptly seated even during the Lunch rush.
1st Course: Lobster Newberg - Tasted amazing, very rich.
2nd Course: Braised Beef - Awesome flavor.
3rd Course: Baked Alaska - Best I ever had, I loved it.
Great lunch for $35 (The lobster and the baked alaska were each an additional 5 dollars) -
Review from Mark T.
New York, NY
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic place! Great environment, really feels like its kept a lot of the original decor from when it opened.
Went there during restaurant week, and I think that this is definitely my favorite steakhouse that offers a restaurant week menu! -
Review from Cindy H.
Manhattan, NY
1/20/2012
My Dad and I came here for Restaurant Week Winter 2012.
We got a 6:30PM reservation so that we could take our time and enjoy the meal and experience at Delmonico's.
We were seated and brought our drinks, delicious bread and butter, and our restaurant week menus...and then we didn't see our waiter again for 20 minutes! We finally had to ask a gentleman who had been refilling our water to please bring our waiter so that we could order. When he finally arrived we decided on:
Appetizer:
1. Classic Manhattan Crab And Corn Chowder (PeekyToe Crab, Sweet Corn, Roasted Tomato)--good but not great, I wished I had gone with the pasta.
2. Diver Scallops - Braised Veal (Sweet Potato, Pomegranate, Smoked Hazelnut)--excellent! The scallops were cooked perfectly and the braised veal was so tender it literally melted in our mouths!
Entree:
1. 24 Hour Braised Beef (whipped potatoes, seasoned red cabbage)--delicious. The beef was very tender and cooked in a wonderful juice. The sides were also very good.
2. Delmonico Classic Steak (Supplement $15) (20 ounce Boneless Rib Eye Served With Chef's Seasonal Vegetable Preperation)--the best thing we had all night. My Dad likes well done and usually when a restaurant makes something well done they dry it out and it ends up tough. This was anything but. It was so tender and juicy--just plain delicious. The flavor was on point and the serving was huge!
Dessert:
1. Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie Cake--very good!
2. *Classic Baked Alaska (supplement $5) (Walnut Cake, Apricot Jam, Banana Gelato, Meringue)--wonderful!
Our only complaints were the initial service (which they later redeemed by being more attentive) and the noise level as the evening progressed.
Highly recommend this for restaurant week and perhaps any other special occasion (as it is a bit expensive for just a night out). -
Review from Jenny T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/6/2012
I bought a groupon for this place and went to check it out with a friend. I usually don't like going to fancy places because I feel so awkward and this place was REALLY fancy. The service was excellent..our waiter kept coming back to refold our napkins and he was beyond attentive. It was like he only had to attend to one table the entire time...which can kind of be annoying when you're trying to hold a conversation.
We ordered the jam and cheese plate and were informed about the way we should go about sampling the different cheeses and which jams pair well with them...this was really interesting until I got to the goat cheese (gross).
For my main, I ordered the filet mignon - it was so buttery, tender, and juicy... pretty much a mouth orgasm. I would consider coming back here for a special occasion...it's a bit on the extremely pricey side, but a very nice experience. -
Review from TK T.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012
In the world of history, beautiful paintings, great service and high quality food Delmonico's offers all of the above. Four of us went for a Restaurant week and we had such a great time! All of us got 4 different entrees including steak, chicken, braised beef and fish. My monkfish was perfectly cooked and served with some lentils. The texture and the flavors of the dish were wonderful. Everyone else loved their dishes too. We also got a bottle of Malbec, which was surprisingly very decent taking into consideration it was on their $29 special list. I will definitely go back to this place...to indulge, to feel like part of the history...and just to be myself.
-
Review from Taylor B.
Manhattan, NY
1/13/2012
Delmonicos Bar and Grill: The experience started as a 1 Star but ended as a 5 Star. Will definitely return. Most likely on a weekly basis. Quck run down:
Champagne: they only have "house," but it's good and I polished it off
Tuna Tartare: fresh and delicious
Halibut: perfectly seared with brussels sprouts, lobster, and sweet potato cubes - to die for!
