Louie’s Grill
7422 Madison St, Forest Park, IL, 60130
Louie’s Grill Menu
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Address :
7422 Madison St
Forest Park, IL, 60130 - Phone (708) 488-8889
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 am - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Karen D.
As favorite place to dine when in forest park..
(4)John M.
Simple breakfasts, omelets, eggs, French Toast, pancakes. And they are all pretty good. I have not been there for lunch. But breakfast is pretty good. The People who work there are always friendly, which is always a plus. The food has always been top notch. I really enjoyed their French Toast with a side of ham. Though I may bring a bottle of sugar free syrup, they have agave nectar and though it is sweet, it does not taste like maple. But I have never had a complaint and they service is quick and you still do not fee rushed.
(4)Karen D.
As favorite place to dine when in forest park..
(4)Brian D.
Excellent clean non-greasy diner food. Great friendly service to boot. The prices are very reasonable as well. This is our go to breakfast brunch joint in the area. We often go to the fancy brunch spots in the city and often wished we had just come to Louie's instead. For a diner the food always tastes fresh and I dream about the Athenian skillet. Love this place!
(5)Patty C.
Worst biscuits and gravy I have ever had in my life and I've had a lot. Omelet dry and bland. Service great. Not recommend. Sorry.
(1)Colin D.
Best brunch in Forest Park. Also the best and attentive service around. The lady who owns the joint, I assume, plays host most days. She has the best attitude and puts a smile on my face every morning I roll in.
(5)Jessica H.
My first time at this classic style diner. This place is exactly what you would expect or imagine. The staff were so friendly with me I half expected them to know my name already! I ordered biscuits & gravy w 2 eggs over medium. It was yummy and I finished my plate. Honestly the food here isn't going to blow your mind, it's good home style cooking that's fast & cheap with a great old fashioned diner atmosphere. I'm a very nostalgic person so this place was great
(5)Ne C.
Sat at the counter, enjoyed good service and great attitude from Nancy. The vegetable burger was the best I've had. Ever. Nice atmosphere, clean lovely diner.
(3)Timothy H.
Louie's is a great breakfast spot. My wife and I learned of Louie's from her sister and her husband. What a great recommendation. I'm a fan of eggs Benedict, which I know is an"love it or hate it" type of breakfast dish. I also like their pancakes, french toast, and waffles. My brother in law always gets their steak plate for breakfast and it is good. The coffee is a bit weak, and so is their OJ, so I just stick to water. Their Greek and Mediterranean omlette a/skillets are also very good. Good service is what sets Louie's apart. Service with a smile is what makes going out for breakfast just that much more enjoyable. Any restaurant in Oak Park will have a wait. Wait time here ranges from 10-20 minutes on the weekend. Prices here are good. They are a tad bit cheaper than other diners in the area. Expect to pay around $10-$12/pp including tip depending on what you ordered.
(5)Joe P.
Louie's Grill is a great diner with fast service and good food. I've been here a few times, always on the weekends and it's usually packed. However, you can usually get a seat for 2 at the counter without waiting very long and there's something really relaxing about sitting there. As soon as you sit, your coffee cup is filled and you're asked if you want a newspaper to read. Food is cranking out and within 5 minutes, I have my order. I love the corned beef hash omelette and the texas omelette that I affectionately refer to as the hangover omelette with chili and cheese. Definitely will keep coming back!
(5)Heather H.
Fantastic place...Very clean, coutreous staff, delicious food and reasonable prices. What more could you ask for in a neighborhood breakfast hangout. Keep up the awesome job guys!
(5)Brenda M.
Louie's is great! Friendly staff great food. I tried it once and recommended to my friends and family right away. they all loved it , try the ham and the melts!
(5)Dan M.
This is your typical old fashioned diner yet recently remodeled and expanded. The food is great and never disappointing. Fast service, great food for a good price - you couldn't ask for more!
(5)Peter C.
VERY, VERY, VERY disappointed they took veggie burgers off the menu:( Looks like I'll be eating at All's from now on unless they bring them back.
(3)Daisy D.
We've been coming here since he moved to Oak Park last April. We love it! The staff is friendly the food is fresh and the hashbrowns are always on point. If you're looking for good ol' diner comfort-- this is the place for you.
(5)Christina B.
Louie's is just plain adorable. I don't know what else to say about it besides that. ...well, okay I guess I can talk about the food. The food is good. Real good. It's exactly what you expect when you walk in-a blast from the past. It's simple, American, good eats. The staff is always friendly, quick, and chatty. I usually get their breakfast items (breakfast bagel, omelettes, skillets) but I've also gotten their soups a lot. Soup is a huge portion and pretty delicious. I honestly can't really say anything bad about Louie's other than I wish that there was parking more often. It's located on Madison, smack dab in the middle of Madison street...so it is pretty busy during the day and definitely busy on the weekends. As someone else had stated in their review: Louie's is what diners should be. Cute, delicious, and a bit old fashion.
(4)Rich G.
I've loved this place when it was Pete's Grill when I was young. The waitress Nancy was very nice and the food is always good.
(4)Karlla G.
You'll feel like you went back home and mom made the food for you!!!!! Great food, big portions, great prices, loves it!!!
(5)Dino D.
I've been to hundereds of Greek diners and the food here is exactly what you would expect from a Greek owned diner, except smaller portions. It's good, comes out prety quickly and its sorta resonably priced. I've been to the old smaller version and the now bigger, remodeled version of Louie's and I miss the smaller 1000 times more quiet version of this diner. No matter what my opinion is, this place has a cult following that comes here rain, shine or snow. So I must be missing something.
(3)Deena H.
Our waitress was really who made this an excellent visit. 530am breakfast haha but pretty good. Service was excellent. The diner has that 60's "Back to the Future" feel. The omelettes were decent especially the Greek one. It was good. It is a diner that is classic with decent food. I was hoping to hear someone say "HELLO?? MCFLY!!." My lame reference some may not get :). Worth it. On another visit we had the vegetarian skillet minus the mushrooms and mozzarella instead of American cheese. Plus we had the banana pecan crepes that were amazing. The pecans are in the batter and even a taste of banana not including the fresh bananas on top. Service was excellent as always.
(5)Scott H.
Quick and friendly service. Deliciously fluffy and buttery pancakes. This is my spot to visit when I am looking to cure my pancake fix. No crazy flavors or toppings, just tasty tasty pancakes with butter and syrup. Also any breakfast dish with their gyro meat, preferably the skillet or omelette, are great as well. Always jamming on the weekends for breakfast but worth the wait. The bar usually has open seating for quicker service.
(4)Tabitha M.
We really enjoy going to this place on a Sunday after church or on a special occasion when we want to treat ourselves to food that is not the most healthy...the pancakes are probably the best I've had anywhere around the Forest Park/Oak Park area and it's our favorite go to when we are craving a good brunch. I usually order an egg-white omelette with tomatoes, feta, and spinach. The staff is really great, friendly, and the food comes out pretty quick. We've never been disappointed after eating here (other than the fact that we will probably have to get an extra work-out in that week).
(4)Mike P.
Solid bacon-and-egger in the new and improved Forest Park. When I was an FP resident, Louie's was the quintessential greasy spoon that we all know and love. Recently (the last couple of years) they've expanded and doubled the size of the dinning room, but demand still creates a reasonable wait on the weekends. My wait last time was 15 minutes, as was promised to me. The food is familiar and tasty. All the diner classics are present. My last visit, I selected the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on rye bread. The eggs were perfect, the sausage hot, greasy (in a good way), and tasty and the rye toast was finished just right. My kid enjoyed his pancake, egg, and bacon combo off the kid's menu. I enjoyed what he didn't throw on the floor. Ah, 3-year-olds, the perfect restaurant companion.
(4)Thomas G.
I really like this place- for its simplicity, proximity from where I am at, and predictable food. A basic neighborhood diner I've been going to off and on for about ten years. It's always been popular as long as I can remember. It was nice before the remodel, but have to admit it's nicer after they expanded into the next storefront for more room. In the Constitution Court parking lot that's right next door, there is a slot reserved for 'Police.' Well I see all sorts parked there- Cook County Sheriff, Chicago Police Dept., and others, so it seems a nice stop over for them after going to the Maywood Courthouse not far away. Not surprising it's frequented by law enforcement from other areas when they're around here- it's that good :) Love their eggs, classic grilled cheese, egg sandwiches and hamburgers. Oh, and the coffee is good too. There may be other diners in the area, but this one's a Forest Park original. If you're in the area, check it out and you'll see why it's so popular.
(4)John A.
Friendly place. Love it. Food is very good. Waitress are almost as good as Fred's Diner in Grayslake :-)
(4)M W.
Their decor inside was actually a lot cuter than I expected, but the meal was a definite let down. My spartan omelette wasn't light and fluffy at all-totally flat and disappointing. Hashbrowns and the toast were good (but those are hard to mess up). Pancakes weren't anything remarkable. The absolute WORST was the side of bacon I got. It was completely dry, flavorless, and inedible-and I like my bacon on the crispy side, but this was a whole new level. Service was fine. The young server seemed pretty hard of hearing, which is a little odd for someone in the service industry. I felt like I had to yell my order. Overall, probably won't return.
(2)Christopher L.
I usually come to Louies for breakfast and I love the new layout the service is always outstanding and the food is great. Louies is always great but with the new improvements have just made it one of the best breakfast places anywhere. Great food great people great price how can you go wrong.
(5)Stephanie R.
Love this place! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We're regulars so the staff all know our names. It's like eating with family. Food is consistent, good portions, and reasonably priced. Delicious oatmeal, French toast, and Philly steak sandwich. Worth the wait.
(4)Yvonne O.
We came here back when it first opened and decided to come back this weekend to see if anything was new. Well - we didn't realize they had remodeled, so it has been quite a while since we were there! After being seated, we waited a long time to get served. But, once the order was in, things went very quickly. It was odd that our toast came out 30 seconds after we ordered - like an appetizer to our meal. My husband remarked that he wanted to eat his toast with his meal, but now it would be cold...once the food arrived, we waited for syrup, but I tend to eat one thing at a time, so I just left the French toast for last. All was freshly prepared and tasty and we were in and out, even with the waiting in under 30 minutes. A table near us was complaining about the wait to order as well, so maybe it was just an off morning for the waitress in our section?
(3)Christine O.
Very delicious! Very busy! Worth a wait! The waitress was nice and the busboy made sure our water was full All the time!
(4)Tamer A.
This is what diners should be. Grits were really good, so were hash browns. Wife had gyro skillet which was delicious. I had eggs (over easy; delicious and runny) and turkey patties which were also delicious. Hash browns with peppers, onions, and cheese were very good. I do not often get to enjoy breakfast food outside without hot sauce, but I did not use it at Louie's. Not to mention the service, which was really just wonderful and friendly.
(4)Missy R.
I thought it was just "ok". I had the skirt steak and eggs. The steak lacked favor, the eggs were real, the hash browns were nothing special. I asked for hot sauce, why did they bring me Aldi's hot sauce. I was in shock, why so cheap... the service was ok.
(3)Matt M.
This place really pulls off grits which you just don't see around Chicago very often. The staff is wonderful and very attentive. They are always on top of getting you what you want, when you want it. The prices are great and the food options are phenomenal. I'm definitely coming back to try some of their "non-breakfast" options ... but with breakfast served anytime it'll be a tough sell.
(5)Lemon L.
Awesome!! The best pancakes I've ever had....the gyro feta omelette was amazing, the grits were not bad. Friendly service, good price, parking, great place. My family enjoyed their eggs, ham, and veggie omelette as well.
(5)Jenny C.
