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Louie's on Main
Categories: Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants American (New) Burgers, Sandwiches, American (New) [Edit]
12942 Main StGarden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 537-9946
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 10 am - 12 am
Thu-Fri 10 am - 2 am
Sat 8 am - 2 am
Sun 8 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
About This Business:
Whether you call us "Tavern On 2", "TO2", "Tavern" or just "2", it's our goal to offer you the highest quality and best tasting food, wine and… read more »
53 reviews for Louie's on Main
Review Highlights
"We ordered the Greek fries which is basically shoestring..."
(in 3 reviews)
"This place is on Historic Main Street of Garden Grove."
(in 5 reviews)
"They do have bomb-ass pickled eggs though."
(in 3 reviews)
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Junior Z.
Tustin, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I lived in Garden Grove for a year and I must say this place is awesome! The service isn't all that great but it's not the waiter's or bartenders fault...unfortunately I think they might be understaffed. The food is amazing and priced right. Great drinks and great food with an upclass atmosphere (low incandescent lighting sets the mood just right). Many TV's for watching sports and exuberant tunes while sipping on your favorite drink. Highly recommend! Sunday's is 80's day..I think they place all 80's music.
Favorites: Louie's Steak Sandwhich (Ribeye...yummy), Basil Chicken Sandwhich, George's Sourdough Burger. Onion rings are amazing as well as their greek fries!Comment from Chris T. of Louie's on Main 10/28/2011
It can be difficult to judge when the busy times are going… More » -
Review from Clifford Y.
Garden Grove, CA
12/28/2011
Nothing fancy but not rundown or anything. Just a chill bar with a few flat screens showing sports.
One main bar and a few tables/seats along the wall. The drinks are pretty cheap here and I noticed that they had the Bootlegger's Black Phoenix on tap - one of my fav!
Located on old town Main Street of Garden Grove. This place is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area & wanting a low key time to hang out and relax. -
Review from Christina N.
Huntington Beach, CA
I've had this place bookmarked for quite some time now and I was able to find an available night to have dinner with one of my girlfriends. We arrived here around 6:30 and the place was fairly empty with maybe another table being occupied as well as a few guys at the bar. We sat down for quite a few minutes before the bartender acknowledged us, he was a bit slow on service and there should have been a separate server but I guess it is what it is. I also used my yelp check in and received a dollar off of my appetizer, woohoo lol ! Place is like a pub/tavern .. very laid back, nothing fancy schmancy whatsoever.
Zucchini sticks - these were tempura battered deep fried zucchini sticks served with a served of ranch and sprinkled with parmesan. Overall this was okay, nothing wonderful, I believe the tempura batter was a poor choice since zucchini contains a lot of water and with that it wasn't able to stay crisp very well. Light batter and flavor.
Chipotle Steak Sandwich - I honestly couldn't taste the chipotle in this sandwich at all, my friend agreed also agreed with me since we shared everything. The steak was cooked medium rare to perfection, and they honestly used a great quality piece of rib eye because it was delicious, unfortunately it just lacked a little bit more of flavor. Just as some chefs would say, add some more flavor or salt.
Pastrami burger - cooked medium rare perfectly as well, this burger was actually pretty good. The saltiness of the pastrami paired well with the burger as well as the mustard and pickles. A simple burger that was very enjoyable.
Fries - Can't really go wrong with french fries right ?
Onion rings - these were delicious, tasted beer battered to me and cooked to perfection with a nice crisp on the outside as well as in. This was probably our fan fave of the night. It had a subtle sweetness to it that left me wanting more.
Overall this place is good, just personally not great to me. Portions are great and the price is very inexpensive. I'm not sure if I would come back just for the onion rings but maybe if I'm ever in the area for a drink with the girls, sure why not ? I guess from all of the wonderful reviews from my fellow yelpers I expected a little bit more. -
Review from Chad A.
E side of Main St. N of Garden Grove Blvd.
Another big thank you goes out to Chris here at Louie's who was another business owner that donated to my charity raffle. I'm so happy for the winner of this gift card as that person will discover one of Garden Grove's true gems.
