DonRocks Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 What about Al's Steakhouse in Alexandria? 1956 according to their website. When we first moved to the area, a coworker raved about it (1990). Apparently it was quite the lunch/after school spot for the kids in her time. http://www.alssteak.com/ Also, relatives who grew up on the hill still fondly remember going to Mangialardos as kids. Did I miss seeing that? http://www.jonlhussey.com/blog/2011/02/05/mangialardos-57-years-on-capitol-hill/ Yes to both - See the original post (1953) for the explanation about Mangialardo & Sons (and thank you). I can confirm that Far East is owned by the same family. When they moved to the area they were my parent's neighbors. My dad used to help them fix things around their house. After one such time, they asked my dad what they could do to repay him. Jokingly, my dad said make me a meal. My parents keep their own style of Kosher. Mom was embarrassed by my dad's request. Never-the-less, the Wong's sent their chef with my mom to the Kosher supermarket to pick out ingredients and the chef prepared a banquet in their house. We still occasionally go to Far East, and now it is run by the children, but still the same family. I was actually making a joke to Dave - he had his wedding party there (I was in attendance). Great story about your parents! Far East has indeed been open since 1974. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbogrrl Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 aaaaand mixtec is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Today's Washington Post referenced Trattoria Alberto on Barracks Row on 8th Street. It has some local fame/notoriety as being the favorite local restaurant of current Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Among the various points and references was that the restaurant was over 3 decades old. Now...does that make it pre 1980 or not...? I'm not sure. But it has been around for a danged long time. Article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Today's Washington Post referenced Trattoria Alberto on Barracks Row on 8th Street. It has some local fame/notoriety as being the favorite local restaurant of current Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Among the various points and references was that the restaurant was over 3 decades old. Now...does that make it pre 1980 or not...? I'm not sure. But it has been around for a danged long time. Article As you noticed, Trattoria Alberto's website says it has been open "for over 30 years," so that winds back to 1984, at least, but I'll need firm evidence that it opened pre-1980 before it moves onto our Oldest Restaurants list. However, notice that they have half-priced wines Sat-Mon (including Saturday night!), so they make it onto our Half-Priced Wine Nights list maintained in the Dining Guide forum (you need ten posts to view these links, so they may not come up for some people). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Here's another that wasn't on the list (until today). Of note: the "Live Music Room" on the left is a new space - they apparently just got the space next door (either that, or this is a new sign because I'm certain that wasn't up a year ago). In case you don't know where this is, it's in the same strip shopping center as Present, at the intersection of Route 50 and Annandale Road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 Here's a cool little point to ponder: This post (and this list) was started in 2005, nearly 10 years ago, and includes restaurants that opened in 1979 and before. It also includes all restaurants that were open in 2005, and subsequently closed during the past 10 years, so, every single restaurant that we know of that was was 25-years-old in 2005. If we were starting it now (and including restaurants that are 25-years-old and older), it would include restaurants that opened in 1989 and before. It would be a lot more extensive, don't you think? Nearly ten years later, the restaurants on this list that are still open are an endangered species, and a dying breed. I was talking to a friend today that considers this website primarily a resource; I consider it primarily a historical document. The difference is minimal, but there is a slight difference in the approach taken. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hersch Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 According to its website, PJ Skidoos in Fairfax opened on February 1, 1978. This is the sort of place I never would have stumbled into on my own, but my mother, who lives fairly nearby, started going there a few years ago, and I've been with her and other family several times. Plain American fare, but pretty good food at very reasonable prices, and a very friendly atmosphere. Good crabcakes. Their crabcake sandwich is $13.95, including fries and slaw, and if you don't eat the bun it's just one very nice, large broiled crabcake with not much in it but crab. I'm sure it's southeast Asian crabmeat, but it's really very nice, and offered at a very friendly price. (Skip the "bistro sauce" they give you on the side. It's Russian dressing. On a crabcake?) Anyway, it should be on the list. