10 Oldest Restaurants In New York City, USA

1. Delmonico’s Restaurant

The story of Delmonico’s Restaurant dates back to 1827 when it was started by the Delmonico’s brothers as a small shop selling fine pastries, wines, liquor, Havana cigars, chocolates, and coffee. When the brothers noticed that luxury sold so well, they bought a piece of land at the intersection of William, South William, and Beaver Streets and established Delmonico’s Restaurant right at the heart of the financial district. The restaurant has never closed its doors since 1837, and it will be remembered as the original home of classic American foods such as eggs benedict, lobster Newburg and a wide range of prime stakes, including the ever delicious Delmonico steak.

Delmonico’s Restaurant

Address: 56 Beaver St. New York, NY 10004

Website: Delmonico’s Restaurant

Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30am - 10:00pm, Saturday: 5pm - 10:00pm

Average price for two people: 15.99 USD

2. Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant opened its doors the same year that the Grand Central Terminal was opened – 1913. The restaurant is not only iconic but also it is loved because of its historic ambiance as well as the fresh seafood it serves. Other than the history, the vaulted, tiled ceilings make the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant a great attraction in this area, especially for seafood lovers, given that it is where oyster pan roast was made for the first time in the United States. Even if you don’t want to eat anything, the next time you find yourself in Grand Central, remember to stop by just for the rich history.

Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Address: Lower Level, Grand Central Terminal, 89 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017

Website: Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday: 11:30 am - 9:30 pm, Sunday closed

Average price for two people: 31.60 USD

3. Keens Steak House

Keens Steak House has been standing in Manhattan’s 36th Street since 1885, and this gives it a place in the list of the oldest and greatest steakhouses in the United States. Currently, it is still one of the best Midtown restaurants, and it is widely known for its mutton chops, save for the over 90,000 clay pipes that dangle from the ceiling. These pipes have a fascinating story behind them – they were brought from the Netherlands, and their owners registered them with the steak house so that “pipe boys” would clean them and make them ready for use when the guests visited the next time. Those that didn’t have their owners were rented out to new guests.

Keens Steak House

Address: 72 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018

Website: Keens Steak House

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 11:45 am - 10:30 pm, Saturday: 5 pm - 10:30 pm, Sunday: 5 pm- 9:30 pm

Average price for two people: 31.60 USD

4. Peter Luger Steak House

If you are a serious eater and you have not eaten at Peter Luger Steak House, then you are not through with all your rites of passage. The restaurant opened in 1887 in a predominantly German section of Williamsburg. The original name was Carl Luger’s Café, and when Peter Luger died, it was bought by a local businessman who used to eat two steaks daily who decided to keep on doing what Luger had started. Visit this restaurant and sink your canines in a Porterhouse steak, thick cut bacon, creamed spinach, and onion, and tomato salad, then wash it down with a dry martini.

Peter Luger Steak House

Address: 178 Broadway Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211

Website: Peter Luger Steak House

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 11:45 am - 10:30 pm, Saturday: 5 pm - 10:30 pm, Sunday: 5 pm- 9:30 pm

Average price for two people: 31.60 USD

5. P. J. Clarke’s

P. J. Clarke’s was opened in 1884 by a “Mr. Jennings” who saw the need to open a watering hole for the increasing number of Irish immigrants that worked in the area. This establishments on Third Avenue is not just the home of one of NYC’s most classic burgers, but also a regular joint for New York’s bigwigs such as Frank Sinatra and Jackie Kennedy. The music and ambiance in the pub, back in the days, was on another level, and everyone needs to visit it for the experience it offers.

P.J. Clarke's

Address: 178 Broadway Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211

Website: P.J. Clarke’s

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 1:00am, Saturday - Sunday: 10:00am - 1:00am

Average price for two people: 17.85 USD

6. Katz’s Delicatessen

Katz’s has been standing majestically on Houston Street since 1888, and just as its expansive cafeteria-style dining room buzzed over one hundred years ago, it still buzzles up to this very day. Initially, the restaurant was known as Iceland & Katz when Katz joined the Iceland Brothers in the restaurant. In 1902, Katz bought out Iceland, and the name changed to Katz’s, and this has remained till date. One unique thing about Katz’s is that it has remained true to the style and the menu over the years, and you won’t find a good place to enjoy matzo ball soup, pastrami sandwich or chopped liver in NYC than at Katz’s.

Katz’s Delicatessen

Address: 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St) New York City, 10002

Website: Katz’s Delicatessen

Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 8:00am - 10:45 pm, Thursday: 8:00am - 2:45am, Friday: 8:00am - open all night, Saturday: open all day, Sunday: open until 10:45pm

Average price for two people: 18.95 USD

7. Club

The roots of 21 Club can be traced back to 1922 when it started in Greenwich Village as the Red Head. The club moved to several locations and changed the name a couple of times before settling as Jack and Charlie’s 21. The eatery is well remembered for memorabilia and toys that dangle in the dining room. It still is a favorite restaurant for the rich and the powerful, and with the entry of Chef Sylvain Delpique, the quality and authenticity of the menu is back on track and is loved just as it was cherished many years ago. You will need to have a jacket to dine in the restaurant.

21 Club

Address: 21 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019

Website: 21 Club

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 1:00am, Saturday - Sunday: 10:00am - 1:00am

Average price for two people: 34.61 USD

8. Old Homestead Steakhouse

Old Homestead Steakhouse is a classic NYC establishment which has never strayed away from its initial culture – serving generous portions of prime dry-aged ribs. Having been established in 1868, it is the oldest steakhouse in NYC, dwarfing both Keens and Peter Luger’s. You will be interested to know that the “doggie bag” was invented here, and the portion sizes were so big that if there were any leftovers, the customers had to carry them home.

Old Homestead Steakhouse

Address: 56 9th Avenue New York, NY 10011

Website: Old Homestead Steakhouse

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday: 4:00 pm - 10:45 pm, Friday: 4:00 pm - 11:45 pm, Saturday: 1:00 pm - 11:45 pm, Sunday: 1:00 pm - 9:45 pm

Average price for two people: 50 USD

9. Rao’s Restaurant

Rao’s came into existence in 1896, and it is not your regular restaurant, though it is one of the oldest restaurants in New York City. The restaurant has only 12 tables, the food is classic, featuring red sauce Italian and they are believed to have the best meatballs in New York City. It could be your playground if you are a mayor, dignitary, ball player or a celebrity like Woody Allen. These are the types of “regulars” who visit Rao’s.

Rao’s Restaurant

Address: 455 E. 114TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10029

Website: Rao’s Restaurant

Average price for two people: 38 USD

10. Barbetta

Barbetta is one of the oldest restaurants in New York City that is still being owned by the family that opened it. It is a beautiful and historic piece of existence right in the heart of the theatre district. Dining in it will make you feel as if you are in the Piemonte region of Italy. It is a wonderful place to enjoy Italian cuisine in New York City. When in season, this is one of the best spots to enjoy white truffles in NYC.

Barbetta

Address: 321 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036

Website: Barbetta

Opening hours: Lunch: Tuesday - Saturday: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Dinner: Tuesday - Saturday: 4:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Average price for two people: 30 USD

Enjoy the food and the history in the oldest restaurants in New York City

Visit any one of these oldest restaurants in New York City and have a feel of what the diners experienced over a century ago. Appreciate the food and the culture that has been running in these establishments for that long.