Comments on: How the French Revolution Gave Birth to the Restaurant Business

By: Bud McGinty

Bud McGinty — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:44:49 +0000

Thanks Brandy.

How does your “Restaurant Business” from the French Revolution differ from the many pubs that existed long before?

In the US, there is the Warren Tavern and the Union Oyster House, both in Boston. Both of them predate the French Revolution.

And then there are the countless pubs in the UK, Scotland, and Ireland that predate the French revolution by 100 years or more.

I guess I missed the point of the article. Maybe the OP could post a follow-up article where they can explain what they really meant to say in the first article. Cause this one is not accurate.

By: dirk alan

dirk alan — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:19:14 +0000

them froggie guys may have invented restaurants but by god only yankee knowhow could produce the spork. bone apetite.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:52:24 +0000

Also, there is evidence that take-away style restaurants were common in the ancient world. Yet another thing those darn ancients got to before us–just like multi-family housing and indoor plumbing.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:48:09 +0000

While the restaurant biz may have its roots in France, there WERE sit-down, non-inn or tavern connected restaurants in the more urbane cities in Europe and across the globe beginning with the Crusades. Restaurants were common in North Africa and Spain starting in the 9th century and China in the 12th century. France’s Tour d’Argent dates to back to Charlemagne’s era. Only the term “restaurant” was a product of revolutionary France. Guinness has declared the oldest restaurant in the world to be Casa Botin, opened on the site of an old inn in 1725—decades before the French Revolution. Good article but totally inaccurate.

By: A french person

A french person — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:51:41 +0000

If I ad knone yesterday zat it would take an american istorian for me to no how my favourite restaurants were created, I would have taken a shower zis morning!

Thanks a lot for this article, it was very interesting! An evidence that some good stuff can come out of revolutions. haha
It’s the coolest stuff I heard on Bastille day, it made my day!

By: ee the c

ee the c — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:37:41 +0000

roll the die and see if i get drunk!!

By: Brammi

Brammi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:17:30 +0000

Actually, in the middle ages you were less likely to encounter a seedy Inn or Tavern (despite what RPGs would have you think) and far more likely to pick up some grub from a street cart! Waffles and pretzels and sausages– oh my!

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:09:45 +0000

Happy Bastille Day, everyone!