Antoine's is the New Orleans restaurant opened in 1840 and widely described as the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.
Antoine’s was founded by Antoine Alciatore, a French immigrant, and has remained associated with French-Creole fine dining. The restaurant’s long history spans multiple generations of the Alciatore family and helped establish its place in New Orleans culinary culture.
Its dining rooms and named dishes are part of the city’s restaurant heritage. Antoine’s is also connected with the origin story of Oysters Rockefeller, although that dish is covered by a separate historical question and should not be confused with every oyster preparation served in New Orleans.
Commander's Palace is another famous New Orleans restaurant, but it opened later, in 1880. Antoine’s date of 1840 is the key fact supporting its distinction as the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.