I had the day off of work and figured, what better time to check out the birthplace of the hamburger since I live so close to it?! So, I shot on down to New Haven, CT to check out Louis' Lunch! Lol. Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right downtown New Haven is this gem. There is no private parking so you'll have to find a structure or spot on the street to park your fly ride. The outside doesn't fit into the city AT ALL. Lol. It's a small brick building that actually closes during the month of August to "take inventory of spoons". I'm sure it's just a break for the employees and it makes all the sense in the world. Once inside you're transported right back to... who knows what time with stone and brick everywhere. There's little decor aside from relics that have been here since the restaurant's inception. Service: There is no table service so you just go up to the counter, order from the very limited menu, pay in cash then go sit down until your name is called. It's fairly simple and not bad at all. Food: There isn't much on the menu here... hamburgers, cheeseburgers, potato salad, chips and pie. It's fairly straightforward. You also get the option to add tomato and onion if you'd like. So I went with the cheeseburger with all the fixings. It was fine. Lol. They're steamed in the original sideways steamers then the cheese is added along with the tomato and onion then sandwiched between 2 slices of white bread. Places like this exist not because the food is exception, but because of history and nostalgia. There's nothing wrong with that at all! Value: I can't remember how much I spent, but I think it was less than $20.00 for 2 cheeseburgers and some chips. A fairly inexpensive lunch if you ask me. In conclusion, I came, I saw, I conquered. I don't need to revisit this place because I did it once and a burger like this isn't what I'm looking for on a regular basis. Cheers to Louis' Lunch for sticking around since 1895! read more

The BEST potato salad ever. I also just tried the hamburger and wow. I need to go in person to eat it hot. I recommend this place off of those 2 items alone. read more

Louis' Lunch - Potato Salad - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Been wanting to go here ever since seeing it on tv and online. The original hamburger, I love going to places like this. So much history, it was really cool and the food was great too. If I'm ever in the area again I'd definitely return read more

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TBH there are better burgers if you search far and wide but this institution is all about history. Take my advice and just go with the flow and enjoy your experience knowing you ate at the oldest burger joint. Yes the burgers are on toasted bread and yes they're small by today standards but same time they're very reasonably priced for a so called tourist trap. I ordered two burgers and a soda with tip for only $21. The staff is very patient and nice in this tiny establishment. read more

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It can be a long wait but I believe it is worth it. If you're craving for one of the best burgers in New Haven, I would recommend going here. The cheeseburger is definitely top notch quality read more

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I was in the mood for a burger and happened to be across the street from Louis Lunch. Instead of eating it there, I got takeout, which made a world of difference. For one thing, the burger cooked a little more by the time I got it home, so it wasn't so rare. I prefer medium, so that was a good thing. And being home, I could add condiments which you can't get in the restaurant plus my own side dishes that they don't have in the restaurant. I actually enjoyed my burger a lot more and will take out going forward. read more

Louis' Lunch - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Louis knows what he's doing! This landmark caught my attention on various videos and food shows as the first burger joint in the US. So on a recent tristate trip, we decided to stop by New Haven for a snack. Luckily, we got there before the crowd and ordered our burgers and potato salad. The burgers were on the rare side and super juicy, simple and delicious. The potato salad was also pretty good and quickly devoured. The restaurant stands out amongst the modern buildings nearby and the interiors were rustic and weathered (in a good way). Everything was made of thick wood and many visitors have left their mark. read more

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So happy to be able to try Louis's Lunch the inventor of the hamburger. As seen on TV the iron ovens are over 100 years old and cooked the most delicious burgers vertically toasted bread instead of buns, cheese, tomato and onion a very basic but delicious burger it's tiny inside the hostess was very nice. Takes your order very cheerful. There is a wait. 20 to 30 minutes for your food away that's worth it customers don't seem to mind there are probably lots of tourists in the small room. I picked up our three burgers handed them to my family and started to enjoy at the first bite The Meat is very flavorful and well seasoned. Very juicy flavorful and delicious. If I could, I would be back to try the delicious burgers again. read more

