Delmonico's - New York
It is hard not to consider Delmonico's when discussing American cuisine. Delmonico's was the beginning of fine dining in America. In addition to the famous Delmonico steak and Delmonico potatoes, Delmonico's has also been attributed as the originator of Chicken a la King, Eggs Benedict, and Lobster Newberg.
Delmonico's first opened in 1827 at 23 William Street. The restaurant moved several times before settling at 56 Beaver Street in August 1837. Eventually spreading to four locations by the same name in New York between 1865 and 1888.
In the mid-1890s it was decided to move Delmonico's uptown, and land was leased from Theodore Augustus Havemeyer at the north-east corner of Fifth Avenue and West 44th Street. (This is the same Theodore Havemeyer who owned "Friedheim" which was previously discussed here.)
Designed by James Brown Lord, on March 17, 1897 plans for the new building were filed with New York City Building Department.
The front of the building was cream white, built of brick, ornamental terra cotta and Indiana Limestone, in the Italian Rennaissance style.
The main entrance was located on West 44th Street and ladies' restaurant was located on the first floor at the Fifth Avenue end of the building. It was a dainty room finished in oak and upholstered in green. Next to this was the palm garden, where smoking was permitted after dinner. This was separated from the office by plate glass windows reaching from the floor to the ceiling. On the other side were mirrors. And next to this garden was the men's cafe which was decorated in the English style of the Elizabethan period.
On the next floor were the private dining rooms artistically decorated in quiet effects. They surrounded three sides of a hollow square. Each room had an anteroom, and all could be thrown into one should they be required for any large party. The hollow square was roofed in glass and covered the palm room on the first floor.
On the next floor was the ballroom lighted by electroliers screened by a mass of small glass beads. The walls were covered in rose-colored silk and the woodwork was green. There was a reception room and an anteroom for the guests on the gallery floor. On the Fifth Avenue side of the ballroom floor were two small reception/supper rooms, one of which is called the bride's room, and was to be used by the bride at any wedding which may take place there. Along the West 44th Street side was a foyer, and the ballroom occupied the entire eastern end of the building.
Above the ballroom was the roof conservatory which could be closed in winter and on the Fifth Avenue end were two floors which were to be used as apartments for bachelors. On the other end were the servants' rooms and a laundry.
The new Delmonico's at Fifth Avenue and West 44th Street opened informally on November 15, 1897. Just over 20 years later on May 23, 1920, Delmonico's announced its closing following the institution of Prohibition. In the summer of 1925, the building was demolished. While other restaurants would use the Delmonico's name, none would ever again be associated with the family which made the restaurant famous.
Comments
Post a Comment