Surprisingly, there is plenty of history to be found in Brooklyn’s dining establishments. More than a dozen restaurants in Brooklyn have been open for more than 50 years. Some of them have nationwide reputations, while others are simply neighborhood gems. The oldest restaurant in the borough is Gage & Tollner, founded in 1879 by Charles M. Gage and Eugene Tollner. It soon became a meeting place for New York’s leading citizens. Gage & Tollner moved to its present Downtown Brooklyn Comment.