Dining With
Cowboys Or Colonials: These Are The Oldest Restaurants Across America
Even if it’s a local
establishment, chances are, your trusty old neighborhood diner has nothing on
the grub hubs on this list of the oldest restaurants across the United States.
In fact, you can still dine in locations that lived through the Wild West — and
even date all way back to the days before the Revolutionary War. Food and
history; what’s not to like?
25.
The Bluebird – Utah (96 Years Old)
Let’s drift back into the days of our grandparents. We’re
talking jukebox joints with long bars and milkshakes with two straws hanging
out of the glass. While most of these old soda shops have vanished with time,
The Bluebird restaurant in Logan, Utah has been running consistently since
1914.
A trip to The Bluebird would definitely be a treat, and not
only for their delicious ice cream and milkshakes. If you aren’t in the mood
for some dairy, you can always enjoy a cup of coffee or an amazing cut of prime
rib or sandwich. One of The Bluebird’s coolest features is that it’s a
multi-floor restaurant with a banquet hall, called the Florentine Room.MMedia
With Discovery
24.
Carolina Coffee Shop – North Carolina (98 Years Old)
For nearly one hundred years, both locals in Chapel Hill,
North Carolina, as well as visitors and UNC students have been getting their
hot coffee and French toast fix satisfied by the Carolina Coffee Shop. This
fine establishment served up their very first stack of flapjacks way back in
1922 and haven’t stopped since.
We’re guessing this was the place to go after long nights of
dancing the Charleston with dazzling flappers. The Carolina Coffee Shop has
maintained its popularity throughout the generations, outlasting the Great
Depression, World War II, and various economic recessions. Even today, it
remains a popular joint in Chapel Hill for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
23.
Perkin Noodle Parlor – Montana (109 Years Old)
If someone asked you where the first Chinese restaurant in
the United States was established, you’d probably point to cities known as
historical hubs for Chinese immigration, say San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New
York. Such an answer would actually be way off. The country’s first Chinese
restaurant is actually in the city of Butte in Montana. Who would have thought?
The Pekin Noodle Parlor served its first bowl of noodles in
1911 and probably blew the minds of the locals who had likely never tasted such
wild flavors before. The noodle bar came about in such a relatively remote
location due to a mining rush that took the area by storm in the late 19th and
early 20th century. The little city of Butte saw a spike in their Chinese
population, and generations of delicious food followed.
22.
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse – Oklahoma (109 Years Old)
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse hasn’t been in business for over a
hundred years for having grilled up just your average, everyday, basic steaks.
This Oklahoma landmark has a reputation for being one of the very best
steakhouses in the entire United States. That said, the restaurant had a very
slow start.
Back in the early 20th century, it was but a small café.
Believe it or not, much of its success actually came down to a game of dice
between the original owner and a rancher named Gene Wade. Gene rolled a hard
six, won the café, and then turned it into a national treasure. Even today, you
can see the number 33 branded all over the restaurant’s walls.
21.
The Bright Star – Alabama (112 Years Old)
For over a hundred years, The Bright Star has been serving
Birmingham locals some of the best Greek-style food that can be found in the
southern regions of the United States. However, this century-old establishment
was never limited to one style of cuisine. They have a wide variety of food
items to choose from, one of the best being their signature seafood gumbo.
Since they first opened their doors, the restaurant went
from being a quaint café that could seat only 25 guests, to a restaurant that
could hold up to 330 visitors. With time, the restaurant has only become more
beloved. It’s been voted by Birmingham News on an almost annual basis as being
one of the top three restaurants in the city.
20. North End Tavern & Brewery – West
Virginia (121 Years Old)
If you find yourself riding
down those famed country roads of West Virginia, you’ll be making a terrible
mistake if you don’t make a quick food or drink stop at the North End Tavern
& Brewery. While it may look like your standard sports bar upon entry, it
is actually a small town gem.
Its 120-year-long journey
began way back in 1899 and it has been a favorite among Parkersburg locals ever
since. They serve an array of tasty burgers and sandwiches, but their most
beloved feature has to be the microbrewery they set up back in 1997. If you are
a fan of craft beverages, you won’t be disappointed at the North End Tavern
& Brewery.
Back in the late 19th century, much
of the western United States caught gold fever, packed up their lives and
headed north to Alaska. The gold rush made some instant millionaires, but broke
many. As a result of the influx of population and discovery of the precious
mineral, Alaska, then considered just a district, became quite prosperous.
One
of the many gems to come out of Alaska’s gold rush was Olivia’s Bistro At The
Historic Skagway Inn. The establishment first opened its doors in 1897 and has
had a steady flow of business ever since. The recommended dishes if you eat
there are their king crab legs and halibut cakes.
If you’re a steakhouse connoisseur,
you’re going to want to knock Denver’s The Buckhorn Exchange off your bucket
list. Opening its doors back in 1893, it is one of the first steakhouses in the
country, as well as the first restaurant in Colorado to receive a liquor
license.
The man behind the restaurant was
called Henry H. Zietz, and he created an establishment that welcomed people
from all walks of life. While today, it’ll likely be filled with families local
to Denver, it once served characters straight out of your grandfather’s
favorite Western flicks. We’re talking miners, Native American chiefs,
cattlemen, silver barons, gamblers, and railroad builders.