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$8 for a piece of history? This is a no-brainer. And it's quite good, too! Juicy, good level of goop from the cheese sauce. Only thing missing is some acid, either from ketchup (sorry) or maybe some pickles? But it's a solid burger and a cool vibe. I'll be back! read more

Louis' Lunch - Burger - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The original hamburger, yes the patty could use a little salt but that's not the point. You go there to get a taste of history. It only sides are potato salad in a foam cup or chips. The inside is VERY small so be prepared to be cramp in tight quarters. The decor made you feel like you were transported back to a medieval tavern, kinda ecliptic. This was one of our bucket list and glad to be able to check it off. This was definitely an experience. read more

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Long wait. Burger tasted good; however, it was barely warm. Please upgrade the paper plate size and quality. I felt a bit rushed while eating and therefore could not enjoy the "history" of this place. Hubby was not impressed (and he loves him any burger)! A few minor adjustments to detail may improve another visitor's experience. Maybe upgrade the Wonder Bread to a hearty country white. You know life was good before electricity, but I think it only got better with the bulb...wink. read more

Louis' Lunch in New Haven, CT, is celebrated as the birthplace of the hamburger, recognized by the Library of Congress. Established in 1895, this historic eatery has been serving its signature hamburger sandwich for over a century. The burgers are prepared using original cast-iron grills dating back to 1898, and are served between two slices of white toast. In keeping with tradition, Louis' Lunch does not offer condiments like ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise. This commitment to simplicity and authenticity makes a visit to Louis' Lunch a unique and worthwhile experience! The place is tiny, rustic and oozes history. You must go. read more

Louis' Lunch - The "grill" - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The original burger! And...the best burger in my opinion. The beef is exceptionally juicy and was perfectly cooked. Toppings were cheese, grilled onion and tomato. Absolute work of art. I devoured mine in about 3 or 4 bites and was ready for more. The restaurant was a time capsule and a really cool experience. Definitely a must see and experience if you're in new haven. read more

Louis' Lunch - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Louis' Lunch boasts that they are the first burger joint in the U.S. (maybe ever?). The place is a small brick building that's surrounded by some of New Haven's more modern and hip bars and restaurants. They take a strong stance on some old traditions such as the burgers are cooked in the original broilers, sandwiched between toasted white bread, and served with absolutely no condiments. You can get your burger with cheese, onions, and tomatoes. Oh and the burgers are cooked medium rare. Don't worry, there are signs everywhere that let you know that this is the way it is, and you can't ask otherwise! I very much enjoyed my burger, it was the perfect snack size and felt very "clean" and light. I wasn't left with grease stains all over my shirt or the usual post-meal slug after eating something fried and oily. Although, the burger didn't need ketchup, it could have used a pinch of salt and pepper. My boyfriend and I also shared the potato salad and while it was creamy, a bit salty for my tastes. I would highly recommend anyone to stop by for a bite if they're in the area, it's worth the hype! read more

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This place is a gem. Talk about a juicy and delicious burger. One of the best I've ever had. I wish I ordered another. Very friendly people behind the counter. Can't wait to come back. read more

Louis' Lunch - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Such a great place to feel as though you have travelled back in time. Only serving hamburgers or cheeseburgers on toast with only tomato or grilled onions and potato salad, it's not a 5 star restaurant but it is a 5 star experience. The quaint old building and the heavily scarred wood walls and seating from having names, places, etc. carved over decades by customers give a lot to look at. It's a friendly place too. read more

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Delicious! Classic simple cheeseburger. Potato salad is great. Foxon park sodas. A must try for a quick lunch!

