Delmonico steak, thick steak prepared in a style made famous in the mid-19th century by Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City, which is cited as the first (1827) official “restaurant” in the United States where individuals ordered off a menu instead of getting only what was prepared that day. Delmonico style refers to rib cuts, but the cuts of meat that the restaurant used for the first Delmonico steaks remain up for debate. Not infrequently, the steak may be two or more inches thick.
Regardless of cut, Delmonico steak traditionally is prepared with salt and pepper, basted with butter, broiled to order, and topped with herbed butter. It was commonly served with “Delmonico potatoes” (a baked and slightly mashed potato dish topped with cheese).