I came in one evening since Chris had my gift card ready. Since I like this place so much I decided to stay even though I wasn't terribly hungry. After looking over the menu and everything sounding good I ended up deciding on a daily special which was a Greek Burger with French Fries: http://www.yelp.com/bi... for only $6! This was a great deal since I enjoyed everything. The burger was cooked a perfect medium rare per my request, was juicy, nicely seasoned, and complemented ever so well by the cucumbers, tomatoes, Feta Cheese, and homemade Tzaziki Sauce. The buns they use are quite fresh and possess enough integrity to hold all the ingredients in tightly. The fries were all hot and crispy just like they're supposed to be.
Louie's is a little watering hole on Main Street that has been nicely revamped since they were the Rainbow Room. Seating comes in the form of half booth/tables and the bar with stools. Decor is pretty contemporary with a palate of Beiges, Browns, and Black. They have a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a full bar of quality liquors, as well as bottled beers and beers on tap. Also their prices on everything is very reasonable!
Service is always friendly and attentive (even though the bartender is the only one holding down the fort!) The crowd isn't too diverse (mostly older and Caucasian), but don't let that deter you and let's diversify this place!Listed in: Rollin through G Town!, I Eat My Sammie B***h!, Great Businesses and Owners, Burgers, The Places I Go Out
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/20/2011
I am being lenient again because I'm still confident that the owners here are going to get their… Read more »
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Review from Yvette P.
Santa Ana, CA
1/8/2012
I visited for a group get together and Louie's was very accommodating. They essentially let us wander around and chat with people. The service was attentive, which was nice because they did not seem too have too many servers. We got group appetizer - the friend zucchini was really good! I specially order a steak with a side of veggies. It was well cooked, and not bad cut for the price.
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Review from Sheila M.
Yes, just A-Ok is exactly right. Came here late night to get food to-go (since they close at 2am). I have to admit that I was expecting a kind of diner environment, but was greatly surprised to see it was mostly a BAR!
I was thinking, "huh?" and had to take a 2nd look at the name on the front! Haha then I walk in and feel all these stares from people sitting at the bar! Anywho, the friendly Vince-Vaughn-Look-Alike bartender took care of our order and we were outta there quick.
We ordered the Greek Fries (of course), Basil Chicken Sandwich with Potato Salad, and the Green Eggs and Ham.
Greek Fries were good, kinda soggy :-/ but good in taste. I think maybe some extra seasoning or feta would have helped a bit!
The Basil Chicken Sandwich was pretty good! Nice tasty sauce! The potato salad was a little icky to me, maybe had been out too long?
The Green Eggs and Ham were top-notch, really! Of course, it might just be the Dr. Seuss fan in me! The eggs were very fluffy and flavorful! My ham steak was delicious, hash browns were nice and crispy and the toast was buttery :-D
Pretty good food, but based on the appearance and layout of the place, we won't be dining in but we MIGHT be getting take-out again!Comment from Chris T. of Louie's on Main 10/28/2011
Thanks for the review Sheila, the Greek Fries, one of our… More » -
Review from Lauren M.
Cerritos, CA
9/9/2011 3 photos
More often than not, I spend my spare time perusing Yelp listlessly searching for my next meal. I am as fickle as one can be and I can jump from cuisine to cuisine, restaurant to restaurant in the blink of an eye.
Right when my cursor clicked on the pictures for Louie's on Main, my stomach growled. I angled the laptop screen so Jason M. could see the pictures and he automatically said, "We're going there." It was probably the pastrami that sold him.
We found the spot and got easy parallel parking because it was "linner" time and everywhere was pretty deserted. The bar gave off a divey, yet sort of classy vibe. It looked new, but definitely had its assortment of special regulars. It didn't seem like the place one would hang out in during the day. Or sober.
There was one waitress for the whole bar/restaurant and she was very friendly, even anticipatory of our needs. They serve hearty mugs of ice cold beer at a good price (around $4-$5). I would definitely come back for the days that they have a $2 beer special to go with your meal (Monday?).
The food was very quick to come out as we were the only patrons taking advantage of the kitchen. We ordered the Greek fries which is basically shoestring fries with herbed feta cheese and lemon wedges. They serve it with ketchup, which I thought was odd. I would have liked some tzatziki or some other pungent garlic/cucumber combination.
For our meals, I got the BLT with a side salad and Jason got the guacamole burger with onion rings. The burger seemed a bit small, but I suppose it was good for the price. Holy mole, the onion rings were good! Wasn't expecting that one and was pleasantly surprised.
