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Creperie, on Ludlow Street, offers crepes, along with crepe suzette and other sweet concoctions
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Lower Manhattan is known as the nation's original capital, home to the first stock exchange, even the place where the city's subway system began. But did you also know that culinary delights like eggs Benedict and baked Alaska were invented downtown? That golden-brown latkes, steaming Shanghai soup dumplings, mozzarella en carroza that would put a Sicilian nonna to shame can all be found within a few blocks of one another in the streets south of Houston? Lower Manhattan is, in fact, a culinary crossroads, the diversity of its food options rivaling many other parts of the city.
Each quarter, LowerManhattan.info produces a newsletter celebrating aspects of downtown that make the area a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. The Fall 2003 issue showcases the food of Lower Manhattan -- its prized culinary jewels, little-known treasures, and neighborhood favorites -- and the restaurateurs and retailers who bring it to you every day.
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| Fresh foods from Gourmet Garage |
Copies of the newsletter are available now at many downtown businesses, organizations, residential buildings, and transportation hubs. Pick one up, or download a PDF version here.
Inside, you'll find stories about the role restaurants have played in revitalizing Lower Manhattan, hot spots for lunch downtown, where to shop for everything you need to throw an unforgettable dinner party, and much more. And below, as a special treat available only on the Web, learn about a couple of the Financial District's finest dining options. So read on, but beware: Doing so may make you hungry.
Fine Dining in the Financial District
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| Delmonico's, open since 1827, has learned that flexibilty is the key to success |
In the neighborhood that's home to the New York Stock Exchange, restaurants have to prove they're worth every penny. So it's not surprising that patrons' high standards fostered high-quality eateries in the Financial District. Fortunately, successful area restaurants know the secret ingredient for longevity: flexibility over the years in an ever-changing Lower Manhattan.
Take Delmonico's (56 Beaver Street), for instance, which has served some of the city's finest fare since 1827 and effectively set itself apart as a premier downtown restaurant for discriminating diners. It proved its staying power through the Great Fire of 1835, the Great Panic of 1837, the Civil War, the Draft Riots, and the Great Depression, inventing world-famous dishes such as eggs Benedict, baked Alaska, lobster Newburg, and the Delmonico steak along the way.
Delmonico's longstanding success can be chalked up to its ability to retain its character while evolving with the neighborhood. "By being aware of the changing cultural environment and always changing to adapt, Delmonico's has been able to keep up with the times and survive," says Milan Licul, Delmonico's owner, who notes that the restaurant has earned diners' loyalty by consistently delivering a superior menu throughout its 172 years.
Delmonico's endurance has helped make the Financial District a breeding ground for some of New York's best restaurants. From Fraunces Tavern to Yoru to Les Halles Downtown, the neighborhood is a great place for first-rate feasts of all world cuisines and price ranges.
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| Fine service at Delmonico's |
One of the area's newest restaurants, Ulysses' (58 Stone Street), plans to follow the example set by its Financial District forebears by offering a menu and ambiance that also can endure the test of time. So far, the recipe seems to be working, says Danny McDonald, co-owner of the self-proclaimed "folk house." "We're never empty," he says. "We wanted to create a place for people looking for somewhere less formal and with great food, and so far it's going great."
With more restaurants cropping up all the time, the district continues to prove that Wall Street workers and a steadily growing number of local residents are some of New York's finest and most enthusiasti
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