Former Sea Captain John Delmonico attended the 1824 Parade welcoming the last surviving Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette when he returned to New York and was horrified that there was no place suitable to serve him.. Until that time, people ate on wooden plank tables whatever the tavern owner had on the stove. He (with his brother Peter) began serving hot dishes in the French style with a lady cashier and waiters wearing crisp white aprons and toque blanche, unheard of at the time. It became the first fine dining restaurant in New York, introducing haute cuisine to America. The restaurant is credited with being the first American restaurant to allow patrons to order from a menu a la carte, as opposed to table d'hote. Other innovations included table cloths and menu items such as Lobster Newburg and Baked Alaska. Unsatisfied with the quality of available produce, the brothers purchased a farm in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn to grow what they wanted. It goes without saying that it became New York's favorite watering hole and was nicknamed 'The Citadel'.
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