The salad was fresh and it was gone before I even touched anything else. The BLT hit my spot, although I could always use more tomato on it. Sometimes something as simple as a BLT and good service can really make me happy.Comment from Chris T. of Louie's on Main 10/27/2011
Hi Lauren, your suggestion of serving the Greek Fries with… More » -
Review from Thuy T.
my friend found this place through yelp. Thanks yelp!! We decided to eat here for dinner. When my friends and I walked in here (all of us r asian) we felt a bit out of place. It was mainly filled with an older white crowd. but we decided to give it a try since the food was supposed to be really good.
Beers are pretty decently priced here. My blue moon was only $4.95 and they have specials on certain beers for $3.
Here was what we ordered:
Calamari(about $8) VERY VERY small portions. I was dissappointed in that.
Louie's steak sandwhich (I ordered) - it was surprising delicious!! The steak was super tender. the bread roll it came with was soft. The only thing was that when it came out, it looked a bit plain. Just meat on a roll. No lettece or anything. But it was good and u do get a piece of a pickle with it and a side (fries, onion rings, colesaw, soup, side salad etc.) I got onion rings. they were pretty good too. Came out piping hot.
My other friends ordered: chipotle steak sandwich, deans burger, steak salad and fish n chips. Everyone liked their food but the fish n chips were okay.
Our waitress was nice and friendly. when my friend was ordering, he wasnt loud enough so i had to scream, "u r at a bar!! U have to speak louder!!!" Lol that made the waitress laugh and by the end of the night, she was talking to us extra loud too as a joke. Loved it!!
Overall, food is great and not too expensive. Service was great, place is clean, lots of beer on tap, wouldnt mind coming back for lunch or dinner!Comment from Chris T. of Louie's on Main 10/27/2011
Hi Thuy, We have received a good amount of feedback about… More » -
Review from Kika D.
Anaheim, CA
8/15/2011
Heard about this place from word of mouth. Thought I'd check it out since I only live down the road pretty much. Went there with the roommates and we were pleasantly surprised.
It wasn't really crowded, alcohol was priced really well (no pint of beer over $5) and its great bar food. Nothing fancy, just tasty simple food. Its definitely a recommended spot for locals. Its nicely tucked away on Main st right across from the Costco. The inside isn't huge but its spacious enough for you to feel comfortable.
When we went, there was only one person working doing everything (bar tending, waiting, busting tables) but he was really nice and surprisingly fast. He made really good drinks and had awesome customer service, very friendly.
This is a great place to go and have a drink after work if you live in the Garden Grove area or just to relax and have a drink on the weekend. Will definitely be returning to this place often :D -
Review from Vanessa H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was talked into going into this Downtown Garden Grove establishment by a friend who became a fan after a recent dinner/drinks visit. We went on a Sunday afternoon, during the Garden Grove Farmer's Market (I know. I didn't know there was one either!) on Main Street.
We came at the tail end of breakfast, but too soon to order off the lunch menu, so I stuck to my trusty breakfast burrito and my friend got the breakfast sandwich. Their parmesan sourdough is no joke - that is some tasty business. And while anyone who messes up a breakfast burrito automatically earns a spot in the Greasy Spoon Hall of Shame, mine was fairly good.
My biggest issue with this place was the wait. I may not have been coming here for years and can only base my review on a single experience, but it took us 40 minutes to get our food. And there were still empty tables around us! When our food finally came, it did so without explanation or apology. Our server was friendly and very helpful otherwise, but at that hour that is an uncomfortably long wait and it should have been acknowledged.
Despite that, the ambiance, cleanliness, and good food combined to earn this spot an "A-OK" in my book. -
Review from monica k.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/6/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Whenever I venture back to my old stomping grounds, I always try to stop by Louie's since it's my favorite bar in Garden Grove to catch an Angels game. Granted, it's a high school reunion for anyone who attended Garden Grove High School, but it has such a Cheers type 'where everyone knows your name' friendly vibe, it's great. I can go there dressed like a bum and it makes no difference whatsoever.
Bartenders are nice as hell and pour stiff drinks, and the food is pretty impressive. I always get the Good Earth minus the tuna + hummus. Mike, the bartender, actually suggested that for me when I told him that I wasn't really amped on eating the tuna. Pretty stoked that a bar actually offers healthy options! When I was eating meat, I'd always grub down on the steak sandwich....so tasty. Their garlic fries are damn good, definitely worth the calorie splurge. Bonus, the food is reasonably priced, too and they always have deals going on for holidays or sporting events.
If you're ever in Garden Grove near historic Main Street, support a local business and check this place out! -
Review from Joanna N.
