When it comes to fine dining in the world, you really can’t get any better of an experience in Manhattan. In the two years that I have run Manhattan Digest, I have done many restaurant reviews that tend to skew towards more comfort food than anything else. Nothing wrong with that, but when I had to elevate myself and review the phenomenal Delmonico’s Kitchen, located in the heart of Midtown West on West 36th Street between 7th and 8th. Coming from a place that is highly regarded, reviewed and well liked by the masses (both personally and professional reviews) I went and grabbed one of my best friends to experience the best in Fine Dining that Delmonico’s truly offered, and to say that we were highly impressed is quite the understatement for this establishment.
The look and feel of Delmonico’s Kitchen really is Manhattan 101. Touted as the country’s first fine dining restaurant, you really get the sense of elegance and sophistication upon arrival. Call me weird but this seems like a place where you could see anyone from financiers just getting off the job and having dinners with coworkers or constituents to a large family celebrating a loved one’s recent birthday or life accomplishment. It is very warm and inviting, and the colors throughout the place really shine through and blend together especially now that the weather is drastically changing from super hot to chilly in a matter of days. The general manager Denis Morovic, couldn’t have been nicer and something that immediately caught my eye was his attention to detail when it came to going to each individual table and chatting with his guests. That to me is a measure of a great manager, someone who goes the extra distance to make sure that their guests are having a good time and are ultimately welcomed at that establishment. Delmonico’s did that and then some.
Then of course there was the food, which gets a 10 out of 10 in my book anyday. Taking the fine dining aspect to a new level, the plates me and my friend were served at Delmonico’s were prepared beautifully and executed the same way. Now onto the recommendations for my readers. If we are going from start to finish here is how I would spend my night at Delmonico’s. For a starter dish, there is a lot to choose from, but seeing as me and my friend are Shrimp lovers I would recommend starting with the Jumbo Shrimp cocktail which comes with three different type of dipping sauces. One was the traditional tarter sauce however the other two were just as flavorful. One being some sort of dressing reminiscent of Thousand Island and the other one had a soy sauce taste to it that was quite delicious. If we are going in the soup realm here, one dish that I would highly recommend is the Lobster Bisque as it had just the right amount of heat and creaminess to really satisfy our palate.
Moving along to the entrees it is simple as one work- steak. Delmonico’s is known for its innovative take on the traditional steakhouse and it showed in what they prepared for us. One that I would recommend is the Filet Mignon as it was cooked to perfection. A good side dish to pair with that was the delicious Brussel Sprouts which were generously seasoned and had great flavor in each bite we took. Another entree I would recommend going with is the Braised Short Ribs with sweet potato puree. Heavenly and paired with the right side dish to really inject such flavor into what they are providing.
Now that we are in the home stretch for dessert at Delmonico’s, I would recommend the two following (even though they all looked pretty freaking amazing). The southern delicacy known as Beignet’s, complimented with three different types of dipping sauces and their Baked Alaska, which is ice cream and cake topped with a browned meringue. Definitely a sweet and yummy way to finish off quite the epic meal at Delmonico’s.
So whether you are local to the area or are visiting New York City for the first time, why not treat yourself to an amazing meal at Delmonico’s? It is something you will truly enjoy and want to come back for seconds and thirds in the days and weeks to come. Check out the official site here for more information.