These days, our schedules are practically packed with dinner reservations–and with a constant wave of new restaurants opening across NYC it’s easy to see why. But while today the girlies’ group chats are full of “dinner at 8?” texts, that kind of freedom wasn’t always the norm.
In the mid-19th century, women in New York City were largely forbidden from dining out alone or without male accompaniment. Doing so was widely considered “unrespectable.” That is, until one NYC restaurant changed the rules in the late 1800s.
On April 20, 1868, Delmonico’s did something the city had never seen before: it hosted its inaugural Ladies’ Luncheon. The premise was simple yet radical: women from across the city were invited to publicly dine together without male escorts, marking a major turning point in NYC dining culture.
The luncheon was organized by journalist Jane Cunningham Croly after she was barred from attending a men-only event. And though the moment is often overlooked today, it remains one of the most significant milestones in women’s social history.
Even after the 1868 breakthrough, many NYC bars and restaurants continued to exclude unaccompanied women. Some establishments, like McSorley’s Old Ale House, didn’t admit women until they were forced to by a 1970 city ordinance.
Still, the luncheon helped pave the way for professional women’s clubs and greater visibility for women in civic and social life.
Now, Delmonico’s is running it back.
As an ode to both Women’s History Month and the country’s 250th anniversary, the historic restaurant is honoring the legacy with a special Ladies’ Luncheon menu that celebrates storytelling through food, giving back, and honoring legacy.
Priced at $49 per person, the three-course menu features dishes such as Potato Leek Soup, Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Roasted Organic Chicken, and Prime Flat Iron Steak Frites.
But this luncheon is about more than just good food. Proceeds from the menu will benefit the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization founded by Mariska Hargitay that works to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse while supporting survivors’ healing.
As it turns out, Delmonico’s is a restaurant of many firsts.
Founded in 1837, it’s widely recognized as America’s first fine-dining restaurant. It was the first to publish a cookbook, the first to use tablecloths, and it’s even older than the Statue of Liberty. The restaurant is also credited with iconic dishes including Eggs Benedict, Lobster Newberg, Chicken à la Keene, and the legendary Delmonico Steak.
This Women’s History Month, Delmonico’s is inviting New Yorkers and visitors alike to take a seat at the table–not just to dine, but to honor a moment that helped redefine women’s independence in public life.
Know Before You Go
- 📍 Location: 56 Beaver St, New York
- 🗓️ When: Monday–Saturday, 12–10pm, Sunday, 12–9pm
- 🍽️ Reservations: Online
