Atlanta

Mary Mac's Tea Room
224 Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 876-1800
The only tea room to have survived since the 1940s, go for the made-from-scratch Southern food and don't leave without ordering a plate of fried chicken and glass of sweet tea to wash it down.

Busy Bee Cafe
810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 525-9212
Coveted for its authentic Southern soul food, the Busy Bee almost always has a line coming out of its subdued storefront, but that don't let that discourage you. Their worldclass fried chicken, marinated pork chops and other Southern delicacies are well worth the wait — just ask the locals.

Horseradish Grill
4320 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30341
(404) 255-7277
The city's oldest continously operating restaurant was also the first to grow and serve its own organic vegetables. Its charming Southern barn decor pairs perfectly with the simply prepared, upscale Southern food that has kept patrons coming back since it opened 80 years ago.


New York

Il Vagabondo
351 E 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021
(212) 832-9221
This historic Italian eatery began in 1968 as a place for locals to gather for an espresso and a game of bocce. Today, Il Vagabondo still offers visitors the chance to play a game of bocce, plus dishes up a full menu of classic Italian eats like veal parmigiana.

Keens Steakhouse
72 W 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
(212) 947-3636
Established in 1885, Keens’ historic “Pipe Club” once boasted such famous members as Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and John Barrymore. Don’t leave without ordering a Keens signature mutton chop, about which James Beard raved, “Its essential muttony flavor puts everyday chops momentarily in the pale.”

King Yum
18108 Union Tpke, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366
(718) 380-1918
From Cantonese to Szechwan to Hunan, this Chinese-American landmark run by the Eng family can’t be beat. Opened in 1953, King Yum serves up delicious classics like wonton soup and orange beef, but also features innovative new dishes with modern flair.

Chicago

Gene and Georgetti
500 N Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 527-3718
Founded in 1941, Gene and Georgetti exemplifies the classic steakhouse, giving diners the taste and feel of old Chicago. Opened by Italian immigrants and still owned by the founding family, this original Italian steakhouse offers "man-sized" portions of its signature "wet-aged" meat with old school charm.

Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
1655 N Sedgwick Street, Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 266-1616 
Since its founding in 1932, this local tavern has been known throughout Chicago for its succulent baby back ribs and neighborhood appeal. A Chicago institution, Twin Anchors was a favorite of Frank Sinatra, has been featured in plays and on sitcoms, and was even the setting for a scene in the 2008 major motion picture The Dark Knight.

The Berghoff
17 W Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 427-3170
One of the oldest family run businesses in the nation, this historic tavern has provided its patrons with authentic German-American culture and cuisine for over 110 years. Opened in 1898, Berghoff has been serving up its legendary corned beef sandwiches and signature Berghoff root beer to happy customers ever since.


Miami
 
Tobacco Road
626 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130
(305) 374-1198
In continuous service since 1912, Tobacco Road is Miami’s oldest bar. Known for its hopping music scene, legendary cheeseburger, and sweet specials (like Tuesday Lobster Nights), this Miami landmark has a colorful checkered history including time as a speakeasy, gay bar, gambling den, blues bar and strip club.

Joe’s Stone Crab
11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-0365
Miami natives are grateful that the original Joe and his wife Jennie, both Hungarian-born, moved on a doctor’s recommendation from New York City to Miami to improve Joe’s asthma. In 1913, the pair opened a small lunch stand that would eventually become a bustling full-service restaurant and Miami seafood landmark.

Casa Larios
7705 W Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33144
(305) 266-5494
While Casa Larios might be known for being the birthplace of singer Gloria Estefan’s career, this cantina is really famous for its delicious and authentic Cuban cuisine. Regular diners at Casa Larios savor delicacies like the signature bisteca de palomilla, a tenderized steak fried to perfection and topped with a parsley and onion salsa.

New Orleans

Café Du Monde
800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 525-4544
A New Orleans institution since 1862, Café du Monde is the original coffee shop. Open 24 hours a day and closed only on Christmas, the menu features classic New Orleans coffee with chicory, the root of the endive plant which lends body and an almost chocolate flavor to the coffee, and beignets, French-style square doughnuts generously dusted with powdered sugar.

Antoine’s Restaurant
713 St. Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 581-4422
Established in 1840, Antoine's is the country's oldest family-run restaurant. This historic French Quarter eatery boasts 14 dining rooms which each have a distinct décor and personality, and combined can accommodate more than 700 guests. The likes of Hellen Keller, Walt Disney, President Roosevelt, and Pope John Paul II have noshed on classic dishes like Oysters Rockefeller and the football-sized baked Alaska.

Casamento’s Restaurant
4330 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 895-9761
Established in 1919 by Joe Casamento, this New Orleans landmark is the go-to place for oysters in New Orleans. Casamento’s is renowned for its oyster loaf, a dish that sandwiches succulent deep-fried oysters between two thick slices of Casamento’s signature “pan bread,” baked fresh in-house every day.