I love eating at Louie's - it's always comfortable and the food is consistently good, exactly what you want for breakfast! Great pancakes, eggs always perfectly cooked (excellent poached eggs - thanks Chico ) and if you ask for things done a little differently like toast the hash browns a little more or crispy bacon please, you got it! Suzie and Tina are awesome and always fun to chat with during a slow moment - which isn't often- this place is busy! Louie is great and takes a lot of pride in his restaurant with good food at a good price - haven't gotten there for lunch too often but what I've had is also wonderful. (Great milkshakes and soup!!) Give it a try, you'll be back!!
(5)Steve S.
Dad and kids love Louie's! FRIENDLY staff. Ham off the the hock and buttery pancakes can't be beat. I don't even ear pancakes... Unless they are Louie's!
(5)Susie C.
I would give this place a 3.5 rating if I could but there's no .5 star that I can give. I came here with my girlfriends on Saturday morning. Yelp was definitely correct - it is very busy, however, the ladies up front were very nice and got us a table shortly after getting in. The service is good - our waitress was super nice and made sure we got everything we needed to have a good brunch. (We gave her a nice tip at the end). The food was decent. I ordered a Western Skillet. It was pretty good, but nothing that stands out to give this a 5-star rating. One of my friends ordered a Western Omelette and she liked her dish. Another friend ordered a short order pancakes. She said hers was okay - she said it wasn't bad. Then I have another friend who ordered biscuit with sausage gravy and eggs with ham. Hers was good. This is a cute diner where you can go and eat brunch casually with family and friends. I would come here again!
(4)Brett C.
I must say I'm not a fan. Stopped in to grab a burger the other afternoon. Walked in and sat at the counter. Was greeted promptly and my order was taken. Simple cheeseburger and fries. A few minutes later my order came out and off I went. Burger was decent, fries were horrible. I don;t think they have changed the frier grease in weeks. Fries were soggy and tasted like everything they had cooked in the frier the last month. Inedible. You also get this side of cole slaw with the order. Double check my bag, no fork, WTH? How am I supposed to eat this? 1 star for food 3 stars for service I can't recommend this place. Cheers!
(2)Cat C.
The good news? Louie's bought Kazzbar (the empty bar next door) and is in the process of renovating so there will be more tables. Yay! The only bad part about the renovation is that they've been closed since March. I need me some Louie's! Louie is an amazing cook, and always a delight to talk to. The waitresses are all super friendly, and extremely efficient. I like to race the busboy's, as they watch your water glasses and refill them as soon as you take a sip (this is not a complaint, but a compliment). I usually go here just for breakfast, but when I've been in the mood for lunch they haven't disappointed either. The servings are perfect and the food is delicious. Totally worth it every time. Now, it just needs to reopen!
(5)Ray J.
Damn shame bout this place. It's right by the ladyfriend's apartment, very friendly staff and the kind of snappy quick service fit for a good diner. The food does not follow suit, however, as the skillets we ordered were bland and uninspired. Essentially a vast expanse of mushy, starchy hashed potatoes, graced with a single slice of American cheese spreading it's neon orange, gelatinous web across rogue chunks of bacon, ham and sausage. Two bulbous eggs were nestled on the far left side, in an apparent attempt to make a break for it, rather than being mixed up in this sorry state of affairs. For $10 each it's hardly cheap diner fare, and I've stopped in plenty such places that wouldn't consider this serviceable fare.
(2)Manson D.
I just wasn't impressed by their food at all. Much as I hear people talk about this place. I ordered an omelette and pancakes. The pancakes taste like they have a little to much sugar in them. Also I wasn't impressed by the omelette either. It was scorched a lil bit which kinda took away from the taste. The service was great and they have a nice staff. I will give them another shot to see if it was just a bad day for me there. Service was 5 stars food was 2 stars. So I have to say 3 1/2 total stars on average. So today I'm here to try it again. It's 6:40 am on a Sat morning. Almost empty in here, thats a plus in my books. I kinda hate waiting in lines, but that's also why I came early. I ordered the Athenian Omelette with hash browns and wheat toast. My wife ordered a full stack of French toast and had it split with a pancake. So instead of 3 french toast it's 2 with one pancake. I noticed that the omelettes only come with 2 eggs. I'm use to 3 egg omelettes. But service is good. Coffee is hot and refilled often without having to flag someone down. Tina is our waitress. Very sweet and nice lady. Even cleaned my spill of syrup very fast. So my second time here was a great experience. 5 stars definitely this time around. P.S. The French toast were delicious and the omelette was amazing. Pancake was so so, toast was toast, and hash browns were hash-browns. Nothing spectacular about them. I will definitely come back. Especially since I live two blocks away.
(5)Nate L.
I really wanted to give this place a better rating, but the service my friend has experienced while dining with me has gotten me somewhat pissed off at this place. First, we get seated and start looking through the menu. About 10 minutes pass by and still no waitress around. She finally comes around and we order, I ordered the corn beef hash skillet and I have no complaints on my food. HOWEVER, my friend ordered root beer, cheeseburger with mayo, and chili cheese fries. Order actually comes out pretty fast. BUT, where the hell is root beer? He calls the waitress and gets the root beer, wait, where the the chili and the cheese on fries? She goes back and gets it, WAIT THE F*&K UP, where the hell is mayo on my burger? To me, that's garbage ass service. She can't see the receipt where she wrote down what we ordered? That's not all, a person who is cleaning up the table is using a typical rag and just wipes the table down without any cleaning solution AND flops the coffee cups FACING DOWN on the table without a saucer or napkin, and the table is still "WET" from what ever he was using. That's not only unsanitary but health hazard. Will I be returning? Probably not.
(2)Kelley F.
Saturday morning breakfast was thoroughly disappointing though the service was nice, staff friendly. It was a busy morning and the wait was confusing - it apparently was a challenge to cross names off the list after patrons were seated. People were seated ahead of those who had been waiting. 5 minutes after we were seated, our name was called again. This continued throughout the whole meal, and I have to admit, it was amusing as long as your seat wasn't given to someone else. The food was sub-par and close to completely tasteless. I had a Greek omelet - the tomatoes were sparse and the feta cheese was bland. The omelet was flat and a little over cooked while the hash browns were hardly cooked at all. Thankfully, they carried Louisiana hot sauce and I was able to add some much needed flavor. The french toast was only so in name - pathetic thin pieces of white bread, any spirit broken, they laid limply on the plate, just asking to be put out of their misery. Even after a liberal splash of syrup, they still couldn't be coaxed into tasting like much of anything, acting more just like a vehicle than anything else. The only saving grace to Louie's Grill is the staff - very nice and patient. It was a hectic morning and they managed to keep their cool. Needless to say, I doubt I'll be back.....
(2)Brian F.
It's a neighborhood stop for me. Only open for breakfast and lunch and is pretty solid with both. It's a groovy looking old fashioned diner. The food is good quality and the place is clean. It's big enough to handle a lot of folks and definitely solid and better than average, but not knock-me-out-spectacular. You can sit at the old school counter (which I've done), tables or booths (which I've done). Staff is pleasant.
(3)Ellie K.
Service is good. Coffee is good. Food is what you expect from a diner. My least favorite part is the hash browns are ALWAYS undercooked. I will probably opt for the sliced tomatoes on the side instead from now on.
(4)Claire M.
I have lunch here at least twice a week. They see me coming and already have my diet coke waiting for me by the time I'm walking in the door. I can't say one thing short of greatness about Louie's! Update! I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this already but they now accept credit cards!
(5)Jide F.
GREAT renovation! It's hard to be a Forest Parker and not eat at Louie's. The service is always so friendly and the food comes out fast. I have been ordering the patty melt for many years and I can say it's the best out of all the diners I've ever been to. Sunday breakfast/brunch is always a busy time because of the hangover crowd and churchgoers but it's prime time for people watching.
(5)Mike P.
Went there today on the recommendations of people on here as I was looking for a place for brunch after a morning meeting. Its a neat place and they have good food (not to mention decent service). I had my favorite omlette, a mushroom and swiss, along with what they call hash browns (more like american potatoes). I also got an English Muffin with it but for a little extra I could have had french toast or pancakes. It looks like from the menu that they have a good variety and its decently priced . Also the lighthouses in the window are a neat touch.
(3)A D.
THE place for breakfast. Warning: the pancakes are totally addictive, simply the best I've ever tasted. My kids even refer to this as the pancake place. Also, they have the best oatmeal around. Short of putting Baileys in it, I can't think of any other way to prepare it that would make it taste as good as theirs. Only thing that ticked me off once was when asking for bananas instead of raisins for my oatmeal, they wanted to give me an up-charge of $2 which was nonsense since you can even get a banana at 7-Eleven for like 33 cents! Wondering if it was just that waitress because I've never had an up-charge like that before. Sausages and hash browns are great, and the eggs come out exactly how you asked for them. They are usually pretty good on coffee refills. The place is large and bright, with typical diner chairs and tables, and the place is always clean. I love neighborhood diners just like this and they do it well.
(4)Mike D.
I have been going to Louie's for a long, long time. Every single time I order the western skillet, side of sausage, side of bacon, and a small cup of grits. It tastes the same every single time and it is amazing. Great service, very friendly workers. It is especially great on Sunday mornings after a night at shortstop across the street.
(5)S.E. A.
Louie's has a harsh, metallic, noisy atmosphere. It's not the homey place that the lighthouses in the window lead you to expect. Our breakfast was just okay. Basic ingredients seemed on the cheap (pre-frozen?) side. The service was friendly when they could hear us over the noise.
(2)Natalie R.
Still great, but remodeled now and the lighthouses are gone from the windows (which, inexplicably, makes me kind of...sad). I liked Louie's just fine before, but now it's bigger and more 50's diner-like. No matter. Remodel or no remodel, they still serve eggs, not oeufs, and I'll still keep coming back. EDITED to add: The lighthouses! They're back! And not only that, but in a fancy glass display up front. :)
(4)Kelly R.
Me and my husband went to eat here early on a Friday afternoon. It was not very busy but seemed to be the usual crowd. The waitresses and bus boy knew people by name which was great. The staff was very welcoming and Nancy was a great waitress. I had pancakes and hash browns and it was very good. My husband had a southwest skillet and he said the flavors were on point. I seriously recommend the pancakes! This place was clean and not overpriced! Our breakfast was only about $20 and we both left completely full.
(4)Arlene A.
I'm going to keep this simple. YUMMIEST PANCAKES EVER! Terrific coffee, amazing service. Eggs that are scrambled the way they're supposed to, light and fluffy as opposed to brown and hard.
(4)Ruth H.
Service was good. Breakfast fare was good. Definitely affordable prices. Enjoyed a short order of their French toast which melted in my mouth. Loved the crisp of their hash browns. Sausage links and eggs were so so. Definitely a diner-type feel with tables and red colored chairs. Family friendly and the owners are a hoot.
(3)T M.
Louie's remodel is finished! Not that I thought they needed a remodel, but I have to say the new place is really really nice. I will be there more often now that there is soo much more room. This am was my first trip back, and it was great! Had my usual corned beef hash and eggs, hash browns, toast, and coffee. Server was very good and very friendly, Louie is always friendly. I order my breakfast burnt, I like it crispy, and Louie is one of the only cooks/places that does it right. Try Louie's new space you will not regret it!
(5)Jason F.
