The morning call., 1891-09-26
DELMONICO'S.
From a Coffee. Room to World.
Famous Restaurant.

Who has not heard Of "DelmOnic0'S,"
New York? No name is more familiar to
epcures than Drlmonico, and ye few PEG
pie know anything about lie original Del
monleOS, Of whom there were three broth
ers-John, Lorenzo and Pierre. The real
founder Of the name was John, tie youngest
and most energetic of the three, says
Saratoga correspondent of the TROY Times.
He was the first who came to New York and
he sent out for the other two. John orig
inally began his career as trader between
Havre and Havana. He made lite
money and went TO New York, dreaming,
probably, as little OF HIS future sucreSs as
did a. I. Stewart when he first landed
from Ireland.
John started a little bakery and did
fairly wel-so we'll that he thought that
with the aid Of his brothers he could do
better. SO he wrote to his elder brothers
to come over the Atlantic. This was quite
venturesome Journey, especially Tor two
Swiss peasant lads, for such they we're.
But they had faith in John, in fortune and
IN each other. so over they came-by sail
ship, of course.
The first DemonicO Building was a COM
bined bakery, bar, cOtfee-room and restau-
rant. The bakery was run upon the pom
honor plan recently adopted at some lunch
counters in New York-that is, no watch
was kept on customers. who helped them
selves to pies, tartS, turuoVers and cakes,
and their word was taken as to the amount
they consumed. The coffee was always
good and the meals well cooked and served,
aud the prices were reasonable. A cup of
fresh coffee and some delicious rolls and
butter could be had for a shilling and n
outlet only cost shilling more. A regular
dinner, with wine, could be enj0ye1, with
fine service, for dOllar-fully equal to
three-d0llar Delmonico dinner now. a
pOn6 Havana piOar cost huf 4 nputs-Such az
costs 20 cents to-day.
The house of Delmonico prospered from
the first, and by and by second generation
came on the carpet and took part in the
thriving concern. John, the founder OF
the house, took life easily toward the end,
doing the marketing only, while his broth
ers played dominoes and smoked cigar
cites. None of the Delmoncos, either the
brothers. nephews or descendants, have
been educated men. The original DelnfOn-
III the latter part OF their lives, three lan-
guages-English, French and ltalian-but
all three imperfectly. Nor were any of the
DelmonlcOS good business men, in the
American sense Of that term. This may
seem strange, considering their success, but
it is fact. None of them were keen or
shrewd. None of them drove bargains.
They attended strictly to one line of du-
ties, treated every body well, sold good arti-
Giles and so got rich, and their fame as res
taurateurs filled not only New York, not
only America, but Europe. 1t is not gener-
ally known, but old-timers will still remem-
Der that the DelmOnicos once kept sum-
mer garden in what is now East New York.
Attached 10 this garden was vegetable
and dairy farm. which was free to the guests
"a pleasant privilege in warm weather.
There were various attractions, such as a
band of music and ten-pin alley. There
was also an open space for target shooting
and for athletic games-these were the
happy days before baseball. This Del
monico summer garden was a great resort
for all the foreign residents in New York,
particularly on Sundays when all the Ger
man. French, Italian and Spanish notables
could be seen there enjoying themselves.