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsideshot Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 PJ Skidoos brings back a memorable night! My first date with my later to be wife ended with an Irish coffee and a multiple quarters in the stand up Pac Man machine at PJ's. it was run by the Thomas Brothers and Pip was a friend from college days. They also have Kilroys in Springfield. Many a late night sipping Amarettos (for her) and everything else for me and wasting quarters watching those little monsters chase across the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 I don't know why I've been sitting with this picture on my camera, and didn't even think to put Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe on this list. They moved into their present location in 1988. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 McLean Family Restaurant opened in 1969. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 And does UMd's Turner Lab qualify, dishing out ice cream since 1924? (I still miss the little parking area out front facing Rt 1, removed probably in the 1970s.) Well, this one might test Don's ship-of-Theseus guidelines a smidge. After 90 years of operation, most of them in the Turner Lab, they relocated the Dairy Salesroom to the Student Union building in April 2014 and also renamed it the "Maryland Dairy". Looks like they've discontinued Chesapeake Wild Berry Ripple (no relation to the, uh, wine beverage), the special flavor concocted to commemorate the state's 350th birthday in 1984. Has the administration no sense of history? Damn...that was a really good ice cream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted June 4, 2015 Author Share Posted June 4, 2015 Well, this one might test Don's ship-of-Theseus guidelines a smidge. After 90 years of operation, most of them in the Turner Lab, they relocated the Dairy Salesroom to the Student Union building in April 2014 and also renamed it the "Maryland Dairy". Looks like they've discontinued Chesapeake Wild Berry Ripple (no relation to the, uh, wine beverage), the special flavor concocted to commemorate the state's 350th birthday in 1984. Has the administration no sense of history? Damn...that was a really good ice cream. Take a closer look at the list. So what does it cost to replace a Honda Civic with replacement parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Frozen Dairy Bar no longer exists. It has changed ownership, retired the ElectroFreeze, and now goes by the name "Frozen Dairy Bar and Boardwalk Pizza," serving such authentic 1950 ElectroFreeze delights as (ready for this?) Beach Fries, Jalapeno Poppers, Mozzarella Sticks, Corn Dog Nuggets, Greek Salad, Chicken Marsala, and of course the Specialty Pizzas: Popeye's Favorite, Surf & Turf, and BBQ Chicken. Shall I stop here? Those two farmer-looking dudes in their baseball caps should be rolling over in their graves right now, but assuming they're still alive and well (which I hope and suspect they are), I hope they're rolling in dough from having sold their business to these new owners. Best of luck to all, I say, but Frozen Dairy Bar and Boardwalk Pizza is not one of the oldest restaurants in the area, as it was just founded several years ago. Cheers, Rocks. And just to stay current (we do *not* have a thread on this establishment), "Frozen Dairy Bar and Boardwalk Pizza" is now operating as "FDB Eatery" with the Electro-Freeze machine - if it's stil there at all - in retirement, so the ownership, name, *and* location have all changed, but its origins as "the two guys" running the Electro-Freeze machine at the original "Frozen Dairy Bar" remains intact, albeit in the distant past, a great, great uncle thrice removed. I *hate* that we don't have a thread on either the new (FDB Eatery) or the old-old (Frozen Dairy Bar), but we don't. I've been in Northern Virginia since 1994, and don't remember the timeline on this restaurant, but it really *was* a great, classic place to get frozen custard. I may not remember the timeline, but I'll never forget the product - it lives on, in a sense, at The Dairy Godmother. where Liz Davis has been working on her feet for thirty years. How much longer can that possibly go on? Liz, it may ring hollow to hear me say this, but I'm going to say it anyway: Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 Table Talk in Olde Towne on Duke Street was recently sold There is no reference in that article whether the seller was the original restaurateur or not. I reference this post from this thread back in 2005 Posted 27 July 2005 - 02:10 AM Table Talk in Alexandria - 1976 or so(also soon to be a victim of development) Guess the owner never got around to selling. Hmmm...Table Talk brings back memories...haven't been there for decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted August 8, 2015 Author Share Posted August 8, 2015 Credit where credit is due: I just got several restaurants from this article: "Washington's Culinary Survivors (Continued)" by Michael O'Sullivan on washingtonpost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 Potomac Pizza claims to have opened in 1978 - does anyone know where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 I'm a little surprised that we didn't have Parkway Deli on here, but we didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 If anyone finds out the exact year that Stan's opened, please let us know. Thanks! Rocks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I cannot vouch for continuous operation, but the Middleton Tavern in Annapolis claims to have been established in 1750. