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Buffa Louie's
Categories: Restaurants Chicken Wings Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants American (Traditional) Chicken Wings, Sandwiches, American (Traditional) [Edit]
114 S Indiana AveBloomington, IN 47408
(812) 333-3030
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Buffa Louie's
Review Highlights
22 reviews in English
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Review from Ann M.
Bloomington, IN
5/20/2012
I am a creature of habit, and my husband and I have had a habit for the last several months of going to Buffa Louie's every Wednesday night so he can get the 50 cent boneless wings in the volcanic sauce. Its just shy of the blazing sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings as the hottest sauce you can find in town - or so he tells me. I'm not touching that stuff! (Occasionally they have a hotter sauce in the back that they are trying out - just ask.)
I switch back and forth between their salads (the full size ones are almost too large for me), their chicken sandwiches (I like the chicken oriental and the teriyaki, both of which are sweet) and their really fantastic Buffalo-style burger. In my very learned opinion (lived here 9 years and tried every burger in town at least once), Buffa Louie's has the best burger in town. Yep, I'll debate anyone. Sure, Bub's are big and tasty and Opie Taylor's has everyone beat on sheer diversity. Five Guys are indulgently greasy and comforting. But no burger in town comes close to the ones at Buffa Louie's. Their meat is tasty and freshly ground, their buns are always fresh and high quality, and they come out perfect every time I've had them. My only wish for something they could do differently is to offer a 1/2 burger - theirs are really big! I'm guessing a half pound? I don't think burgers make great leftovers and a full size burger is just WAY too much for me to contemplate for lunch, ever.
I love the "make it a meal" options with the fries, onion rings, or salad and a drink. On Wednesdays we usually have a combined tab of about $22 with tip, and we lave stuffed. I also like their tomoto cheese bread, but I don't get to order it much when I get a burger, as it would just be way too much food.
We've been there when there were three other diners and when there were 50 others. You might wait for a bit, but Ed and his management staff hire friendly people who move orders through as fast and as efficiently as possible. We've eve gotten to know a couple. I love to bring people from out of town here for a Bloomington experience. -
Review from Paul C.
New York, NY
5/1/2012 1 photo
The food's standard (except the wings, which are great), but what's really impressive to me is the amount of culture built up in here. The church-like ambience, the layers and layers of different phases the gables have gone though, the rowdy people ringing the bells, the strange hyper-religious people who come by, and the athletic history lesson on your way to the bathroom. Cool place. Probably one of a kind.
Comment from Ed S. of Buffa Louie's 5/2/2012
Thanks for taking the time to post these kind words about… More » -
Review from Edward M.
11/13/2011
Went on a Saturday, not a game day. Was in town to visit a friend and she said this place was good. It was very good actually! It's order at the counter, bring food to table type place.
We ordered 50 wings since we had 5 of us and just wanted a bunch of wings, the owner? Ed?, suggested Honey Garlic and TnT. We also go onion rings and fries. I also ordered some Sweet BBQ.
The wings are very good, really crispy! I love it! The Honey Garlic and the Sweet BBQ were both very good. I could use a touch more garlic taste in the Honey Garlic. Be prepared for a mess, there is a TON of sauce on the bottom haha. You can dip stuff in it though :)
The onion rings are also very good. The fries are curly and have no seasoning on them but are cooked very well.
There are a bunch of tv's and the staff are VERY friendly. Food took about 10 ish minutes to get ready but it's fresh which was great. I would def come back.
Noise level is between normal and loud, but it's not so loud you can't hear people talking. -
Review from Jamie P.
Carmel, IN
2/29/2012
I always have to stop in here when I come to Bloomington. Best. Wings. Ever. And curly fries!!!!!! Atmosphere is casual and relaxed... great place to chill out and watch a game.
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Review from K and J L.
Honolulu, HI
11/2/2011
The service was so terrible I was totally shocked. The caucasian female cashier was soooooo rude. She didn't put our order in so after all of our friends got our food and we didn't we checked on it. She said your burgers will be the next ones out. 15 more minutes still no burgers so we asked her again. This time she said oh your orders weren't put in so it hasn't even been started yet. Then offers us a cookie as if that would fix anything. So she offers us a refund and goes to talk to her manager about it. Then she comes back and feverishly types on her little touch screen not saying a word. So we ask if they are still going to be making our food and she SNAPS at us saying I just got yelled at by manager about this so if you want you can go talk to him!