Santa Ana, CA
5/26/2011
This place is on Historic Main Street of Garden Grove. It's a cute little street with all these mom & pop stores - which I'm always a huge fan of!
I had the Big Tuna sandwich with onion rings. The sandwich was nice and greasy, but the lettuce, tomatoes & chopped up carrots make it not too heavy! The onion rings were super good as well!
My friend had the bacon cheeseburger which was delicious. She ordered it with the fries originally, but it showed up with onion rings. So the waitress went ahead and gave us a huge side of fries, and believe it or not, the fries are even better than the onion rings!!!!
Will definitely go back here! I can totally imagine this area being super packed on the weekends! -
Review from James L.
Updated - 3/13/2011 1 photo
I celebrated a birthday here with 10 people. The great thing about coming here at 7:30 on a Saturday night is that there isn't a huge dinner crowd so it almost feels like it's your own place.
To start, we had the onion rings and the calamari. I would say pass on the calamari just because there wasn't anything special about it. The onion rings are still quite memorable from the first time I had it. When they both came out, we had a kick out of it cause we couldn't tell the difference between the two.
I had the steak sandwich. Luckily, my friend got the chipotle steak sandwich. They are basically identical however the steak sandwich has nothing really in it. It's just bread and steak... at least with the chipotle you have the sauce and carmelized onions. It comes with a side (got fries) and at a mere 9 bucks or so, it's a great pairing with one of their several beers on tap.
Soon after dinner was over, the drinking commenced and went on for much of the night. The drinks here packed a punch and to top it off, very, very cheap!
This was definitely a great place to host an intimate gathering for dinner only to expand later on in the night to have more friends drop by for drinks. The music was not really our thing but we all had a good time so that's all that mattered.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/19/2010
The owner contacted me personally to apologize for my experience at his restaurant. What a… Read more »
Comment from Matt T. of Louie's on Main 4/19/2010
Please let me assure you that we take every step to insure… More » -
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Review from Antonette F.
Anaheim, CA
10/10/2011
Love this place outstanding service.
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Review from Chris D.
11/27/2010
What a really cool bar with a friendly local feel to it! I've wanted to try this place since seeing Craig R's pictures of his pastrami and onion rings. From the outside I was assuming this place would be a total dive bar with grumpy bar tenders and old drunks. Donna and I were pleasantly surprised by how clean and comfortable this place is. It's definitely a bar AND a restaurant, the food here is not just an afterthought to soak up booze in your stomach. It's delicious food served by extremely friendly staff. Our waitress Mary who was also the bartender had to take care of the entire place by herself. Even with it being packed she was super friendly and kept up with everybodies orders and drinks! It seemed like 90% of the patrons were locals and everybody knew everybody else. It was a really cool vibe, no creepy people like Laura and Steven ran in to. Maybe that's the night crowd.
Pastrami Sandwich - $8.75 - Hand shaved pastrami that comes from Zlaket's deli which is across the street. The pastrami is thick, peppered, lean, and juicy. It was grilled and served on a piece of grilled french roll accompanied by swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles. It was just as good as my imagination made it out to be when I saw Craig's picture. It came which a choice of side and of course I got the beer battered onion rings. They too were great and served piping hot just as the menu says. If you want to raise your LDL levels this is the lunch for you.
Ham'er Sandwich - $5.95 - Smokey thin sliced black forest ham grilled hot and served with american cheese. My wife had this sandwich and she really liked it. I took a bite and was impressed on how good the ham tasted. This also came with a choice of side. Donna had the onion rings.
Side of coleslaw - $1.25 - This came in a pretty big bowl and was surprisingly tasty. I liked the addition of scallions to the cabbage. One of the better coleslaw's I've tasted.
16oz Pabst Blue Ribbon on draft - $2.75 - Cheap for a reason... tastes like water with a hint of beer flavoring sprinkled in.
Disarinno Amaretto sour - $5.25
Captain Morgan sour - $5.00
Grand total for three alcoholic drinks, two meals, and a side of coleslaw - $30.54! It was a really nice surprise our waitress handed us with two cards each good for a 50 cent drink to thank us for giving them a try! We'll be back! -
Review from win t.
Garden Grove, CA
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love onions rings and I love beer. This place has both that are very good AND they have good customer service. This all equates to LOVE.
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Review from Danny S.