This is the best breakfast joint around. They also have lunch items like burgers, patty melts, etc. which are good as well, but the breakfast is by far the best. I don't know any other diner that can compete with this place. The prices are very reasonable. I can get one of the daily breakfast specials that includes eggs, hash browns, two pancakes, and toast for under 7 bucks. My favorite though, is the skirt steak and eggs (which comes with hash browns and toast). It costs around 13 bucks, and is well worth it. The skirt steak takes up almost the whole plate, and there is very little to no fat on it. I'd pay twice as much for the quality you get. The service is excellent, and the waitresses are very nice. You get your food fast too, even when the place is jammed! Louie's wife works there too (she's probably the one that will be ringing you up when you're paying your bill), and his kids, and they're all very nice people. Louie is a great guy too. Always says hi to me when I stop in and loves kids. Some people misunderstand him and think he's all serious, but that's only because when it's busy and you own a restaurant you want to make sure that everything is running smooth, and that's what he does. If you ever have a bad experience with the service let the owners know. They take customer service very seriously. Louie's just expanded and it's still jammed when I go there, and for good reason! You could go to the Original Pancake House down the street if you want fancy pancakes and nice tablecloths and all that, but I was there once and it just couldn't compare with Louie's, not to mention it was way more expensive. Lower quality + higher prices means I won't be back, and I haven't been to OPH since. I'll always wait longer for better food. Keep in mind that the turnover is quick, so you're not going to be standing there for half an hour waiting to get seated. Trust me, it's worth the short wait. Some reviewers have complained that they've been a bit rushed when they have finished eating. That's pretty dumb to complain about. Put yourself in the restaurant owner's shoes: You own a restaurant and it's really busy at that time of day and you have some people sitting around chatting on and on when you could have turned that table over two or three times. If people sit around talking when they have customers waiting they're losing money and it's making the wait for customers longer, which is not good for business. I love supporting a business owned by good people, and Louie's is definitely one of them. They're open from 5 am to 4 pm Mon - Sat, and 6 am to 3pm on Sundays. It used to be a cash only place, but since expanding they now accept credit cards. Take my word for it when I say that when it comes to finding a diner to get some good breakfast, you can't go wrong with Louie's.
(5)Mike S.
We've always LOVED Louie's Grill. It was a long wait for them to reopen, but it's better than ever now! I usually get the Gypsy Skillet, but have recently shifted over to the #1 with cheesy hash browns with onions. I also have been ordering my toast as French toast for only like $1; highly worth the money!
(5)Carm B.
1st time at Louie's today. I had the Breakfast Special No. 2. French Toast, Sausage, and Eggs for about $6. The food was very good. The restaurant is very clean (including the bathrooms) and the staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a very nice "diner" feeling. They are open for breakfast and lunch and I look forward to returning for lunch. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Joy S.
Louie's has fast, friendly service. Get there early if you want a table on a Saturday or Sunday morning. And unfortunately, they're only open til the early afternoon. Great grilled cheese. Love their hash browns with cheese, green peppers and onions. Standard diner coffee and crowd. Love it! Sadly, the parking lot next door is now pay parking - with a complicated little machine.
(5)Patrick W.
This is my favorite breakfast places. Real eggs cooked fresh every time. The service is also the best. Very friendly atmosphere.
(5)Robert S.
Yeppers another small cash only grill love it, and sit at the bar as it gets busy and people are waiting for a table :) so a few weeks back we were gonna go into the city and I told the BF find us a diner to try for breakfast before we get the day started and this is the place he picked I had the Chopped steak and Eggs, with nicely browned Hash Browns and Greek Toast, and a cup of Joe was very filling but not overly so that I needed a nap or to go walk it off had a good time here we sat at the bar and we were able to BS with the owner and the waitress about the neighborhood and get some ideas for dinners down the road, and ideas for coming back to check out the area
(5)Candice D.
As you can tell people love this place, same goes for me. Just wanted to metion if that wasn't enough of a push to get you into the diner then consider this, Chicago Magazine just name it top 40 favorite things about Chicago. Forest Park was number 36, Louie's was mentioned by name. So just go.
(5)Deanna R.
Amazing! My husband and I love Louie's! The food is absolutely spectacular and the service is very friendly and very quick. Louie's has become our go-to spot for breakfast food!
(5)Niko D.
We've lived in the area a few months and we stopped in on a Saturday morning for breakfast since it was down the street. Nothing special inside looks like an old diner. The waitresses weren't to friendly. Food was average but cold when came out. Coffee wasn't great. The host was friendly. Was looking for more choices. They need to step up their game.
(2)Megan B.
My landlady told me about Louie's I'm SO glad she did. Living within walking distance of good breakfast joints is dangerous for me. I had gone to the Original Pancake House just up the street, but trust me when I tell you, Louie's is leaps better. Yeah, you won't get the variety of fancy pancakes you can get at OPH, but what you can get is quality, diner-style food. I've only ever eaten breakfast there, so that's what I'll review. Yes, on the weekends, it can be tough to get a table. I'm usually only there with one other person on average, and I don't mind sitting at the counter, so that's usually what we do. It's fun watching the machine-like short order cooks crank out the food on the grill. I've never been disappointed by the food. As I said before, very straightforward diner food, nothing fancy, but I usually get poached eggs, hash browns, bacon, and a short order of pancakes, along with a cup of coffee (which, as others have commented, is surprisingly decent). I make a mash of the eggs, bacon and hash browns and drown the whole thing in hot sauce... Delicious. They make the pancakes fresh and they are pretty decent. I've never left after this gut-busting breakfast (I'm always too full to finish all my pancakes) for 2 for over $25. Beware as others have said though, it is indeed cash only. Wait staff is always friendly, and even when they're packed you get your food quickly. Man, I love this place!
(4)Jillian F.
This place is great! It's nice to be greeting in a friendly manner and get your food quickly. Great service and great food. Prices were just a bit high, but worth it.
(4)Christina R.
There are only two things I don't like about Louie's: 1) They're cash only 2) Everyone else seems to know how awesome they are so there's almost always a wait to sit down on the weekends. That's ok though, because the waitresses are all over you once you get seated, and the food comes with a swiftness. It's a small corner diner, maybe ten seats at the counter and ten tables smushed in, but it's a delicious hangover breakfast. I usually go with the french toast and hash browns with cheese and peppers. My bf and I can usually get a hardy breakfast for two, with coffee, tax, and tip for under $20, and I usually have enough leftovers for another meal (for me, not him). There's a village parking lot and plenty of street parking nearby. I believe they close at 2pm.
(4)Michael D.
No matter where else you go it's just not the same - Louie's is the best! Just a couple of days ago we went to the American Depot diner (our beloved Louie's was closed for remodeling), and while the food was good, their service and friendliness, or lack thereof, was atrocious. That being said, the friendly staff and top-notch service at Louie's is simply unmatched. That alone merits 5 stars. Their food is great too! I enjoy their french toast and pancakes...the skillets are really good also. Can't wait to see their reopening!!
(5)Samantha K.
For as long as I can remember Louies Grill has been the place to get Sunday morning Breakfast/Brunch. From church goers to late night bar hoppers Louies has something on the menu for all!! I personally love to order the Tuna Melt or Patty Melt Delux of course (comes with fries)!! Louie and his family run this diner like a well oiled machine. All of the wait staff is AMAZING!! I was so excited when they reopened their newly renovated location. An Entire summer without our favorite sunday morning hangover cure was rough but the new space has plenty more tables and a new design to satify the ever growing fan base. Louies is A-OK in my book!
(3)Tracy L.
I didn't expect the inside to look cute like a diner on the inside...kinda like a steak n shake type feel even though the outside doesn't looks like that. Our breakfast was ok, my hashbrowns were really soft, I like them with a little crisp to them. Nothing remarkable, maybe I'll go back and try something else.
(3)Susan M.
yeah, you'll get fat here. only real butter -- on everything. old school short order grill -- i left smelling like it. absolutely everything i ate (it was plenty) was uber tasty - french toast, over medium eggs, extra crispy hash browns (perfect!), sausage links, coffee. GREAT coffee. service so fast you'll freak.. you will wait to be seated (but this moves quickly as the owner keeps a close eye and assigns everyone a number) on weekend mornings, totally worth it. will be back as often as i can.
(5)Tracey M.
I left Louie's Grill 5 pounds heavier then when I entered, but damn it, it was well worth it! I wouldn't even know where to start. The food was tasty and the people the super friendly. I can't name one person there I didn't like. It's small and was crowded when we arrive on the tail-end of the lunch hour rush, but that didn't stop us from getting great service. Simply put, I left wanting more and I can't wait to go back!
(5)John P.
Great diner. The servers are the best and food is just what you would like it to be. Get the corned beef hash. The best!
(5)Terese S.
A gem of a diner in Forest Park. Easily a repeat in my book. Breakfast usually. Lots of omelet selections. Large enough to split or take home. Sit at the counter if you can for the real dinner experience. Reasonably priced. Staff is really nice. Burgers were average when we went back for lunch.
(4)Nicholas D.
I like this place for the simplicity. It's almost like taking a step back in time. Don't bother looking at the menu because you won't find anything extraordinary. I'd come for breakfast, eggs and etc. Perhaps an omelet! The counter is definitely a plus in case you're by yourself. Why take up a whole table? I wish it'd open earlier. Like almost the time bars start letting out 'cause I hate driving to go somewhere afterwards. Though, I can understand all the problems that would probably involve :(
(3)Jaramiah S.
I was expecting a hole-in-the-wall, but Louie's was surprisingly clean and modern. The pancakes, eggs, and bacon I ordered were delicious and very reasonably priced. Best breakfast for the money in FP!
(4)Carrie W.
I was just on vacation and had a few diner experiences in other towns that made me reflect on how PRECIOUS it is to have Louie's for my weekly local diner chowdown. I'd give it six stars if I could. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is for a great diner experience, but at Louie's you get fantastic service. Nothing is ever forgotten, and your coffee never gets cold. They are all so friendly, SO fast, and will genuinely put a smile on your face. It's family-run and they've had the same waitresses for years. There are times when it's crazy busy and times when it's a little more chill, but either way it works. Also, best pancakes ever. They're the only pancakes I *like*. My dad, a much bigger pancake fan, says they're the best pancakes he's ever had. Also extremely delicious are the sausages, the grilled cheese with a thick slab of ham alongside, and the spinach and feta omelette. Louie's makes me happy, and there's no place that does it better.
(5)Michael C.
Always a good choice. Wide menu selection, friendly folks working there. Prices are a touch higher than some other places around but worth the dollar or two extra. Stop in if you get a chance.
(4)Kat M.
I'm seriously serious - this is the best diner experience I think I've ever had... awesome food (eggs cooked perfectly), flawless service, and I now know what my new favourite hangover cure is - their perfect pancakes. YUM! My fiancé and I went on a weekday morning at around 11 AM after a few too many sake bombs the night before. We were sat immediately in one of the 8 or so booths in the diner. We were served REALLY good coffee immediately (not any of that brown-colored swill that they serve at some diners - this was strong!), and we both ordered breakfasts - Fiance ordered eggs over easy, I ordered mine scrambled. My fiancé is definitely a connoisseur of hashbrowns, and I am a pancake connoisseur. We were both totally dazzled by Louie's entire breakfast. Both of our egg orders were perfect, and the pancakes were light and fluffy and the hashbrowns were crispy but not overdone. As mentioned above, the service was excellent. The waitress at Louie's made me feel like she was happy to serve me. She was friendly and as we were paying our bill, she told us that she was looking forward to seeing us back soon. I've eaten (and worked) at some fine dining establishments, complete with white tablecloths and polished silverware, that didn't make me feel half as welcome as she did. Alternatively, I have eaten at some diners that make me feel like I am intruding on some kind of sub-culture, and as an outsider, I am not to be trusted. This was not the case at Louie's. Also, their prices are very good - we left a $20 on the table for our two breakfasts, tax, and tip. However, beware that they only take cash - no credit cards. I probably gained 5 lbs, but Louie's is definitely proof that diner food is always the cure to a case of the bottle flu. As we were leaving, the waitress told us that Louie's Grill is expanding into the space next door - I believe she said sometime this fall. My hope is that as they expand, they maintain all the great points of their restaurant... and that they get a credit card machine. I can't wait to go back and try their patty melt.