First of all it isn't our fault you suck at your job, you deserve to be yelled at by your manager if you can't take and put in orders at a restaurant.
Secondly I think it is disgusting that you guys spit all over our food as you run around yelling our names. Seriously get a better system for getting food to your customers without the side of spit.
Our group of seven is definitely not ever going back after that fiasco.Comment from Ed S. of Buffa Louie's 5/8/2012
K & J, I want to apologize for not getting back to you… More » -
Review from Thomas N.
7/6/2011
I frequent this place for two reasons:
1) It is a great place to watch NFL football on Sundays if you are looking for a low-alcohol scene.
2) The owner Ed is a terrific guy from NY who works his butt off, sometimes with his baby girl strapped snug to his chest as he takes orders. Makes you want him to succeed.
As for the food, it isn't bad, isn't great. Kind of on the boring "Indiana food" side, meaning your standard Sysco products arranged to please the average everyday American. This means chicken wings (pretty good ones, at that), sandwiches, salads, ranch dressing, burgers, and other fried stuff, much like Nick's, Yogi's, and Scotty's nearby. Prices seem just a wee bit high considering no sides are served with sandwiches. -
Review from Paul O.
Urbana, IL
9/6/2011
The buffalo wings along with the sauce were great.
The portions were sizable and the turkey club sandwich was a real treat. Much better than you might expect.
This was all on off hours. I'd love to see what this place is like on a game day. -
Review from Suzanne R.
Indianapolis, IN
1/2/2012
Lunch for four: boneless and regular wings, guys rated four stars. Grilled chicken sand and grilled turkey/cheese, girls gave three stars. Friendly. Under $30.
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Review from Merry K.
Miami, FL
9/7/2011
I LOVEEE this place. It is super close to campus and cures any wing or chicken sandwich craving. Also a great place for big groups. The owner is cool too, I like how he stops by to see how your dining experience is. Wings of course are excellent.
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Review from Hunter S.
Bloomington, IN
7/2/2011
Buffa Louie's is awesome!!! Great place to come and get a buffalo chicken sandwich and their burgers are great too. People watching is a must if you sit down on the lower level and by the big window. Not to mention the owner is a great guy and is always on your side trying to help out by any means to make sure your experience is great.
There is also live performances by the IU students which is a cool thing to check out. Buffa Louie's is by far one of the best philanthropic restaurants in Bloomington and is always apart of some sort of charity event. Just a great atmosphere and a B-TOWN MUST! Don't miss out on this place for a quick bite to eat! -
Review from Galen C.
Bloomington, IN
5/25/2011
The wings are superb, as has been noted before. Most of the rest of the experience is very average --- the food, the waitstaff, the seating arrangements. As a lunch experience, it ranks below most of the places in the Indiana/Kirkwood corridor. And as a nighttime location, I can't imagine choosing to go here over Nick's, Kilroy's, Upstairs, or any of the other usual suspects.
It almost feels like they've tried to recreate the Macri's feeling with their seating and overall presentation, but it falls short at this point. It's not a bad place by any means, just very average. -
Review from Ken K.
Lansing Charter Township, MI
4/1/2008
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by my recent visit to Buffa Louis. Since it's in a historical Bloomington building (the Gables has been around since the 1930's at least) the interior is extremely cool and unique, sporting three levels of seating and Bloomington history and lore, as well as multiple plasma screen TV's to watch sporting events.
And my food was even good. The side salad was crisp and fresh and my Chicken Louie sandwich was juicy, smothered in provolone, and topped by an excellent sweet BBQ sauce. I shall definately return. -
Review from Steven T.
Financial District, San Francisco, CA
1/30/2010
I used to get Buffalouies every Tuesday night for 50 cent wings. However, I feel that their food and service has dropped off a lot this year. Prices are reasonable and they have a wide selection of food.
However, within the past few months, two things have stood out to me.
