Maggie F.
Yelp
The Delmonico Room recently re-opened for evening formal dining in recent months thanks to the return of Chef Michael. It's reservations required, and definitely a formal, quietish atmosphere great for special and/or romantic occasions, especially with the crooning music they play (Sinatra, King-Cole, etc) and the food brings the Hotel Fauchere back to it's original historical roots celebrating the dishes that Chef Louis Fauchere was known to create.
In dining with my daughter we had the Amuse-Bouche which was a heirloom tomato with Anise Hyssop; appetizers she had the Carrot Sunflower Hummus with Easter Egg Radishes and Kale Crisp while I had the Foie Gras with Huckleberries, Roasted Radishes served on a butter toasted brioche bread (the Foie Gras was absolutely amazing and perfect...).
For second course (Pasta dish) we shared an order of the Smoked Ricotta Agnolotti with Romanesco Zucchini, Garlic Scape puree, Villa Mandori Balsamic Vinegar, and Lardo which was a light second course full of flavor.
NOTE: The menu was created by Course, and is a four course meal (appetizer, pasta, entree, dessert) so don't be afraid! Go for it - you won't be disappointed and the wait staff is more than accommodating if you wish to split the pasta course in two portions.
Entrees, my daughter had the Long Island Duck Breast with Fairytale Eggplants (grilled), Grilled Peach puree, and Mustard Greens. The Duck was seasoned perfectly, the skin crispy and was a nice interseasonal dish. I had the 16 ounce Dry Aged Delmonico Steak with the blistered Summer Beans, Delmonico Potato. It's an expensive entree, but considering that Chef Fauchere was a Chef at the infamous Delmonico restaurant, eating in the Delmonico Room, it seemed appropriate and did not disappoint. The dry aging upped the flavor and tenderness and the potatoes in an adorable mini cast iron 'pot'.
Dessert - went old school and got the Three Cheese Plate. Wonderful ending to a perfect dinner.. Cow was Spout Creek "Margie" and along the lines of a brie and creamy texture, with the honey served as the side with the Marcona Almonds, it's divine. Sheep was Old Chatham "Ewe's Blue" which is a blue cheese (from Sheep's milk?! whuuaaaaat?!) and was sharp, semi-firm and not overbearing. The Goat milk cheese was Ski Queen "Gjetost" which is a must try as the milk is caramelized before the whey is pressed and processed into a cheese and literally is a caramel cheese.
Service: The Delmonico Room for formal dinner service is staffed with a Floor Manager who can assist with more detailed questions about cocktails and wines, a head waitress, an assistant waitress and a runner/bus boy. Everyone is polite, attentive with a sincere demeanor (with a bit of that Milford personal touch to it as well) and if you need anything, they will be more than happy to assist and accommodate to the best of their ability showing they do in fact have formal dining service skills which is not commonly found these days, especially in small towns making the Delmonico Room even that much more special and unique.
Executive Chef Michael Glatz and Chef de Cuisine Brandon Grimila, know and have tremendous passion of what they're doing.. and it shows. They're using local grown and raised items from the Delaware Valley region as well as bringing the Hotel, in all it's dining back to its historical integrity. The menu, as I understand, varies slightly on a regular/weekly basis with what is available and in season, hence the need for reservations to best prepare the best dishes possible without compromising quality, freshness and flavor.
Hopefully this fine dining aspect will catch on as it's too good to be overlooked, as mostly people do the more casual dining on the porch for lunch or breakfast. It's now time to add formal dining to that agenda, hence this review.