First opening its doors in 1877,
Prescott, Arizona’s The Palace Restaurant and Saloon served the likes of
cowboys, outlaws, and just about anyone who would push open their swinging
doors. Things changed forever in 1900 when, after 23 years of business, the
famous saloon was devastated by a fire.
Loyal customers salvaged what they
could amid the blaze, and even the famous Brunswick bar was saved from the
flames. After one year of hard work, the saloon was back on its feet and
successfully managed to capture its original vibe. Even today, the saloon does
a fine job of teleporting its patrons back to the days of the Wild West.
It goes without saying that Texas is
one of the biggest gems in the country. It’s a state of culture and amazing
history, and one tangible part of that history is a restaurant called Scholz
Garten. This Austin business was first established by a German immigrant named
August Scholz just after the Civil War, back in 1866.
When
it first hit the scene back in the 19th century, this eatery was a very popular
spot for German immigrants and became a hub of German culture in Austin. Today,
Scholz Garten stands as the oldest business in Texas and the first beer garden
in America. However, it’s significantly less German-centered today and more of
a college hangout.
In 1860 America, the big news around
the country was probably Abraham Lincoln winning the presidential election, a
vote that would eventually change the face of the country forever. However, in
Philadelphia, the big news for Catherine and William McGillin was getting their
restaurant opened up.
It
was originally called Bell in Hand Tavern, but the locals just called it
“McGillin’s” after the two owners. They officially changed the name to
McGillin’s Olde Ale House in 1910 and never looked back. When you enter the
restaurant, you can definitely feel its age. The walls are decorated in old
signs belonging to businesses that have come and gone over the decades, and they
have a liquor license from 1871 hung up on the wall.
If any restaurant can boast a rich
history in Kansas, it’s Hays House. Since being established in 1857, the
restaurant has seen various faces, having been used as a courthouse, a theater,
a church, and a mail distribution center. However, it was first created by Seth
Hays with a restaurant and trading post in mind.
Back in 1857, Hays House started off
as a small log cabin on the Santa Fe Trail. Tragedy stuck the establishment in
1886, when the log cabin caught on fire. It was said that many locals rushed
over to put the fire out and save the cabin before the fire could spread to
other buildings. In no time it all, Hays House returned and was better then
ever.
Putting Washington DC’s Old Ebbitt
Grill on the list might feel like cheating, as the establishment has switched
locations multiple times since it first opened up back 1856. It most recently
moved in 1983 and currently sits less than a block away from the White House.
When it first opened back in the
19th century, the business was strictly a saloon. However, as the years tumbled
by it was also made into a restaurant. The restaurant currently holds the title
of being the oldest in the nation’s capital, and it has served most of the
American presidents who’ve taken office since it was established. In
particular, it’s said to have been a favorite hangout spot for Teddy Roosevelt
and Grover Cleveland.
California was a major player during
the Gold Rush. San Francisco, which is arguably one of the most beautiful
cities in the country, was a huge hub for prospectors during that time.
Businesses boomed in the wake of the masses flooding onto the city’s streets,
and locals didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation.
This brings us to 1849 and the
Tadich Grill. While today it’s a fully fledged restaurant, it started as
nothing more than a small coffee stand. However, in 1887 the coffee stand was
bought by an employee named John Tadich, who wasted no time turning it into an
eatery. Today, the restaurant holds on dearly to the claim that it’s the first
establishment in America to ever grill seafood over mesquite charcoal.
These days, people generally don’t
get around to opening their own businesses until they are well into their
thirties. As admirable as those young entrepreneurs might be, they don’t have
anything on Antoine Alciatore. At the tender age of 18, he opened up Antoine’s
Restaurant in New Orleans.
Okay,
so he did this all in 1840, but we still won’t take anything away from the guy,
as he basically created the city’s most famous restaurant. In 1868, Antoine
moved the French-Creole restaurant to its current location on Louis Street.
With its snazzy dress code and pristine reputation, Antoine’s Restaurant has
served folks as varied as Franklin Roosevelt, Bing Crosby, Brad Pitt, and even
Pope John Paul II. Santa Fe, New Mexico’s El Farol
restaurant has been a beacon of hope in the Southwest for almost two hundred
years. While today, it mostly means satisfying the hunger of an average Joe
after work, it used to mean way more back in the days of duels and saloons.
This
restaurant meant a lot for a cowboy traveling under the sun, like an oasis.
Much like it was over a century and a half ago, El Farol is famous for its
paella, steaks, and live entertainment. If you’re in the mood for some good
Mexican food while in New Mexico, it’s well worth a stop.
19. Olivia’s
Bistro At The Historic Skagway Inn – Alaska (123 Years Old)
18.
The Buckhorn Exchange – Colorado (127 Years Old)
17.
The Palace Restaurant and Saloon – Arizona (133 Years Old)
16.
Scholz Garten – Texas (154 Years Old)
15.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House – Pennsylvania (160 Years Old)
14.
Hays House – Kansas (163 Years Old)
13.
Old Ebbitt Grill – Washington DC (164 Years Old)
12.
Tadich Grill – California (171 Years Old)
11.
Antoine’s Restaurant – Louisiana (180 Years Old)
10. El Farol – New Mexico (185 Years Ago)