1. The food itself isn't well prepared. I've ordered the all american burger a few times for eat in, take out and delivery. Out of the 6 times I gotten it, they have only got my order correct once. Twice they forgot bacon and they never take note of my light mayo or no mayo since it is always slobbered in mayo. When I talk to them to complain about it, they refuse to do anything. When I ask to talk to the manager I am again treated rudely. (though it was a woman and I'm pretty sure the actual manager is a guy)
The same things happened with deliveries. They forget your drinks about half the time. Once they took an hour and a half to deliver (after telling me the usual 45min to 1 hour, which by bloomington standards is already really slow) so I asked them to send a new order of onion rings since I didn't want to eat soggy onion rings. I was given a lecture about why they didn't do things like that and proceeded to harass me. Finally they gave in and it took another 40 minutes to get a soda and onion rings. What a joke.
Overall I would say the food is good, but I'm not going to support a restaurant that fails to serve its customers with respect. -
Review from Jean P.
7/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I don't eat wings, but I eat Buffa Louie's wings.
Yes, I'm not a wing fan. Not even a BBQ sauce fan, but I LOVE Buffa Louie's sweet wings, and I must have them every time I go to Bloomington.
I also love the Hurryin' Hoosier. Can't say that I've made note of others, because I had the Hoosier, and it has remained my go-to.
I had heard that something has been "off" lately from my mother-in-law. I hope she just had a few misses, because it would just be heart breaking if I head back there in August and it's not what I'm expecting... -
Review from Shelly A.
2/2/2010
"Notice how the reviews went completely south after 2008?"
Yeah that's sounds about right for Buffa Louies. Its kinda hard to not go while you're in Bloomington, because they have this huge neon sign and it's so well decorated. They honestly spent more time on their decor than on their menu. I feel like this is a Bloomington legend that went south as other people took over. The wings are totally forgettable so then you move on to a chicken sandwich or a hot dog and they are worse than fast food. Drink specials aren't great either so you wonder why you would waste your time at this place to watch the game. I spent 5 years living in Bloomington, and I can tell you first hand, Buffa Louie's is one to ignore, totally overrated. -
Review from Kirk S.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2009
I went here while visiting family. I got 10 "hot" and 5 "sweet BBQ" wings with an order of fries. The fries were average. The wings had a really good flavor, especially the BBQ. I also tired the "TNT" sauce which was indeed hotter, but also had a nice flavor.
I enjoyed my meal, but I will say that I have had much better wings elsewhere. Also, the wings were totally drowned, I mean soaked in sauce. It was like a soup in the bottom of the basket. I love sauce, but this just bummed me out big time. -
Review from Eric P.
New York, NY
7/14/2008
Hands down, the best large order take out operation in Bloomington.
I've used Buffalouies at least 10 times for catering events at the Business School. They're always on time and there's never any issues w/the order.
Prices are reasonable when catering and they're willing to host AYCE functions in the restaurant. Jamie, the manager, is great to work with and really helpful.
For individual meals, I think the salads are the best in Bloomington: cheap, fresh (no bagged iceburg mix here), large, and always the same. Wings are great and there's plenty of TV's to watch games, though you might have to stare uncomfortably high. -
Review from Jeff J.
Springville, UT
Great wings. Great atmosphere. Love it. If you like wings you will LOVE this place. Took my kids and they couldnt stop eating the Wings. Will go back every time I am in Indiana.
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Review from Colleen M.
Washington, DC
8/24/2010
Good for what you get, but not the best bar-ish food around town, there's so many to compete with it makes it hard. But its good for delivery late when you don't want chinese or pizza, and they have some good wing sauce and sandwiches. I remember some girls on our floor would get salads from there, like the buff chicken salad, but by the time it got to the dorms the lettuce would be all wilted from the hott chicken. Also wasnt too big of a fan of their grilled chicken.
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Review from Jenny B.
10/22/2008
This place was great, it served me real well while I attended Biz Sch. Every Tuesday is 25cents wings, who can beat that??? As Asian, we always sneaked in our rice and eat those wings with rice :P. Oh... talking about it makes me missing it so badly, especially those teriyaki sauce and the hot ones, yummm... You gotta come here when you visit Bloomington and remember, come on Tuesday, I hope they still have that 25cents wing offer :)
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Review from Mike M.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2010
Best wings I've ever had. Service can suck but its worth it.
Hot BBQ boneless is the only way to go. -
Review from Brian O.
Bloomington, IN
5/29/2010
The BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger was excellent. I should have shared the curly fries. I tasted the chicken fingers and they were good as well.