Steak Frites: can't comment, but Mom said it was cooked perfectly
Portion size: we couldn't eat more than half - more for me the next day!
When friends ask me what kind of view I have from my new FiDi apartment window, my response is, "Delmonicos," and I've yet to meet any New Yorker who doesn't know about this restaurant. After 72 hours of rearranging furniture, unpacking boxes, AND receiving my final grades from the semester, my Mom and I wanted to celebrate somewhere special but the last thing we wanted to do was get dressed up and suffer through a pretentious dinner. Enter: Delmonicos Bar and Grill.
On first impression, I really liked the place. The crowd was all men (really. all men.) in nice suits, the atmosphere dark, and Lady Gaga was playing through the speakers. The second impression, however, was not so great. We took a seat at one of the bar tables with the intention of starting with champagne and working toward dinner. After waiting for a few minutes, I ended up going to the bar, spent a few more minutes trying to flag down the bartender, and then ordered. They only have house champagne (luckily it was good), but the bartender gave it to us with a smile and let us know that our server was on his way. After slowly polishing off our champagne, a server STILL had not come to the table / no one had acknowledged us, so we decided we'd go elsewhere for a second cocktail / dinner. When I went back to the bar, I said I was disappointed that I didn't get the chance to enjoy the food / experience the service I had expected and I would like to close out.
I wish I could start my review at this point! The other bartender (Shawn) really stepped up! After a "regular" talked us into staying, Shawn gave us three menus (bar menu, grill menu, dining room menu) and personally came to our table to set it and bring us two more flutes of champagne. He was attentive without being overbearing and was able to offer recommendations on every item of the menu. The GM (Corrado) also stopped by to ask if he could be of assistance, to apologize for the hiccup, and to welcome me to the neighborhood. When we received the bill, we saw that all of the champagne had been comped. Shawn and Corrado (and amazing food) really turned this experience around and I'm looking forward to frequenting Delmonicos more as I acclimate myself to this area of town. It's nice to know there's a spot that has the service and food of a top-tier restaurant with the laid back atmosphere of a neighborhood watering hole. -
Review from Ciro T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
Dam Delmonicos you had my toes curling all night! total food orgasm! By far, the best steak I ever eaten. When you walk in, the hostess was a little weird to say the least! She was our hostess, then awkwardly switched hats and become our coat check, then stood at the coat room staring at us when she just was our official hostess! It was one of those awkward social moments! You walk in, the decor is very classy and old school look, and the waitstaff was fantastic, well, I got the diver scallops with veal for an app, it was the best tasting veal I have ever put in my mouth. Then the steak came out, holy shit, it was amazing, I got the classic Delmonico rib eye medium rare....Then the baked Alaskan, holy fucking shit that was the best desert I have ever eaten wanna go back tomorrow!
-
Review from James L.
Brooklyn, NY
12/2/2011
After learning that you can get a 20% off coupon for joining the club on their website, I couldn't resist. 20% is a pretty significant deal. ($40 off of a $200 bill). Side note: since I "joined" I haven't received a single email or anything else. Can't beat that.
We started with the Iceberg Salad which is a pretty standard appetizer, but for some reason, I don't know if it was the bleu cheese or what, this iceberg salad seemed to be better than any I'd previously had. It was as good as an iceberg salad could be. We also ordered some sort of a crab special which was dynamite.
Naturally I ordered the signature Demlonico steak, medium rare as an entree. The Delmonico is a boneless Rib Eye so even at medium rare it's slightly rough for my tastes. However, they charred it to absolute perfection and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
For sides we got the obligatory creamed spinach, which was excellent, and the waiter talked us into the Delmonico Potatoes, which were underwhelming.
Beware that the wine list is relatively pricey with bottles starting around $60. But since we had the 20% off we splurged and got a $90 bottle. I guess that's how they sucker you in ;-)
The top floor was closed for a wedding reception when I went here, but that didn't stop me from strolling through and gazing at the beautiful and enormous paintings on the walls.
I'm definitely going back to sit upstairs in that amazing atmosphere and try another cut, perhaps the porterhouse for 2. -
Review from Rochelle M.
