The restaurant was opened by brothers John and Peter Delmonico from Ticino , Switzerland . In 1831, they partnered with their nephew Lorenzo Delmonico, who became responsible for the restaurant's wine list and menu design. In 1862, the restaurant hired Charles Ranhofer , who was considered one of the finest chefs of the time. During the early 1850s, the restaurant hosted the New England Society of New York, a society that hosted some of the greatest orators of the day. In 1860, Delmonico's catered Edward VII 's Grand Ball at the Academy of Music on 14th Street.
Restaurant
As late as 1890, Welcker's Hotel and Restaurant existed under that name and at the same adress. Located only two blocks from the White House and one block from the Treasury Department, it was known as one of Washington's finest restaurants of the time, attracting, in the words of one observer, "the rich and the famous."