One of New York’s most legendary steakhouses is coming back to life after many had thought it gone for good.
If you know anything about New York and steak, then chances are high that you know all about Delmonico’s. Widely recognized as New York’s first fine dining restaurant, Delmonico’s began in 1827 as a small cafe and pastry shop. It was in 1837 though when the restaurant moved into its now-iconic location at 56 Beaver Street, where it has continued to operate for the past two centuries. Over its lifetime, Delmonico’s has played host to some of the city’s most powerful luminaries, including Teddy Roosevelt, Chester Arthur, Charles Dickens, JP Morgan, and even Nikola Tesla, among countless others. As one of America’s first fine-dining restaurants, Delmonico’s has also been responsible for establishing numerous fine-dining staples, including (with some disputation) classic dishes like Delmonico Steak, Eggs Benedict, Baked Alaska, Chicken a la King, Lobster Newburg, and the wedge salad.
Despite the restaurant’s impressive pedigree though, Delmonico’s has suffered a difficult series of setbacks over the past few years. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the restaurant shut down “temporarily” in 2020, planning to eventually reopen after the city had properly recovered. That never ended up happening though, as a legal dispute between the owners and the property managers cast a pall over the reopening, which continued to be delayed. At the end of 2022, the lease to the space finally expired, and it seemed that the nearly two-century-old restaurant had closed its doors for the last time.
Thankfully, longtime fans of Delmonico’s can finally look forward to some good news about their favorite restaurant. Longtime managing partners Dennis Turcinovic and Joseph Licul have just secured a fresh 15-year lease to bring the iconic restaurant back to life. According to Commercial Observer, the two new owners plan to renovate the restaurant’s 500-seat dining area to give it a new “modern look”. Additionally, Delmonico’s is also planning on updating its menu to accommodate the changes but assures fans that their beloved steaks are remaining exactly as they are.
In a statement released to the press, Turcinovic said “The original Delmonico’s Restaurant has been providing hospitality to New Yorkers and visitors near and far since it opened its doors in 1837, and we plan to bring back this historic culinary landmark like it once was.”
Current estimates put the reopening sometime later this Fall.
