7 Brooklyn Restaurants So Old, They’re Practically Landmarks

Brooklyn’s food scene isn’t just about trendy new spots. Some restaurants have been serving hungry New Yorkers for generations, becoming as much a part of the borough’s identity as the Brooklyn Bridge. These time-tested eateries have weathered wars, recessions, and changing tastes while continuing to dish out the comfort foods that made them famous. Let’s explore seven Brooklyn restaurants that have earned their place in history through decades (or even centuries) of delicious service.

1. Gage & Tollner (Established 1879)

Step into a Victorian time capsule at Brooklyn’s oldest restaurant. After a 17-year hiatus, this culinary treasure reopened in 2021, preserving its original mahogany-lined dining room with brass chandeliers and velvet walls.

Once the preferred dining spot for Brooklyn’s elite, Gage & Tollner continues its tradition of serving refined American classics with a modern twist. The restaurant’s revival represents a rare victory for historic preservation in a rapidly changing borough.

Today’s diners can experience the same gilded-age splendor that has welcomed guests since Chester A. Arthur was president, complete with impeccable service that honors the establishment’s 140+ year legacy.

2. Peter Luger Steak House (1887)

Sizzling porterhouse steaks have been the main attraction at this Williamsburg institution since the Chester Arthur administration. Originally opened as Carl Luger’s Café, this temple of beef earned its first Michelin star in 2006, though locals have known its excellence for generations.

The restaurant’s famous cash-only policy hasn’t deterred the more than 90,000 loyal customers who’ve opened house accounts. Neither has the notoriously gruff service that’s become part of the experience.

Family-owned for over a century, Peter Luger maintains traditions like dry-aging its USDA Prime beef in-house and serving it on plates heated to 400 degrees, creating the distinctive sizzle that signals dinner has arrived.

3. Gargiulo’s Italian Restaurant (1907)

Tuxedoed waiters still glide between tables at this Coney Island landmark, carrying platters of authentic Neapolitan cuisine just as they did when Woodrow Wilson was president. The Russo family has maintained Gargiulo’s old-world charm through more than a century of neighborhood changes.

Famous for seafood specialties and homemade pasta, this restaurant has hosted countless family celebrations in its grand ballroom. Politicians and celebrities frequently mingle with local families who’ve been coming for generations.

While the surrounding neighborhood has transformed repeatedly, stepping into Gargiulo’s feels like entering a timeless pocket of Italian-American culture where traditions matter and recipes remain unchanged from those first brought over from Naples.

4. Nathan’s Famous (1916)

A humble hot dog stand that grew into an American icon, Nathan’s has held its corner at Surf and Stillwell Avenues since Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker invested $300 to start his business. His secret spice recipe, allegedly from Ida Handwerker’s grandmother, remains unchanged after more than a century.

Beyond feeding hungry beachgoers, Nathan’s created cultural history with its annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, now broadcast internationally. The original location survived Superstorm Sandy and countless other challenges while continuing to serve its signature snap-cased franks.

Presidents, celebrities, and millions of everyday New Yorkers have made pilgrimages to this Coney Island institution where the crinkle-cut fries and that distinctive natural-casing hot dog define summer for generations of Brooklynites.

5. Tom’s Restaurant (1936)

Morning lines form outside this Prospect Heights diner where the Vlahavas family has been flipping pancakes since the Great Depression. Unlike its more famous Manhattan namesake from Seinfeld, Brooklyn’s Tom’s earned its reputation through genuine community connection and spectacular breakfast plates.

During the Crown Heights riots of 1991, neighborhood residents formed a human chain around Tom’s to protect it from damage – testament to how deeply this eatery is woven into local identity. The interior remains delightfully frozen in time with vintage counters, swivel stools, and walls covered in nostalgic memorabilia.

Famous for complimentary cookies and orange slices served to waiting customers, Tom’s represents the kind of neighborly hospitality increasingly rare in modern dining establishments.

6. Bamonte’s (1900)

“You want Italian? This is Italian!” proclaim longtime patrons of this Williamsburg red-sauce institution. Founded by Pasquale Bamonte and now run by the fourth generation of his family, Bamonte’s hasn’t changed its recipes or its décor in over a century.

The restaurant’s walls showcase photographs of celebrity visitors from Frank Sinatra to Marlon Brando, while the menu features classics like clams oreganata and pork chops with vinegar peppers. Scenes from The Sopranos were filmed here, cementing its status as the quintessential Italian-American eatery.

Despite Williamsburg’s transformation into hipster central, Bamonte’s remains steadfastly old-school, with tuxedoed waiters, phone booths, and a loyal clientele who appreciate that some traditions are worth preserving exactly as they’ve always been.

7. Defonte’s Sandwich Shop (1922)

Sandwiches reach mythical proportions at this Red Hook institution where construction workers and dock laborers have fueled up since the Harding administration. Founded by Italian immigrant Nick Defonte and now run by his grandchildren, this no-frills shop builds legendary heroes that require two hands and a serious appetite.

The potato and egg sandwich remains a breakfast favorite, while the Nicky Special—roast beef, fresh mozzarella, and fried eggplant—draws fans from across the five boroughs. Despite its humble storefront appearance, Defonte’s has earned mentions in numerous food publications and television shows.

Hurricane Sandy temporarily closed this beloved institution in 2012, but neighborhood loyalty ensured its comeback. Some customers have been ordering the same sandwich weekly for over 50 years.