Mount Vernon, NY
1/26/2012 6 photos
My boyfriend and I went to Delmonico's for Restaurant Week, on a Wednesday and placed OpenTable reservations for 7pm. We arrived 15 minutes early and, despite having a packed house, we were seated right away, without any hesitation.
The decor/ambiance is what you'd expect from a very classic, old-time steak house. Cute and cozy. Hostess was a bit odd, but the waiter had a nice, classic, old-time demeanor to him. Very fitting to the rest of Delmonico's feel. Overall, service was VERY fast (perhaps a bit too fast - our appetizers came out before my boyfriend's first drink!).
What I ordered:
APPETIZER: Diver Scallops & Braised Veal with Sweet Potatoes - 5 stars! The scallops were great, but the veal was the real star of the dish. It literally melts in your mouth. I'd not even think it were possible to cook something to such perfection! Don't forget the sweet potatoes... These were quite heavenly, too.
DINNER: Filet Mignon - awesome. Cooked to perfection (I ordered medium), and the steak sauce wasn't too overwhelming but added a great element to the dish. Again, the mashed potatoes were an amazing compliment to the dish. Whoever is back in that kitchen doing the potatoes really has perfected the art, to a tee!
DESSERT: Salted Caramel & Chocolate Mousse Parfait Cake - a disappointment. My favorite combo is salty and sweet, and this one just missed the mark. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the flavor was a bit off. Should have gone with the Baked Alaska, as many of you wrote!
What my boyfriend ordered:
APPETIZER: 1897 Classic Lobster Newberg - another 5 stars! Came out with one tail, cut in half, and two full claws. I almost had to restrain my boyfriend from ordered another half dozen dishes of this! The lobster was perfect and there's something quite magical about the sauce. The caviar adds a nice flavor/texture to the plate as well.
DINNER: Classic Delmonico Steak - great and nothing to complain about here, but nothing to write home about either. Especially for a $15 supplement.
DESSERT: Raspberry Cheesecake - top notch cheesecake for those of you who love this dessert! Can't go wrong with this, but again, should have tried the Baked Alaska.
I had a glass of Terra Andina Reserva, a 2009 Chilean Cabernet that had just enough flavor, not too overwhelming and really complimented my entire dinner quite well. Went down very smooth. My boyfriend inexplicably ordered a margarita (don't ask) which was strong, but one of the best I've had in a while (and I'm a sucker for Mexican cuisine!).
The reason for losing a star... As said, hostess was very odd and kind of brash. Despite the waiter being prompt and knowledgable, he didn't provide a wine/cocktail list and it took us two times to ask him for one before it was given to us. Post-appetizers, the bus boy had thought we were already finished with our entrées and, as a result, cleared away our dinner plates and bread with the basket half full. Though, they did not hesitate to give us a new one.
Overall, I'd absolutely make a trip back here. Though coming during Restaurant Week with the $35/person price tag... You can't beat it. -
Review from Cindy I.
Brooklyn, NY
1/17/2012
It was what I would expect from a famous classic steakhouse in New York City. Attentive service but not overwhelming. The Delmonico steak was grill to exactly what I have ordered - medium, pink and juicy in the middle. Personally I'd like it less charred. The blue crab + lobster cake was complemented with apple and some other fruit + puree and dijon mustard that woke up my taste buds. I arrived at 5PM on a Friday night so it was nice an quiet. At 7PM other tables started to fill up but the noise level didn't increase by a lot, it was reasonable. I dined at the main dining hall, the decor is Victorian style like with high ceiling.
-
Review from Rod K.
Coto De Caza, CA
12/15/2011
What a horrible disappointment Delmonico's was!! We love great restaurants and don't mind paying for them.
The food was almost inedible and the service was about as aloof and unfriendly -- uncaring actually -- as you can get.
My wife even had their signature dish Lobster Newburg. She took maybe two bites and would not eat any more of it. I asked her if her dinner was as bad as mine. She said, "Taste it", so I did. YUCK!! Virtually tasteless.
