Olivia Fisher 
There is nothing more local for The Local Girl to share than a guide to the oldest surviving restaurant and food businesses in New Jersey. The Garden State has seen restaurants come and go, but only a few have been around for over a century. Here at TLG, we did the work of scouring newspapers and deep diving through the internet to uncover as many businesses as we could that have been serving New Jersey for over 125 years. Read on for a guide to the oldest restaurants and food spots in New Jersey.
Applegate Farm | 616 Grove Street, Montclair
Applegate Farm opened in 1848 when dairy farms were scattered across Essex County, something unheard of today. As a farm, the business was owned and operated by the Sigler family. The dairy farmers started making and selling ice cream in the 1930s, as an offshoot of the dairy’s main business of delivering dairy products to homes throughout the area. Its modern story of ice cream and summer treats began in 1980 when Betty Vhay became the owner. Her nephew Jason Street, who was studying business in college, was drawn to his aunt’s farm. In time, he took over the property and turned it into the ice cream spot many know today.
Barnsboro Inn | 699 Main Street, Sewell
The Barnsboro Inn is a 1770s tavern with a patio bar serving a casual American menu of pub grub, steaks, and seafood. On March 19, 1776, John Barnes petitioned the judges of the Gloucester County Court to license his house. It was also built in 1720 by John Budd. Over almost 250 years, the business has been known as the Spread Eagle, the Crooked Billet Inn, and the Barnsboro Hotel.
Black Horse Tavern and Pub | 1 West Main Street, Mendham
Black Horse Tavern and Pub is New Jersey’s oldest continually running restaurant, dating back to 1742. The menu features American classics that reflect post-Revolutionary War cuisine. The space first opened in 1740 as a stagecoach stop.
Clinton House | 2 West Main Street, Clinton
The Clinton House, located in Clinton, was established in 1743, and the current structure was built in the 1820s. The house even had guest rooms, but this was discontinued in the 1950s. The menu sports a variety of dishes like burgers, seafood, sandwiches, chicken, and steak.
Cranberry Inn | 21 Street Main Street Cranbury
The Cranbury Inn has been around since the 1750s. In 1750 and 1765, two taverns were built to provide travelers with a place to eat, drink, rest their horses, and sleep. Famous diners included Soong Mei-ling and her entourage in 1943, as well as a Prince and Princess of the Netherlands, Albert Einstein, Brooke Shields, and the entire City Council of Moscow in 1995. The menu here has wings, burgers, pasta, salads, and seafood.
Read More: Bergen County History: The Oldest Homes Still Standing Today
Day’s Ice Cream | 48 Pitman Avenue, Ocean Grove
Day’s Ice Cream is the oldest continuously operating business in Ocean Grove. Day’s opened 149 years ago in August 1876. The owners, brothers William F. and Pennington Day, also owned ice cream shops in Asbury Park, Morristown, and Newark. The ice cream spot has numerous flavors, waffles, and a spacious seating area.
Moores Tavern | 402 W Main Street, Freehold
Moores Tavern opened in 1787 as a stagecoach stop at Monmouth House. The Moore’s Tavern Team told TLG, “…our establishment was a meeting ground for patriots to gather and discuss strategy and ill content for the British crown. As legend has it, icons of colonial American history such as George Washington and Molly Pitcher may have once passed through our doors.” Over the decades, the space continued to reinvent itself and was even a speakeasy during Prohibition. Today, it is known for its American-style plates and a menu featuring soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and wings.
Nassau Inn | 10 Palmer Square, Princeton
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The original Nassau Tavern was built as a residence in 1756 by Judge Thomas Leonard. When Thomas passed away in 1759, the space became the College Inn. Guests and customers included Paul Revere, Robert Morris, and Thomas Paine, who stayed the night more than once. In 1776, the Signers of the Declaration of Independence rested here while passing through Princeton. At the turn of the 19th century, Christopher Beekman and his wife, Grace Otis Beekman, retired. John Gifford took over the hostelry, changed its name to Nassau Inn, and hung a sign picturing Nassau Hall over its entrance. When Christopher Beekman, the original innkeeper retired, he passed the business to John Gifford, who named it the Nassau Inn. In 1937, the original location closed, and a larger space was built at 10 Palmer Square in Princeton.
Rocky Hill Inn | 137 Washington Street, Rocky Hill
A tavern license for the Rocky Hill Inn was given to the Harrison family in 1745. George Washington visited and stayed in the Inn during the Revolutionary War. The Harrison family sold the Inn to Isaac Stout in 1825. In 1860, Wesley Morris took over the space, renaming it the Dey Hotel. Thirteen years later, it became the Danley Hotel, and I. E. Stryker purchased it. By 1880, it became the Rocky Hill Inn again. The menu includes salads, steak, chicken pot pie, burgers, and tacos.
Sergeantsville Inn | 601 Rosemont Ringoes Road, Sergeantsville
Originally named for the Sergeant family, the Sergeantsville Inn has had many renovations, business names, and owners. Open since the early or mid-1700s, the Inn even served General George Washington. When the Inn opened, or the structure was built, it is not fully certain.
T. M. Ward Coffee | 944 Broad Street, Newark
T.M. Ward Coffee Inc. was established in 1869 and supplies hotels, restaurants, cafes, and gourmet retailers. Today, the business is owned by the 4th and 5th generations of the Ward family. All of the roasted coffee is kosher certified, sustainably sourced, and packaged in the United States.
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The Elysian Cafe | 1001 Washington Street, Hoboken
The Elysian Cafe is the oldest continuously operated bar and restaurant in Hoboken. This spot first opened in 1895 as Dillenger & Jeffson’s, and by 1910, John L. Himes operated a cafe and restaurant here. During Prohibition, local directories listed the business as Nicholas Confectionery, though some say the business operated as a speakeasy disguised as a beauty parlor. Today, it serves a French bistro-style menu. Click here to read more about the Elysian Cafe.
Town Pub of Bloomfield | 378 Broad Street, Bloomfield
There’s something classic about the town bar, and the Town Pub of Bloomfield is possibly the archetype. The Town Pub opened in 1893 as the Mansion House, where the ground floor was a tavern and restaurant and the second floor was a boarding house. Charles & Thomas Hallinan were the original owners, and the same welcoming atmosphere that they created over 100 years ago is still felt by visitors today. Today the Pub serves bar food classics like nachos, wings, and calamari, and plus other American-style classics in addition to a full bar.
Verrilli’s Bakery | 3 Martin Luther King Avenue, Morristown
Verrilli’s Bakery has been serving hot pizza, fresh sandwiches, homemade bread, and Italian baked goods in Morristown since 1898. The business was founded by Leonardo and Antonia Verrilli and was run by the family until 1988, when purchased by Tony Dimogerodokis. As of 2018, it is run by Tony’s daughter Kristi and business partner Harper Hoffman.
Ye Olde Centerton | 1136 Almond Road, Elmer
Ye Olde Centerton has been continuously operating since 1706. It first opened as a stagecoach stop. Today, it is a popular spot for seafood and steaks.
See More: A Day Trip to Cold Spring, NY: A Hudson River Village
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