New York City is perhaps the world's most famous city, and that's saying a lot when you consider Rome, London, Paris, and other major metropolitan areas across the globe. Whether you refer to NY as the Big Apple, the City of Dreams, or just plain home, one thing's for sure: this city is a hotbed of constant activity.

New York has long been known for its many great restaurants, and if you ask lovers of fine dining, Delmonico's is the absolute best in the business. Judging by its popularity today, it's not hard to believe that Delmonico's has been around since the early 1800s.

It is one of America's first continuously run restaurants, and is hands down the first-and still premier-fine dining establishment. In the early days of the restaurant, it was much more of an eatery, or cafeteria, allowing diners of all walks of life to come in and try food a la carte style.

Over the years, the changing ownership started to make the restaurant a more formal abode, offering better dishes and, of course, upping the ante. This made it clear that Delmonico's was no longer a large diner.

The transformation also had a little help from publicity. Although they were doing well enough to expand, and even at one time had nine locations, a little propaganda was used to convince people to stop by. Rumors started to float around that the restaurant's front entrance was constructed from the ruins of Pompeii.

Almost every celebrity or personality in the modern age has stopped in at Delmonico's for one of their famous steaks, but before tabloids brought celebrated faces into our living rooms. Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Dickens, Edward III, and J.P. Morgan were regulars at the restaurant, among many others.

The exterior of the building is nothing to write home about. This thrice-remade stone corner building was once a pastry shop. It resembles more of a firehouse, with its high-rising sunset exterior and many windows. Inside, you get a taste of a bygone era.

The floor is expansive, and warm reds and soft yellows immediately catch your eye. The booths and chairs bear stylish upholstery, and the wall art takes you back to a 1940s America when jazz was king and steaks were 80% cheaper.

Now resting on what most New Yorkers refer to as 56 Beaver, Delmonico's offers diners a slight twist on a classic menu. With Chef Rick Laakkonen's personal cooking style, the restaurant earns a three-star rating from the New York Times and is always on the short list for the best tasting food in America.

The menu covers a wide range of Italian dishes, some Americana, and various dishes were even invented here, such as the chicken a la king. However, most people know Delmonico's for their steak. Considered among the best in the world, the boneless ribeyes are aged and cooked to perfection, and have been known to make a vegetarian change their mind about meat.

Delmonico's is a little on the pricy side, and it's considered a fine-dining establishment all the way. Although reservations are not strictly needed, it's best to make one if you're planning on having dinner there.