Garden Grove, CA
5/7/2011
I love Louie's on Main.....I've been coming here since it was The Rainbow Room. Great food, great beer, great atmosphere....The bartender George is a cool guy and an even better bartender. (Not like that fat, tall white guy that bartends over at Aztecas... Dont go over there when that dudes working...guys a chump...Plus the beer is wack)....George knows what time it is. I came in the other night and he had a mug ready for me to give word that I wanted a glass of my favorite Arrogant Bastard Ale which me and my boy just recently polished off yesterday. A great feat and an even better accomplishment.
If you havent been to this gem of a bar, go there. The steak salad is amazing. Have a glass of AB for me. Remember, fizzy yellow beer is for wussies. -
Review from Frank J.
Huntington Beach, CA
11/3/2010
Came here on a weekday and it was super laid back. The bartender was nice and made a good Jameson and ginger. You could actually taste some whiskey. Beer selection is also good. I had a Stone IPA.
I got 3 drinks, the ones above and a glass of wine for my wife, and my tab was $16. I will have to try the food next time.
So with a laid back atmosphere, good drinks, low prices, and good service, I'm pretty sure I'll be back. -
Review from Cathi B.
Irvine, CA
3/11/2011 23 Check-ins Here
A fun little local bar, with great bartenders and even better prices on the drinks. And they have good food, too. The crowd varies, with all age groups represented. The theater crowd from the Gem Theater down the street are often here, and Louie's is a great place to eat/drink either before or after any show you might see at the Gem.
Come on over to Historic Main Street in Garden Grove and make a night of it. -
Review from Gary M.
Montebello, CA
Alright so I got treated to this spot buy a fellow yelper Chad A. He had a couple good experiences but his last experience was not so good. By special invite from the owner he returned along with me. We got the Steak sandwich with onion rings and the Pastrami sandwich with onion rings. I suggested we go half and half so I can try his sandwich and he can try mine since this is my first visit. The waiter was pretty nice and we order a pitcher and brought two glasses and the pitcher all three filled to the rim. Great move buddy I have never seen anyone do that which was very nice of him (I guess he was trying to make up for my friends last experience that he didn't fail to Mention, smooth move Chad.) Once we received are plates we exchanged halves and began trying our sandwiches here is the outcome.
* Steak sandwich
o Well this one was Chad's choice and he requested medium rare, it arrived more like bloody as hell. As for me I enjoyed it because I'm a carnivore and the flavor was pretty good but nothing to rave about.
* Pastrami sandwich
o Was pretty good better than the hat but not the best I have ever had.
* Onion Rings (Beer Battered)
o These were really good but yet I have had better
* Beer
o Always good as long as it has alcohol, which it did.
So my verdict is this is a cool hangout spot for locals and the food is good so go ahead and eat here but nothing to drive for. -
Review from Kathy C.
Updated - 8/10/2011
Shortly after writing my review, I was contacted by the manager at Louie's. Chris Tavlarides sent me a message asking me about anything they could do to improve the calamari appetizer I had written about. I was impressed that Louie's took the time to do this. I'll be back to give Louie's appetizers another try.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2011
The drinks are well made and cheap! You'd be surprised how many bartenders can mess up something as… Read more »
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Review from E C.
Garden Grove, CA
8/1/2011
I was craving a Greek salad so I looked a place up on here & Louie's is what I found & chose. My boyfriend & I should have left the moment the waiter was first rude to us. When we asked for a drinks menu this guy said "We don't have a drink menu. We're not TGI Friday's or anything." Okaaaaay wtf?! He was NOT friendly at all, he made us wait the longest time just for ranch because he was busy talking to two girls whom he seemed to know, and to top it all off, as we were leaving he ran after us & told us we didn't pay the full amount & asked us to go back inside. He then apologized when he realized he was wrong but it doesn't matter because we WILL be calling the manager in the morning. We are NEVER coming back and I would NOT recommend this place to any one.
The food was decent but in my opinion a bit pricey.Comment from Chris T. of Louie's on Main 10/25/2011
First of all, thank you for taking the time to come in and… More » -
Review from Philip V.
Huntington Beach, CA
10/22/2010
For years my guy friends and I have come to this bar to relax and catch up with one another. It has been our favorite joint, not because of the years we have devoted to this place as our hang out spot...but because of THE LOUIES STEAK SANDWHICH!...and the extremely cheap drinks. =D
As much of a meat lover as I am, I don't particularly jump at steak on a menu. I always find it very difficult to find reasonably priced steak, cooked the way I like. I hate extremely rare steak that bleeds on the plate. Or extremely chewy, bland, and fatty steak.