Saw Louis' Lunch on Food Network and put it on my list when ever I made it to New Haven. Inside is very small and seating is very limited. There is parking on the side of the building, but it's a private lot so you'll have to pay. And they only accept cash. The burger was bland, a little too plain for me, and they only cook it medium rare. Their only toppings are cheese, tomato, and onion, nothing else. I understand they want to stay true to their history, but I think it's time to get with the times. I glad I tried it as it is a big part of American history, but I won't return. read more

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Burgers definitely one thing I've had soo many variations of at soo many different places with soo many different combinations that it would be impossible to list them all. How are all those burgers relevant to this review you might ask well they are because none of them would exist if it wasn't for the one found here at Louis Lunch as they are credited with inventing the burger. The burgers here are simple toasted white bread with meat, cheese, tomato, and onions with the meat being cooked medium rare making for one juicy flavorful burger that just really hit the spot! Like the flavor of this burger was sooo yummy like it totally didn't need anything else other than what was already on it but the real kicker for it was that bread as it's surprisingly very good too and I must say this is totally up there with one of the best burgers I've ever had hands down! So for a side I went with their potato salad and it too was perfect just super yummy and totally delicious in between those burger bites. The guys working were also super friendly and very fun to talk with as it was just us in the store they totally made this just that much better. They take cash and cards and also have a small space inside with a handful of seats to eat at and from what I was told they get a good sized late night crowd on the nights they are open late so definitely plan accordingly. Overall this has been a spot I've wanted to go to for years and it didn't disappoint in anyway as this was definitely up there with one of the best burgers I've ever had with that said who knows when I'll be able to get back here again but if I'm in the area I'm sooo coming back! read more

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I've been wanting to come here since I heard about it a few years ago. While in New Haven recently, I got the chance. Meter parking and a lot are available. There's really not much to review. There's a lot of fascinating history and nostalgia which makes it very cool. Very limited menu which makes ordering easy. Is it the best burger in the world? Clearly not, but it's good and inexpensive. Cooked right in front of you. They have been around for over 100 years doing it their way. If you have an issue not being able to dictate how things should be done, you probably shouldn't go. There's a line of people waiting behind you that don't care. read more

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took too long bad service gave other people food that walked in after me while I was waiting there for hours don't waste time or ur money

Basic burger; under seasoned on white toast that barely held up to the burger, onion, tomato, and cheese. Potato salad was also nothing special. Waited 25 minutes and drove out of my way for what I thought was going to be something memorable. ..... not so much ‍. New Haven; stick to Pizza read more

Absolutely nothing special about this place. Walked in at 2:30pm on a Tuesday, there were 3 people waiting for their burger orders ahead of me and it took 17 minutes to get my burger order. Louis lunch definitely defines slow. Tomato and onion are the only things you can get with your burger and they have no condiments. The counter guy(skinny with glasses) had the personality of sawdust. The guy working the grille wearing a mask was the slowest human being I started thinking Take may be experimenting gene splicing with sloths. They make burgers medium rare but the one I got was on the ultra low end of that closer to rare with some purple hues coming through. I make better burgers on my outdoor grille with grocery store quality ground meat that's for sure. This place definitely didn't invent the hamburger and only exists off being practically on Yale campus and kids buying burger type foods. read more

I came back to get one of these famous burgers! Delicious and so glad this place is still here. Yeah, small little hole in the wall which seems nothing fancy, and burgers are not grilled or charbroiled or sous vide. NO, there are no condiments (NO, again, not even ketchup) or fancy cocktails or beer or brioche buns. Simple delicious burger (you can get cheese) cooked MR on toasted white bread in the place credited with the birth of the burger-right here in the Nutmeg state. Pretty darned awesome. read more

