Where Presidents Have Dined Ouside the White House? Top 10+ Famous Restaurants
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Consider going out at your favorite restaurant. The food is amazing, the beverages are excellent, the environment is lively, and as you look up at the front entrance, you see the President of the United States passing by. It's not as unlikely a scenario as you may assume. Presidents, like everyone else, need to eat. They also travel around the world to support causes, deliver lectures, and interact with the people.
Here are some of the best places where US presidents have dined and loved, from Texas to Maine. You, too, may eat like a president.
Learn more: Would You Like to Eat As the US Presidents Do? The Foods That Leaders Love Most
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| Have You Ever Visited Restaurants That US Presidents Love? |
Top 10+ Restaurants that US Presidents Love the Most
1. Fraunces Tavern in New York City, NY
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Fraunces Tavern, founded in 1776, was a popular drinking spot for many of the Founding Fathers. In 1783, George Washington, the Continental Army's commander in chief, famously gathered his officers here to wish them farewell, just before retiring from his military position.
A museum commemorates the building's revolutionary past, while the bar and dining room serve comforting classics such as burgers, mac 'n' cheese, and chicken pot pie, as well as a selection of Spanish-style pintxos and charcuterie.
2. Delmonico's in New York City, NY
Delmonico's, founded in 1857 and located in Manhattan's Financial District, bills itself as 'America's first fine dining establishment.' It has undoubtedly welcomed some notable figures throughout the years, including President Lincoln, who frequently dined here while visiting the city. His favorite dish was supposedly potatoes gratin (which is not on the menu today).
The restaurant's second claim to fame is that it was the first in New York City to offer avocados on its menu.
3. Buckhorn Exchange in Denver, Colorado
The Buckhorn Exchange, founded in 1893 by local character Henry H. 'Shorty Scout' Zietz, originally attracted cattlemen, miners, silver barons, and railroad workers. But in 1905, it received a visit from President Theodore Roosevelt, whose Presidential Express train arrived in the neighboring Rio Grande rail yards.
After supper and beverages, Roosevelt and Zietz went game hunting together. Three more presidents, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, have dined at the establishment over the years.
READ MORE: How Many Presidents Are There In The U.S: Statistics and Facts
4. Dixon's Famous Chili - Independence, Missouri
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When this establishment first opened in 1919, it was simply known as Dixon's Chili. But after President Harry S. Truman was seen eating a large plate of chili here in 1950, customers swarmed to the restaurant, which changed its name to Dixon's Famous Chili. Truman, who hailed from Independence, Missouri, had been a regular at Dixon's since the 1920s. Today, the chili is presented in the same way: on a plate, with beans first, then homemade, specifically seasoned chili meat.
5. Union Oyster House, Boston, MA
Boston's Union Oyster House has been serving meals since 1826, making it America's oldest restaurant in continuous business. It was a favorite haunt of John F. Kennedy, who dined here frequently while a senator. His favorite order was lobster stew, and he liked booth 18, which now has a plaque in his honor. Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama have all eaten here throughout the years.
6. The Firehouse in Sacramento, California
This posh Sacramento restaurant, named for its former fire station, was a favorite of Ronald Reagan while he was California's governor. Reagan even dined here before his inauguration in 1967, gorging on caviar, Chateaubriand, and Crêpes Suzette. Other noteworthy diners over the years have included Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol, and Michael Jordan. Aside from the food, the restaurant is noted for its classy atmosphere and exceptional service.
7. Mi Tierra, San Antonio, TX
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Mi Tierra began as a three-table café in downtown San Antonio in 1941 and has since grown into a sprawling - and well-known - Tex-Mex restaurant popular with both locals and tourists. Former President Bill Clinton is a frequent visitor who is so fond of the place that he was once photographed jogging in a Mi Tierra T-shirt.
8. Cooper's Old Time Pit Barbecue, Llano, Texas
Cooper's has five locations in Texas, but George W. Bush considers the original LLano location to be his favorite. He first tasted its charms while serving as Governor of Texas. Later, as president, he requested the restaurant to prepare a picnic at his ranch. It is well renowned for its two-inch thick pork chop, the Big Chop, but it also serves brisket, ribs, chicken, and other dishes grilled over mesquite flames in a cowboy-style pit barbecue.