We didn't bother complaining or sending the food back, because it was obvious they didn't care anyway. When they came and took our dinners, both of which were barely touched, they didn't even ask if we liked our meals and certainly didn't ask why we hadn't eaten much of them. We paid the check and went to Junior's Deli in Times Square (which was across the street from our hotel) to eat. -
Review from Rob D.
PECK SLIP, NY
12/12/2011
Delmonicos:
Quality/Price fair. Food was good. You get what you pay for, and pay for what you get.
Attempted Posh.
Living on reputation, no legacy plan.
Service nonchalant. Sommelier absent, wine service knowledge diabolical. Completely destroyed a decent bottle of wine.
Concierge very nice, pleasant and friendly.
Could have been a two star or three. Due to reputation preceding the restaurant graded two for balance. Wine makes half the meal, and was pitiful unfortunately.
Tip 7/25
@DunsterNy -
Review from Charlie N.
Sunnyside, NY
10/17/2011
Classic. One of the oldest in Manhattan. Very expensive. Good steaks...not life-changing however.
The feel of the place is what you would expect for a high-end Wall St. institution. Some of the wines cost more than my 1st car. The steaks were not terribly priced. It's about 50 bucks for their namesake ribeye. We went all out and got that and the Lobster Newberg. And for side: creamed spinach and mushrooms.
At night during the week, it's pretty slow so we got excellent service. They are fast with your drinks and understand how to pace a meal appropriately.
The steak was good. A bit too charred and fatty actually (and I like charred and fatty), but it was still good. The Lobster Newberg was good, but honestly I think Lobster just tastes better boiled with drawn butter. The other thing is I really think that steak and lobster shouldn't be served together. It's like too decadent or something...and they compete for taste too much. Lobster is very delicate flavored and should be appreciated on its own. It was just hard to navigate the taste buds from one to the other without losing the previous enjoyment. And I also realize that we had control over that since we did the ordering...it's just an observation.
It was my birthday and the wife called ahead. What came out last was a real good surprise. Baked Alaska. At this point, we were way too full to even appreciate how good it was (and it was amazing!). So, we did what damage we could and then paid the bill.
Why 3 stars then? I really think there are better steaks in the city and more date-appropriate atmospheres. It was a little too stuffy (think old-boys club) and I am not a Wall St. type. So, it was good to experience once, but I wouldn't go back. -
Review from Katrina L.
South San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012
Service was great and the food was very tasteful. Each appetizer and dessert was an artwork of its own. The Shrimp with scallop appetizer had a little Cajun flavor which was really good. The Boar appetizer was pretty good but nothing special as it tasted like flavored beef. The Risotto appetizer was also good but nothing too special. But I do have to say that the bread and butter was delicious! The onion with sea salt bread was just amazing as it just melts in your mouth. Of all the meats I sampled, I enjoyed the Fillet Mignon and Strip the most. Cooked just perfectly with lots of juice. The sides were delicious! Top three would have to be the lobster mac and cheese, Delmonico's Classic Potatoes and cream spinach. Those are a must! Dessert was also really pretty. The Napoleon was my favorite as it was very fresh and crispy. It was not soggy or too sweet. The Passion Fruit Mousse was interesting though. It had a lemony ice cream mousse that took me by surprise. But the cake was very rich and thick, almost like a chocolate peanut butter cake.
Service was pretty good but I was surprised that the restaurant was pretty empty throughout the entire night. Food price is as expected. 49- 90 for entrees, 9-20 for sides, around 10-12 for desserts, cocktails 15.
Really nice decor and the atmosphere is perfect for a couple's date! -
Review from Court C.
Financial District, Manhattan, NY
11/24/2011
This may be my new favorite steak restaurant. For the past 5 years I have been devoted to Wolfgang's and that style of steak however a few friends and I had dinner here a few nights ago and the steak was perfect. My girlfriend and I split the porterhouse for 2, which was cooked to perfection, exactly medium rare. We had sides of brussell sprouts, asparagus and creamed spinach; all of which were well prepared. I feel the creamed spinach stuck out as the highlight of the three as it was not overly creamy, as creamed spinach can often be, and light.