Louis' Lunch - Birch beer - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Louis' Lunch makes a great burger. Any burger that doesn't need condiments is simply delectable. The simplicity of the white toast, the smokiness of the medium rare beef, the prefectly sliced tomato, with onions plus the cheese wiz made for a great combination of ingredients. The burger was perfectly seasoned as well. What's even better was the classic StateLine potato chips that I ate on the side. I haven't had StateLine in years, and to simply put it... it was the best bag of chips I had in years. Lays Potato Chips have nothing on those bad mama Jammas. Moreover, the owner was a nice man and the service was prompt. Also, the decor of the restaurant reminded me of the late 1700's. There's almost a colonial Strubridge Village vibe in this place. So, with that said, if you want a good burger, then stop in. $8.00 is a bargain these days. Louis' Lunch is much cheaper than the fast food joints and the food is a lot healthier, and satisfying. Five stars... that's a review. read more

We have waited for years to try Louis's lunch in New Haven, Connecticut. They were featured on the Food Channel over 6 years ago as the origin of the hamburger. For foodies, this is like going to Mecca for hamburgers. We finally located a street parking spot in downtown New Haven. While driving around, we were treated to the beautiful Yale campus and falling leaves. I understand that Louis's is a very small building. This location is the original and still has the original vertical hamburger cookers. Louis's is a purist and they DON'T have ketchup or mustard. In fact, they get upset if you ask. There have only 15 dine-in seats and they reek of Nostalgia. The burgers are served on toasted white bread with a tomato slice and an optional slice of cheddar cheese. In our current wave of huge burger, wars, Louis's spins the table and gives you only one item to taste, the quality of their meat. There are no options for sauce to mask the meat flavor but rather the burger stands alone. Potato salad and different types of pies are available, but we only tried the burger. The burger arrived hot, medium rare and juicy. It was dripping as we ate. The only spice I could taste was a faint hint of salt. The burger was small in size but a real quality burger with good taste. Eating at Louis's Lunch is not about huge, overstacked burgers with crazy condiments. Louis's is about a quality hamburger pattie developed long ago and standing on old cooking techniques. The burger was good but the history of the place and it's origin makes this a must try at least once. My hat is off to their staying original, and making a single quality product. If you are New Haven, duck in and treat yourself to an original. While your there, suck in the history, too. read more

Louis' Lunch - An original Louis burger with cheese - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This small restaurant is a historic gem ! Folks from out of town may not know this but this is where the first hamburger was invented and they still make it the same way till this day ! It is a no frills restaurant but the staff was great and the burger was made with love The only toppings that are offered are cheese , onions , and tomatoes . ( no condiments) I would recommend this place ! read more

Louis' Lunch - The first hamburger was invented here - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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They say you go here to get a taste of history. I wanted to try the original hamburger. I immediately regretted it. This place, after 128 years, must be getting along based on historical significance alone. It cannot be the dry, tasteless, overcooked (they claim to only serve med rare- nope!) burgers on nasty thin-sliced white toast alone. No way. We will not be back. Grumpy service workers (I don't blame them having to work with 128 year old antique cookware and zero space to prep and serve the food!) the one thing we liked was the charming look of the space itself but I'd say walk in, take a look, and then walk out and go to one of the million better places to get good food in New Haven! read more

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The food is and that is it. You respect the food and the place for the incredible position they both hold in gastronomical and American history. Even if you prefer your hamburger a different way at a different place it is Louis' that ultimately gave you the opportunity to have the choice. It is an amazing place because there is nothing like it anywhere in the world esthetically and the sole culinary contribution that it has made is arguably as important and the lightbulb. Accept Louis for what it is, be grateful for it and enjoy yourself because there are few places on this Earth that you can sit and eat a piece of history. read more