(5)Foster R.
I've always heard that Louie's serve good food, and everyone that told me that were telling the truth. They were closed for a while for renovations, and whoever done the work did a very good job! It's a very nice and cozy place. My family and I stopped there for breakfast, and the food was great. I had the French toast, eggs, sausage links, and hashbrowns. The cost was around 7 bucks if I'm not mistaking. Whatever the cost it was worth it. My kids loved the mickey mouse pancakes, my wife enjoyed her food also. Great food, nice atmosphere, I will definitely be checking in Louie's on the regular.
(5)Phillip A.
Outstanding breakfast place. Good fair priced food. Omlettes are very tasty...tons of hash brown fill the plate. Our party of 4 ate for around $38 not including the tip. Attentive service is also to be noted.All in all, we will return when in the area.
(4)Angela D.
This was definitely a solid diner, complete with waitresses straight out of "Mel's Diner". It was not extroardinary by any means, you'll not find fancy brunch fair here. Eggs, pancakes, toast, basic breakfast meats, etc. But for the price, it can't be beat. They even had decent coffee, for a cheap diner anyway. I've had better, but again, for the price and speed, it is a winner. Also, avoid the rush times, cause man this place gets packed!
(3)Paige T.
perfect diner food. had the southern scramble, so good! lots of food for your money.
(4)Jamila D.
I have ordered food (to go) form Louie's Grill in the past but never actually sat down to eat in the restaurant. Today my husband and I went to Louie's Grill to Dine-In. When we walked into the restaurant the hostess asked us how many people where in our party, we replied "two", she without question walked us to the back of the restaurant where we almost immediately noticed that in there where ONLY African American customers. I then walked back to the front of the restaurant and notice that there where only Caucasian customers sitting at the front of the store. While uneasy about what we saw, we still ordered our food and began to eat. The service was great, as well as the food, but while eating we noticed that whenever a black customer came into the restaurant they were immediately brought to side that we were siting on and white customers where immediately seated on the front side of the restaurant. I finally decided to ask the hostess about the seating preferences. I asked if the seats in the front were special request seats? She replied "yes, if customers ask for a both we sit them up front, she then replied, we don't discriminate here." I walked away from her then and only then did she began to sit white customers in the back with the black customers. So as for me this is my review, FOOD: great SERVICE: good DISCRIMINATION: YES!!! We literally felt separate but equal. Needless to say, my husband and I will NO longer patronize Louie's Grill in Forest Park.
(1)Diana C.
Went over for breakfast this morning and it's a new favorite. Basic breakfast and lunch menu, a quick smile and greeting when you walk in. We were still in the act of sitting down when the waitress came over and said "How many coffees?". No time wasters here. Service is swift, food is served piping hot, every bite delicious. I have every reason to go back.
(4)John A.
Five star service. They will even cut up your food for you. Food is a 3.5 star but service makes up for it. Also extremely fast!!
(5)Joe M.
Yes sir, wifey took me here for first time. Soooo good! Small place so you may need to wait a bit to sit down, but very worth the wait. Only takes cash so go to bank. I had ham and swiss cheese omelette (two eggs) with extra crispy hash browns, oj and a short stack. Everything was excellent. About ten bucks each. The flapjacks, OMG, I'm still wiping down my private areas from enjoying them so much (who needs playboy anymore, have a flapjack). Please go, it's cheaper than signing up to adultfriendfinder.com !!!
(5)kee p.
Some friends and I will never ever visit this place again, and will never recommend this place in a positive light ever. It started off ok but went terribly wrong as time went on. First sign was when the waitress brought our check out with our food. (Who does that? what if we wanted something else. Ok so no big deal we did overlooked it.) Second sign was when the waitress noticed one of us had finished our meal and she came back with boxes for everyone else at the table. (Ok maybe I'm still eating but ok maybe I'm reading too much into this). Last but not least the waitress comes to our table and asked us to leave because she said they had a crowd. Ok so you can't be serious, but she was because I did take in another group of 3 that was asked the same thing. Of course we decided to leave because now we realize she is just rude as hell. We walks to the cashier who seemed to be managing everything and expressed we felt offended about being asked to leave after we had spent our money. Her response was that they tend to do this on the weekends. I don't care how busy you are its never ok to ask your patrons to leave its bad customer service and do not reflect well on your business. I don't think we were there a good hour, before we were rushed out. I will never return to this place EVER..
(1)K D.
This is a GREAT little diner in the community. Service is great, coffee is hot & fresh, food comes out super fast, everything is tasty and they know a lot of people by name. You can customize your order and artificial sweeteners are behind the counter, just ask for "Blue, yellow or pink". Note: This is NOT a super high end place so don't bother stopping in if you're looking for a champagne brunch. This IS a great spot for friends &/or family to have a great meal in a clean, comfortable and affordable place with friendly service. We go with our 6 year old who likes to belly up to the counter to chat with Louie & the waitresses. They always make his visit special!
(5)Qadree H.
If you are looking for a a good breakfast diner to go to with your family, this place is great. They recently renovated which gave them 3 times the space and they are able to accommodate more people and if there is a wait, it is significantly less. I stumbled upon this place when I lived in the neighborhood and still continue to drive from the city for their breakfast. Their waitresses are career servers and they are always always friendly. In addition, they offer turkey products which is always a plus with me.
(5)David C.
bottom line: very worthwhile food was good- great pancakes service is quick and friendly the place is simple and small but usually seats quickly. price is lower than any other diner i've tried recently.
(5)Christine K.
My family and I have been going to Louie's for years. It is by far the best little breakfast place around! Louie is the friendliest guy! He always remembers to say hello to the boys and ask how they are doing. Now, on to the food...the pancakes are to die for! They are simply the best pancakes I have ever had, ever! The oatmeal is awesome too! They also have great patty melts. Absolutely the best diner food around. You can't go wrong with Louie's! Just be prepared to wait a bit if you go on the weekends...though the turnaround is quick.
(5)Dain H.
Convenient and unusual home feel. Haven't been here in awhile but I like the egg and ham sandwich (the ham is cooked tenderly) and the pancakes. Nothing really incredible but if you're hungry, blue collar and in the area come by.
(3)Tara B.
If you're not in the mood for canned soup and/or don't feel like making your soup from scratch this week, Louie's is the place. I've been there 4 x's for breakfast and end eating the soup always before my meal. Quick service with a smile, warm feeling environment and good food.
(4)Dug D.
ham off the bone pretty much says it all for me. polite/friendly staff. FAST service. Louie might even throw a quick 'hi' your way if you come in frequently. CASH ONLY
(4)Lois M.
Great "diner" food. Had a cheese and Mushroom omelet today and it was very good. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful (we had a 15-min wait for a friend to show-up so the waitress brought each of our 4 very young children a paper cup full of fruit loops to tide them over). :) Love this place.
(4)joe c.
awesome dub-t breakfast
(5)Aaron M.
There's nothing like a nice, solid greasy breakfast to cure a hangover. Their omelettes are delicious and pancakes are massive. Portions all around are very generous. And it's pretty cheap. You can't go wrong with this place!
(4)Kathy R.
I love this place! It's nothing fancy, but simple grill food. Louie and his staff are totally friendly and know most of the patrons by name.. The best part of this place is the atmosphere...it's a total neighborhood joynt. There is a large countertop that wraps around the grill and most of the singles sit there. They immediately will hand you the paper when you sit down. I go there frequently and they just ask, "The usual?" Many of the people at the counter chat with one another, strangers or not. The best thing about the food? They have ham on the bone and give you a generous portion and they have real half and half for their (fairly decent) coffee. Don't expect your cup to ever reach the bottom. I almost always get my food in about 3 to 5 minutes. This is where I go when I need breakfast in a hurry. For lunch, try a melt. Pretty good burgers too, for cheap. I tend to stay away fromt the omlettes. They are a little over-cooked...but the other egg preparations are good. I always ask for my english muffin "dry" because they use a "mystery" spread that resembles butter, but isn't. When you order it "dry", they will automatically give you packets of real butter with your toast. Bring cash. You can leave a very generous tip and get out of there for under 6 or 7 bucks...Thanks Louie!
(4)Julie C.
Love it. Good comfort food, good value, friendly and attentive service. When I first moved here there was smoking allowed in the place...needless to say, because of the size eating there was gross. With the smoking ban I really enjoy popping in there for a pancake fix or some good soup! All kinds of folks come in so it is a great people watching place. What's the story with all the lighthouses Louie?
(4)Steve N.
Fantastic breakfast food. Corned beef hash to die for. Pancakes will knock your socks off. Only thing better is the service - always with a smile.
(4)Michael C.
If you love dinners, endless cups of coffee, good food, amazing service, friendly people, and Louie go here! This place is my mecca. Waking up tired and/or hungover there is nothing else I can think about.
(5)Thomas C.
What a diner should be, fast, cheap, clean and GOOD. How have I not checked this place out before now? Had the Texas Omelette based upon reviews here on yelp. Get it. If chili on your eggs does NOT sound like your thing; GET IT, you will NOT be disappointed and it's not as weird as it sounds. Also must get the grits if you like grits at all. Hame, cut off the bone, is another must have ...but I am showing my bias as this is what I ordered and as it wa smy first time; for all I know everything is good, though my mother got the biscuits and gravy and loved hers (liked mine better). Will be back with the rest of the family next time.
(5)Trina J.
I liked this place so much that I patronized them on two consecutive days. Service is amazing. The cashier is very personable and consistently greets every patron. My take out order included all condiments and napkins. It was also neatly wrapped and packaged. Counter service was also fabulous. The waitress was attentive and highly visible. There's no surprise it has been around for 16 years and has since expanded. My experience and packed house at noon on Saturday was reflective of how this place fairs to other diners in the area. What should you order? Doubt you can go wrong. I have tried items on both the lunch and breakfast menu and both were delicious. Lunch Patty Melt - 5 stars***perfect! French Fries - 3 stars Breakfast Grits- 5 stars *** almost as good as much grandmother's. Creamy, buttery and piping hot. Bacon- 4 stars; flavorful with no grease Eggs - 4 stars; ordered over medium and they were yummy Sausage links - 3 stars; decent but I could do without them and only had them because it came with the order.
(4)JG S.
Let me start off by saying that the staff was extremely welcoming. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to compensate for some of the worst breakfast food my husband and I have ever had. While I realize this is simple diner food, I had a hard time choosing something that sounded appealing. I figured scrambled eggs and french toast were safe. Upon ordering the waitress asked if I wanted butter on my french toast, and I said, "yes". When my food arrived the the french toast was slathered in butter. Well, I did ask for it...I recommend asking for it on the side unless you REALLY love butter. My scrambled eggs were undercooked/runny as h### and were in a pool of oil...? As were my husbands fried eggs, grits and sausage patties. Was it cooking oil? Was it butter? Who knows, but it was absolutely disgusting. Between that and the overwhelming smell of bleach/cleaner we just wanted out. I ate only the french toast as the slimy eggs were inedible. My husband ate his toast, a little of the fried egg (after soaking up the oil with napkin), and he ate the meat side that came with my meal. The rest we left, including the sausage patties which he didn't care for, and this guy will eat just about any meat product you put in front of him! We wanted to like this local corner spot, but needless to say we won't be returning. The only reason I gave this two stars was because the staff was so friendly and attentive. I just couldn't bring myself to tell them how terrible the food was. Well I guess I have now.
(2)Mary Ann C.