The ambiance was a bit stuffy but that is what I was in the mood for. The waiters were very attentive and the somallier was very helpful. -
Review from Brandon B.
Manhattan, NY
11/14/2011
I went here with 3 colleagues on a rainy Thursday night. The food was what I have come to expect from a top-notch NYC steakhouse. The lobster cocktail, oysters, wedge salad and tuna tartare were all really, really good and our steaks well prepared. My only criticism would be that the atmosphere felt like a scene in Boardwalk Empire.
I would definitely recommend but Luger's or Wolfgang's would still be my preference. -
Review from Glenn C.
Fair Lawn, NJ
10/18/2011
4.8 stars
Usually when I go to a Steakhouse, the appetizer/sides/dessert are throwaways while the steak is ok/good. This is not the usual.
Appetizer: Caesar salad: 12.00
Came with a single white anchovy on top, dressing was strong but good. Was better than most places. Price made sense (unlike all the other dishes.) They spit it for me and the other person there which was nice
3.6
Main dish: Porterhouse Steak for 2: 90.00 (45 per person)
Massive steak, 2.5 pounds? Steak was cooked deliciously, perfect representation of medium rare. Very rich, very meaty, very hard to finish (I couldn't, came with a massive bone in the center that was kinda difficult to munch upon)
Sides: Mashed Potatoes 8:00, Creamed Spinach 8:00
Mashed Potatoes were a little rich..just a LITTLE, reminded me of Robuchon's restaurant in terms of how rich it was, creamed spinach was nice and garlicky, great portion for the price for both of them
Dessert: Napoleon- 10.00 (? might be 12.00)
Had an tropical flavor which considered of an apricot (?) jelly on the bottom and a coconut creme in the center. if you are a fan of coconut, you will love this dish. I am a fan so I liked it alot. Also had 3 candied almonds on top.
Service: nice but not overbearing, gave water when it was needed always, packed up things in good containers, person in front was nice
In short, delicious steak, no complaints here. -
Review from Emma K.
Queens, NY
8/28/2011
Went for restaurant week dinner. I classify it as way better than Smith and Wollensky's but not quite Peter Luger's. I started off with a very strong pear cocktail--one to write home about with a frozen chilean pear ball. Also, it's very rare for one drink to even get me tipsy =)
I ordered the filet mignon and Baked Alaska. I also had some kind of soup that was really intersting but I forgot what it was. The steak was cooked perfectly and so were the crunchy veggies it was served with. The dessert was pretty amazing, too. The banana ice cream and meringue were delish, but the walnut cake part could have been a bit more moist; I'm guessing they had to keep it cold so the ice cream didn't melt, though.
In conclusion, I'd definitely come back here! -
Review from Joaquin G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/25/2011
I was at Delmonico's a while back ago, and this is a long overdue review.
I went during lunch, had planned on going for dinner, but things came up. Having knowledge of their history I decided to order foods which they either created, perfected, or were famous for throughout their history. This resulted with the following order:
Delmonico's Salad
Lobster Newburg
Baked Alaska
That salad was good, I'm not big on salad's, as a matter of fact they are my culinary arch nemesis, yet I found this one to be quite friendly.
The Lobster Newburg was incredible. I ate every last bit and was fully prepared to lick my plate. I was, however, told that this was not proper etiquette, so I refrained.
The Baked Alaska was magnificent. Having never tried it before, I cannot compare it to another location, but this was memorable.
I plan to be back at Delmonico's the next time I'm in NYC, and look forward to try some of the other dishes, though I will definitely be tempted to go with the same order as above. -
Review from Tom K.
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delmonico's is a legendary name in the annals of NYC history. Dating back to 1827 when a cafe and pastry shop was opened by the Del-Monico brothers, there was a time when four restaurants carried the fabled Delmonico name. A quick romp through Delmonico's influence must include shout outs for lobster newburg, baked alaska, the delmonico steak and being one of the first restaurants (in the modern sense of the word) in NYC. (as opposed to tavern or inns where a menu was a foreign concept)
Fast forward to the early 21st Century. Restaurant week, July. One of the hottest days of the year to date. Fortunately the experience of waiting for all of our party to arrive in non-air conditioning environs is not replicated when we are led to our large table in the lower lair. The blast of cold air is a relief and disquieted my belief that the restaurant tries in all areas of climate to replicate 19th century dining.
