Methodology
How we verify
The year comes first
"Serving since" is the year a business started operating continuously under substantially the same identity. When it has changed what it serves, for example a bakery that became a pizzeria, we still show the founding year and state the change directly beneath it.
Unknown is a valid value
We never invent, infer or smooth over history to make a profile feel complete. If we can't verify something, we leave it blank. Where sources disagree, we say so briefly.
Sources
Every published founding year needs an official source, a historical or preservation organization, an established local newspaper, or two independent publications. Wikipedia helps us find sources, but it is never the only support for a claim.
Current status
Operating status is re-checked from public signals. A listing stays up only while it has been verified within the last 90 days. When the signals conflict, we take the listing down until it's resolved.
OldScore
OldScore is a secondary, editorial measure out of 100. It never overrides the founding year, and restaurants can't pay to change it. If any component is unknown, there's no total.
Age up to 35
Calculated: 35 × min(years, 125) ÷ 125, rounded.
Continuity up to 20
How closely today's institution matches the historic one we credit. A change of owner doesn't count against it by itself; ownership is scored under Independence.
- 20 Continuous operation, substantially the same identity and concept, at the historic location
- 15 Continuous operation, but moved or moderately evolved
- 10 Significant change of concept or name, but the business is demonstrably continuous
- 5 Closed and reopened, or a major break
- 0 Essentially a revival or recreation of a historic business
Local historical significance up to 20
Documented place in the city's history: landmark status, civic events, recognized legacy status.
- 20 Nationally recognized landmark or historic first
- 15 Documented role in city history, or widely cited as the oldest of its kind locally
- 10 Recognized neighborhood institution
- 5 Some local recognition
- 0 None documented
Connection to local food culture up to 15
How closely tied it is to a food or drinking tradition of the city.
- 15 A reference point for a defining local tradition
- 10 Clearly part of a local tradition
- 5 Some local connection
- 0 No specific local connection
Independent / family ownership up to 10
Who owns it today. The only component that ownership changes affect.
- 10 Family-owned and independent
- 6 Independent
- 3 Small local group
- 0 Corporate or national group
Local character
Low, medium or high. It's separate from OldScore. Tourists aren't a problem. The label simply tells you whether a place is mostly found by visitors or by regulars.