New Orleans, Episode 2

Domilise Sandwich Shop
5240 Annunciation Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 899-9126
This neighborhood sandwich joint has been turning out incredible po’ boy sandwiches for decades. Dot, the legendary host at Domilise’s, ensures that your food and experience will be perfect. Order your po’ boy “half and half” to sample fried shrimp and oysters, and wash it down with an ice cold root beer.

Commander’s Palace
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 899-8221
Modern New Orleans meets historic Creole in the cuisine and ambiance of this New Orleans institution. Opened in 1880 in the post-Civil War climate, Commander’s Palace has a rich history that encapsulates the antebellum period and both American and Creole traditions. Today, Commander’s Palace is known for its cuisine’s blend of traditional New Orleans with modern accents — don’t miss the “Foie Gras du Monde” or the infamous bread pudding.

Angelo Brocato’s Italian Ice Cream Parlor
214 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 486-0078
Angelo Brocato, an Italian immigrant from Palermo, Sicily began working in ice cream over a century ago in Italy. The present-day Brocato family is the third generation to run Angelo Brocato’s, which transports customers back to the fashionable Sicilian parlor with its nostalgic atmosphere and traditional recipes for delicious Italian ice cream.


Los Angeles, Episode 2

Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 467-7788
Tradition reigns supreme at this well-preserved Hollywood eatery, known for its classic American cuisine and style. Established in 1919 and serving the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Orson Wells, and John O’Hara, Musso & Frank Grill demands respect as one of Los Angeles’ untouched treasures from another time.

El Cholo
1121 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 734-2773
Since 1923, El Cholo has been serving up Los Angeles’ most scrumptious green corn tamales and mouthwatering margaritas. El Cholo also served the first nachos in California in 1956, and apparently has a few fans: in 1996, El Cholo sold its 1,000,000,000th tortilla!

Pink’s Hot Dogs
709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 931-4223
Since 1939, hungry individuals following the scent of meaty chili and warm hot dog buns have made their way to Pink’s, on the corner of Melrose and La Brea. High quality and amazing service are Pink’s two hallmarks – a Pink’s hot dog is generally ordered, prepared, and delivered to the customer in less than thirty seconds! Don’t visit without chowing down Pink’s signature dog, an all-beef frank, generously topped with steaming chili, mustard and diced onions.


New York, Episode 2

Lombardi’s Pizza
32 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
(212) 941-7994
In 1905, Lombardi's was licensed by the City of New York, becoming America's first pizzeria. In the early decades that followed, Lombardi’s tomato pie was a popular lunch for workers of Italian descent who brought the pies, wrapped in paper and tied with string, to their work sites. Today, crafted in the traditional Neapolitan style, this authentic pie is known for its smoky crust: a charred, near black exterior with pleasantly bitter overtones that gives way to a soft, yeasty interior.

21 Club
21 W 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019
(212) 582-7200
As New York City’s oldest restaurant named for its street number, “21” is a New York institution. During the Prohibition era, this speakeasy was raided by federal agents; however, the agents never found the wine cellar hidden behind a secret door, which today is one of New York City’s most exclusive private dining rooms. With delicious American cuisine and a “clubby” décor and vibe, it’s no surprise that nearly every American president since FDR has made a visit to “21.”

Katz’s Deli
205 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-2246
In 1888, a Russian immigrant family established Katz’s Deli on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Without refrigeration, Katz’s preserved their meats by pickling, smoking, and other preserving methods which yielded an incredibly unique and flavorful product. Today, people wait in long lines to share in this tradition and devour delectable (and generously portioned) sandwiches and platters.


New York, Episode 3

Papaya King
179 E 86th Street, New York, NY 10028
(212) 369-0648
Greek immigrant Gus Poulos opened his first store in 1932, selling tropical frozen fruit drinks. When Gus tried to impress a young German woman on his new roller skates, but fell and injured himself, the young woman, Birdie, took pity on him and helped Gus through his recuperation. This included a tour of several German restaurants, where he fell in love with the frankfurter. Birdie and Gus soon married, and the frankfurter took a regular spot on the menu at Gus’ Papaya King – a uniquely American original eat spot where you can grab a frank, smoothie and many other tempting noshes.

Grand Central Oyster Bar
Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10017
(212) 490-6650
Grand Central Oyster Bar opened in 1913 on the lower level of Grand Central Terminal and has become a destination for tourists and locals alike for the many different varieties of fresh oysters available every day. With its fresh seafood, vaulted ceilings and architectural grandness of another time, Grand Central Oyster Bar is not to be missed.

Peter Luger Steakhouse
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 387-7400
A Brooklyn landmark, Peter Luger Steakhouse has been serving the finest steaks since 1887. Only choice cuts of USDA PRIME well-marbled meat from the American Midwest are selected for service at this Brooklyn steakhouse which Zagat raves is, “simply put – the world’s best.”