9. The Sink in Boulder, Colorado
The Sink, a Boulder staple since 1923, promises to deliver the city's greatest burger and pizza. It is also well-known for the artwork, graffiti, and signatures (many of which are by celebrities) that adorn the walls and ceiling. Obama added his name in 2012, after unexpectedly stopping by during an engagement at the University of Colorado. He chose the Sinkza pizza, which featured pepperoni, sausage, black olives, green peppers, and red onions. It has since been dubbed the POTUS Pie.
| Which restaurant does Obama also enjoy? Upland Upland is a somewhat rustic-looking New York City restaurant that draws influence from California seasonal food for its menu. Former President Barack Obama and his family are almost regulars. Barack brought his two children, Sasha and Malia, to Upland in 2015. In March 2017, Barack and former First Lady Michelle joined U2 star Bono and his daughter, software entrepreneur Jordan Hewson, for lunch at Upland. They dined in a separate room, out of sight of the public. Mr. Obama's favorite Upland order is the cheeseburger, which has a California bend with two beef patties, slices of American cheese, Peppadew peppers, tomato, lettuce, and avocado. When he and Michelle had lunch with Bono and Jordan, they ordered a fried chicken sandwich, a sausage and kale pizza, and bucatini cacio e pepe. Upland's pizza menu changes according on the time of day, but the sausage and kale pizza is always available. Carbone, New York City, NY Carbone, which first opened in Greenwich Village, New York City, is another Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a high-end restaurant that serves enhanced Italian-American food in the style of mid-century Italian restaurants. Although Carbone has a reputation of not bragging about its celebrity customers, you may encounter some well-known figures dining there, including presidents. Michelle Obama was first sighted at Carbone shortly after it launched in 2013. In July 2015, her husband, former President Barack Obama, took their two kids, Sasha and Malia, to Carbone for supper. In March 2017, Mr. Obama was observed dining with Malia at Carbone again, this time accompanied by Michelle. Sasha was still attending school in D.C., which could explain why she did not accompany her family on that occasion. Mr. Obama appreciated the double lamb chop and a glass of red wine. |
10. Charcoal Pit, Wilmington, Delaware
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While his predecessor, Donald Trump, like his burgers from worldwide corporations, Joe Biden prefers more independent restaurants. This easygoing 1950s diner is a favorite of President Biden, who is from Wilmington and originally visited as a youngster; his go-to order is the cheeseburger, served with a thick milkshake. "Everyone knows Joe..." Lupe Avilez, the manager, told Food & Wine magazine, "He's come here so many times. He's such a lover of the place that he persuaded President Obama to visit in 2014, while Biden was vice president.
11. The Red Hen, Washington, DC
When President Biden and First Lady Jill visited The Red Hen restaurant in early 2023, they both ordered the trademark rigatoni pasta, which caused quite a fuss. The Washington Post reported that the couple had chosen the same tomato and fennel sausage ragu, sparking a social media frenzy, with commenters hotly debating whether it is OK to choose the same meal as your partner. While that is still debatable, there is no denying the pasta dish's popularity; Red Hen chef and owner Michael Friedman believes that the restaurant sells 50-70 orders of it per night.
The Restaurants That Gained Popularity After Visiting by US Presidents
1. Stamey's Barbecue, Greensboro
Jamie Davis, a server at Thomas Street Tavern, served President Clinton in 2008.
Stamey's in Greensboro hosted President George W. Bush in 2006 and Donald Trump in 2016.
Bush's order included sweet tea, water, barbecue, slaw, hushpuppies, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, according to Greensboro's News & Record.
Trump's order: A chopped pork barbecue platter with slaw, hushpuppies, french fries, and sweet tea. According to the News & Record, he requested cherry cobbler and ice cream for dessert.
2. Troutman's Bar-B-Q in Concord
Hillary Clinton chatted with approximately 300 fans in Troutman's parking lot before heading inside to pick up her to-go order. According to the Charlotte Observer, Clinton's visit to Concord is the first by a Democratic presidential contender since Jimmy Carter. Carter visited Concord in 1976 and flipped pancakes at the Cabarrus County Boys Club.
Clinton ordered a takeout box with barbecue, hushpuppies, slaw, spicy and mild sauce, and three bottles of water before traveling to Charlotte.
3. Lexington BBQ in Lexington
Founder Wayne Monk first served his barbecue to a president, Ronald Reagan, in 1983 during the G-7 Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia. Twenty years later, Bill Clinton paid Hillary a visit twice during her 2008 presidential campaign.
The order: I couldn't discover any specifications, but the menu just has barbecue, slaw, and hushpuppies. "He ate good," Monk said of Clinton in an interview with WFAE. "He loved the peach cobbler more than anything else."
Cal Cunningham, a Lexington resident and Democratic candidate for the United States Senate, recently sparked a barbecue controversy by tweeting a photo of himself in front of a gas (!) grill with hot dog buns. The headline stated, "There's nothing better than BBQ—except for winning this Senate seat, of course." Did I mention he is a Lexington native? When word of an affair surfaced a few days later, the issue faded.
Summary
Finally, we disclosed the 10 plus establishments that have gotten presidential permission. All of the restaurants in this round-up, from historic saloons to hidden gems that have become cult favorites, have been visited by presidents at some point in their history.
Whether we're talking about George Washington's favorite watering place, Abraham Lincoln's selection for faultless potato gratin, Joe Biden's go-to burger haunt, or one of the few independent eateries visited by Donald Trump,
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