Louis' Lunch - The classic burger with onion on toast. - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Such a cool and historic spot! If you live in CT, you definitely have to make the trip to Louis' Lunch at some point (if for nothing else, just to say you went). Louis' claims to be the first restaurant to serve a hamburger in the United States, although there are some other restaurants that apparently claim the same thing. The interior of the restaurant will bring you back to the year 1900... it's very small, with only a few tables/booths for seating, as well as one large table located in a back room. The seating is cramped and not very comfortable, but it's all about the experience! Parking is available in an adjacent lot (pay to park, $2/hour). The menu is very simple: Hamburger or cheeseburger, with only sliced tomato or onion available for toppings. If you do get a cheeseburger, they use a Cheez Whiz-type spread rather than sliced cheese. The burgers are cooked in original cast iron vertical gas broilers from 1898 and served on white toast rather than a bun. The only sides available are chips or potato salad (no fries!). The only dessert option is pie. You also may be surprised to find there is not a condiment in sight (and yes, that includes ketchup!). DO NOT ask for ketchup or bring your own. I heard a Yale student once snuck his own ketchup bottle in and was thrown out of the restaurant! The idea is that they want you to actually taste the flavor of the meat, and not mask it with condiments. There are also no Coke products here (but they have a variety of Foxon Park sodas). When I went there were only two employees (the owners, I believe), one taking orders and the other cooking. The cook was a very funny guy, cracking jokes with almost everyone who came in. Because the burgers are made to order (and due to the old-style broilers they're cooked in) you may have to wait some time for your order, so I wouldn't recommend going if you're in a rush. As for the burger itself, it was good! I wouldn't say it's the best burger I've ever had, but still I love the history that it contains and just the whole vibe of the restaurant. Overall, Louis' Lunch is a CT landmark that you need to check out! read more

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The original hamburger joint in the United States that sired them all... This is a no frills, basic burger joint. Aside from burgers, the only other menu options are chips, potato salad, and two pies to pick from. They do not serve french fries. The burgers take a while to be cooked because they are still using centuries old equipment and a centuries old recipe. All burgers are cooked medium rare, on white toast. The only toppings you can pick from are cheese, onion, and tomato. There is no ketchup option here. Do not think about asking for it or even sneaking it in. As the the burger itself, it is a delicious burger, but the meat is more like chopped steak instead of ground beef. There is a lot of juice in it, but no char or smoky flavor that you would expect at Burger King or other burger joints around the country. The toppings are minimal in appearance, but that is fine. I would rather the burger be the star of the show, rather than a lather of cheese ruining it. At $7.25, it is not a cheap burger, but still a good one I highly recommend you try. I have been impressed with the food in the city of New Haven. It is a lively city with amazing architecture, a vibrant nightlife, and picturesque beaches. It represents everything Connecticut once was, is, and what will be for generations to come, and I hope to return here again sometime in the near future. read more

Louis' Lunch - Hamburger with cheese and tomato - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Louis' Lunch is a slice of history. The tiny brick building is not only an historic landmark, but you literally walk back in time since the hamburgers are made on the original cast iron gas broilers from 1898, and the toast is made in an automatic radiant toaster from 1929. I'd never heard of the restaurant until today; and we were actually eating lunch a few blocks over when I read about Louis' Lunch on a Yale University list of recommended eateries. As a history major in an academic town, the historic significance of Louis' Lunch naturally drew me in. Not only is the hamburger recipe all-original, but even how the original hamburger is made is the closest we'll get to tasting what people ate over a century ago. Moreover, beyond the allure of the restaurant's rustic charm, the hamburger is delicious! No wonder its popularity was an instant success & the hamburger is now eaten the world-over. Count me as one of the many who sing the high praises for Louis' Lunch. This is a must-stop New Haven destination, and certainly someplace I'd return to enjoy a tasty burger. read more

Louis' Lunch - Menu: Hamburger or cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Workers and patrons were friendly. German/English vibe inside. Burgers good, (last one was slightly more rare than the others) strawberry rubatb pie good. As stated, potato salad delish. read more