The restaurant week menu contains several supplements that will quickly result in a price higher than $35. One could, in theory, sample every dish Delmonico's is known for: manhattan crab and corn chowder , lobster newberg + $20), delmonico classic steak ( + $15) and classic baked alaska ( + $5).
The wait staff was quite accommodating for our friend who arrived late. Note that you won't be seated until all of your party is present or you sacrifice one of your party members.
Water and wine refills were abundant.
I started with the wedge salad, a melange of candied walnuts, blue cheese, bacon and iceberg lettuce. I'm convinced the sole reason to eat iceberg lettuce is its role as the base for being smothered in blue cheese and bacon. I've had larger wedges but this was tasty enough for me to ignore the size.
Up next was the 8 ounce filet mignon with a teeny-tiny serving of mashed potatoes, string beans and carrots. Exceptional quality, undoubtedly, but don't order if you are starving. If you are starving, do order the 20 ounce delmonico steak that will likely be enough for two servings and four people.
The baked alaska was enough to make me want to move a few thousand miles to the great northern state, see Russia and shake hands with the Palins. Named in honor of the at the then time recent acquisition of the territory, baked alaska is the union of walnut cake, banana gelato and meringue with apricot jam on the side. The first three ingredients are baked just long enough to firm the meringue. The result is sheer decadence that is easy on the eyes and even easier on the taste buds.
I gladly did my part to support historical food preservation by dining at Delmonico's. The Delmonico family has nothing to do with the current restaurant, of course, but their spirit lives on in this monument to their passion and creativity. -
Review from Steve G.
Union, NJ
12/22/2011
(4.50 stars) Anyone with a sense of culinary history can't help being in awe of Delmonico's, the many well-known signature dishes introduced here and its stature as America's first restaurant (1837) cement its status as a landmark. The building is triangular and sits at an intersection which vividly portrays urban Manhattan in the era where horses were our transportation. The interior may very well serve as the model for every steakhouse which followed. That said, what has Delmonico's "done for me today?" For starters, service has retained it's dignified, if a bit aloof, professionalism. It is a difficult standard to maintain in today's world, and one which (quite unfortunately) is interpreted by a very few front of house staff to be tolerant of indifference and outright nastiness. While these experiences have been few in number, their impact resonates; Delmonico's prices command near-perfection and few second chances. Tragically, some of the wrong messaging has also reached the back of house where it is inexcusable-- although very infrequent. These rare exceptions aside, Delmonico's is unmistakeably one of New York's top five steakhouses. The signature Delmonico steak (a boneless rib eye) is sinfully rich and flavorful, succulent and perfectly seasoned and grilled. I've also enjoyed seafood, veal, fin fish and chicken entrees with, in most cases, similar satisfaction. Something as seemingly simple as a salad is elevated to a memorable plateau here, but at $12-15 this would be an expectation. The side dishes introduced by Delmonico's over the decades are those which we now accept as "classic steakhouse." The creamed spinach is remarkable, as are the roasted Brussles sprouts and crab mac & cheese. Namesake Delmonico potatoes are dated and unappealing. I would have loved to witness Diamond Jim Brady tear into the three pound ribeye steak, with a table (or two) full of sides! Rare lapses in service or kitchen execution aside, Delmonico's has earned a place on the restaurant "bucket list" of any foodie who can find their way to lower Manhattan.
-
Review from Ed T.
New York, NY
9/30/2011
How I ended up at Delmonico's on a random sleepy Thursday night after meandering through the winding streets of the financial district I'm not quite sure, but I'm absolutely glad that I did.
We asked for the dessert list and settled on the Baked Alaska (Delmonico's is supposedly the birthplace of this decadent dessert) and the Strawberry Rhubarb tart.
