Historic NYC steakhouse; invented Delmonico steak & Baked Alaska. Iconic, classic, white-tablecloth dining.
Visit Delmonico's in the Financial District, America's first fine dining restaurant, for a taste of old New York with its pristine seafood and top cuts of steak.
Amber Sutherland-Namako reviews Delmonico's, an iconic New York steakhouse. Despite minor initial issues, the restaurant offers a refined dining experience with excellent steaks and classic cocktails in a beautifully restored setting.
Step back in time at this historic New York institution, an iconic steakhouse that has been serving discerning diners since 1837. Renowned for its classic American cuisine, elegant ambiance, and the birthplace of iconic dishes like the Delmonico steak and Baked Alaska, it offers a truly timeless dining experience. From perfectly cooked steaks to rich desserts, prepare for a meal steeped in culinary history.
As America's first fine dining restaurant, it specializes in classic American cuisine, with a strong emphasis on high-quality steaks, including the signature Delmonico steak and dry-aged ribeye. Other notable dishes include seafood like jumbo prawns and crab cakes, and historical desserts like Baked Alaska. While many praise the food, some find certain dishes or the overall value to be less impressive.
"The Dry Aged Bone-In Ribeye and the Signature Delmonico Ribeye are frequently recommended steaks. Other highly praised items include the Caesar salad, pommes purée (mashed potatoes), crab cakes, and the historical Baked Alaska dessert."
Customers generally hold a positive view of the restaurant, often highlighting the quality of its steaks and classic dishes, though some note inconsistencies and a higher price point.
Important Note
Some reviewers mention that the service can be inconsistent or that the restaurant can be perceived as a bit of a 'snooze fest' unless for a very significant occasion. There are also mixed reviews on the value for money, with some finding it expensive.
"Delmonico's is considered slightly better, but both are great restaurants."
Positive"Delmonico's is recommended, offering a great steak and prime rib, and is considered a favorite special occasion restaurant."
Positive"Delmonico's is the clear choice between the two. Striphouse is also mentioned as a great NYC steakhouse experience."
Positive"Delmonico's is recommended out of the two, always providing a quality meal. Old Homestead or Wolfgang's are also suggested as excellent alternatives."
Positive"A simple recommendation for Delmonico's."
Positive"Delmonico's is preferred over Gallagher's due to better meat preparation, service, and ambiance. Gallagher's is noted for dry-aged meat if that is a preference."
Positive"Delmonico's is superior to Gallagher's, which has failed to deliver a properly charred steak on multiple occasions."
Positive"This commenter advised against Delmonico's, describing it as mediocre and overly stuffy. They suggested choosing between Au Cheval or Crane Club instead."
Negative"This commenter advised against Delmonico's, describing it as mediocre and overly stuffy. They suggested choosing between Au Cheval or Crane Club instead."
Negative"Gallagher's should be skipped as it's not on the same level as other mentioned restaurants. Delmonico's is the recommendation."
Positive"The experience at Delmonico's is not considered great, relying too much on nostalgia. Both Delmonico's and Gallagher's are seen as mid-tier, but Gallagher's would be chosen if a choice must be made."
Negative"Delmonico's offers a complete experience, while Gallagher's is also good but not comparable."
Positive"A simple recommendation for Delmonico's."
Positive"If budget is not a concern, Delmonico's is recommended for its steaks, although they are wet-aged. Gallagher's is considered a tier or two below Keens."
Positive"The Delmonico ribeye is very good, and while both restaurants offer a great meal, Delmonico's has a slight edge."
Positive"Although not having visited Delmonico's, Gallagher's is described as a very solid option."
Neutral"This user mentions Delmonico's as one of their favorite restaurants in the Financial District, alongside Harry's and Capitol Grill, noting consistent great food and service."
Positive"This user recently tried Delmonico's but only had their aujus sandwich. They are asking for a comparison to Harry's."
Neutral"This user had excellent dinners at Delmonico's previously but recently had a very poor experience during a prix fixe ladies lunch. They found the steaks grizzly and inedible, deeming the rest of the lunch average. They suspect lower quality meat was used for the lunch special and feel this experience soured their view of the restaurant, though they might return for dinner."
Negative"This user inquired about the fries at Delmonico's, noting one looked 'limpy'. Another user responded that the fries were average."
Neutral