Louis' Lunch - Burgers Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Cheeseurgers are $7.25 you can get it w or w/o cheese, tomato, and onion only, NO CONDIMENTS , normally cooked medium rare. They tell you up front the burgers take 15 minutes to cook, (maybe longer if they are busy), and the unique vertical cast gas broilers are really something to see which were buily in the late 1800's, this birthplace of the hamburger has been pushing out their quality product out if this small, unique restaurant since 1895. I was a little skeptical about their hype about no condiments, but eating this excellent burger I get it, the flavors of the meat along with just cheese, tomatos, and onion does let the delicious flavor of their proprietary meat combination come through. The last time I was on a roadtrip up through the New England states a few years ago, I stopped in New Haven to give L L a try, but I came on a Monday and they were closed, so I'm glad I got a chance this time to give them a try. read more

Established in 1895, Louis Lunch is a family-owned restaurant in the heart of New Haven that is still run by the same family (4th generation) and is the birthplace of the hamburger! The story behind the first hamburger was that one day in 1900, a man was in a rush and wanted something he could eat on the run. The owner of Louis Lunch at the time ground steak trimmings between two slices of toast for the man, and the hamburger was born! The hamburgers at this place haven't changed much since their creation. Burgers are made fresh daily, served on two pieces of white bread, and they are still cooked to order in the original cast-iron grills dating back to 1898. The place only offers cheese, tomato, and onion as condiments, as they do not want the condiments to get in the way of the burger. In addition to burgers, the place has a small selection of sodas and chips, as well as coffee, coleslaw, and pie. I tried the coleslaw and it was delicious! It was served in a small coffee cup, which was pretty funny. The pie looked delicious as well. The place itself is pretty awesome. It looks like it hasn't changed much since it was established in 1895. The only downside is that there are only ~3ish tables, and they are all pretty small. They offer all of their food for takeout as well in order to combat this. They also serve all of their food on disposable/paper plates. When you are done eating you have to take your trash to the counter, as there is not even have a trash can in the place! The guy who was behind the counter when I went (who I assume is in the Lois Lunch family) was very nice and you could tell he took a lot of pride in the place. He didn't ask me how I wanted my burger cooked, and it was definitely rare. Next time that I go I am going to ask for it cooked medium-well (and maybe even well-done), because it left me with a little iron-y/metalic-y taste after I was done with it. The place has been recognized by The Travel Channel, The Food Network, and many others, and I totally understand why! 9 read more

OMG, best hamburger you will ever have anywhere! My absolute favorite place to get a hamburger. No frills, just fabulous. Don't ask for ketchup. read more

It's not often you get to visit a place that is over a century old. Especially one that I saw on the food network growing up so it was a great stop to our visit to see what all the hype was about! We came during the summer so it wasn't as crazy as I think it might be during the school year so we didn't have to wait and were the only people there. The place itself was such a unique spot to visit and they really kept everything the same as much as they could. Not your typical burger joint but it's one of the most unique! Since we were grabbing another dinner afterwards we only got one original burger to go and to share. One is not enough on your own so if you're hungry definitely get one per person. After we ordered it was wild to see how they cooked them sideways in the old cast iron grills. Simple burgers on sliced bread and toppings but burgers were juicy and medium. read more

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This is the real deal. Long wait, coupled with a potent aroma of beef and zero music, this is a spiritual experience. Come here. sh. Just come. read more

Quick bite lunch. This is our 4th visit here at Louis Lunch and we always get a good service and delicious burger. The cook and cashier are both helpful and having fun while working. A historical restaurant that never disappoints. A must when you're visiting New Haven and Yale University. 5 Star for me. read more

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Finally made it!! It's been on my list for so many years. I got the cheese burger, they asked if I wanted onions and tomato and said yes. The meat is cooked to medium and it took about 5 minutes to get my order. It's cut in half and the burger was good and juicy. It was bit weird eating a hamburger on a regular toast bun, but it was good. I could get use to it. Thankfully it wasn't busy. There were only five folks in the store - all eating. It didn't pick-up until as I was leaving. If you are in the area, make sure to make a visit the place where hamburger was born! read more

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