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 32 minutes ago, dcs said: I cannot vouch for continuous operation, but the Middleton Tavern in Annapolis claims to have been established in 1750. Yes, it's here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 23 hours ago, DonRocks said: If anyone finds out the exact year that Stan's opened, please let us know. Thanks! Rocks I asked the question on Stan's Facebook site, and the response was 1982. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 German Gourmet opened in 1962. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRJ Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Cafe Mozart, 1981 (1964? By way of the delicatessen in the Manger Annapolis Hotel, 1932.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 On 10/15/2012 at 10:22 AM, DonRocks said: Thanks! Because of you, Shrimp Boat is now on the list. A D.C. food desert welcomes the rebirth of a gastronomic landmark, by Paul Schwartzman, September 10 at 5:21 PM, on washingtonpost.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escoffier Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 On 6/29/2015 at 3:35 PM, DaveO said: Table Talk in Olde Towne on Duke Street was recently sold There is no reference in that article whether the seller was the original restaurateur or not. I reference this post from this thread back in 2005 Guess the owner never got around to selling. Hmmm...Table Talk brings back memories...haven't been there for decades. Table Talk was sold to Jeff Yates who has said that it will not be going anywhere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 I came across a little detail a short while ago that was news to me. Some of you might be either very aware of this and/or have already faced this limitation. Not all old media is digitized, meaning you can't discover many old stories from many media sources. Hence there are many old stories of restaurants in the past that are unavailable on the web. I was reminded of an old friend who was referenced in an article in Washingtonian in the '80's, in fact she was on the cover of an issue. Tried to look her up. I found WasPo references but not the Washingtonian issue where she was highlighted. Tried a search for Washingtonian/ I Ricchi, which certainly must have been covered by Washingtonian in the early 90's. No reference to an article from Washingtonian, but there is NYTimes article from the early 90's that mentions that magazine and restaurant. Washingtonian was first published in 1965 but old issues aren't digitized. All of which implies that there are myriad sources of media, certainly local media, that are not accessible via the web. It does make tracking old restaurants anywhere a daunting task. Now there is a great opportunity for someone with the time and interest........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Mr Day’s opened in 1977 I was unaware that it opened in DuPont Circle in ‘77. That is a long haul Restaurant???? They have always had burgers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted November 16, 2017 Author Share Posted November 16, 2017 1 hour ago, DaveO said: Mr Day’s opened in 1977 I was unaware that it opened in DuPont Circle in ‘77. That is a long haul Restaurant???? They have always had burgers Right! I went to a "Rally in the Alley" party they held in 1986. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted November 16, 2017 Share Posted November 16, 2017 27 minutes ago, DonRocks said: Right! I went to a "Rally in the Alley" party they held in 1986. Say hi next time. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Radigan Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 I, as well, attended several rally in the alleys in the late 80's. Back then D.C. Had a wild bar scene. Loved it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpbloom Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 I used to eat lunch at Mister Days frequently in the late '80s, but I really liked Captain Days, their short lived seafood restaurant. Clearly not many other people did, because it was always pretty empty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 2 hours ago, jpbloom said: I used to eat lunch at Mister Days frequently in the late '80s, but I really liked Captain Days, their short lived seafood restaurant. Clearly not many other people did, because it was always pretty empty. I also lunched, ate, drank, and hung at Mr Days at that time. Also liked the seafood concept like you. Maybe we were 2 of the six that liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 The Tabard Inn claims to have opened its doors in 1922. It claims to have served afternoon tea in its early years. That makes it a restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 2 hours ago, dcs said: The Tabard Inn claims to have opened its doors in 1922. It claims to have served afternoon tea in its early years. That makes it a restaurant. Hmm, that depends if it only served afternoon tea for its guests, or if it offered it to anyone. (Nevertheless, there's no reason not to at least mention it on the list.