What's the oldest restaurant you've dined at?

[Carole]

Botín in Madrid, supposedly the oldest restaurant in the world, but maybe that was just their claim.

We ate there too when in Madrid.

 

[amcnj]

I haven’t eaten at the oldest listed for my state yet (1750). One I have eaten at and know the date of is the Chalfont Hotel (1876) in Cape May, NJ.

 

[ms.yt]

According to the list posted, I've been to 2 of them. Old Ebbitt in DC and Weidmann's in Mississippi. Both were great!

 

[Figment of Speech]

Antoine's in New Orleans is probably the oldest I've ever eaten in.

As for local locations, my partner is a local history buff, so a couple of years ago, I tried to look up the oldest restaurant in our city (Greensboro, NC) to take her to for her birthday. It's a reasonably old city, so I was hoping to find something a century old or so, but from what I was able to determine, the oldest restaurant is a casual-dining Greek place that opened in 1967. It has a cool story, and we'll get there at some point, but it wasn't really what I had in mind for a fancy birthday. So then I looked up old buildings that now house restaurants, and that turned up a perfect birthday option, a spot called Liberty Oak. It's been operating for over 40 years, but the building it's in dates to 1883.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

The City Tavern in Philly, *many* years ago. I don't remember much about it, unfortunately.

https://www.citytavern.com/

When I was on the Jack the Ripper tour in London in 2001 I had a drink at the Ten Bells in Spitalfields. It was the last place one of the victims was seen alive. At the time it was a tourist trap, I know it's still open but don't know if it's gotten any better.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Looks like a road trip to me...at least the lower 48. I've dined at Antoine's on many occasions. I especially love the oysters Rockefeller, soufflé potatoes and Antoine's bread pudding. Okay. Now I'm really hungry!

 

[LSUmiss]

I have had some remarkable meals at Antoine’s in New Orleans, both breakfast and dinner. It is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, circa 1840. Last time we went was August 2019 during restaurant when they participated in Coolinary New Orleans. It was an amazing meal, reasonable and the drinks were also good.

That’s still on my list to do. Oldest I ate at was Commanders Palace (1893).

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I've eaten in a few old restaurants that stand out.

In Boston, some good DIS friends of mine took me to Mamma Maria's, an Italian restaurant off of the oldest square in the U.S. and in view of Paul Revere's house. The restaurant is in a converted 19th century brick house. That was a thrill to be there for me.




I was in Virginia on business, and went to Leesburg to the Lightfoot Restaurant, which was a bank built in 1888. I think the restaurant opened in 1999, but it was cool eating in a converted bank.



The oldest, though was El Botín restaurant in Madrid. It was founded in 1725, and has been continuously open since then. They specialize in roast pork. I first visited it on a food-walking tour, and then went back on another day for dinner. I think their specialty is suckling pig, so that's what I ordered.










They had a cool wine cellar there, too, and let me go check it out.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Opened in 1919 we eat at Musso and Frank's Grill in Hollywood twice a month.

Since 2000 I have taken my Dad there for his birthday every year.
View attachment 561860

They closed one year ago (March 14, 2020) due to the government shutdown in Los Angeles.

What a nice tradition with your dad.

This is on my bucket list to go to. It closed on my birthday last year. I hope to go sometime when it opens up again.

 

[bcla]

As far as I know, the oldest was a place now closed. The oldest I can verify is Spenger's in Berkeley, California, which was opened in 1890 as just a stand, but closed a few years ago.

I'd eaten at the Cliff House (1863) in San Francisco. However, that's not necessarily an unbroken chain because that was a series of buildings that burned down with different ownerships and where it's not just one restaurant. And now it's closed and the National Park Service (which owns the building) isn't clear on how they're going to proceed.

Not sure about overseas. I'm not sure if the restaurant where I had Peking duck was one of the older traditional restaurants. There's supposedly one restaurant that's over 600 years old.

 

[neverlandsky]

The Original Pantry Cafe, Los Angeles - 1924

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Hard to say to be honest. The problem is many restaurants claim certain dates. But if you check back into their past they weren't operating as a restaurant for all that time or closed briefly or even changed locations and/or names.

Best as I can figure out the oldest I've ever eaten at is the Union Hotel in Occidental CA. 1879 is the year given. But An actual restaurant may not have been operating there until 1891.

By the way both it and the place across the street, Negri's are quite good. Once covid is over with if you're out there, give em a try.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I have eaten at the Union Oyster House in Boston, which made the list for oldest restaurant in Massachusetts (1826). I have also eaten at Pizzeria Regina (Regina Pizza) in Boston's North End, which opened in 1926 and is the oldest pizza place in Boston.

ETA: I have also eaten at Bunratty Castle in Ireland (c. 1425), but it wasn't like it originally opened as a restaurant. The castle didn't undergo restoration until 1956.

 

[mrs. magoo]

Only eaten at one Old Ebbitts Grill in Washington D.C. This is a cool idea though. Maybe I could try to get more places.

 

[LovesTimone]

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City Tampa Fl... 1905...

Amazing Cuban Food...

by the way there is one in Celebration so if your on vacation, its worth a trip...

 

[slo]

St. Elmo Steakhouse - it’s been in Indianapolis since 1902.
Its been over 25 years since we had dinner there, and I want to return, because I know I would appreciate this restaurant more now then I did back then.

 

[Gamedog]

I've eaten ay the Buckhorn Exchange (1893) a few times in Denver. Awesome food, interesting menu.

Also eaten at My Brother's Bar, which opened in 1873, 3 years before Colorado became a state.

In San Diego, I've eaten at Tivoli's Bar, which is the oldest in San Diego (1885)

 

[snappy]

That’s still on my list to do. Oldest I ate at was Commanders Palace (1893).

Hint, Commanders is better.

 

[izzy]

A Virginian here. I’ve eaten at one and didn’t even realize it until I saw this article - the Palace Restaurant and Saloon in Prescott. I was taking a scenic drive from Sedona to Phoenix while I was on vacation, and stopped in Prescott for lunch.

And if I’m ever in Indiana, I might have to find that restaurant (The Log Inn) with the great looking fried chicken and home style sides.

 

[_19disnA]

Unless there was a sign at the door saying 'opened in xxxx' not sure I would ever know.