Who We Are
Celebrating America's Oldest Restaurants
They are 26 of the oldest restaurants in the United States. They are scattered across 13 states, and all of which have been continuously serving patrons for over 220 years, represent the best of family traditions, have provided jobs for millions of people, entertained and fed millions more, and in many ways define what we call American hospitality.
They have served ordinary folks, as well as many of the most famous citizens of each decade: Civil War generals Grant and Lee, Presidents
from Washington to Taft, famed writers like Mark Twain, Hemmingway, Samuel Clemens, Louisa May Alcott, Longfellow, Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe; and historical figures like Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, Clarence Darrow, and Frederick Douglas.
They are in America's smallest towns and biggest cities. They stand alone on the streets, or hide inside tiny inns, rustic taverns, or weather-beaten saloons. They're on sleepy back roads and bustling boulevards. Some are homespun plain and simple while some rival the palace opulence of kings and queens. In many ways, they have literally helped build America.
Enjoying American History One Bite at a Time!
The earliest restaurant we'll visit and profile is the White Horse Tavern, Newport, Rhode Island, which began serving travelers "Roast Beef-Stake" in 1673. While the youngest centenarian on our list is The Golden Lamb, in Lebanon, Ohio, which began its long run dishing out "Sister Lizzie's Shaker Sugar Pie" in 1803.
Rick Browne, who guided PBS viewers for seven seasons on Barbecue America has now developed a new 13-pt. series, each episode visiting two decades-old historic restaurants, which will take viewers on a historic, gastronomic, and travel adventure around the Nation. The series, like the fully-illustrated coffee table book, A Century of Restaurants, will be a lighthearted but educational trip through American cultural and culinary history.
Each restaurant visit will include a light synopsis of their history, a review of their signature dishes, videos of the kitchens, restaurant interiors and/or exterior, all mixed with historical images provided by the restaurants.and will feature interviews with chefs, cooks, owners, waiters, or hosts, returning customers, and, occasionally, customers who arrive for their first visit while we re on location.
Bring a knife, a fork, a spoon, and a napkin, because we're on the way to visit some of America's best, most unique, and oldest dining rooms -and we've reserved a table just for you.
Welcome to Timeless Tables
Meet the Host Rick Browne
Rick created, produced, and hosted 91 episodes of BARBECUE AMERICA, a popular 13-part cooking and travel series, which aired from 2003-21009 nationally on 230 PBS Stations. In the series he traveled around the US in pursuit of “America’s Best Barbecue.” The last two years of the series involved travel and taping shows in 26 countries. He was also the executive producer, creator, and host for READY, AIM…GRILL, a 13-pt. cooking, travel, and hunting series on the Outdoor Channel which aired from 2006 to 2008 nationwide.
Rick has appeared as a guest chef and BBQ expert on many of the country’s top morning network shows including The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Regis and Kelly, Fox & Friends, CNN Morning Express, Martha Stewart, and The Better Show. Additionally, he has been invited and appeared as a chef and author on FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC local affiliates in 16 major cities across the country.
AUTHOR: Rick’s most recent book A Century of Restaurants, profiles 100 of the oldest restaurants in America. Rick personally visited every one of these historic eateries in 46 states, a two-year journey of over 46,000 miles. Previously he has authored 15 best-selling cookbooks about barbecue and grilling. He also created three popular coffee table cooperative photography books - Hong Kong: Here Be Dragons, Planet Vegas, and A Day in the Life of Thailand.
JOURNALIST: Rick spent two decades as a writer & photojournalist covering breaking news, business profiles, entertainment personalities, travel and cultural subjects across the globe. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in photography for his work at the LA Times, and has many news and wildlife photography awards. His work has been published in more than a dozen major domestic and foreign publications.
