America's Greatest Old-School Restaurants Gallery

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Compared to most types of businesses, restaurants have a miserably high failure rate. Someone can invest their heart and soul (not to mention their life savings) into opening a restaurant, only to see it go belly-up in a matter of months. But some restaurants are the lucky ones; they stand the test of time, earning themselves legions of fans and a place in culinary history along the way. These are in the small and vaunted canon of restaurants that can be considered old-school, and we've tracked down America's best.

So what exactly makes for a great old-school restaurant? For one, you know it when you see it. When you walk into a great old-school restaurant, it's almost like stepping back in time. Time stands still at these joints, and the menu rarely, if ever, changes. You can order a burger at some of these places in 2018, and it'll taste exactly the same as it did in 1964.

In order to compile our list, we took a deep dive through America's culinary heritage and identified restaurants that have taken on a rarefied air in their years since they've opened, in most cases exceeding well over 50 years. None of these restaurants are expensive (even though we can certainly think of plenty of old-school steakhouses), so you can eat a little bit of history and be on your merry way without breaking the bank.

Something about dining at a classic old-school restaurant, be it an old Italian red sauce joint, a legendary fried chicken shack, or a classic burger joint, can be a soul-nourishing experience. Whether it's your first or 50th time there, setting foot into a restaurant that's seen decades upon decades of history connects us to a deeper culinary heritage, and also gives us a glimpse into how we ate way back when. Read on to learn which of America's old-school restaurants are the greatest.

Mark Soskolne/

Busy Bee Café, Atlanta


Jay C./Yelp

Camellia Grill, New Orleans

Founded in 1946, this Carrollton landmark is nothing short of legendary. Undoubtedly one of the world's finest diner-style restaurants, Camellia sees crowds line up on a daily basis not just for the retro charm and friendly service, but for legendary chocolate pecan pie, double-scoop "freezes," gigantic omelettes, perfect griddled 6-ounce burgers, waffles, and "Whole Meal Sandwiches." While it's quite possibly the best breakfast place in town, the best time to go is late at night.

Ryan B./Yelp

Canter's Deli, Los Angeles


Canter's Deli/Yelp

Casamento's, New Orleans

Going strong since 1919 in a narrow, tiled space that's barely changed since then, Casamento's is synonymous with one thing: Gulf oysters. This legendary New Orleans seafood spot dishes up hundreds of the bivalves daily, on the half-shell, in a creamy stew, deep-fried, charbroiled, or fried and "fully dressed" on two slices of thick-sliced bread in its famous oyster loaf. And once you've had your fill of oysters, the gumbo, fried catfish and trout, and soft shell crab are pretty spectacular as well. Casamento's is a must-visit in the Big Easy, but make sure you go when it's open: It's closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, as well as the entire months of June, July, and August.

Teresa H./ Yelp

Dan Tana's, Los Angeles

With menu items like "penne arabiata a la Michael Kane" (the Canadian actor, not the British one), "fettucini Alfredo a la Mark Singer," "cannelloni a la Constantino," "steamed clams a la Rob Lee," and "Tana salad a la Nicky Hilton," you kind of get an idea of the scene at the 54-year-old Dan Tana's, Los Angeles' old-school red-sauce institution. This West Hollywood joint owned by Yugoslav-American restaurateur and former professional footballer Dan Tana may not be as exclusive, but this is Hollywood's version of New York's Rao's, another restaurant known more for lore than linguini. And that's OK, because even as the upscale Italian-American food movement continues to cross the country, there's something special about treasures like this. Step out of the bright lights of Hollywood and sit down at a table or corner booth in the dimly-lit, seemingly-windowless, red-walled dining room, take a look around for Nicky and Michael, and enjoy the ride. Just keep in mind you're more likely to see bad comb-overs than big celebrities.

Jaryd H./ Yelp

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven


Vinny U./ Yelp

Katz's Delicatessen, New York City



Nami N./Yelp

Lafayette Coney Island, Detroit


Rhona K./Yelp

Louis Lunch, New Haven


Diana M./Yelp

Loveless Café, Nashville

Loveless Cafe, named after founders Lon and Annie Loveless, has an ironic name. Not only is their fried chicken one of the city's most beloved dishes, but a lot of love goes into their food - and has for over 60 years. The fried chicken recipe, which has remained unchanged since 1951, uses self-rising flour and a special house blend of spices. The biscuits are absolutely legendary, as are other specialties like pit-cooked barbecue pork, country fried steak, the pimento cheese and bacon burger, and basically anything on the sprawling all-day breakfast menu.

Michael R./Yelp

The Original Pantry Café, Los Angeles


Robert R./Yelp

Papa's Tomato Pies, Trenton, N.J.

Lombardi's may generally be considered to be "America's first pizza," but as Nick Azzaro, owner of Papa's Tomato Pies, isn't shy about telling you, Papa's - founded in 1912 - is actually America's oldest continuously operating family-owned pizzeria. For Papa's, the family behind the pie is just as important as the slice, as the recipe has been passed down through generations. The Azzaro family cooks up the made-to-order pies that can be customized in a variety of ways. Customers can choose from everything from garlic to mushrooms and pepperoni to meatballs, or add some anchovies for the extra kick.

Cody O./Yelp

Patsy's, New York City

Some would say that this is the only existing place where you can get a proper and authentic coal-oven slice in the universe, given that its founder Pasquale "Patsy" Lancieri supposedly opened Patsy's after working with the godfather of New York City pizza, Gennaro Lombardi. True or not, this 1933 East Harlem original can claim pizza heritage most only dream of, and was reportedly one of Sinatra's and DiMaggio's favorite joints. Still, the original location is one of the most underrated and un-hyped pizza classics in the city. It's a curious thing, given the history and quality, though there are some caveats. The pizza at Patsy's is unusually thin, and relatively short compared to many other New York slices - you could easily scarf down six slices while standing at the counter.

