New Orleans, Louisiana · Founded 1840
A French Quarter restaurant founded in 1840, still run by the Alciatore-Blount family line and closely associated with Oysters Rockefeller.
Antoine’s began in 1840 when French immigrant Antoine Alciatore opened a pension and restaurant on St. Louis Street. Since relocating to 713 St. Louis Street in 1868, it has remained a family-led French-Creole restaurant whose history includes Oysters Rockefeller, generations of Carnival connections, and recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
French immigrant Antoine Alciatore founded Antoine’s as a pension and restaurant at 50 St. Louis Street in New Orleans.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"
Antoine’s relocated one block to 713 St. Louis Street, its current address. This establishes the restaurant's move date, not necessarily the construction date of the present building.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"; Antoine’s, "New Orleans's Iconic Antoine's"
Antoine’s historical account says Jules Alciatore created Oysters Rockefeller during a French-snail shortage. Other modern accounts give 1889, so the exact year remains unresolved.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"; My New Orleans, "Oysters Rockefeller"
Antoine’s history says a deal gave full ownership to Yvonne Blount and her family after they learned the restaurant's physical and financial condition.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"
Hurricane Katrina caused roof and exterior-wall damage and contributed to the loss of the wine-cellar contents. Accounts place the restaurant's reopening at the end of December 2005, with sources differing between December 29 and December 31.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"; Antoine’s Wikipedia history summary
After a six-month pandemic-era hiatus, Antoine’s reopened with operational and menu changes while preserving core dishes including Oysters Rockefeller at dinner.
Source: NOLA.com, "What's changing at Antoine's with reopening?"
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
Antoine’s is consistently identified as the origin restaurant for Oysters Rockefeller, with Jules Alciatore credited as its creator. The exact creation year is not settled in the sources reviewed: 1889 appears in some accounts while Antoine’s own history says 1899.
Antoine’s says the original formula remains secret and describes a green topping involving 18 ingredients. That establishes the restaurant's claim, but not the absolute proposition that the recipe has never been disclosed outside the family or independently reconstructed.
Antoine’s publicly identifies itself as the country's oldest continuously family-owned and operated restaurant, and its family stewardship from 1840 through the Blount era is well described. A nationwide independent comparison was not reviewed, so the superlative should be presented as the restaurant's longstanding claim rather than a fully independently proven ranking.
A historical photograph identifies President Franklin D. Roosevelt dining at Antoine’s with Mayor Robert Maestri and others in 1937. This supports a specific presidential visit but not a broad unsourced assertion that Antoine’s was a favorite of world leaders.
The present Antoine’s building was constructed in 1868.
1868 is the year Antoine’s moved to 713 St. Louis Street. The sources reviewed do not establish that the current building itself was constructed in that year.
Source: Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"
Oysters Rockefeller was definitively created in 1889.
The exact year conflicts in sources reviewed. Some modern accounts say 1889, while Antoine’s own history and another current account say 1899. The restaurant’s authorship of the dish is strongly supported; the exact year is unresolved.
Source: My New Orleans, "Oysters Rockefeller"; Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"; Antoine’s, "New Orleans' Oldest Restaurant Was An Anthony Bourdain Favorite"
Antoine’s reopened after Hurricane Katrina in 2006.
Sources place its reopening at the end of December 2005, though they conflict between December 29 and December 31.
Source: Antoine’s Wikipedia history summary; Antoine’s, "Antoine's Restaurant, from 64 Parishes"
A jacket is required for dinner at Antoine’s.
Antoine’s lists business casual attire. Jackets and collared shirts are strongly suggested for gentlemen, while athletic or beach clothing, baseball caps, and flip-flops are discouraged or prohibited.
Source: Antoine’s, "Reservations"; Antoine’s, "About"
Antoine’s has remained under the Alciatore-Blount family line, with Rick Blount leading the business since 2005. Its endurance also rests on a long-standing French Quarter presence, preserved dining rooms and traditions, and signature dishes that remain central to its public identity.
Antoine’s was founded in 1840 by Antoine Alciatore. It began at 50 St. Louis Street and moved to its current 713 St. Louis Street address in 1868.
Antoine’s is widely recognized as the birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller, credited to Jules Alciatore. The exact creation year is disputed in modern accounts, with sources giving either 1889 or 1899.
Antoine’s remains in the Alciatore-Blount family line. The restaurant's history says the Blount family took full ownership in 2004, and its official site identifies Rick Blount as the fifth-generation CEO.
Antoine’s describes itself as the country's oldest continuously family-owned and operated restaurant. Its long family stewardship is well documented, but this nationwide superlative has not been independently benchmarked in the sources reviewed.
713 Saint Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 581-4422
Antoine’s is in the French Quarter. The official site lists dinner daily, lunch Monday and Friday, and brunch Saturday and Sunday. Dress is business casual; jackets and collared shirts are strongly suggested for gentlemen. Reserve ahead, particularly for larger parties.