Running a restaurant is tough under ordinary circumstances — nearly 60% close their doors within three years of opening — and the pandemic has made staying in business even more difficult. Not even beloved iconic eateries have been immune to the ever-increasing challenges of keeping the doors open. Some restaurants, however, have staying power that endures for decades and, in some cases, centuries. Here’s a look at the oldest restaurant in every state.
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Alabama: Payne’s Sandwich Shop & Soda Fountain
What people say: Payne’s is a “lovely period establishment right on the square in the historic centre of town” with a good menu and choice of ice cream, says one Payne’s customer via TripAdvisor, where the restaurant averages 4.5 out of 5 stars from reviews.
Related: Classic Soda Fountains That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Alaska: The Historic Skagway Inn
What people say: Reviewers on TripAdvisor like the Skagway Inn’s historic feel and big portions of local seafood. One reviewer called the food “very tasty and plentiful” and deemed the bread pudding “some of the best I have had in a long time.”
Arizona: Palace Restaurant And Saloon
What people say: Customers on the Facebook page of the Palace appreciate the feel of a place that’s played host to the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. “This place is awesome with so much history dating back to 1877,” one customer writes. If the prime rib ($41) is too much, try the Beast Burger ($18) at lunch — it includes bison, wagyu beef, New Zealand Elk, and wild boar.
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Arkansas: White House Cafe
What people say: Customers enjoy the White House Cafe’s folksy, yesteryear charm of the “neat old building,” old-time counter, and stools — and the standout burgers, according to reviews on Yelp.
California: Tadich Grill
What people say: Dating back to the California Gold Rush, the Tadich Grill is one of the world’s “10 Great Classic Restaurants Well Worth Visiting,” according to Forbes.
Related: 18 Towns Where You Can Still Experience the Wild West
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Colorado: Buckhorn Exchange
What people say: Described by a Forbes contributor as a “living Old West museum,” Buckhorn Exchange gets appreciative nods on TripAdvisor for its frontier cuisine, with one customer drawing attention to the bison and elk tenderloins and “amazing” rattlesnake with chipotle cream cheese.
Connecticut: The Griswold Inn
What people say: “There is no other place to compare with the ‘Gris’ in atmosphere, in hospitality, in the excellence of its cuisine,” The Connecticut Almanac says of the Colonial-era icon, while Yankee magazine points visitors to The Griswold Inn’s “stunning” wine bar with contemporary small plates.
Delaware: Kelly’s Logan House
What people say: There are mixed reviews for the country’s oldest family-owned Irish pub (though Kelly’s Logan House serves seafood and burgers, not Irish food), but most customers enjoy the deck and atmosphere. “Great atmosphere, great location, beautiful patio,” as one customer put it on Google.
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District of Columbia: Old Ebbitt Grill
Year Founded: 1856Type of Food: American fareWhat People Say: The Washington Post gave the “Victorian-inspired saloon and restaurant” high marks (two stars) for its seafood, hand-cut fries, and waiters that offer every guest a handshake, ask for a name, and remember it later.
Florida: Columbia Restaurant
What people say: A reviewer on TripAdvisor says the Columbia, which has been owned by five generations for more than a century, has “the best Cuban food anywhere.”
Georgia: The Plaza Restaurant & Oyster Bar
What people say: Several reviewers on TripAdvisor, where The Plaza averages 4 out of 5 stars, admire the buffet, and one suggests eating at the bar. “The bartender was fantastic! We weren’t in a hurry and she let us take our time.”
Related: 50 Ways to Spend Less When Eating Out
Hawaii: Hotel Manago
What people say: The restaurant averages 4.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp, where customers like its low cost (all entrees are $19 or less) and lack of pretension (“it’s super basic but so worth it”). They also love The Hotel Manago restaurant’s signature pork chops.
