In a discussion on a different thread, Harters suggested we should have this as a separate thread.
So let’s talk about old restaurants - restaurants older than @Harters (just kidding)!
The one that crops up often is Rules in London.
So looking for that sort of vibe. Old timey.
Union Oyster House in Boston, MA. Oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S.
Timeframe of when it was built is unknown, but it is believed to be somewhere in the 1600s, based on when Union Street was laid out. It housed various businesses, including a dry goods store in the mid-1700s, a printer during the American Revolution, a future king of France lived upstairs for several years while in exile, and it became a seafood restaurant in 1826.
Daniel Webster frequented the semi-circular oyster bar, and the restaurant was a favorite of JFK, who has a dedication plaque upstairs at Booth #18. He liked the lobster stew.
I haven’t had oysters there, but I did have a cup of NE clam chowder there years ago when I first moved to Massachusetts.
I love the older Tea Rooms in smaller British towns. I remember visiting one in York
https://www.bettys.co.uk/cafe-tea-rooms/our-locations/bettys-york
, another in the Cotswolds, and another in Chester.
Here are a few old restaurants I’ve visited that stand out in my memory:
From 1621
From 1909
For an old B&B with a lovely restaurant, I recommend this place. The Peacock at Rowsley near Bakewell.
An old bakery we like in Cambridge which also serves breakfast
Harters’ more recent review of Rules (I think)
J Sheekey opened in 1896. It’s another restaurant Harters recommended that we enjoyed
We also like the Wolseley for breakfast on Piccadilly. That might be a newer restaurant in a beautiful old space. I’m not sure.
Simpson’s on the Strand is another lovely old restaurant.in London, as is the Savoy Grill.
45 Jermyn Street,. operated by Fortnums is a beautiful old space, too.
https://www.fortnumandmason.com/45-jermyn-st
I wish I had posted my reviews from these places on HO from 2015-2018.
I did post breakfasts from a few of the places I’ve mentioned, including Fitzbillies and the Peacock at Rowsley, in my first post of this thread
I’m sure I’ve been to Fitzbillies in Cambridge. But it was more than 15 years ago. Hopefully it’s still going strong.
The UK is great for old restaurants or restaurants in very old buildings. But not as many continuously operating super old restaurants perhaps. There seems to be lots of really old pubs, but they probably didn’t serve food back in their beginning times.
I remember this very old restaurant in Madrid we ate at when we visited circa 2008. Seems to be still in business. It had only two things on the menu: roast chicken and Asturian cider. But we still remember that roast chicken, it was so good!
https://www.casamingo.es/quienes-somos/?lang=en
In the website it says it’s the ‘Dean of cider houses’ in Madrid. I’m not sure what that means. But it’s an oldie and a goodie.
Apparently this is the oldest restaurant in Barcelona:
We went there for dinner when we visited in 2018. The decor doesn’t seem to have changed a lot since the late 1800s, early 1900s:
I took a photo of this tile decoration as it depicts St George vanquishing the dragon - and we live in England, where St George is patron saint.
The food was pretty good too. I’m not sure why I didn’t take photos of the menu or food.
Oooh! That reminds me of an ancient cider house a friend of a friend took me to back in 1990. It must’ve been from the 14th or 15th century (?), with very small doors and an absolutely stunning backyard that had a small creek running through it. The afternoon we went, lots of families had set up their picnic blankets.
I tried googling it (by image, too), bc I cannot for the life of me remember the place’s name, or even its location.
If it’s any help for our British contingent — we stayed in Walton-on-Thames at the time, and it couldn’t have been more than an hour drive from there.
Might either of you be familiar with it, @Harters or @medgirl?
Thanks for firing this up, medgirl.
On the other thread, I mentioned I was sure I recall a restaurant in Virginia that predated American independence (although maybe not as a continuous name). Somewhere nearish to Charlottesville, I think.
As for a contribution from home, Manchester’s oldest eatery dates to 1867 and is Mr Thomas’ Chophouse. I’ve never been, preferring it’s slightly younger, but less pubby and more restauranty, brother Sam’s Chophouse, which is just across the road and dates to 1872.
The Botin in Madrid is reputed to be the world’s oldest restaurant. We ate there in 2012. It generally was not at all good.
White Horse Tavern in Newport, RI
Claims: “The White Horse Tavern is a National Historic Landmark being America’s oldest restaurant, having served guests since 1673.”
It’s wonderfully atmospheric and decent food, too.
Warren Tavern, 1780, in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.
Bettys is a classic. A mini-chain of five outlets, the first opening in Harrogate in 1919. It was opened by a Swiss baker, Franz Butzer, who had immigrated to the UK in 1907. You gotta order a “Fat Rascal” - a giant scone. That’s scone as in skon, not scone as in stone.
The Michelin starred Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire dates to the 14th century. Been there a couple of times.
The 200 year old English Market in Cork has, apparently, always had an eatery on the first floor - currently the lovely Farmgate Cafe. We had lunch there in 2008.
The Mermaid Inn in Rye, East Sussex, was originally built in 1156 but the current building dates to 1420. We had dinner there in 2020, just after the first Covid lockdown was lifted.
When we ate at the Lords of the Manor Hotel, in Upper Slaughter, in 2013, the restaurant held a Michelin star. Which was proof that holding a star is not a guarantee of getting a good dinner. Food wasnt great, service really poor. But we were eating it in a room dating back to 1649
I’ve not been in the area around Walton-on-Thames. But if I ever am, I’ll try and find this place you mentioned!
Not my part of the world, I’m afraid.
A relevant post for this thread which @ZivBnd posted to the Grace Dent reviews thread. I’m just linking here.
The Old Ebbit Grill reminded me of the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast. A heritage site as well as a functional bar serving some food as well. I’ve been there in the early 2000s but didn’t get a chance to fit it in to my recent visit. A beautifully preserved example of a Victorian Gin Palace.