Pristine C./ Yelp

Philippe the Original, Los Angeles

Countless restaurants serve French dip sandwiches, but the definitive version can still be found at the restaurant where it was invented: Los Angeles' Philippe the Original. Because it's been around for 105 years, the exact origins of the sandwich are disputed. (The most commonly held belief is that it was created as a way to soften up day-old bread, but nobody knows where the "French" part came from.) However, the process behind this masterpiece is no mystery: Bottom round is seasoned with salt, pepper, and mashed garlic, slow-roasted with a mirepoix until medium rare, and sliced and placed onto a fresh French roll from a local bakery that's been dunked into jus made with homemade stock and the intensely flavored pan drippings. (The "single dip" means that just the top half is dunked, but the more popular "double dip" includes both halves.) You can swap the roast beef for roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, pastrami, or ham if you prefer (each dunked in its own natural jus), and can top it with your choice of cheese and/or spicy hot mustard. The chili and beef stew are also seriously on point.

Philippe the Original/Yelp

Pie 'n Burger, Pasadena


Linh F./Yelp

P.J. Clarke's, New York City


P.J. Clarke's/Yelp

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Nashville

Like fried chicken? Then no trip to Nashville should be complete without a trip to Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, a homespun restaurant started by William and Thornton Prince more than 60 years ago that serves the Platonic ideal of Nashville-style fried chicken, known for its spiciness. There's only one thing to decide: Do you want your chicken mild, medium, hot, or extra hot? If the name of the restaurant doesn't warn you, even the mild is fairly spicy, so be careful. Served with white bread and pickle coins, the chicken itself is crispy, crunchy, and fall-off-the-bone tender. A trip to Prince's is one you're not likely to forget (especially if you order extra hot).

Scott E./Yelp

Red Arrow Diner, Manchester, N.H.


Jeff B./Yelp

Rutt's Hut, Clifton, N.J.


Mike T./Yelp

Shady Glen Dairy Stores, Manchester, Conn.


Steven P./ Yelp

Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco


Wing L./Yelp

Swett's, Nashville

One of Nashville's most legendary restaurants, Swett's has been the standard-bearer for traditional Southern "meat and three" since it first opened its doors in 1954. Today it's run by third-generation owner David Swett, and the cafeteria-style restaurant is a hangout for local movers and shakers, students, and culinary pilgrims alike. Meat and three, as the name might imply, means you pick one meat and three (okay, two in this instance) side dishes. Meats include fried chicken, meatloaf, pork chops, country fried steak, beef tips, and specials including fried fish and pigs' feet; sides include mac and cheese, green beans, creamed potatoes, okra, turnip greens, and pinto beans. Choose wisely!

Pegan S./Yelp

Ted's, Meriden, Conn.


Voravut R./Yelp

The Apple Pan, Los Angeles

This standalone counter-only burger-and-pie place in West Los Angeles hasn't changed since it opened in 1947 (well, except for the prices). The Apple Pan's signature Hickory Burger is a juicy round of hickory-smoked ground beef on a reasonably standard bun anointed with mayonnaise and a secret sauce that tastes like slightly spiced-up ketchup (spring for some Tillamook Cheddar for an extra 50 cents). It's a masterpiece (and everyone who goes there seems to order one), but other standouts include Southern baked ham and Swiss, perfect French fries, and flawless old-school pies.

Shirley G./Yelp

The Berghoff Restaurant, Chicago

A true Chicago classic, Berghoff first opened its doors in 1898, serving free sandwiches to guests who bought a mug of beer. Over the years a full roster of German classics made their way onto the menu, but a look at this one from a very long time ago reveals that things haven't changed very much: that pork shank and the Thuringer sausages with sauerkraut won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Jill O/. Yelp

Totonno's, Brooklyn

By all accounts, Totonno's shouldn't exist anymore. Consider first that it was opened in Coney Island in 1924 (by Antonio "Totonno" Pero, a Lombardi's alum). Then factor in the fire that broke out in the coal storage area, ravaging the entire place, in 2009. Add to that insult the destruction and subsequent rebuilding costs (some reported $150,000 in repairs) incurred in 2012 during Hurricane Sandy, when 4 feet of water destroyed everything inside the family-owned institution. You'll probably agree that Brooklyn (and the country) should be counting its lucky stars that Totonno's is still around. And yet Totonno's is so much more than "still around." It doesn't just keep a storied pizza name or nostalgia for simpler times alive. Owners Antoinette Balzano, Frank Balzano, and Louise "Cookie" Ciminieri don't simply bridge our modern era's fetishization of pizza to the days of its inception at Lombardi's. The coal-fired, blistered edges, the spotty mozzarella laced over that beautiful red sauce... this is how you make pizza.

Phil H./Yelp

Union Oyster House, Boston

Widely regarded as America's longest continuously operating restaurant, this Boston landmark is also serving a menu that's essentially the same as it's been since it first threw open its doors in 1826. Shellfish and other seafood including the underappreciated scrod, Boston baked beans, clam chowder, and lobster pots are, for all intents and purposes, exactly the same as what was served nearly 200 years ago.

Union Oyster House/Yelp

White Manna, Hackensack, N.J.


Benedict C./Yelp

Willie Mae's Scotch House, New Orleans


Richard R./Yelp

Winstead's, Kansas City, Mo.


Winstead's Steakburger/Yelp

Workingman's Friend, Indianapolis


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Janine C./Yelp