Idaho: The Snake Pit
What people say: Reviews at this folksy mainstay on Facebook are trending upward from a period when there were more regular complaints, while menu items such as sweet potato buffalo chips, smoked brisket tacos, and Rocky Mountain oysters keep The Snake Pit “a must-see for anyone passing through Idaho.”
Illinois: The Village Tavern
What people say: Customers reviewing the tavern on TripAdvisor admire the service, the portions, and especially the decor — wagon-wheel bar included. “Village Tavern is absolutely charming,” one says. The fish fry gets the best reviews, and the turkey sandwich is actual turkey, not deli meat.
Related: The Oldest Bar in Every State
Indiana: The Log Inn
What people say: This restaurant, once visited by President Abraham Lincoln, is “a must stop if you like delicious food and great service,” says a reviewer on TripAdvisor, where it gets 4.5 out of 5 stars. Diners at The Log Inn love the fried chicken, gizzards, and livers.
Iowa: Breitbach’s Country Dining
What people say: “There’s not much else to choose from in the area but no need, this place has everything you need,” says one customer on TripAdvisor, where reviewers give it an average 4.5 out of 5 stars. In addition to “exemplary” hospitality, there’s a Breitbach’s tenderloin sandwich said to be worth a 100-mile drive.
Related: Best Subs, Grinders, and Hoagies Across America
Kansas: Hays House
What people say: Top-notch service, perfect proportions, and super Hays House fried chicken dominate the best customer reviews of this Santa Fe Trail eatery on TripAdvisor.
Kentucky: Talbott Tavern
What people say: A young Abraham Lincoln, rowdy Jesse James, and French royalty circa 1797 have all stopped at Talbott Tavern, which has reasonable prices, a solid breakfast, good bourbon, and apparently a ghost or two.
Louisiana: Antoine’s
What people say: Antoine’s, claimed to be the oldest family-run restaurant in the country, averages 4.5 of 5 stars on Facebook from more than 1,700 reviews — many of which give it 5 stars for “amazing” food and being an “unforgettable experience.”
Maine: Palace Diner
What people say: Made from one of two existing Pollard railroad cars in the United States, the Palace Diner has only 16 seats. “So there may be a wait,” one customer writes on TripAdvisor, “but the food is worth it!” Try the Lumberjack Breakfast and fluffy flapjacks.
Related: The Best Hole-in-the-Wall Diner in Every State
Maryland: Robert Morris Inn
Year founded: 1710 Type of food: American/seafoodWhat people say: The seafarers using Oxford as a port for tobacco, hides, and salt port made good use of the beds and tables at The Robert Morris Inn, and it’s still what TripAdvisor reviewers call an “outstanding” spot for everything from crab cakes to freshly made scones. Chef Mark Salter has even been known to give cooking demonstrations.
Related: The Best Seafood Restaurant for Takeout in Every State
Massachusetts: Publick House
Year founded: 1771 Type of food: American/Seafood What people say: There’s no shortage of history in this central Massachusetts town near the Connecticut border — it’s well known for its Old Sturbridge Village living history museum. A follow-up visit to the Publick House could include the Yankee pot roast ($20) or fish and chips ($19), but a stop by the Bake Shoppe for a pecan sweet roll ($1.50) or whole apple double-crust pie ($19) might also satisfy.
Michigan: Sleder’s Family Tavern
What people say: “Its decor and atmosphere is really neat,” says one customer on TripAdvisor. “Everything I have had on the menu was delicious.” Don’t be surprised to see people climbing up to get face to face with a moose head mounted on the Sleder’s wall; kissing Randolph is supposed to be good luck.
Minnesota: Hubbell House
What people say: “Great food and reasonable prices, but what really makes this place is the atmosphere,” says one TripAdvisor in a review, citing a “very cool old building” that was originally a hotel for a stagecoach trail.
