America’s historic restaurants speak volumes about the nation’s past – quaint colonial taverns, old roadhouses, retro diners and steakhouses galore. Here are the secrets behind the most interesting places to dine that’ll let you take a step back in time… just be sure to check individual restaurant websites for COVID-19 updates before you head out.
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Antoine’s, New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is unsurprisingly full of historic restaurants, but Antoine’s is arguably the grande dame of them all. Open since 1840, the restaurant provides an elegant and refined setting to experience something of the city’s Creole heritage – try the gumbo, oysters Rockefeller (first created here in 1899) or a more relaxed po’boy at the bar – or simply soak up the ambience over a sazerac cocktail. Our top secret? It’s not widely advertised but you can usually ask for a tour of the building and the friendly staff will happily show you around (tours may be suspended at the moment).
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City Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Although a reconstruction of the building which burned to the ground in the 19th century, City Tavern serves up a taste of history with typical 18th century dishes on offer in the same atmosphere enjoyed by many of America’s Founding Fathers. Among other notable happenings, it was the location of the first anniversary celebration of the 4th of July. If you are lucky (or unlucky), you may even encounter the resident ghost said to haunt the premises.
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Golden Steer, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Golden Steer feels like a slice of Old Vegas. This steakhouse, which opened in 1958, was a regular haunt of the Rat Pack – you can still sit in Sinatra’s booth – and countless other celebrities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Top tip? While here, ask for the 16 oz New York steak, which was apparently Sinatra’s favorite.
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The Berghoff, Chicago, Illinois
When The Berghoff opened in 1898, beers only cost a nickel – and they came with a free sandwich. Today, alas, you’ll pay substantially more for both of these but it’s worth the cost to soak up the warm and welcoming atmosphere with its old-fashioned charm. The German-inspired food reflects the origins of the restaurant’s founder, so expect the likes of bratwurst, sauerbraten (pot roast) and apple strudel, served alongside German beers. It’s historic but offbeat – after all this was Chicago’s first joint to get a liquor license after the end of Prohibition in 1933. These are the restaurant’s COVID-19 safety measures.
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Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
America’s oldest Italian restaurant dates back to 1900 and remains a family-run place, beloved by both locals and tourists. As befits a place with its heritage, Ralph’s Italian Restaurant has a signature dish with the chicken parmigiana (or ‘parm’ as it’s more affectionately called) a particular favorite with regulars. This is a great celebrity haunt – Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Sinatra, Taylor Swift and President-elect Joe Biden have all dined here.
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Jessop’s Tavern & Colonial Restaurant, New Castle, Delaware
Despite appearances, Jessop’s Tavern & Colonial Restaurant only dates back to 1996, but the beautiful building in which it is housed was built in 1674 as the home of eponymous barrel-maker Abraham Jessop. While here, enter into the colonial spirit by ordering the ‘pilgrim’s feast’, which includes a roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and drop biscuits. Our top secret? It’s another haunted spot, kitchen items have apparently been flung and orbs of light mysteriously seen….
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Mayflower Cafe, Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson’s oldest still-running restaurant continues to serve the same great Greek-inspired steak and seafood that made its name. Unsurprisingly, the Mayflower Cafe’s retro style has seen it used as a location in numerous films over the years, most recently in The Help. The main reason to come here is to try its famous version of Mississippi’s much-loved condiment ‘comeback sauce’ (made with mayo and chili sauce, among other ‘secret’ ingredients).
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Huggo’s, Kailua, Hawaii
Situated right at the water’s edge, it’s not hard to see why Huggo’s has been going strong since 1969. One of the major draws here is, unsurprisingly, the fresh fish – as it’s likely that the fish served at dinner will have been caught mere hours earlier. Grab a table by the water, order a cocktail and watch the manta rays swimming below. The fish is divine but so is the teriyaki steak which uses Huggo’s own secret recipe sauce.
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The Buckhorn Exchange, Denver, Colorado
With stuffed animals staring down at you while you eat (some of which, like buffalo, are on the menu), The Buckhorn Exchange is certainly a unique place to dine once it reopens again (check website for updates). The restaurant has been serving since 1893 and is now a National Historic Landmark, offering a taste of the ‘Old West’. Sure, steak is the speciality here, but it’s a super place to feast on more unusual meats like elk, ostrich and yak, so don’t be afraid to try something new when you can go back.