Louies has got it perfect though. The steak is super tender and is easily consumed bite, by bite. It has char, richness, taste, depth and freshness to the meat. Its all served in between two, soft, buttered baguette bread. Add a little bit of A1 sauce and ranch...and you might possibly have a potential last meal on earth in front of ya.
For $9, you get a nice big steak sandwich with a side of fries or a side salad. I don't know what they put in that oil back in the kitchen, but these fries rival McDonald's, my friends. Perfect fries. Every time. The salad has a lot of bitter greens, so I don't usually ever order that.
The bar is usually operated by only one bartender. Usually it gets crowded, so the wait for food or drinks can be long, but the seats are comfortable, music is decent, and if anything you can always enjoy the TV's there.
Besides the eccentric, older (much older) crowd that usually comes into Louies, this place will always be dear to my heart. It deserves 5 stars due to the Steak Sand which, good service, and cheap drinks.
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Extra Notes:
-The kitchen closes very early. On weekdays, I believe it closes at 10PM and on weekends at 10:30PM. Drinks are served until 2AM.
-Bathrooms are extremely clean
-Decor is old fashioned, but are comfortable and add an endearing feel -
Review from Trevor L.
Orange, CA
7/22/2011 31 Check-ins Here
Good peeps and strong drinks. Food is amazing
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Review from Meredith W.
Costa Mesa, CA
7/26/2010
I stopped in here the other day with a friend. I was intrigued, they were playing really good 50's/60's music and from the front , the place looked like it could be a mob hang out.
There are tables for eating, and a bar, we weren't sure if we should walk up and order, but the bartender came right over... he was really nice. I had the blue cheese burger, my friend had a classic. They were really really good... they tasted like REAL charbroiled hamburgers. The fries were good too - thin and crispy just like i like.
They play really good music (on Sunday afternoons) I like the atmosphere, its dark and small, and would definitley go back.Comment from Matt T. of Louie's on Main 9/25/2010
Hi Meredith, We're glad you stopped by! Thanks for the kind… More » -
Review from Kathy T.
10/14/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Louie's is ggrrrrreeeat! I love coming here for drinks. I can't think of anywhere else in the area that is clean, has good food, and has a full bar with drink prices that will make your jaws drop!
I've been coming here for a while with my friends and have never had a bad experience. The people that come here are regulars and service is great.
Food is typical bar food. The stuff I've tried have been pretty good. One thing that stands out is their steak sandwich. YUM! Fries are good to munch on while drinking too!
Drinks...ah the drinks. The reason why I come here in the first place. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can just sit at the booth or at the bar and just catch up with an old buddy (i've done this on many occasions). My friends and I had 5 drinks total with top shelf stuff...and our tab, with tip, came out to be less than $30. Now THAT's a deal. I've been here before and left quite inebriated, all under $20. Where else in OC can you get that kind of deal?? -
Review from Steven N.
3/14/2010 ROTD 4/5/2010
4.5 Stars
I was reading Chad A and Craig R great reviews about this place and bookmarked it. Daylight Savings Time came up and I wanted to celebrate it with a bar burger and beer. I picked up Laura S, a big fan of DST and we were on our way to Downtown Garden Grove.
Louie's is a nice looking joint. They have a very long bar with hooks underneath so you can hang a jacket. And the bottom is padded, so when you bump your knee, it is painless. Good looking out there Louie. They have been open for about 2 years now. There is plenty of parking in the back lot and also street parking available on Main St.
Since I read good things about the Big Dean burger, I had to order it along with beer of course. This burger was awesome. It had everything I wanted. Avocado, bacon and a fried egg. It truly was a tasty burger. Plus it came with a side of awesome onion rings. Laura ordered the hummus appetizer and it was delish. We both washed down our grub with some Stella. And for you PBR fans, the drafts are $2.75
Service here is awesome. Fast and friendly. Our bartender Matt, the owner's son gave us the whole scoop on how Louie's came to be. Some of you locals may have known it as the Rainbow Room. When Laura and I first heard that, we were thinking what most people would think, but that wasn't the case.
