NYC's Delmonico's To Reopen After 3 Year Closure And Legal Battles
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a venerable New York City restaurant is getting a new lease on life. Literally. Three years after a pandemic-related closure which was compounded by in-fighting among the partners who had been operating the business since 1999 and seemed likely to doom the iconic eatery once and for all, Delmonico's is set to reopen in September. According to AMNY, Dennis Turcinovic, a former partner in the now-dissolved company that ran Delmonico's from 1999 until its closure in 2020, was granted the lease for the landmark property at 56 Beaver St., in Manhattan's Financial District. Turcinovic, who also owns Sei Less, an Asian fusion restaurant in Midtown South, and his business partner, Joseph Licul, are moving ahead with plans for a fall opening.
The road to reopening, including the contentious battle among former partners, has been rocky. Earlier this year, Turcinovic and Licol announced they had signed a 15-year lease on the property. At the time, members of the Grgurev family, Turcinovic's former partners, contested the validity of the new lease claiming they continued to hold the rights to the Delmonico's name despite a previous attempt by the owner to evict the business for non-payment of rent. Apparently, that point of contention became a non-issue when the Grgurev's lease expired in January 2023.
A new day dawning
While all signs point to Delmonico's opening its doors under new management in the fall, patrons will be entering a completely redesigned space. While paying homage to its historic setting — the restaurant opened at its Beaver Street location in 1837 — the new design has a contemporary edge that complements its 21st-century menu. What Now New York reported that Edward J. Hong, a chef whose experience includes stints in Michelin-star restaurants, is on board to head up the kitchen, adding his personal panache to the menu with offerings like sea urchin and Abalone risotto, showcased alongside longtime Delmonico's classics like lobster Newberg, Baked Alaska, and the restaurant's namesake Delmonico steak.
"Delmonico's is a restaurant with deep-rooted history," Turcinovic told What Now New York. "It was the first to use the term restaurant, the first to have a cookbook, and the first to serve women sitting at their own table. It is a part of New York City's restaurant legacy and we are excited to welcome back returning guests but also introduce Delmonico's to a new generation of New York City diners."