Love, love, love this place. Thankfully, we arrived at 8 am today (Sunday) because when we left at 9, there was a wait! Clean. Friendly staff. Excellent food. My daughters loved the crepes and Mickey Mouse waffle. I loved and devoured my sausage and cheese omelette. I will return!!!
(5)Thomas C.
What a diner should be, fast, cheap, clean and GOOD. How have I not checked this place out before now? Had the Texas Omelette based upon reviews here on yelp. Get it. If chili on your eggs does NOT sound like your thing; GET IT, you will NOT be disappointed and it's not as weird as it sounds. Also must get the grits if you like grits at all. Hame, cut off the bone, is another must have ...but I am showing my bias as this is what I ordered and as it wa smy first time; for all I know everything is good, though my mother got the biscuits and gravy and loved hers (liked mine better). Will be back with the rest of the family next time.
(5)Trina J.
I liked this place so much that I patronized them on two consecutive days. Service is amazing. The cashier is very personable and consistently greets every patron. My take out order included all condiments and napkins. It was also neatly wrapped and packaged. Counter service was also fabulous. The waitress was attentive and highly visible. There's no surprise it has been around for 16 years and has since expanded. My experience and packed house at noon on Saturday was reflective of how this place fairs to other diners in the area. What should you order? Doubt you can go wrong. I have tried items on both the lunch and breakfast menu and both were delicious. Lunch Patty Melt - 5 stars***perfect! French Fries - 3 stars Breakfast Grits- 5 stars *** almost as good as much grandmother's. Creamy, buttery and piping hot. Bacon- 4 stars; flavorful with no grease Eggs - 4 stars; ordered over medium and they were yummy Sausage links - 3 stars; decent but I could do without them and only had them because it came with the order.
(4)JG S.
Let me start off by saying that the staff was extremely welcoming. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to compensate for some of the worst breakfast food my husband and I have ever had. While I realize this is simple diner food, I had a hard time choosing something that sounded appealing. I figured scrambled eggs and french toast were safe. Upon ordering the waitress asked if I wanted butter on my french toast, and I said, "yes". When my food arrived the the french toast was slathered in butter. Well, I did ask for it...I recommend asking for it on the side unless you REALLY love butter. My scrambled eggs were undercooked/runny as h### and were in a pool of oil...? As were my husbands fried eggs, grits and sausage patties. Was it cooking oil? Was it butter? Who knows, but it was absolutely disgusting. Between that and the overwhelming smell of bleach/cleaner we just wanted out. I ate only the french toast as the slimy eggs were inedible. My husband ate his toast, a little of the fried egg (after soaking up the oil with napkin), and he ate the meat side that came with my meal. The rest we left, including the sausage patties which he didn't care for, and this guy will eat just about any meat product you put in front of him! We wanted to like this local corner spot, but needless to say we won't be returning. The only reason I gave this two stars was because the staff was so friendly and attentive. I just couldn't bring myself to tell them how terrible the food was. Well I guess I have now.
(2)Mary Ann C.
Love, love, love this place. Thankfully, we arrived at 8 am today (Sunday) because when we left at 9, there was a wait! Clean. Friendly staff. Excellent food. My daughters loved the crepes and Mickey Mouse waffle. I loved and devoured my sausage and cheese omelette. I will return!!!
(5)Brian D.
Excellent clean non-greasy diner food. Great friendly service to boot. The prices are very reasonable as well. This is our go to breakfast brunch joint in the area. We often go to the fancy brunch spots in the city and often wished we had just come to Louie's instead. For a diner the food always tastes fresh and I dream about the Athenian skillet. Love this place!
(5)Patty C.
Worst biscuits and gravy I have ever had in my life and I've had a lot. Omelet dry and bland. Service great. Not recommend. Sorry.
(1)John M.
Simple breakfasts, omelets, eggs, French Toast, pancakes. And they are all pretty good. I have not been there for lunch. But breakfast is pretty good. The People who work there are always friendly, which is always a plus. The food has always been top notch. I really enjoyed their French Toast with a side of ham. Though I may bring a bottle of sugar free syrup, they have agave nectar and though it is sweet, it does not taste like maple. But I have never had a complaint and they service is quick and you still do not fee rushed.
(4)Colin D.
Best brunch in Forest Park. Also the best and attentive service around. The lady who owns the joint, I assume, plays host most days. She has the best attitude and puts a smile on my face every morning I roll in.
(5)Jessica H.
My first time at this classic style diner. This place is exactly what you would expect or imagine. The staff were so friendly with me I half expected them to know my name already! I ordered biscuits & gravy w 2 eggs over medium. It was yummy and I finished my plate. Honestly the food here isn't going to blow your mind, it's good home style cooking that's fast & cheap with a great old fashioned diner atmosphere. I'm a very nostalgic person so this place was great
(5)Ne C.
Sat at the counter, enjoyed good service and great attitude from Nancy. The vegetable burger was the best I've had. Ever. Nice atmosphere, clean lovely diner.
(3)Timothy H.
Louie's is a great breakfast spot. My wife and I learned of Louie's from her sister and her husband. What a great recommendation. I'm a fan of eggs Benedict, which I know is an"love it or hate it" type of breakfast dish. I also like their pancakes, french toast, and waffles. My brother in law always gets their steak plate for breakfast and it is good. The coffee is a bit weak, and so is their OJ, so I just stick to water. Their Greek and Mediterranean omlette a/skillets are also very good. Good service is what sets Louie's apart. Service with a smile is what makes going out for breakfast just that much more enjoyable. Any restaurant in Oak Park will have a wait. Wait time here ranges from 10-20 minutes on the weekend. Prices here are good. They are a tad bit cheaper than other diners in the area. Expect to pay around $10-$12/pp including tip depending on what you ordered.
(5)Joe P.
Louie's Grill is a great diner with fast service and good food. I've been here a few times, always on the weekends and it's usually packed. However, you can usually get a seat for 2 at the counter without waiting very long and there's something really relaxing about sitting there. As soon as you sit, your coffee cup is filled and you're asked if you want a newspaper to read. Food is cranking out and within 5 minutes, I have my order. I love the corned beef hash omelette and the texas omelette that I affectionately refer to as the hangover omelette with chili and cheese. Definitely will keep coming back!
(5)Heather H.
Fantastic place...Very clean, coutreous staff, delicious food and reasonable prices. What more could you ask for in a neighborhood breakfast hangout. Keep up the awesome job guys!
(5)Brenda M.
Louie's is great! Friendly staff great food. I tried it once and recommended to my friends and family right away. they all loved it , try the ham and the melts!
(5)Dan M.
This is your typical old fashioned diner yet recently remodeled and expanded. The food is great and never disappointing. Fast service, great food for a good price - you couldn't ask for more!
(5)Peter C.
VERY, VERY, VERY disappointed they took veggie burgers off the menu:( Looks like I'll be eating at All's from now on unless they bring them back.
(3)Daisy D.
We've been coming here since he moved to Oak Park last April. We love it! The staff is friendly the food is fresh and the hashbrowns are always on point. If you're looking for good ol' diner comfort-- this is the place for you.
(5)Christina B.
Louie's is just plain adorable. I don't know what else to say about it besides that. ...well, okay I guess I can talk about the food. The food is good. Real good. It's exactly what you expect when you walk in-a blast from the past. It's simple, American, good eats. The staff is always friendly, quick, and chatty. I usually get their breakfast items (breakfast bagel, omelettes, skillets) but I've also gotten their soups a lot. Soup is a huge portion and pretty delicious. I honestly can't really say anything bad about Louie's other than I wish that there was parking more often. It's located on Madison, smack dab in the middle of Madison street...so it is pretty busy during the day and definitely busy on the weekends. As someone else had stated in their review: Louie's is what diners should be. Cute, delicious, and a bit old fashion.
(4)Rich G.
I've loved this place when it was Pete's Grill when I was young. The waitress Nancy was very nice and the food is always good.
(4)Karlla G.
You'll feel like you went back home and mom made the food for you!!!!! Great food, big portions, great prices, loves it!!!
(5)Dino D.
I've been to hundereds of Greek diners and the food here is exactly what you would expect from a Greek owned diner, except smaller portions. It's good, comes out prety quickly and its sorta resonably priced. I've been to the old smaller version and the now bigger, remodeled version of Louie's and I miss the smaller 1000 times more quiet version of this diner. No matter what my opinion is, this place has a cult following that comes here rain, shine or snow. So I must be missing something.
(3)Deena H.
Our waitress was really who made this an excellent visit. 530am breakfast haha but pretty good. Service was excellent. The diner has that 60's "Back to the Future" feel. The omelettes were decent especially the Greek one. It was good. It is a diner that is classic with decent food. I was hoping to hear someone say "HELLO?? MCFLY!!." My lame reference some may not get :). Worth it. On another visit we had the vegetarian skillet minus the mushrooms and mozzarella instead of American cheese. Plus we had the banana pecan crepes that were amazing. The pecans are in the batter and even a taste of banana not including the fresh bananas on top. Service was excellent as always.
(5)Scott H.
Quick and friendly service. Deliciously fluffy and buttery pancakes. This is my spot to visit when I am looking to cure my pancake fix. No crazy flavors or toppings, just tasty tasty pancakes with butter and syrup. Also any breakfast dish with their gyro meat, preferably the skillet or omelette, are great as well. Always jamming on the weekends for breakfast but worth the wait. The bar usually has open seating for quicker service.
(4)Tabitha M.
We really enjoy going to this place on a Sunday after church or on a special occasion when we want to treat ourselves to food that is not the most healthy...the pancakes are probably the best I've had anywhere around the Forest Park/Oak Park area and it's our favorite go to when we are craving a good brunch. I usually order an egg-white omelette with tomatoes, feta, and spinach. The staff is really great, friendly, and the food comes out pretty quick. We've never been disappointed after eating here (other than the fact that we will probably have to get an extra work-out in that week).
(4)Mike P.
Solid bacon-and-egger in the new and improved Forest Park. When I was an FP resident, Louie's was the quintessential greasy spoon that we all know and love. Recently (the last couple of years) they've expanded and doubled the size of the dinning room, but demand still creates a reasonable wait on the weekends. My wait last time was 15 minutes, as was promised to me. The food is familiar and tasty. All the diner classics are present. My last visit, I selected the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on rye bread. The eggs were perfect, the sausage hot, greasy (in a good way), and tasty and the rye toast was finished just right. My kid enjoyed his pancake, egg, and bacon combo off the kid's menu. I enjoyed what he didn't throw on the floor. Ah, 3-year-olds, the perfect restaurant companion.
(4)Thomas G.
I really like this place- for its simplicity, proximity from where I am at, and predictable food. A basic neighborhood diner I've been going to off and on for about ten years. It's always been popular as long as I can remember. It was nice before the remodel, but have to admit it's nicer after they expanded into the next storefront for more room. In the Constitution Court parking lot that's right next door, there is a slot reserved for 'Police.' Well I see all sorts parked there- Cook County Sheriff, Chicago Police Dept., and others, so it seems a nice stop over for them after going to the Maywood Courthouse not far away. Not surprising it's frequented by law enforcement from other areas when they're around here- it's that good :) Love their eggs, classic grilled cheese, egg sandwiches and hamburgers. Oh, and the coffee is good too. There may be other diners in the area, but this one's a Forest Park original. If you're in the area, check it out and you'll see why it's so popular.
(4)John A.
Friendly place. Love it. Food is very good. Waitress are almost as good as Fred's Diner in Grayslake :-)
(4)M W.
Their decor inside was actually a lot cuter than I expected, but the meal was a definite let down. My spartan omelette wasn't light and fluffy at all-totally flat and disappointing. Hashbrowns and the toast were good (but those are hard to mess up). Pancakes weren't anything remarkable. The absolute WORST was the side of bacon I got. It was completely dry, flavorless, and inedible-and I like my bacon on the crispy side, but this was a whole new level. Service was fine. The young server seemed pretty hard of hearing, which is a little odd for someone in the service industry. I felt like I had to yell my order. Overall, probably won't return.