Anyways, the story was entertaining but not as entertaining as the locals. You ever get the feeling you were being watched? Well, we were a little creeped out by some of the locals. They were harmless, but sometimes when all eyes are on you, it gets a little weird. It gets a little weirder when they sit directly next to you and go from staring at you from a far to real up close and personal staring. I would have thrown Laura in between me and my admirer, but she had her own fan to deal with.
I highly recommend Louie's if you are in the area. They could use your support. Places like Louie's should stay around forever. So stop on by and have some good grub and booze and maybe some locals will entertain you too.
Thanks Craig and Chad for putting this place on my radar!Listed in: I will gladly pay you Tuesday…, Garbage Grove
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Review from JacqueLin O.
Garden Grove, CA
4/14/2010 3 photos
This place is DEFINITELY a hidden gem. I really do hope business picks up here because it would be a bummer to see this place go.
After reading the yelp reviews, I was excited to see a non-vietnamese late night food option. Around these parts, it's slim pickens for late night.
I was impressed, and we even ordered the "healthy" options off the menu EXCEPT the Greek fries (YUM!). Our next visit we'll be sure to order the heartier more commonly flavorful dishes. The place is VERY clean and well kept, the service was great and the food was DAMN good.
We ordered the Greek fries. What an idea!? So simple yet SO delicious. String cut fries, HUGE portion, covered in Greek spices (oregano, pepper, salt, garlic) covered with feta cheese and lemon I think. They were VERY tasty. Probably one of my new favorite ways to eat french fries. LOVED THEM.
I ordered the Greek salad with grilled chicken. Many places get chicken wrong, and I just don't understand why. It's carelessness if you ask me. The chicken was TENDER and moist and seasoned VERY well. People shouldn't be afraid of spices. Especially on chicken. The salad was a great portion, it had FRESH vegetables, huge tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, cucumber and feta. Exactly what Greek salad should be. The lettuce was fresh and it wasn't those bagged shredded kind. It was even given to us so nicely. 5 stars for presentation Louie! I had no idea you had such pizazz and class! The dressing, the bartender told us, was house recipe. It was amazing. Kind of thick, very lemony and strong floral EVOO notes.
BF ordered the "healthy choice" which was albacore tuna salad, hummus and pita and lowfat cottage cheese. Again, it was presented so beautifully. It made me feel confident in coming here because it is SO clean. I always get a little scared of food places that give you food on a suspicious plate. Gets the wheels turning if you know what I mean. He said the tuna was great. It wasn't made with too much mayo and tasted very light. We LOVED the pita and hummus. It was served warm and the hummus was flavorful, and very garlicky.
I hope more people come to Louie's. It's open late and it's a great place. We WILL be coming to try their breakfast which was highly recommended by the bartender. There are also other menu options that we are dying to try, specifically the sandwiches. -
Review from Miguel C.
Garden Grove, CA
11/5/2011
over all great food and great prices on booze. been going there for over a decade
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Review from Laura S.
Orange County, CA
3/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food here is REALLY good. I had the hummus appetizer, stevenen had the Big Dean Burger. Enen cut me a slice of his burger and it was a lil bit of heaven. Avocado, Bacon, Egg ... hell yeah.
The decor is NEW ... a little blah but doesn't have a dive bar, old feel at all. When you first walk in it feels like a dive bar, but every thing is new and nice and that dive bar feel immediately goes out the door.
BUT lets talk about what walks in the door: Creepers. A lotta men are staring me down with their scary, perverty eyes. Dislike. Weird. Uncomfortable. If I didn't have enen with me (or my BF for that matter) I would have left. LADIES: do not come here without your man or a man friend. Seriously.
They have PBR on tap, along with stella and some basic domestics. The menu has everything from salads to burgers. I glanced into the kitchen and it was sparkling clean.
So lemme sum it up like this. COME HERE. HAVE THE FOOD. But don't come alone. Expect a dive bar kinda feel at first.Listed in: It's All Yelps Fault!
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Review from Benjamin M.
Aurora, CO
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent food, awesome staff
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Review from Stephenie G.
Garden Grove, CA
6/22/2011
My husband and I wanted to go out and have a drink last night close to home...so we got on yelp and found this place! They have a great selection of beers and liquor (4 kinds of Jameson!) Last night we stuck to beer though and I was pleasantly surprised at how cheap the beers were. We also split a steak sandwich which was really good and the onions rings here are in my top 3 favorite. I think we'll be going back for breakfast this weekend! This could easily become our favorite place :)
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Review from christy e.