Here's the breakdown:
1) Baked Alaska - Like a naturally beautiful woman who rarely if ever needs makeup, this dessert was simple, delicate and hit all the right spots. 4 stars just for this beauty right here.
2) Strawberry Rhubarb tart - The rhubarb was a bit weak and the tart a bit floury but it still managed to shine.
Tip:
Pass up the prominent entry on the very corner and walk down Beaver to their side entrance where you'll find a relaxed warm atmosphere of their lounge and grill room. -
Review from jordan w.
Manhattan, NY
7/23/2011
Came here for restaurant week last night and the place was packed. It was so packed they opened up downstairs and lined it up with tables and chairs, felt like a cafeteria dining scene from college.
The worst part of the experience was there was no AC so i was sweating balls...you think with the clientele and their prices that they could chill the place out a little...heat wave is no excuse to be cheap for a fancy restaurant. We paid 30 dollars for a $4 bottle of chiliean cab, tasted like room temperature vinegar with grape juice mixed in. Sick.
The restaurant week menu was a very sad, trimmed down version of the usual quality. The steak we had was a 8oz filet that looked liked 4oz on your plate, I think i finished mine in 4 bites. The appetizers were also very disappointing, i had a chowder that tasted like canned soup and my gf's pasta chorizo had one piece of chorizo in it.
Dessert was cold chocolate cake (was supposed to be warm moist cake) and my cheesecake tasted like shit (seriously).
I've been here before not during restaurant week and it was a good experience but I think given how they treat their restaurant week dining patrons (ie. low quality food, heavy markup, crappy/slow service), I will never go back, restaurant week or not. -
Review from Sourivone V.
New York, NY
This place is history as the 1st fine dining restaurant in the country. Many public figures have dined here. We ordered family styled and shared the following:
1) Porterhouse Steak Medium Rare
2) Diver Sea Scallops with Crostini, Lentils and Parsnips
3) Crab Cake with Green Apple and Celery Root
4) Foie Gras
5) Mayan Giant Prawn "Espelette" Artichoke, Spinach, Orzo, Sea Urchin
6) Pre-Dinner Cocktail Drinks
7) A bottle of red wine
Overall, service was EXCELLENT. The food was delicious. It's a little older crowd but it has New York history written all over this joint.
I LOVE DELMONICO'S.
TIP: Sign up on their website and join as a member get 20% every time you dine. -
Review from Chris C.
Manhattan, NY
7/31/2011
Went for the 2011 Summer restaurant week. We both had the prix fixe dinner. The fillet was only ok, but the Delmonico steak (at $15 extra) was very decent and cooked perfectly (I had asked for rare). Both steaks came with potatoes and some assorted veggies on the side.
Neither salad off the prix fixe menu was anything special. The Baked Alaska dessert ($5 extra) was worth it. It had a nicely brule'd crust and a great banana ice cream filling. It was significantly better than my chocolate cake dessert. -
Review from ED B.
Manhattan, NY
11/13/2011
My wife and I dined this past Saturday night. I am ok with the darkish decor. The decor looked tacky, really tacky , but the look of wear was complicated by the low lighting.
The service was ok, a blast from the past, servers looked worn out and ready for retirement.
The food was dreadful. Filet was not tasty and warm when served. Spinach souffle was tasteless. Their signature dessert, Baked Alaska was a major disappointment and not at all what I was expecting.
Cost of meal, $350 which does include a nice bottle of Cakebread. Wine was excellent.
DO NOT GO HERE. MORNING AFTER IS NOT GOOD,THANKS ...GOTTA GO.... -
Review from Lada P.
Manhattan, NY
7/25/2011
They have so many of the Firsts that they even have a special section for that on their web;" The first diner called by the French name restaurant, The first diner where guests sat at their own tables The first printed menu The first tablecloths The first debutante ball outside a private home... "
Well, one must try at least for the feeling of historical touch.