(2)Christopher L.
I usually come to Louies for breakfast and I love the new layout the service is always outstanding and the food is great. Louies is always great but with the new improvements have just made it one of the best breakfast places anywhere. Great food great people great price how can you go wrong.
(5)Stephanie R.
Love this place! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We're regulars so the staff all know our names. It's like eating with family. Food is consistent, good portions, and reasonably priced. Delicious oatmeal, French toast, and Philly steak sandwich. Worth the wait.
(4)Yvonne O.
We came here back when it first opened and decided to come back this weekend to see if anything was new. Well - we didn't realize they had remodeled, so it has been quite a while since we were there! After being seated, we waited a long time to get served. But, once the order was in, things went very quickly. It was odd that our toast came out 30 seconds after we ordered - like an appetizer to our meal. My husband remarked that he wanted to eat his toast with his meal, but now it would be cold...once the food arrived, we waited for syrup, but I tend to eat one thing at a time, so I just left the French toast for last. All was freshly prepared and tasty and we were in and out, even with the waiting in under 30 minutes. A table near us was complaining about the wait to order as well, so maybe it was just an off morning for the waitress in our section?
(3)Christine O.
Very delicious! Very busy! Worth a wait! The waitress was nice and the busboy made sure our water was full All the time!
(4)Tamer A.
This is what diners should be. Grits were really good, so were hash browns. Wife had gyro skillet which was delicious. I had eggs (over easy; delicious and runny) and turkey patties which were also delicious. Hash browns with peppers, onions, and cheese were very good. I do not often get to enjoy breakfast food outside without hot sauce, but I did not use it at Louie's. Not to mention the service, which was really just wonderful and friendly.
(4)Missy R.
I thought it was just "ok". I had the skirt steak and eggs. The steak lacked favor, the eggs were real, the hash browns were nothing special. I asked for hot sauce, why did they bring me Aldi's hot sauce. I was in shock, why so cheap... the service was ok.
(3)Matt M.
This place really pulls off grits which you just don't see around Chicago very often. The staff is wonderful and very attentive. They are always on top of getting you what you want, when you want it. The prices are great and the food options are phenomenal. I'm definitely coming back to try some of their "non-breakfast" options ... but with breakfast served anytime it'll be a tough sell.
(5)Lemon L.
Awesome!! The best pancakes I've ever had....the gyro feta omelette was amazing, the grits were not bad. Friendly service, good price, parking, great place. My family enjoyed their eggs, ham, and veggie omelette as well.
(5)Jenny C.
I love eating at Louie's - it's always comfortable and the food is consistently good, exactly what you want for breakfast! Great pancakes, eggs always perfectly cooked (excellent poached eggs - thanks Chico ) and if you ask for things done a little differently like toast the hash browns a little more or crispy bacon please, you got it! Suzie and Tina are awesome and always fun to chat with during a slow moment - which isn't often- this place is busy! Louie is great and takes a lot of pride in his restaurant with good food at a good price - haven't gotten there for lunch too often but what I've had is also wonderful. (Great milkshakes and soup!!) Give it a try, you'll be back!!
(5)Steve S.
Dad and kids love Louie's! FRIENDLY staff. Ham off the the hock and buttery pancakes can't be beat. I don't even ear pancakes... Unless they are Louie's!
(5)Susie C.
I would give this place a 3.5 rating if I could but there's no .5 star that I can give. I came here with my girlfriends on Saturday morning. Yelp was definitely correct - it is very busy, however, the ladies up front were very nice and got us a table shortly after getting in. The service is good - our waitress was super nice and made sure we got everything we needed to have a good brunch. (We gave her a nice tip at the end). The food was decent. I ordered a Western Skillet. It was pretty good, but nothing that stands out to give this a 5-star rating. One of my friends ordered a Western Omelette and she liked her dish. Another friend ordered a short order pancakes. She said hers was okay - she said it wasn't bad. Then I have another friend who ordered biscuit with sausage gravy and eggs with ham. Hers was good. This is a cute diner where you can go and eat brunch casually with family and friends. I would come here again!
(4)Brett C.
I must say I'm not a fan. Stopped in to grab a burger the other afternoon. Walked in and sat at the counter. Was greeted promptly and my order was taken. Simple cheeseburger and fries. A few minutes later my order came out and off I went. Burger was decent, fries were horrible. I don;t think they have changed the frier grease in weeks. Fries were soggy and tasted like everything they had cooked in the frier the last month. Inedible. You also get this side of cole slaw with the order. Double check my bag, no fork, WTH? How am I supposed to eat this? 1 star for food 3 stars for service I can't recommend this place. Cheers!
(2)Cat C.
The good news? Louie's bought Kazzbar (the empty bar next door) and is in the process of renovating so there will be more tables. Yay! The only bad part about the renovation is that they've been closed since March. I need me some Louie's! Louie is an amazing cook, and always a delight to talk to. The waitresses are all super friendly, and extremely efficient. I like to race the busboy's, as they watch your water glasses and refill them as soon as you take a sip (this is not a complaint, but a compliment). I usually go here just for breakfast, but when I've been in the mood for lunch they haven't disappointed either. The servings are perfect and the food is delicious. Totally worth it every time. Now, it just needs to reopen!
(5)Ray J.
Damn shame bout this place. It's right by the ladyfriend's apartment, very friendly staff and the kind of snappy quick service fit for a good diner. The food does not follow suit, however, as the skillets we ordered were bland and uninspired. Essentially a vast expanse of mushy, starchy hashed potatoes, graced with a single slice of American cheese spreading it's neon orange, gelatinous web across rogue chunks of bacon, ham and sausage. Two bulbous eggs were nestled on the far left side, in an apparent attempt to make a break for it, rather than being mixed up in this sorry state of affairs. For $10 each it's hardly cheap diner fare, and I've stopped in plenty such places that wouldn't consider this serviceable fare.
(2)Manson D.
I just wasn't impressed by their food at all. Much as I hear people talk about this place. I ordered an omelette and pancakes. The pancakes taste like they have a little to much sugar in them. Also I wasn't impressed by the omelette either. It was scorched a lil bit which kinda took away from the taste. The service was great and they have a nice staff. I will give them another shot to see if it was just a bad day for me there. Service was 5 stars food was 2 stars. So I have to say 3 1/2 total stars on average. So today I'm here to try it again. It's 6:40 am on a Sat morning. Almost empty in here, thats a plus in my books. I kinda hate waiting in lines, but that's also why I came early. I ordered the Athenian Omelette with hash browns and wheat toast. My wife ordered a full stack of French toast and had it split with a pancake. So instead of 3 french toast it's 2 with one pancake. I noticed that the omelettes only come with 2 eggs. I'm use to 3 egg omelettes. But service is good. Coffee is hot and refilled often without having to flag someone down. Tina is our waitress. Very sweet and nice lady. Even cleaned my spill of syrup very fast. So my second time here was a great experience. 5 stars definitely this time around. P.S. The French toast were delicious and the omelette was amazing. Pancake was so so, toast was toast, and hash browns were hash-browns. Nothing spectacular about them. I will definitely come back. Especially since I live two blocks away.
(5)Nate L.
I really wanted to give this place a better rating, but the service my friend has experienced while dining with me has gotten me somewhat pissed off at this place. First, we get seated and start looking through the menu. About 10 minutes pass by and still no waitress around. She finally comes around and we order, I ordered the corn beef hash skillet and I have no complaints on my food. HOWEVER, my friend ordered root beer, cheeseburger with mayo, and chili cheese fries. Order actually comes out pretty fast. BUT, where the hell is root beer? He calls the waitress and gets the root beer, wait, where the the chili and the cheese on fries? She goes back and gets it, WAIT THE F*&K UP, where the hell is mayo on my burger? To me, that's garbage ass service. She can't see the receipt where she wrote down what we ordered? That's not all, a person who is cleaning up the table is using a typical rag and just wipes the table down without any cleaning solution AND flops the coffee cups FACING DOWN on the table without a saucer or napkin, and the table is still "WET" from what ever he was using. That's not only unsanitary but health hazard. Will I be returning? Probably not.
(2)Kelley F.
Saturday morning breakfast was thoroughly disappointing though the service was nice, staff friendly. It was a busy morning and the wait was confusing - it apparently was a challenge to cross names off the list after patrons were seated. People were seated ahead of those who had been waiting. 5 minutes after we were seated, our name was called again. This continued throughout the whole meal, and I have to admit, it was amusing as long as your seat wasn't given to someone else. The food was sub-par and close to completely tasteless. I had a Greek omelet - the tomatoes were sparse and the feta cheese was bland. The omelet was flat and a little over cooked while the hash browns were hardly cooked at all. Thankfully, they carried Louisiana hot sauce and I was able to add some much needed flavor. The french toast was only so in name - pathetic thin pieces of white bread, any spirit broken, they laid limply on the plate, just asking to be put out of their misery. Even after a liberal splash of syrup, they still couldn't be coaxed into tasting like much of anything, acting more just like a vehicle than anything else. The only saving grace to Louie's Grill is the staff - very nice and patient. It was a hectic morning and they managed to keep their cool. Needless to say, I doubt I'll be back.....
(2)Brian F.
It's a neighborhood stop for me. Only open for breakfast and lunch and is pretty solid with both. It's a groovy looking old fashioned diner. The food is good quality and the place is clean. It's big enough to handle a lot of folks and definitely solid and better than average, but not knock-me-out-spectacular. You can sit at the old school counter (which I've done), tables or booths (which I've done). Staff is pleasant.
(3)Ellie K.
Service is good. Coffee is good. Food is what you expect from a diner. My least favorite part is the hash browns are ALWAYS undercooked. I will probably opt for the sliced tomatoes on the side instead from now on.
(4)Claire M.
I have lunch here at least twice a week. They see me coming and already have my diet coke waiting for me by the time I'm walking in the door. I can't say one thing short of greatness about Louie's! Update! I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this already but they now accept credit cards!
(5)Jide F.
GREAT renovation! It's hard to be a Forest Parker and not eat at Louie's. The service is always so friendly and the food comes out fast. I have been ordering the patty melt for many years and I can say it's the best out of all the diners I've ever been to. Sunday breakfast/brunch is always a busy time because of the hangover crowd and churchgoers but it's prime time for people watching.
(5)Mike P.
Went there today on the recommendations of people on here as I was looking for a place for brunch after a morning meeting. Its a neat place and they have good food (not to mention decent service). I had my favorite omlette, a mushroom and swiss, along with what they call hash browns (more like american potatoes). I also got an English Muffin with it but for a little extra I could have had french toast or pancakes. It looks like from the menu that they have a good variety and its decently priced . Also the lighthouses in the window are a neat touch.
(3)A D.
THE place for breakfast. Warning: the pancakes are totally addictive, simply the best I've ever tasted. My kids even refer to this as the pancake place. Also, they have the best oatmeal around. Short of putting Baileys in it, I can't think of any other way to prepare it that would make it taste as good as theirs. Only thing that ticked me off once was when asking for bananas instead of raisins for my oatmeal, they wanted to give me an up-charge of $2 which was nonsense since you can even get a banana at 7-Eleven for like 33 cents! Wondering if it was just that waitress because I've never had an up-charge like that before. Sausages and hash browns are great, and the eggs come out exactly how you asked for them. They are usually pretty good on coffee refills. The place is large and bright, with typical diner chairs and tables, and the place is always clean. I love neighborhood diners just like this and they do it well.
(4)Mike D.