Long Beach, CA
6/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great Food, Great Service. I love to stop off here on my way to Disneyland for some well priced and tasty food. And PBR is on tap for $2.50!
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Review from Norma L.
4/15/2010
I have to just say that I really love it here. The bartender...(Louie?) is super nice and friendly and takes care of his customers very well.
The decor and atmosphere is really cool and welcoming.
I wasn't drinking the night I came, so he hooked me up with some diet coke. :) Next time I come I will definitely try some of the food and drinks! :) I'll review again once I actually do that, and from looking at the menu, I know exactly what I'm going to be trying. :) -
Review from Kathy D.
Santa Ana, CA
5/21/2011
Natalie! Natalie! Natalie!!! Best bartender ever!!! She absolutely rocks the house! Came here last nite with a bunch of friends and had so much fun!!! Food is killer!!! Ordered the chicken quesadilla & greek fries........was 2 drunk 2 eat but all my friends inhaled it up & said it was BOMB! I've eaten here before & can definitely vouch for the food-its top grade!!! The place is clean & the atmosphere is very inviting. Louies on main ROCKS!!!!!
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Review from Joe W.
Westminster, CA
10/17/2010
I must say after reading mixed reviews i really didn't know what to expect. I was trying to decide between the burger and pastrami but after seeing the pics... i was really torn. I decided on the the burger in the end. I was mildly surprised at the by the bartender who answered the phone and was really pleasant to speak with as she took my order... this gave me some hope for this place. I arrived and I'm sure she figured out who I by my shorts and slippers... lol...
I got my order to go and I was so happy when i got home and found a very delicious looking burger surrounded by a sea of fries. The burger was cooked mediumish almost what i wanted but far better than most places that attempt it. The charbroiled flavor was just plain... awesome... I usually hate thin cut fries but theirs were good but slightly salty. So i must say this place has one of the better burgers Ive had anywhere. I will be back and i will try that pastrami! -
Review from Jaime A.
Anaheim, CA
1/11/2010 4 Check-ins Here
OK seriously...I love this place. I used to frequent Crooner's (aka Azteca, aka the "Elvis bar") and was told by a local to walk over to Louie's for shots because they were cheaper. They were! ALOT cheaper!
This past weekend my boyfriend and I decided to actually make a date with Louie and not use him for cheap shots. I can agree with other reviewers that the male bartender is awesome! Louie's has such a chill vibe and a diverse group of people. It is never overly crowded and although I have yet to try the food, it looks really good. My boyfriend did, however, convince me to try a bite of one of those pickled eggs and it was really good!
My love for this place is centered around my last visit where I ordered a raspberry lemon drop and it was only $5.50. WTF?! Martinis are usually $12. I am definitely coming back...and soon. -
Review from jennifer f.
Garden Grove, CA
11/9/2010
Louie's is located in quaint Old town garden grove. the atmosphere is great! Is a fantastic bar to stop at after work, to go to for your Friday night out with friends or for breakfast Sunday morning! They have a very small kitchen that turns out delicious food at reasonable prices! All of the staff are super friendly and make a great drink! It brings in a really nice crowd ranging from early 20's to late 80's. Definitely a something for everyone type of place. You even see your occasional kid in there.
I highly recommend Louie's to the person who has never been as a great place to go for a good mixed drink and a meal! -
Review from Kim V.
3/15/2010
Have you ever gone somewhere and the staff made YOU feel like an inconvenience. Yup that's how i felt here. The Bartenders seemed irriatated as hell and all had their stinky faces on. What a turn off. It makes me so sad because the food was sooo good! I'll give Louie's another shot, but seriously after the last visit i would rather spend my money somewhere else.
Oh and they charge for ranch. Not a big deal but after the treatment they gave us. i was irked by it.
Would have given this place 4 stars but serviced SUCKED!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Lauren G.
I was never a patron of Rainbow Room so I'm starting from scratch.
1. Aaron is the shiz. His drinks are strong as heck.
2. Pickled eggs are amazing. If you're lucky, they don't charge for them some nights.
3. No juke box. Lame Internet radio, but I used to come here after work (bartending) so it was nice to have the quiet.
4. Never eaten here, so I can't judge the food.
5. I have NEVER seen it crowded. You can always find a place to sit. The few that are hanging around are friendly.
6. Closes at 1:00AM. boo.
Ok, now I'm thirsty, I'm getting out from behind this computer and out for a drink!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