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Oark General Store, Oark, Arkansas
Don’t be fooled by the name: this is more than just your average general store. Opened in 1890, Oark General Store has the distinction of being the oldest continually run shop in Arkansas, set up to serve the isolated local community of Oark. These days, in addition to food supplies and petrol, you can stop here for home-cooked diner delights such as burgers and hefty sandwiches. It’s the Oark’s homemade pies that we can’t get enough of though, especially the Blueberry Pie.
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Pacific Dining Car, Los Angeles, California
An old-fashioned train dining car might not be the most likely location for fine dining, but this Los Angeles institution has been serving up celebrated steaks since 1921, when the romance of rail travel was still going strong. It’s usually a particular favorite for late-night eating (it was open 24 hours pre-COVID-19), which is hardly surprising when you consider the Pacific Dining Car’s location – just across the freeway from Downtown – and the fact that it ages prime beef on the premises. You can ask for anything here whether it’s on the menu or not and the kitchen will do it (within reason). It’s temporarily closed but check the website for updates.
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The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, Prescott, Arizona
Arizona’s oldest frontier saloon – not to mention the state’s oldest restaurant – The Palace Restaurant and Saloon once saw the legendary likes of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday through its doors. The Palace today actually sits across the street from its original site: after a fire broke out in 1900, its ornate, carved bar was removed by customers and taken to a new location to keep it safe. Expect a meat-heavy menu and a little bit of kitschy old-fashioned fun.
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Griswold Inn, Essex, Connecticut
This beautiful old New England inn dates back to 1776, when the historic seaport village of Essex was an important shipbuilding site for the Revolution. In the 19th century, the Griswold Inn was the site of protests organized by the Temperance Movement, then during the Prohibition era the inn was known as a reliable place to get hold of spirits. As a result it was often raided. Today you can usually dine (and drink) in three different areas: the historic dining rooms, the wine bar and the tap room (all open). And if you fancy really letting your hair down there are 34 rooms at the inn you can stay in too (available with strict protocols in place).
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Black’s Barbecue, Lockhart, Texas
In a state full of barbecue joints, Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart stands out for being one of the oldest. Opened in 1932 by Edgar Black, it’s now owned by the fourth generation of the same family – quite a claim, along with the fact that the barbecue pit can hold 500lbs of meat at one time. This is, as you’d expect, a proper old-fashioned place, so don’t expect anything fancy, but do come for lip-smackingly good meat.
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Ray’s Boathouse, Seattle, Washington
The iconic neon sign that marks out Ray’s Boathouse on scenic Shilshole Bay has been here since 1952, when Ray’s was just a coffee house. The present structure only dates to 1988 after the original boathouse was burned down the year before, but it remains a classic spot to dine on fresh seafood and arguably has one of the best settings in the region.
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Fraunces Tavern, New York, New York City
Set on the location of the first mayor of New York’s home (1671), Fraunces Tavern has been the meeting place of the pre-Revolution secret society, the Sons of Liberty, the foundation spot of the New York Chamber of Commerce and where General George Washington bid farewell to his troops. Today, customers can enjoy a drink and a meal as well as a wander through the informative museum housed upstairs (now reopened).
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Keens Steakhouse, New York, New York City
New York has an abundance of excellent – and often historic – steakhouses, but Keens Steakhouse is particularly special. When it first opened in 1885, Keens was widely popular among actors, and it’s said that those on stage at the nearby Garrick Theatre would head here in between acts. In 1905, the restaurant was taken to court by actress Lillie Langtry (once the mistress of British king Edward VII) for not allowing women in – after she won the case, women were finally allowed to enjoy their famous mutton chops for themselves.
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Palace Diner, Biddeford, Maine
This old Pollard dining car has been in town since 1927 and seats just 15 (expect it to be cozy when full). Originally open 24 hours, the Palace Diner is currently only open for breakfast and lunch, serving a simple but celebrated menu of all-day dishes, including buttermilk flapjacks and French toast as well as cheeseburgers and fried chicken.
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Ruth’s Diner, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ruth’s Diner originally opened in downtown Salt Lake City in 1930 but moved to its current, leafier, location on Emigration Canyon in 1949, where it still sits in one of the city’s old trolley cars. The eponymous Ruth was quite a character by all accounts – she started out as a cabaret singer before turning her hand to the diner – and the food still enjoys an excellent reputation, not least for the breakfasts, which can be enjoyed outside on the enchanting patio in warmer months. Dine-in is available with limited capacity.
