Posted on 11/06/2014 12:24:19 PM PST by Idaho_Cowboy
Eating. Humans have done it since, well, the beginning of history. And pretty much ever since the first caveman realized he was too tired to grill a wooly mammoth after a long day of hunting, other cavemen were willing to do it for him. For a price, of course.
While the US doesn’t quite date back to the caveman, it’s still got plenty of old restaurants. And, much like we tracked down the oldest bar in every state, we’ve once again culled restaurant associations, historical societies, tourism boards, and business licensing departments nationwide in search of the oldest continuously operating eateries in America. Here’s the oldest in each state, and Washington, DC.
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IDAHO
Enaville Resort Snake Pit
Kingston, ID (Est. 1880) Though this old silver miners’ bar in the mountains of northern Idaho is the oldest restaurant in the state, it’s come close to shutting down more than once. Its most recent brush with restaurant death was in 2012, when it stayed open one day a week just to keep its liquor license. Other close calls include a period in the ’70s when the owner would take month-long vacations to Mexico every time the alcohol control officials cited her for selling illegal liquor and forced temporary closings.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
A Traverse City tavern built over three years in the 1880s by locals on their day off from wood planks from nearby pulp mills. They stayed open during prohibition by serving bourbon and rye in teacups at no charge, and have a moose head on the wall that patrons are known to kiss for luck.
Pretty cool...thanks Idaho Cowboy!
The picture on the cover is the Cattlemen's Cafe in Oklahoma City, which I'm pretty sure was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Looked really good.
Mmm... the Columbia (Florida) is amazing. If you’re in the Tampa Bay area, I highly recommend a trip to Ybor City (during the daytime) for lunch at the Columbia and a hand rolled cigar.
Go to Antoines, it’s not expensive, but the menu is in French and there is a strict dress code: jacket and tie for men. Great french fries (pomme frites).
I LOVE old restaurants.
Interesting!
Been to the Griswold Inn several times when I lived up there in CT. Nice place.
Been to Antoine’s in N.O. during our honeymoon just a few months prior to Katrina. In that exact room, in fact. Very nice restaurant, different rooms altogether, world-renowned as one of the best. Food was very good and so is the service.
Never even heard of the Cumberland MD restaurant though I am native and spend a good deal of time in the mountains here all my life. Have to check on it next visit to the relatives. See if they know. Amazing the oldest in MD is in the west, nit here by the Bay. BTW, always be leary of crab stuff outside Bay region. They have learned more up there, but i would still be worried about a crabcake in Cumberland.
Been at the Cranbury Inn NJ, but we had already eaten so did not enter. It was busy anyway. Sightseeing at that point and spent alot of time across the street at an awesome graveyard full of veterans of the RevWar. I love REV stuff (there that time for annual reenactment) and graveyards.
I live not far from a colonial stage coach inn - the restaurant has changed hands and names and cuisines many times, but it’s been there since the 18th century.
I'll second that!!
I’ll attest to that. Great food and even better service.
The first time my wife and I went, we didn’t realize what a nice restaurant it was (it’s not quite the best area). Despite being far under-dressed, we ordered and had a great meal. Then, one of the waitresses walked by and dropped a plate with red sauce which landed all over my t-shirt. She was mortified and I was more embarrassed that I had on the shirt. Anyway, the manager comped our whole meal and gave me a ticket for free dry cleaning.
You rarely find customer service like this any more. Plus, everyone is always nice—not a hint of the snobbery that’s endemic to the upscale restaurants downtown.
Cody is still here, perched up on Lookout Mountain.
It would be a fun road trip to visit all 50 of them.
Cool...They updated with fancy tables since I was last there...And tablecloths...
Yep Triple D had Cattleman’s and I think they did Antoine’s as well.
Some day I am going to do a tour and just go to the Triple D places. lol
I would say Antoine’s is expensive. It is a fine restaurant and price goes with it!
Here in Michigan I used to enjoy going around to the small towns which commonly had an old Hotel and Restaurant...Usually great food and atmosphere...A number of them have burned down over the years...
What a fun find! Enjoyed this a lot... and found some places I want to go.
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