Mississippi: Weidmann’s
What people say: “Definitely a place to hit on your way to the Gulf Coast,” says one customer writing on Yelp. “The redfish is out of sight. Service is excellent and ambience is good. I look forward to eating here every time I’m in Meridian.” Enjoy the Weidmann’s free appetizer of crackers and peanut butter.
Missouri: J. Huston Tavern
What people say: Dinner is served family style, and there’s plenty of it — fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, biscuits, watermelon, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and green beans — “way more than we could eat,” a J. Hustoncustomer writes on TripAdvisor.
Related: Best Fried Chicken in Every State
Montana: Pekin Noodle Parlor
What people say: With a massive building hosting an informal museum of Butte’s Chinatown, “there is no establishment in Montana quite like” the Pekin, the Montana Quarterly says. But the food is revered,
https://www.yelp.com/biz/pekin-noodle-parlor-butte
too.Related: Best Chinese Restaurant in Every State
Nebraska: Glur’s Tavern
What people say: Don’t expect a gourmet experience, but you can look forward to from-scratch burgers and onion rings at rock-bottom prices that keep ratings fairly high at what Nebraska tourism calls the oldest continuously operated tavern west of the Missouri River — open so long that William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was a Glur’s semi-regular.
Nevada: The Martin Hotel
What people say: The Martin serves its food family style, but in reviews on TripAdvisor, customers are divided about how well it represents the cuisine of France and Spain’s Basque region. “Ask about spiciness if that is a factor for you, and be prepared that everything has tons of garlic,” one warns.
New Hampshire: Hancock Inn And Fox Tavern
What people say: One reviewer on Yelp recommends the Hancock for anyone who loves New England charm — but the food at its recently renamed Fox Tavern is pleasing as well. “The main course menu makes it almost impossible to pick something,” a customer writes. “From what we understand people come from across the country to try their pot roast.”
New Jersey: Ye Olde Centerton Inn
Type of food: American/SeafoodWhat people say: The garlic-heavy Centerton Salad ($8 or $12) and Steak Centerton — filet mignon topped with crab and Bearnaise for $49 — get plenty of attention from Yelp customers giving Ye Olde Centerton Inn an average 4 stars, but the cozy fireplace and complementary dessert tray deserve attention as well.
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New Mexico: El Farol
What people say: This quaint eatery has plenty of fans for atmosphere and savory food. “El Farol is a ‘must stop’ location for me,” one customer says on TripAdvisor. “Love their tapas! When the weather is nice, we can spend the whole day on the porch people watching, drinking wine, and eating.”
New York: The ’76 House
What people say: It’s hard to overlook the fact George Washington stayed at the ’76 House, especially when the menu includes takes on colonial-era food such as wild game, but also treats including housemade sweet corn ravioli ($29).
North Carolina: Yum Yum Better Ice Cream and Hot Dogs
Type of food: American/cafe What people say: This family-owned restaurant serves hot dogs legendary in this college town — it’s actually on the University of North Carolina campus — and ice cream homemade on premises. Yum Yum survived its patriarch’s death and a car crash in 2017.
North Dakota: Peacock Alley
What people say: “Great service, interesting menu choices, and the food was superb. The atmosphere was superior,” says one Peacock Alley customer on TripAdvisor. The caramelized chicken salad ($13) and hanger steak ($28) are suggested.
Ohio: The Golden Lamb
What people say: The 5-star customer ratings are plentiful on Facebook for this eatery that’s served presidents as far back as John Quincy Adams. (A historian is around on weekends to answer questions.) Golden Lamb diners enjoy “fabulous comfort food,” such as a turkey dinner for $23.
Related: Favorite Foods of 21 U.S. Presidents
Oklahoma: Eischen’s Bar
What people say: Neither Prohibition nor fire have been able to keep Eischen’s from serving its simple grub — food such as chili, barbecue sandwiches, and okra. But it’s the fried chicken that draws the most compliments; some call it the best in the Midwest.
