New York's 19th-century monopoly tycoons traditionally did their wheeling and dealing at exclusive restaurants, cleverly concealing the fact that they still lived at their moms'. Today's deal gives you access to that gilded portion of Manhattan history. For $20, you get $40 worth of fine dining at Delmonico's Restaurant, located in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District. This Groupon is valid for the main dining room only. Call ahead to make your reservation.

In the midst of Delmonico's sweeping murals, shimmering oak, glittering chandeliers, and gilded Age-of-Innocence accents, the menu glides in like an eyelash-fluttering ingénue to dazzle your taste buds. Delmonico's is, after all, the birthplace of the Delmonico Steak, Eggs Benedict, Lobster Newberg, Baked Alaska ($12), and the slightly less popular Mystery Bucket. If you want to venture off the culinary beaten path, treat yourself to seared Kobe beef with horseradish risotto, pomegranate, and crisped leeks ($17); blue crab cake with sweet potato hash ($19); and oysters "Diamond Jim Brady" ($19). If you can resist the siren song of the Baked Alaska, try the idiazabal cheesecake with truffle honey anglaise and pinot noir sorbet ($10). Give yourself a couple hours to peruse the encyclopedic wine list, which really should conserve paper by only listing the wines it doesn't have.

Since opening in 1837, Delmonico's has seated and served, among others, Mark Twain, Teddy Roosevelt, Oscar Wilde, J. P. Morgan, Charles Dickens, Nikola Tesla, the Prince of Wales, and Julia Child—who once went on a rampage after a third glass of wine and could only be subdued by a dozen stout men. Dickens described the event as "akin to watching a pack of rabbits bring down a moose." In short, anybody who's anybody has eaten at Delmonico's, and that haze of history will add savor to your meal as you use today's Groupon to celebrate your somebodyhood.

Not valid at Next Door Grill.

Reviews

Delmonico's has been featured in New York magazine and on Tom Fletcher's New York Architecture for its historical role and facade. Zagat rates it "very good to excellent" in every category:

• Delmonico's reputation for fine and fashionable dining grew with its movement up the island, but Uncle Lewis always favored his downtown restaurant. After he died, his nephew demolished the building and hired James Brown Lord to design this eight-story Delmonico's in 1891. The marble portal behind the front columns was reportedly brought from Pompei by the Del Monicos. Famous diners over the years were Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and a series of American presidents. – Tom Fletcher's New York Architecture
• This historic meatery is the birthplace of the Delmonico’s steak, a juicy cut of rib eye that’s perfectly charred and bloody good, served topped with a single, golden onion ring that could double as an edible bangle. Lobster Newburg, also created here, blankets lumps of the succulent crustacean in an unctuous brandy-cream sauce, top-sprinkled with caviar and accompanied by a crisp triangle of fried bread. It’s easy to imagine J.P. Morgan and his cronies kicking back in the spacious dining room: Lofty, gilded ceilings crown mahogany-paneled walls hung with oil paintings of tuxedo-clad gents swilling martinis. – AnneLise Sorensen, New York

Reviewers love Delmonico's meaty goodness. Citysearchers give the steakery 4.5 stars, and more than 100 Google Mappers and Yelpers give four:

• What a lovely surprise Delmonico's was! The setting is elegant and inviting. We shared the steak and fantastic onion rings for two. The steak was prepared to perfection. Our old-school NY waiter was friendly and attentive (not at all gruff and surly like one often encounters at so many other steak joints). When we asked to take the Flintstone-sized bone home for our dog, they didn't blink. We indulged at the end with an ice cream sundae… – citypixie, Google Maps