Unraveling the Mystery of Eggs Benedict: Delmonico's vs. Waldorf in NYC

It’s not clear who the original inventor of the Eggs Benedict was, but the two main stories point to two locations just off Route 1 in Manhattan, NY. These two locations were the Delmonico’s Restaurant, located at 56 Beaver St, New York, NY 10004, and the Waldorf Hotel, originally located at Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street, New York, NY 11232. The inventors of the Eggs Benedict at these 2 locations were Chef Charles Ranhofer at the Delmonico’s Restaurant, and Oscar Tschirky at the Waldorf Hotel.

The Delmonico’s Restaurant Story

Chef Charles Ranhofer created his Eggs Benedict in the 1860’s for a regular diner named, Mrs. LeGrand Benedict, who wanted something new, featuring poached eggs, ham, Hollandaise sauce, and truffles. It was later published as “Eggs à la Benedick”.

The Delmonico’s Restaurant started as a confectionery in 1827 and then opened as restaurant in 1837. It was the first fine-dining restaurant, pioneering features like printed menus and making it the first American restaurant with an à la carte menu.

The Waldorf Hotel Story

Oscar Tschirky created his Eggs Benedict in 1894. He created this for the Waldorf Hotel stockholder, Lemuel Benedict, who was seeking a hangover cure. Oscar Tschirky popularized it at the Waldorf Hotel by adapting it to English muffins and Canadian bacon.

The original Waldorf Hotel in New York City opened in 1893 on Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street, built by William Waldorf Astor, and later merged with the adjacent Astoria Hotel in 1897, creating the first Waldorf-Astoria. This original landmark closed in 1929 and was demolished, with the current, iconic Art Deco Waldorf Astoria opening at its Park Avenue location in 1931.

Other Possible Inventor

A letter in the 1960s suggested Commodore E.C. Benedict, a yachtsman, created the Eggs Benedict with his mother, adding another layer to the mystery of the creation of the Eggs Benedict. Most historians lean toward Delmonico’s for the earliest concept, with the Waldorf’s version popularizing it for brunch, making it a legendary dish.

National Eggs Benedict Day

National Eggs Benedict Day falls on April 16th, a day to celebrate the classic brunch dish of poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin, with many restaurants and home cooks creating variations.