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Columbia Restaurant, Tampa, Florida
Columbia Restaurant started life as a small corner café serving Cuban coffee and sandwiches in 1905. These days, you can enjoy a number of atmospheric dining rooms (open as usual), of which the ornate Spanish-style patio is arguably the most notable. Be sure to try their famous original Cuban sandwich: Spanish ham, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles served on Cuban bread.
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Louis’ Lunch, New Haven, Connecticut
Established in 1895, this cute little restaurant bills itself as the first place in the US to sell hamburgers. The story goes that they were created in response to a customer who needed to eat lunch on the go. Whether or not this is the case (numerous places in the country argue over the providence of the burger), Louis’ Lunch still serves them today just as it did in the 19th century – between two slices of white toast and only garnished with cheese, tomato and onion.
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Mrs Wilkes’ Dining Room, Savannah, Georgia
Be prepared to arrive early – and to line up – to experience this Southern gem. It dates back to 1943 when Sema Wilkes took over a boarding house with the aim of offering home cooking and comfortable accommodation. Today, the spirit of the boarding house dining room is still very much intact at Mrs Wilkes’ Dining Room, with meals served at communal tables. Expect Southern staples like fried chicken, collard greens and candied yams.
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The White Horse Tavern, Newport, Rhode Island
The oldest tavern in America, The White Horse Tavern has quite a few tales to tell. It was first opened as an inn in 1673, run by a pirate in the 18th century, and then served as accommodation for Loyalists and British troops during the Occupation of Newport in the Revolution. Today, it serves fresh, local fish and meat in an atmospheric dining room.
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Lombardi’s, New York City, New York
Lombardi’s has quite a claim to fame: it was America’s first pizzeria, opening in Little Italy in New York City back in 1905. Sure, there are smarter places to eat a pie (or two) these days, but it’s hard to beat the old-fashioned charm and blistered-crust pizzas here. The margherita – fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce, topped with fresh basil – is pretty exceptional. The Spring Street branch is open for limited indoor seating.
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The Golden Lamb, Lebanon, Ohio
Built in 1803, this old colonial building has welcomed an impressive 12 US presidents over the years (the most recent being George W Bush). Today, The Golden Lamb – Ohio’s longest continually operated business – remains a popular resting point for travelers, serving comfort food such as burgers, fried chicken, shrimp and ribs, alongside an impressive range of regional beers.
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Ye Olde Tavern, Manchester, Vermont
Opened as the Stagecoach Inn in 1790, Ye Olde Tavern has gone through many transformations over the centuries but its current name dates back to a relatively recent 1975. Much of the building’s original charm has been kept – think slanting doorways and uneven floors – and dinner is served as a ‘Colonial candlelit experience’, including both local and traditional dishes like lobster bisque and traditional pot roast. Its indoor dining has now reopened.
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Tadich Grill, San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s oldest continuously running restaurant, Tadich Grill first opened in 1849 as a coffee stand, becoming a full restaurant a few decades later. The club-like atmosphere makes it one of the city’s more formal options, but it’s well worth a visit when it reopens fully, not least to try its signature dish seafood cioppino, a tomato-based stew made with prawns, scallops, clams, crab, mussels and white fish and served with garlic toast.
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The Village Tavern, Long Grove, Illinois
The antique bar area at The Village Tavern pays testament to this family-run restaurant’s history. Opened in 1847, it showcases a particularly impressive 35-foot mahogany bar, which thankfully survived the McCormick Place Fire of 1967. The sense of history is complemented by a welcoming pub atmosphere and the “all-you-can-eat” fish fry on Friday nights. It’s open for outdoor dining and takeout.
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McGillin’s Olde Ale House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Open since 1860, McGillin’s Olde Ale House is the oldest continuously open tavern in Philadelphia. This large historic building is stunning, both inside and out, with large decorative windows, an array of flags, stained glass and wooden beams. If you like trying new ales, be sure to check out the Irish pub’s 1860 IPA, launched in 2010 to mark the bar’s 150th anniversary. It’s open for outdoor dining.
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The Red Fox Inn & Tavern, Middleburg, Virginia
This beautiful village inn was established in 1728, back when Middleburg, Virginia was called Chinn’s Crossroads. The historic property has seen an incredible number of notable people pass through its doors. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis frequently stayed here when she was foxhunting in the fall months, and her husband, President Kennedy, once used the inn to hold a press conference. Today, The Red Fox Inn & Tavern’s history is apparent throughout but there’s a very modern focus on showcasing local produce. It’s open with safety protocols in place.
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