Hamburger Heaven
If you're anywhere near New Haven around lunchtime and before 4pm on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or 1:30am Thursday-Saturday, do yourself a favor and stop by Louis Lunch for a piece of hamburger heaven. These burgers have been made the same way for a hundred years, and clearly practice makes perfect. Served on slices of toasted white bread, the beef is ground on the premises every morning and cooked to perfection on vertical grills that produce the most delectable, unfatty beef patty this side of Hamburg. Order the cheeseworks rare (not that there are many other options--late night you might be lucky and score a steak sandwich, which is also rather good) and watch the masters go to work. Don't be put off by the brusque service--it's all part of the charm--and for the love of god don't ask for ketchup, because all you'll get is a dirty look. Oh, and don't forget the potato salad, which is inexplicably good. If you have any room for more food, you can try the homemade pies, or you can do what comes naturally to any regular, and order another round.    [03 Oct 2002 20:17:25]

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Recommended Dishes: cheeseworks (burger with onion, tomato and a cheese product of some sort--mmm)

     ­Anonymous   

So what?
Established 1895. So what? It's 2003 - how about some ketchup?    [11 Jul 2003 05:31:38]

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Recommended Dishes: BIG MAC

     ­Anonymous   

Awful & Overhyped.
This was truly one of the worst dining experiences of my life. The staff is rude; the food is ridiculously overpriced for what you get. The hamburger is cooked in what essentially is a toaster--so burned on the outside and bloody on the inside; and served on a piece of white bread.
We waited over 30 minutes while people (clearly old timers) who came in after us were served--the exact things we had ordered--first.    [28 Oct 2004 18:30:44]

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Recommended Dishes: Nothing!!

     ­Sarah   

Sensational
Fabulous. Will never eat a Big Mac again. The cheeseworks is outstanding. I can see why they don't have ketchup or mustard for their burgers. Why ruin the incredible taste of the Louis burger? There is nothing better than eating at one of the "old establishments." The best. The "old establishments" knew how to do it right.    [27 Dec 2004 18:09:27]

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     ­Pat   

Best In New Haven area
People complaining here have been corrupted by the awful McDonald's version of garbage passing as food. If you want to try a burger as it was meant to be, try Louis Lunch. The counter person does a great imitation of the "Soup Nazi" (burger Nazi?), which is part of the charm. The locals know the routine there. It's a fun place with well over a hundred years of history behind it. Fantastic food, but as the owner says, "If you want it your way, go to Burger King"    [08 Jul 2007 10:04:32]

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     ­Egambino, Springfield, MA   

Amazing
It's probably the best hamburger that I've ever had, and I've had many. If you like a burger smothered in sauce and stacked high with garnish, this isn't your place. But if you like the best beef perfectly cooked (and anything over rare to medium rare is a shame) you're in for a treat. They keep it simple - simpley the best.    [30 Jan 2008 18:05:15]

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Recommended Dishes: also go for the potato 'salad'

     ­d   

disappointing
Unattractive,gruff counterstaff said "20 minutes" for a cheese burger w/the works (tomato, onion & what looked like cheese-whiz)- the wait was easily 40 minutes - $6.75 for a smallish burger (albeit a reasonably tasty one) & a bag of chips. Bad service, hellish wait & marginal quality did not trump whatever historical signifigance I may have briefly exprienced.    [05 May 2008 14:02:17]

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     ­TR, innocent bystander