I have been going to Louie's for a long, long time. Every single time I order the western skillet, side of sausage, side of bacon, and a small cup of grits. It tastes the same every single time and it is amazing. Great service, very friendly workers. It is especially great on Sunday mornings after a night at shortstop across the street.
(5)S.E. A.
Louie's has a harsh, metallic, noisy atmosphere. It's not the homey place that the lighthouses in the window lead you to expect. Our breakfast was just okay. Basic ingredients seemed on the cheap (pre-frozen?) side. The service was friendly when they could hear us over the noise.
(2)Natalie R.
Still great, but remodeled now and the lighthouses are gone from the windows (which, inexplicably, makes me kind of...sad). I liked Louie's just fine before, but now it's bigger and more 50's diner-like. No matter. Remodel or no remodel, they still serve eggs, not oeufs, and I'll still keep coming back. EDITED to add: The lighthouses! They're back! And not only that, but in a fancy glass display up front. :)
(4)Kelly R.
Me and my husband went to eat here early on a Friday afternoon. It was not very busy but seemed to be the usual crowd. The waitresses and bus boy knew people by name which was great. The staff was very welcoming and Nancy was a great waitress. I had pancakes and hash browns and it was very good. My husband had a southwest skillet and he said the flavors were on point. I seriously recommend the pancakes! This place was clean and not overpriced! Our breakfast was only about $20 and we both left completely full.
(4)Arlene A.
I'm going to keep this simple. YUMMIEST PANCAKES EVER! Terrific coffee, amazing service. Eggs that are scrambled the way they're supposed to, light and fluffy as opposed to brown and hard.
(4)Ruth H.
Service was good. Breakfast fare was good. Definitely affordable prices. Enjoyed a short order of their French toast which melted in my mouth. Loved the crisp of their hash browns. Sausage links and eggs were so so. Definitely a diner-type feel with tables and red colored chairs. Family friendly and the owners are a hoot.
(3)T M.
Louie's remodel is finished! Not that I thought they needed a remodel, but I have to say the new place is really really nice. I will be there more often now that there is soo much more room. This am was my first trip back, and it was great! Had my usual corned beef hash and eggs, hash browns, toast, and coffee. Server was very good and very friendly, Louie is always friendly. I order my breakfast burnt, I like it crispy, and Louie is one of the only cooks/places that does it right. Try Louie's new space you will not regret it!
(5)Jason F.
This is the best breakfast joint around. They also have lunch items like burgers, patty melts, etc. which are good as well, but the breakfast is by far the best. I don't know any other diner that can compete with this place. The prices are very reasonable. I can get one of the daily breakfast specials that includes eggs, hash browns, two pancakes, and toast for under 7 bucks. My favorite though, is the skirt steak and eggs (which comes with hash browns and toast). It costs around 13 bucks, and is well worth it. The skirt steak takes up almost the whole plate, and there is very little to no fat on it. I'd pay twice as much for the quality you get. The service is excellent, and the waitresses are very nice. You get your food fast too, even when the place is jammed! Louie's wife works there too (she's probably the one that will be ringing you up when you're paying your bill), and his kids, and they're all very nice people. Louie is a great guy too. Always says hi to me when I stop in and loves kids. Some people misunderstand him and think he's all serious, but that's only because when it's busy and you own a restaurant you want to make sure that everything is running smooth, and that's what he does. If you ever have a bad experience with the service let the owners know. They take customer service very seriously. Louie's just expanded and it's still jammed when I go there, and for good reason! You could go to the Original Pancake House down the street if you want fancy pancakes and nice tablecloths and all that, but I was there once and it just couldn't compare with Louie's, not to mention it was way more expensive. Lower quality + higher prices means I won't be back, and I haven't been to OPH since. I'll always wait longer for better food. Keep in mind that the turnover is quick, so you're not going to be standing there for half an hour waiting to get seated. Trust me, it's worth the short wait. Some reviewers have complained that they've been a bit rushed when they have finished eating. That's pretty dumb to complain about. Put yourself in the restaurant owner's shoes: You own a restaurant and it's really busy at that time of day and you have some people sitting around chatting on and on when you could have turned that table over two or three times. If people sit around talking when they have customers waiting they're losing money and it's making the wait for customers longer, which is not good for business. I love supporting a business owned by good people, and Louie's is definitely one of them. They're open from 5 am to 4 pm Mon - Sat, and 6 am to 3pm on Sundays. It used to be a cash only place, but since expanding they now accept credit cards. Take my word for it when I say that when it comes to finding a diner to get some good breakfast, you can't go wrong with Louie's.
(5)Mike S.
We've always LOVED Louie's Grill. It was a long wait for them to reopen, but it's better than ever now! I usually get the Gypsy Skillet, but have recently shifted over to the #1 with cheesy hash browns with onions. I also have been ordering my toast as French toast for only like $1; highly worth the money!
(5)Carm B.
1st time at Louie's today. I had the Breakfast Special No. 2. French Toast, Sausage, and Eggs for about $6. The food was very good. The restaurant is very clean (including the bathrooms) and the staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a very nice "diner" feeling. They are open for breakfast and lunch and I look forward to returning for lunch. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Joy S.
Louie's has fast, friendly service. Get there early if you want a table on a Saturday or Sunday morning. And unfortunately, they're only open til the early afternoon. Great grilled cheese. Love their hash browns with cheese, green peppers and onions. Standard diner coffee and crowd. Love it! Sadly, the parking lot next door is now pay parking - with a complicated little machine.
(5)Patrick W.
This is my favorite breakfast places. Real eggs cooked fresh every time. The service is also the best. Very friendly atmosphere.
(5)Robert S.
Yeppers another small cash only grill love it, and sit at the bar as it gets busy and people are waiting for a table :) so a few weeks back we were gonna go into the city and I told the BF find us a diner to try for breakfast before we get the day started and this is the place he picked I had the Chopped steak and Eggs, with nicely browned Hash Browns and Greek Toast, and a cup of Joe was very filling but not overly so that I needed a nap or to go walk it off had a good time here we sat at the bar and we were able to BS with the owner and the waitress about the neighborhood and get some ideas for dinners down the road, and ideas for coming back to check out the area
(5)Candice D.
As you can tell people love this place, same goes for me. Just wanted to metion if that wasn't enough of a push to get you into the diner then consider this, Chicago Magazine just name it top 40 favorite things about Chicago. Forest Park was number 36, Louie's was mentioned by name. So just go.
(5)Deanna R.
Amazing! My husband and I love Louie's! The food is absolutely spectacular and the service is very friendly and very quick. Louie's has become our go-to spot for breakfast food!
(5)Niko D.
We've lived in the area a few months and we stopped in on a Saturday morning for breakfast since it was down the street. Nothing special inside looks like an old diner. The waitresses weren't to friendly. Food was average but cold when came out. Coffee wasn't great. The host was friendly. Was looking for more choices. They need to step up their game.
(2)Megan B.
My landlady told me about Louie's I'm SO glad she did. Living within walking distance of good breakfast joints is dangerous for me. I had gone to the Original Pancake House just up the street, but trust me when I tell you, Louie's is leaps better. Yeah, you won't get the variety of fancy pancakes you can get at OPH, but what you can get is quality, diner-style food. I've only ever eaten breakfast there, so that's what I'll review. Yes, on the weekends, it can be tough to get a table. I'm usually only there with one other person on average, and I don't mind sitting at the counter, so that's usually what we do. It's fun watching the machine-like short order cooks crank out the food on the grill. I've never been disappointed by the food. As I said before, very straightforward diner food, nothing fancy, but I usually get poached eggs, hash browns, bacon, and a short order of pancakes, along with a cup of coffee (which, as others have commented, is surprisingly decent). I make a mash of the eggs, bacon and hash browns and drown the whole thing in hot sauce... Delicious. They make the pancakes fresh and they are pretty decent. I've never left after this gut-busting breakfast (I'm always too full to finish all my pancakes) for 2 for over $25. Beware as others have said though, it is indeed cash only. Wait staff is always friendly, and even when they're packed you get your food quickly. Man, I love this place!
(4)Jillian F.
This place is great! It's nice to be greeting in a friendly manner and get your food quickly. Great service and great food. Prices were just a bit high, but worth it.
(4)Christina R.
There are only two things I don't like about Louie's: 1) They're cash only 2) Everyone else seems to know how awesome they are so there's almost always a wait to sit down on the weekends. That's ok though, because the waitresses are all over you once you get seated, and the food comes with a swiftness. It's a small corner diner, maybe ten seats at the counter and ten tables smushed in, but it's a delicious hangover breakfast. I usually go with the french toast and hash browns with cheese and peppers. My bf and I can usually get a hardy breakfast for two, with coffee, tax, and tip for under $20, and I usually have enough leftovers for another meal (for me, not him). There's a village parking lot and plenty of street parking nearby. I believe they close at 2pm.
(4)Michael D.
No matter where else you go it's just not the same - Louie's is the best! Just a couple of days ago we went to the American Depot diner (our beloved Louie's was closed for remodeling), and while the food was good, their service and friendliness, or lack thereof, was atrocious. That being said, the friendly staff and top-notch service at Louie's is simply unmatched. That alone merits 5 stars. Their food is great too! I enjoy their french toast and pancakes...the skillets are really good also. Can't wait to see their reopening!!
(5)Samantha K.
For as long as I can remember Louies Grill has been the place to get Sunday morning Breakfast/Brunch. From church goers to late night bar hoppers Louies has something on the menu for all!! I personally love to order the Tuna Melt or Patty Melt Delux of course (comes with fries)!! Louie and his family run this diner like a well oiled machine. All of the wait staff is AMAZING!! I was so excited when they reopened their newly renovated location. An Entire summer without our favorite sunday morning hangover cure was rough but the new space has plenty more tables and a new design to satify the ever growing fan base. Louies is A-OK in my book!
(3)Tracy L.
I didn't expect the inside to look cute like a diner on the inside...kinda like a steak n shake type feel even though the outside doesn't looks like that. Our breakfast was ok, my hashbrowns were really soft, I like them with a little crisp to them. Nothing remarkable, maybe I'll go back and try something else.
(3)Susan M.
yeah, you'll get fat here. only real butter -- on everything. old school short order grill -- i left smelling like it. absolutely everything i ate (it was plenty) was uber tasty - french toast, over medium eggs, extra crispy hash browns (perfect!), sausage links, coffee. GREAT coffee. service so fast you'll freak.. you will wait to be seated (but this moves quickly as the owner keeps a close eye and assigns everyone a number) on weekend mornings, totally worth it. will be back as often as i can.
(5)Tracey M.
I left Louie's Grill 5 pounds heavier then when I entered, but damn it, it was well worth it! I wouldn't even know where to start. The food was tasty and the people the super friendly. I can't name one person there I didn't like. It's small and was crowded when we arrive on the tail-end of the lunch hour rush, but that didn't stop us from getting great service. Simply put, I left wanting more and I can't wait to go back!
(5)John P.
Great diner. The servers are the best and food is just what you would like it to be. Get the corned beef hash. The best!
(5)Terese S.
A gem of a diner in Forest Park. Easily a repeat in my book. Breakfast usually. Lots of omelet selections. Large enough to split or take home. Sit at the counter if you can for the real dinner experience. Reasonably priced. Staff is really nice. Burgers were average when we went back for lunch.
(4)Nicholas D.
I like this place for the simplicity. It's almost like taking a step back in time. Don't bother looking at the menu because you won't find anything extraordinary. I'd come for breakfast, eggs and etc. Perhaps an omelet! The counter is definitely a plus in case you're by yourself. Why take up a whole table? I wish it'd open earlier. Like almost the time bars start letting out 'cause I hate driving to go somewhere afterwards. Though, I can understand all the problems that would probably involve :(
(3)Jaramiah S.
