The Oldest Restaurants in the USA, the Recipes of Which Have Never Changed

Over the past few decades, the food culture in the US has undergone dramatic changes. Trendy restaurants, experimenting with modern fusion cuisine and innovative techniques, have captured the spotlight, attracting food enthusiasts. These establishments continue to grow in number, reflecting the public’s craving for novelty. However, amidst this wave of change, there are still restaurants that remain true to their traditions, where recipes are passed down from generation to generation, allowing diners to sense nostalgia and reminding them of simpler times when food was more about heritage than trends. Let’s take a closer look at some of the oldest restaurants in the USA.

This roadside restaurant opened in 1924 and is one of the oldest restaurants in the city of Mobile. It serves southern specialties such as fried oysters and gumbo. Dew Drop is also famous for his hot dogs, which are bright red in color, seasoned with hearty beef chili and sauerkraut, the recipe of which has not changed for the past 100 years. From the history of the restaurant, it is known that when in 1968 the former owner Jimmy Edgar sold the company to the new owner George Hamlin, he gave only one piece of advice: "Don't change nothing." It seems he took it too literally!

People don't usually associate Alaska with fried chicken, but Lucky Wishbone is one of the most amazing chicken eateries out there. This establishment opened in 1955 and has been a landmark in downtown Anchorage for all these years. The restaurant is famous for its tender, crispy chicken, as well as fresh burgers and cocktails. The interior of the restaurant is made in retro style and has hardly changed over the years, as well as the menu.

There is no more old-school steakhouse than Durant's in Phoenix. This is a kind of time capsule of the middle of the century,  known for its ancient interior, which is not inferior to its amazing steaks. This high-end restaurant has been opened since 1950 and has been frequented by such stars as Joe DiMaggio, Clark Gable, and John Wayne. Traditionally, those who frequent this restaurant enter it through the kitchen (usually only tourists use the main entrance). The most popular menu items are steakhouse classics such as shrimp with cocktail sauce, oysters Rockefellerand, and a huge 48-ounce porterhouse.

Trattoria Fior d'Italia is iconic and has rich history. The restaurant started in 1886, later becoming a brothel that served meals to Richard Nixon and Luciano Pavarotti. The restaurant has changed locations and owners over the years due to various circumstances. However, it has always remained in San Francisco's Little Italy (or North Beach) and is the oldest Italian restaurant in America. You can taste such classic dishes as: veal scalopinne, osso buco and zabaglione as many decades ago.

One of the oldest surviving restaurants in Fort Smith opened in 1943. You can try a menu that consists of French sandwiches, simple hamburgers and the usual classic fast food, just like 80 years ago. To this day, many tourists and locals visit Ed Walker's Drive-In to experience the atmosphere of a retro diner from the 50s. Especially popular is the huge five-pound hamburger, which is served sliced ​​like a pizza.