Old Baltimore restaurants, a query
I said in my story about the closing of Werner's that Downtown is now left without a single restaurant that opened before the original Charles Center revitalization, the first phase of what became known as the Baltimore Renaissance. I'm putting that date at 1962, the construction of One Charles Center.
I said that no such place remained downtown but added, in a dodge, "no place with the pedigree of Werner's."
But did I miss something? I can't think of any other place Downtown.
That's my real question, but, please, remind me of other non-Downtown institutions, too.
The Prime Rib (1965) and Tio Pepe (1968) opened later.
And yes, outside of downtown, there are places like Jimmy's in Fells Point and Attman's on Corned Beef Row in the city and institutions like the Sunset Restaurant in Glen Burnie and the Candlelight Inn in Catonsville.
But what is Downtown's oldest continuing operating restaurant (or eatery)? in Baltimore City? these parts?
I'm really looking for places that have been operating in the same location and that haven't had radical shifts in concept or extensive renovations. You get the idea. I guess someone could make a case for Faidley's.
I just realized that I've been completely forgetting about the Owl Bar. Why is that the Owl Bar keeps flickering off my radar? What makes me want to say it doesn't count? Anyway, it's not really Downtown.
We've been down the old-restaurant road before on Dining@Large
Comments
Does the Center Club count? Although it looks like it only dates to 1962.
I'm very glad you mentioned it, I thought of it, too. Yes, apparently, 1962.It opened as part of the Baltimore Renaissance. I'm still on the hunt for pre-Renaissance places
Posted by: NT | April 15, 2011 5:04 PM
I suppose there are places in Little Italy, although that isn't really downtown, either. It seems like Sabbatino's might have opened in the 50's.
1955, I was just told. I think Sab's is the oldest now in Little Italy.
Posted by: NT | April 15, 2011 5:25 PM
The Owl Bar doesn't count because the Belvedere Hotel was shuttered for a while during the 1970s
Posted by: DBJS | April 15, 2011 5:56 PM
Faidley's goes back to the 1800's, and Attaman's to the early 1900's, so it will probably be hard to top those two.
Sterling's in Remington is from the 1940's, so it is probably among the older ones.
Pollock Johnny's goes back to the 1920's, but the original location on the block is no more.
The Eichenkranz in Highlandtown has gone through some renamings and closures, but its history goes back to the late 1800's.
Attman's is 1915, and, yes, Faidley is very old indeed. But I don't know for certain how long they've served food. Isn't it likely that they were market-only for a long time before they started serving food in the market
Posted by: RoCK | April 16, 2011 5:18 AM
How old is the Penn Restaurant down by the morgue?
Over in Ridgely's Delight. I'll check into it
Posted by: Volker | April 16, 2011 12:57 PM
Eichenkranz Restaurant?
Posted by: Danny | April 16, 2011 8:57 PM
Eichenkranz Restaurant?
Posted by: Danny | April 16, 2011 8:58 PM
Eichenkranz Restaurant! Eichenkranz Restaurant! Eichenkranz Restaurant!
It is definitely an oldie!
Posted by: Zippy | April 18, 2011 10:07 AM