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kibbee Nayee Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 How about 48 years for Moe's Peyton Place in Springfield? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 On 5/15/2018 at 3:34 PM, Kibbee Nayee said: How about 48 years for Moe's Peyton Place in Springfield? It looks like 1971 - good catch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 On 5/25/2005 at 5:32 PM, The Hersch said: What about the Trio, at 17th and Q? I haven't been able to find its original opening date, but I have found out that it has been operated by its current owner since 1950. It was supposedly operating in the same location under the same name when he bought it, though. Anyone have more info? It's a bistro now. Ha! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 17 hours ago, dcs said: It's a bistro now. Ha! This is one of the most amusing restaurant tidbits I've seen in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 The Birchmere. Established 1966. They serve food. The Seldom Scene Thursday residency at the original location was the place to be. We went dozens of times, but not enough. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Harriet's Family Restaurant - 1914. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 The Virginia Kitchen in Herndon (formerly named The Waffle King)- 1977 (per website) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Silverado (formerly Fantastic Fritzbe's Flying Food Factory) - 1976 - per the Great American Restaurants website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dracisk Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 On 6/9/2018 at 1:40 PM, dcs said: It's a bistro now. Ha! On 6/10/2018 at 7:27 AM, DonRocks said: This is one of the most amusing restaurant tidbits I've seen in awhile. It's even on OpenTable. I lived above Trio/Fox and Hound's for 2 years when I was in law school, but I seldom patronized either place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Slater Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 7 hours ago, dracisk said: It's even on OpenTable. I lived above Trio/Fox and Hound's for 2 years when I was in law school, but I seldom patronized either place. Fox and Hounds had the absolute cheapest cocktails in town for many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dracisk Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Indeed. And a lovely patio. I don't know why I didn't spend more time there as a cash-strapped student. Didn't they used to serve their gin and tonics (for example) as a glass of gin with a small bottle of tonic on the side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zgast Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 5 hours ago, dracisk said: Indeed. And a lovely patio. I don't know why I didn't spend more time there as a cash-strapped student. Didn't they used to serve their gin and tonics (for example) as a glass of gin with a small bottle of tonic on the side? My hazy recollection is that yes - this is how they served me too much. It was their fault, really. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 11 hours ago, dcs said: Silverado (formerly Fantastic Fritzbe's Flying Food Factory) - 1976 - per the Great American Restaurants website. Jan 20, 1977 - "A Weekly Guide to Family Dining" by Linda Page on washingtonpost.com 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 14 hours ago, DonRocks said: Jan 20, 1977 - "A Weekly Guide to Family Dining" by Linda Page on washingtonpost.com from the article: Quote Our bill, for the five of us, including twice as much food as we could eat, came to $19.95 plus tax and tip. ...and I bought a ticket for the Woodstock 3 day festival in 1969 for $18. What happened?? When did prices "inch" up??? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 You can add 3 Brothers Restaurant, Greenbelt Mall to this list.... Quote Posted April 12, 2018 On 4/12/2018 at 8:47 AM, MarkS said: How does 3 Brothers pizza stack up. They are in Laurel? I've never eaten there but have heard its reasonable and crowded. Wow, Three Brothers - that's a blast from the past for me: I used to occasionally get a slice from Beltway Plaza Mall in Greenbelt before catching a movie at the AMC Academy 8 (is this ringing a bell with anyone?) To answer your question, I'd say their food is about how it looks on their website: I recently spoke with one of the owners (one of the brothers). The Greenbelt Mall location opened in '77, the original, per his comments. There are about 12 or 13 now, most family owned. A story from 2003...Washington Post. 1977 to 2019...42 years. Nice long haul. Bellissimo!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcs Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 The Weenie Beenie - 1954. It says it right their on its website. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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