We came for a lunch during the Restaurant Week - I know al the restaurant staff hates it but c'mon, you can force a little smile, for me?? :D
I started with Wedge Salad
Jasper Hill Blue Cheese, Smoked Applewood Bacon, Candied Walnuts which was actually very nice, fresh and very flavorful. Overall A
Continued with
Flat Iron Steak Frites
Peppercorn butter, Delmonico's Fries - peppercorn butter very nice and add bit of fire to my meat. Fries crispy just as I like them and for the meat it self - little chewy as expected from that kind of meat. Overall B-
Desert was a Warm chocolate cake which was not war at all but good. Overall C
Atmosphere there was very nice and classy, the manager and hostess do a wonderful job and the waiters are probably happy Restaurant week is over. -
Review from Romulus R.
Middletown, NJ
6/11/2011
Food is insane good.
Every appetizer we got was superb.
Crab cakes were mighty tasty.
Party of 7 & every person had a different cut of meat.
Tried a little bit of each & every one was fantastic.
Steaks here are mouth watering & not too salty.
Side dishes were money.
Mash potatoes were solid, & the cream spinach was great. (not too heavy)
Plus the King Crab macaroni & cheese was splendid.
Restaurant had terrific ambiance.
Very old school & classy.
Pleasant service.
Even dessert was a treat.
Cannot wait to go again.
Romulus -
Review from Daniel F.
5/1/2011
Great restaurant to bring a date or to impress your party. There is a great deal of class when you step foot into the restaurant. The waiters are very attentive and professional. If you're carrying a coat, no worries.. check it into their coat check in the front.
Everything was impressive for a restaurant but I have to say I enjoyed Peter Lugar's steak a bit more. The steak here was juicy and all, but the flavor was a bit lacking compared to peters. But Overall I was pleased with my visit .. the steak was great, just not the best I've ever had. We had a mess full of appetizers but nothing really stood out in my visit other than the oysters which is pretty much the same everywhere and the mac and cheese which was really good. -
Review from David S.
4.5 stars for sure, but since all the food was excellent I'll bump it to 5. The only miss of the whole meal was the cold, not so fresh bread with cold, hard butter. That aside, I had a wonderful, heavy, exciting meal hear recently with my father and we both enjoyed it very much. While it is not quite Peter Lugar, the steak is of very good quality, very tasty and juicy. Well cooked meat. As has been mentioned, the restaurant is in a very old beautiful building, worth a visit just to see this building alone, reminds me of the flatiron building.
To start I had the lobster knuckle risotto. Love this! Great texture of the rice, and the squash was a great addition. Excellent flavors, rich dish, excellent start and at $16 it was a good value as it was packed with lobster. The "John Krupa" double cut rib chop was excellent as mentioned. Not the best steak I've ever had, and not cheap at $90 (although it feeds 2, or more), but very very good. We got the Classic Delmonico's potatoes as our side dish and they were expectedly excellent, although very heavy. Small potatoes almost crispy bathed in cheese sauce, small cooked onions (not caramelized or sautéed, but translucent) and small bits of bacon. It needed salt and I could never finish an entire order myself, but to share it was excellent.
The dessert was one of the best I've ever had! I ordered the Baked Alaska and was really blown away by it... I've had it before but never with this much flavor. It was a walnut cake with banana gelato, meringue or course, and around the plate was apricots in a sauce that I believe had vanilla in it. A wonderful mix of flavors and textures. Highly recommended dessert! The price as others have mentioned was expensive, but no more than I expected, and the quality of the food as well as the technique was worth the price in my opinion. -
Review from Letizia E.
Brooklyn, NY
1/3/2012
The decor for this place deserves a 5 star considering its location and the old school feel of when it first came up in the last 1800's. The food and service are another story. We ordered our appetizers and main course I took a slice of bread and the appetizer was out, I ordered a salad it tasted like it was sitting in the fridge for a couple of hours and had some bacon bits thrown on top. Our main course came out like 5 minutes later, I ordered the delmonico's steak and lobster the steak had what looked like french's fried onions on top which was not mentioned in the menu or by the waiter and my lobster was cold. I scrapped off the fried onions ate a bit of both and asked for the check. Glad we went but we aren't going back.
