Originally constructed as a home by a merchant named Casparus Mabie, '76 House was later operated as a tavern. One of the country's oldest operating restaurants, it functioned as a key social and political hub that drew locals and soldiers alike during the Revolutionary War. Plenty of history has been made in the restaurant in the past two and a half centuries.
They also mean these businesses have been perfecting their crowd-pleasing recipes for decades. Tennessee is already known for its barbecue and comfort food, so it stands to reason that the state's oldest restaurant would be one that thrives on simple American classics. And that's just the case: The oldest operating restaurant in Tennessee is Varallo's Restaurant, and it's a chili parlor and southern grill.
The United States might be relatively young as countries go, but it offers some seriously fascinating history. Few eras have captured our imaginations like the Wild West, with its rugged frontiers, stark and sweeping landscapes, and notorious lawlessness. Who hasn't dreamed of trading monthly bills, tedious appointments, and everyday responsibilities for a horse, a hat, and the wide open plains?
