Delano Hall

- Kings Point, NY 11024

In the heart of Long Island's prestigious "Gold Coast," New York is home to historic institutions, including the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point. Central to Academy life is **Delano Hall**, the primary mess hall and food preparation facility. While Delano Hall serves as the dedicated commissary for the Regiment of Midshipmen—a place where tradition and nutrition fuel America’s future maritime leaders—it is also home to a publicly accessible venue that local New York visitors can enjoy.

Known for its significant capacity, Delano Hall is capable of hosting the entire regiment simultaneously for meals. The atmosphere within the facility is one of structured excellence, where daily meals are prepared to rigorous nutritional and caloric guidelines, ensuring a healthy population ready for demanding academic and physical standards. This commitment to large-scale, quality service sets this cafeteria apart from typical public dining halls.

For the local user, understanding the dual nature of this facility is key. While the main dining room, the commissary, is reserved for midshipmen and authorized guests, the facility also houses **The Seafarer Restaurant**. This smaller, cafeteria-style eatery, located on the zero deck (basement) of Delano Hall, is open to faculty, staff, visitors, and the public, offering wholesome food at reasonable prices. Thus, Delano Hall represents a unique intersection of federal institution and community dining, right here in the New York region.

Location and Accessibility

Delano Hall is located on the picturesque campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, 11024. The Academy grounds are nestled on Long Island's north shore, offering spectacular views toward the New York City skyline. Access to this location, being a federal facility, requires specific attention to detail.

The address is within the Academy grounds in Kings Point. Visitors should be aware of the security protocols upon entry, as Academy property is generally closed to the public outside of normal working hours and requires registration with security personnel upon entry during open hours. Parking for visitors is limited; while there are handicapped parking spots available throughout the Academy grounds, it is advisable to check with the Academy or the Alumni Association in advance for public access parking, especially during major events. Wheelchair accessibility is supported within Delano Hall, with handicapped restrooms available in the Zero Deck area, which is where the publicly accessible Seafarer Restaurant is located. Visitors are often advised to use Nassau County cabs when traveling from JFK or LaGuardia airports to avoid metropolitan surcharges, a tip well-known to frequent travelers in this part of New York.

Services Offered

Delano Hall’s Food Services are highly structured to serve the residential midshipmen population, but they also extend specific services to the public via The Seafarer Restaurant.

• Midshipman Dining Service (Commissary - Authorized Guests Only): Provides over 2,000 meals daily. **Dine-in** service varies by day:
  • Monday through Friday: Breakfast and Dinner are served buffet style; Lunch is served family style.
  • Weekends: All meals are served buffet style (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on Saturday; Brunch and Dinner on Sunday).
  • Menu Features: Regular menu items are supplemented by specialized options like a fruit bar at breakfast and a dedicated salad bar and soup bar at lunch and dinner. Special holiday meals, such as the famous family-style Regimental Thanksgiving Dinner, showcase the vast capacity and traditional service.
• Public Dining Service (The Seafarer Restaurant - Open to Public): Located in the Zero Deck of Delano Hall.
  • Service Style: Cafeteria-style facility.
  • Hours: Offers a full breakfast and lunch menu, Monday through Friday. It is also open for evening meals, Monday through Thursday. On Sunday evening, it provides pizza and snacks. It is closed on Saturday.
  • Payments: The Seafarer accepts cash and credit cards.

Features / Highlights

Delano Hall stands out not only for its function but also for its historical and logistical significance within the USMMA campus.

• Historic Architecture: Constructed in 1943, Delano Hall is a large, historic two-story mess hall, part of the core buildings that define the Academy's main campus, designed by Alfred Hopkins & Associates.
• Massive Capacity: The dining room is capable of seating the entire Regiment of Midshipmen simultaneously, demonstrating a unique level of institutional dining scale rarely seen in public cafeterias.
• The Seafarer: This smaller, public-facing canteen allows visitors to experience the atmosphere and food service efficiency of the Academy grounds. The Seafarer also serves as a deli-type café for faculty and staff.
• Underground Connection: Delano Hall is physically connected to the five midshipman dormitories via an underground promenade (Truxton Arcade), which also houses various midshipman services, reinforcing its central role in campus life.
• Unique Menu Items: The facility is known for certain signature items that have become part of midshipman lore, such as the highly praised "stromboli with their famous Mandingo sauce" mentioned in customer reviews, demonstrating moments of culinary brilliance amidst the large-scale operation.

Contact Information

Due to the institutional nature of Delano Hall, direct public inquiries related to the dining service, visiting hours for the Seafarer Restaurant, or access to the Academy grounds should be directed to the main Academy communications. The provided phone number is the best point of contact for the facility itself.

Address: Kings Point, NY 11024, USA (Located on the campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy)

Phone: (516) 773-5372 (General Food Service/Facility Contact)

Mobile Phone: +1 516-773-5372

What is worth choosing

Choosing Delano Hall, and specifically the publicly accessible Seafarer Restaurant within it, is worthwhile for several unique reasons that appeal to the local New York user. Primarily, you are choosing a historic dining location on the grounds of a prestigious federal service academy, offering a distinct sense of place and history right here on Long Island.

For midshipmen and authorized guests, the **"family style"** dining experience, a tradition highlighted by one positive reviewer who **"would be happy to have 300 more"** meals, offers great hospitality and community building. While some operational challenges related to the vast scale of feeding a regiment (such as the noted quality concerns regarding "Delano Diesel" coffee and some meal items) exist, the food is prepared to exacting nutritional and caloric standards, ensuring healthy, adequately portioned meals. The sheer commitment to serving over 2,000 meals daily in a coordinated, buffet and family-style format is a logistical marvel in itself.

For the public, The Seafarer Restaurant offers a casual, cafeteria-style meal solution for breakfast and lunch on weekdays. It’s an accessible, wholesome food option for visitors to the campus and nearby faculty and staff. The ability to grab a full breakfast or lunch on a public federal campus, accepting cash and credit cards, provides a valuable and unique dining feature in Kings Point. Whether you're interested in the historic architecture, the stunning waterfront location, or simply need a quick, reasonably priced meal from a facility dedicated to robust nutritional standards, Delano Hall—via The Seafarer Restaurant—offers a choice unlike any other local cafeteria in the New York metropolitan area.

Delano Hall

Kings Point, NY 11024, USA