Such is the climate of today’s restaurant scene in New York City that eateries open and close at a breakneck pace — it’s difficult for some restaurants to remain relevant for a year, let alone decades. That makes the places with more than a half-century of history incredibly special — they give us a glimpse of our town’s gastronomic past, and set an example for how to become an essential part of the Big Apple’s edible future. As we compiled our list of 99 Essential Restaurants® in Brooklyn, we found thirteen establishments that are more than 50 years old, and remain crucial to understanding the borough’s dining fabric. Here are the thirteen oldest essential restaurants in Brooklyn, listed from youngest to oldest.