Oregon: Huber’s Cafe
What people say: Don’t leave without a Spanish coffee (so long as you’re of drinking age). Huber’s averages 4 out of 5 stars on Yelp for other reasons, as well, including décor and comfort food. “I had the beef stroganoff and it was unbelievable,” one customer writes. “Perfect on the cream sauce, and meat that was just cooked to perfection.”
Pennsylvania: Jean Bonnet Tavern
What people say: This tavern’s spot on the Lincoln Highway began long before there was a Lincoln Highway, first as a French fort and later deeded in 1762 to a trader. Though a few owners over the centuries have used the trader’s building as a home, instead of a tavern, it’s long been back to serving visitors just as it used to serve people headed west in wagons.
Rhode Island: White Horse Tavern
What people say: Proper, business-casual dress is required here, but colonial trappings and a roaring fireplace, not to mention “impeccable” service and “exquisitely prepared” food that updates the classics may make the White Horse Tavern worthwhile, a customer suggests on Facebook.
South Carolina: Villa Tronco
What people say: “It completely lived up to the billing,” says one Villa Tronco customer on TripAdvisor. “Sure, the décor inside is dated (probably renovated in the ’70s), but has a real old-world atmosphere. Superb food, cocktails, and service.”
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South Dakota: Legends Steakhouse
What people say: Although many TripAdvisor reviewers rave about the Legends steak, it’s the au gratin potatoes that seem to get the highest marks.
Tennessee: Varallo’s
What people say: All-day breakfast at low prices keeps customers coming back to Varallo’s, and for some people it’s love at first bite. “The chicken biscuit I just ate for breakfast has me emotional,” one customer says on Yelp.
Texas: Scholz Garten
What people say: Food can be an afterthought at this crowded beer garden (“Except for the nachos. Best. Nachos. Ever,” says one customer on Facebook). The Reuben ($17) and sausages atScholz Gartenalso have their fans.
Utah: Hi-Mountain Drugs
What people say: One of the country’s last old-fashioned, eat-in drugstores, according to The Salt Lake Tribune, this place has good portions and delicious classic fare such as burgers, fries, and fish and chips, but it’s the Hi-Mountain shakes, especially, that can make for long lines at popular times of day.
Vermont: Ye Olde Tavern
What people say: This “historical, quaint, cozy, quintessential New England inn” averages 4.5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, where customers say they like to sit by the fireplaces and enjoy Ye Old Tavern comfort food such as pot roast and chicken pot pie.
Related: 20 Things You Never Knew About New England
Virginia: The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
What people say: Everyone from JFK to Tom Cruise has passed through the Red Fox, which averages 4.6 of 5 stars from customer reviews on Facebook.
Washington: Horseshoe Cafe
What people say: The Horseshoe, with its all-day breakfast, averages a middling 3.5 stars out of 5 from customer reviews on Yelp. Those who love it rave about its fried chicken, while others hail the establishment’s comfortable old-style decor. Well, it is more than 130 years old.
West Virginia: North End Tavern & Brewery
What people say: “This place isn’t flashy or stylish,” one customer writes on TripAdvisor, and that’s true enough, but the simple menu of burgers, sandwiches, and fries at the North End Tavernhas its devotees, and prices get down to $4 for Braunschweiger or grilled cheese.
Wisconsin: Red Circle Inn & Bistro
What people say: The Red Circle Inn is heralded for combining modern trappings with historic charm. “The food is delicious and they have amazing desserts, including soufflés that are just outstanding,” a customer writes on Google. (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel agrees the $9 soufflé is “the dessert of choice here … a rare treat.”)
Wyoming: Miners And Stockmen’s Steakhouse & Spirits
What people say: The restaurant averages an impressive 4.9 stars out of 5 from a small but enthusiastic customer base on Yelp. “Perfectly cooked and tender filets, creamy mashed potatoes, strong whiskey, and maybe the best cheesecake for dessert,” one fan of Miners & Stockmen’s rhapsodizes.