I was expecting a hole-in-the-wall, but Louie's was surprisingly clean and modern. The pancakes, eggs, and bacon I ordered were delicious and very reasonably priced. Best breakfast for the money in FP!
(4)Carrie W.
I was just on vacation and had a few diner experiences in other towns that made me reflect on how PRECIOUS it is to have Louie's for my weekly local diner chowdown. I'd give it six stars if I could. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is for a great diner experience, but at Louie's you get fantastic service. Nothing is ever forgotten, and your coffee never gets cold. They are all so friendly, SO fast, and will genuinely put a smile on your face. It's family-run and they've had the same waitresses for years. There are times when it's crazy busy and times when it's a little more chill, but either way it works. Also, best pancakes ever. They're the only pancakes I *like*. My dad, a much bigger pancake fan, says they're the best pancakes he's ever had. Also extremely delicious are the sausages, the grilled cheese with a thick slab of ham alongside, and the spinach and feta omelette. Louie's makes me happy, and there's no place that does it better.
(5)Michael C.
Always a good choice. Wide menu selection, friendly folks working there. Prices are a touch higher than some other places around but worth the dollar or two extra. Stop in if you get a chance.
(4)Kat M.
I'm seriously serious - this is the best diner experience I think I've ever had... awesome food (eggs cooked perfectly), flawless service, and I now know what my new favourite hangover cure is - their perfect pancakes. YUM! My fiancé and I went on a weekday morning at around 11 AM after a few too many sake bombs the night before. We were sat immediately in one of the 8 or so booths in the diner. We were served REALLY good coffee immediately (not any of that brown-colored swill that they serve at some diners - this was strong!), and we both ordered breakfasts - Fiance ordered eggs over easy, I ordered mine scrambled. My fiancé is definitely a connoisseur of hashbrowns, and I am a pancake connoisseur. We were both totally dazzled by Louie's entire breakfast. Both of our egg orders were perfect, and the pancakes were light and fluffy and the hashbrowns were crispy but not overdone. As mentioned above, the service was excellent. The waitress at Louie's made me feel like she was happy to serve me. She was friendly and as we were paying our bill, she told us that she was looking forward to seeing us back soon. I've eaten (and worked) at some fine dining establishments, complete with white tablecloths and polished silverware, that didn't make me feel half as welcome as she did. Alternatively, I have eaten at some diners that make me feel like I am intruding on some kind of sub-culture, and as an outsider, I am not to be trusted. This was not the case at Louie's. Also, their prices are very good - we left a $20 on the table for our two breakfasts, tax, and tip. However, beware that they only take cash - no credit cards. I probably gained 5 lbs, but Louie's is definitely proof that diner food is always the cure to a case of the bottle flu. As we were leaving, the waitress told us that Louie's Grill is expanding into the space next door - I believe she said sometime this fall. My hope is that as they expand, they maintain all the great points of their restaurant... and that they get a credit card machine. I can't wait to go back and try their patty melt.
(5)Foster R.
I've always heard that Louie's serve good food, and everyone that told me that were telling the truth. They were closed for a while for renovations, and whoever done the work did a very good job! It's a very nice and cozy place. My family and I stopped there for breakfast, and the food was great. I had the French toast, eggs, sausage links, and hashbrowns. The cost was around 7 bucks if I'm not mistaking. Whatever the cost it was worth it. My kids loved the mickey mouse pancakes, my wife enjoyed her food also. Great food, nice atmosphere, I will definitely be checking in Louie's on the regular.
(5)Phillip A.
Outstanding breakfast place. Good fair priced food. Omlettes are very tasty...tons of hash brown fill the plate. Our party of 4 ate for around $38 not including the tip. Attentive service is also to be noted.All in all, we will return when in the area.
(4)Angela D.
This was definitely a solid diner, complete with waitresses straight out of "Mel's Diner". It was not extroardinary by any means, you'll not find fancy brunch fair here. Eggs, pancakes, toast, basic breakfast meats, etc. But for the price, it can't be beat. They even had decent coffee, for a cheap diner anyway. I've had better, but again, for the price and speed, it is a winner. Also, avoid the rush times, cause man this place gets packed!
(3)Paige T.
perfect diner food. had the southern scramble, so good! lots of food for your money.
(4)Jamila D.
I have ordered food (to go) form Louie's Grill in the past but never actually sat down to eat in the restaurant. Today my husband and I went to Louie's Grill to Dine-In. When we walked into the restaurant the hostess asked us how many people where in our party, we replied "two", she without question walked us to the back of the restaurant where we almost immediately noticed that in there where ONLY African American customers. I then walked back to the front of the restaurant and notice that there where only Caucasian customers sitting at the front of the store. While uneasy about what we saw, we still ordered our food and began to eat. The service was great, as well as the food, but while eating we noticed that whenever a black customer came into the restaurant they were immediately brought to side that we were siting on and white customers where immediately seated on the front side of the restaurant. I finally decided to ask the hostess about the seating preferences. I asked if the seats in the front were special request seats? She replied "yes, if customers ask for a both we sit them up front, she then replied, we don't discriminate here." I walked away from her then and only then did she began to sit white customers in the back with the black customers. So as for me this is my review, FOOD: great SERVICE: good DISCRIMINATION: YES!!! We literally felt separate but equal. Needless to say, my husband and I will NO longer patronize Louie's Grill in Forest Park.
(1)Diana C.
Went over for breakfast this morning and it's a new favorite. Basic breakfast and lunch menu, a quick smile and greeting when you walk in. We were still in the act of sitting down when the waitress came over and said "How many coffees?". No time wasters here. Service is swift, food is served piping hot, every bite delicious. I have every reason to go back.
(4)John A.
Five star service. They will even cut up your food for you. Food is a 3.5 star but service makes up for it. Also extremely fast!!
(5)Joe M.
Yes sir, wifey took me here for first time. Soooo good! Small place so you may need to wait a bit to sit down, but very worth the wait. Only takes cash so go to bank. I had ham and swiss cheese omelette (two eggs) with extra crispy hash browns, oj and a short stack. Everything was excellent. About ten bucks each. The flapjacks, OMG, I'm still wiping down my private areas from enjoying them so much (who needs playboy anymore, have a flapjack). Please go, it's cheaper than signing up to adultfriendfinder.com !!!
(5)kee p.
Some friends and I will never ever visit this place again, and will never recommend this place in a positive light ever. It started off ok but went terribly wrong as time went on. First sign was when the waitress brought our check out with our food. (Who does that? what if we wanted something else. Ok so no big deal we did overlooked it.) Second sign was when the waitress noticed one of us had finished our meal and she came back with boxes for everyone else at the table. (Ok maybe I'm still eating but ok maybe I'm reading too much into this). Last but not least the waitress comes to our table and asked us to leave because she said they had a crowd. Ok so you can't be serious, but she was because I did take in another group of 3 that was asked the same thing. Of course we decided to leave because now we realize she is just rude as hell. We walks to the cashier who seemed to be managing everything and expressed we felt offended about being asked to leave after we had spent our money. Her response was that they tend to do this on the weekends. I don't care how busy you are its never ok to ask your patrons to leave its bad customer service and do not reflect well on your business. I don't think we were there a good hour, before we were rushed out. I will never return to this place EVER..
(1)K D.
This is a GREAT little diner in the community. Service is great, coffee is hot & fresh, food comes out super fast, everything is tasty and they know a lot of people by name. You can customize your order and artificial sweeteners are behind the counter, just ask for "Blue, yellow or pink". Note: This is NOT a super high end place so don't bother stopping in if you're looking for a champagne brunch. This IS a great spot for friends &/or family to have a great meal in a clean, comfortable and affordable place with friendly service. We go with our 6 year old who likes to belly up to the counter to chat with Louie & the waitresses. They always make his visit special!
(5)Qadree H.
If you are looking for a a good breakfast diner to go to with your family, this place is great. They recently renovated which gave them 3 times the space and they are able to accommodate more people and if there is a wait, it is significantly less. I stumbled upon this place when I lived in the neighborhood and still continue to drive from the city for their breakfast. Their waitresses are career servers and they are always always friendly. In addition, they offer turkey products which is always a plus with me.
(5)David C.
bottom line: very worthwhile food was good- great pancakes service is quick and friendly the place is simple and small but usually seats quickly. price is lower than any other diner i've tried recently.
(5)Christine K.
My family and I have been going to Louie's for years. It is by far the best little breakfast place around! Louie is the friendliest guy! He always remembers to say hello to the boys and ask how they are doing. Now, on to the food...the pancakes are to die for! They are simply the best pancakes I have ever had, ever! The oatmeal is awesome too! They also have great patty melts. Absolutely the best diner food around. You can't go wrong with Louie's! Just be prepared to wait a bit if you go on the weekends...though the turnaround is quick.
(5)Dain H.
Convenient and unusual home feel. Haven't been here in awhile but I like the egg and ham sandwich (the ham is cooked tenderly) and the pancakes. Nothing really incredible but if you're hungry, blue collar and in the area come by.
(3)Tara B.
If you're not in the mood for canned soup and/or don't feel like making your soup from scratch this week, Louie's is the place. I've been there 4 x's for breakfast and end eating the soup always before my meal. Quick service with a smile, warm feeling environment and good food.
(4)Dug D.
ham off the bone pretty much says it all for me. polite/friendly staff. FAST service. Louie might even throw a quick 'hi' your way if you come in frequently. CASH ONLY
(4)Lois M.
Great "diner" food. Had a cheese and Mushroom omelet today and it was very good. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful (we had a 15-min wait for a friend to show-up so the waitress brought each of our 4 very young children a paper cup full of fruit loops to tide them over). :) Love this place.
(4)joe c.
awesome dub-t breakfast
(5)Aaron M.
There's nothing like a nice, solid greasy breakfast to cure a hangover. Their omelettes are delicious and pancakes are massive. Portions all around are very generous. And it's pretty cheap. You can't go wrong with this place!
(4)Kathy R.
I love this place! It's nothing fancy, but simple grill food. Louie and his staff are totally friendly and know most of the patrons by name.. The best part of this place is the atmosphere...it's a total neighborhood joynt. There is a large countertop that wraps around the grill and most of the singles sit there. They immediately will hand you the paper when you sit down. I go there frequently and they just ask, "The usual?" Many of the people at the counter chat with one another, strangers or not. The best thing about the food? They have ham on the bone and give you a generous portion and they have real half and half for their (fairly decent) coffee. Don't expect your cup to ever reach the bottom. I almost always get my food in about 3 to 5 minutes. This is where I go when I need breakfast in a hurry. For lunch, try a melt. Pretty good burgers too, for cheap. I tend to stay away fromt the omlettes. They are a little over-cooked...but the other egg preparations are good. I always ask for my english muffin "dry" because they use a "mystery" spread that resembles butter, but isn't. When you order it "dry", they will automatically give you packets of real butter with your toast. Bring cash. You can leave a very generous tip and get out of there for under 6 or 7 bucks...Thanks Louie!
(4)Julie C.
Love it. Good comfort food, good value, friendly and attentive service. When I first moved here there was smoking allowed in the place...needless to say, because of the size eating there was gross. With the smoking ban I really enjoy popping in there for a pancake fix or some good soup! All kinds of folks come in so it is a great people watching place. What's the story with all the lighthouses Louie?
(4)Steve N.
Fantastic breakfast food. Corned beef hash to die for. Pancakes will knock your socks off. Only thing better is the service - always with a smile.
(4)Michael C.
If you love dinners, endless cups of coffee, good food, amazing service, friendly people, and Louie go here! This place is my mecca. Waking up tired and/or hungover there is nothing else I can think about.
(5)