Breakfest with Uncle Loui
By Adam P. Zahn
Uncle Loui’s Café is a spectacle to behold, it is a café type restaurant but not of the traditional standards. Sitting among a slew of other establishments Uncle Loui’s fills its own niche.
The grandeur of Uncle Loui’s is unlike that of most restaurants or cafés mainly because it is neither of those two things. It is more of a subtle combination of the two.
Uncle Loui’s is a small establishment that on a busy day could sit no more than 50 people. The lack of size is made up for with a fitting homely atmosphere.
Duluth native Nichole Lindholm sits at one of the simple wooden booths that fill the left side of the café. Through the back, a semi-visible kitchen is busy pumping out delicious meal after delicious meal.
“Uncle Loui’s is a great breakfast dive (the type) that you see in the movies. The French toast is a must,� said Lindholm. “I love to join the locals and ditch the ritzy, overpriced Black Bear breakfast buffet and get a seat at Loui’s.�
“During the weekends this place is packed. Credit cards are not accepted which makes me feel like this place still hasn’t gone mainstream,� said Lindholm.
Kevin Pilon, a fourth-year student at University of Minnesota Duluth describes Uncle Loui’s feel.
“It could very easily be a ‘Cheers’ type place where you could walk in and feel so comfortable that everyone would know your name. You could sit down and just order ‘the usual’ and you would be so content that you would almost not want to leave,� said Pilon.
Eric Johnson, Uncle Loui’s employee and UMD graduate, enjoys working at Uncle Loui’s. Being a longtime customer, his love for their good food and hopes of extra cash intrigued Johnson to apply for a position.
“The small-town atmosphere here while being located in the big city makes for some fun shifts here with the varying people we get,� said Johnson. “Sure there are the regulars, but most days you really never know who is going to walk through those doors, where they are going to be from and what their story is.�
Uncle Loui’s, is predominately known for its breakfast and Johnson definitely agrees.
“Pretty much everything here tastes great, but the breakfasts are to die for.�
Uncle Loui’s is located at 520 East Fourth St. For inquiries call (218) 727-4518.