Shaymein E.
Yelp
Walking into this place it has the flare of a Champps or a Lucky 13. (Some other chains in the TC Metro.) The open seating environment ensures that you'll catch the eye of about everyone eating in there as you hope and pray something isn't on your face. To the right of the entrance is a basement with a sign that reads 'Open Mon-Sun 6pm - close'. I haven't made it down there, I've been told it's just another bar area. Pull tabs and the bar take up the rest of the welcome area with seating towards the central and back. There is a smoking patio out in the rear, which is where the parking is. So you get a nice whiff of that before your dining experience.
My wife and I chose to sit at the bar, we tend to do this because you always seem to get better service with the constant attention, plus the fact that the host wasn't anywhere to be found.
We found a quick seat and were immediately met by the bartender who showed us a table tent highlighting apps and drinks for happy hour. It has your typical list of beers and apps, nothing really signature. I opted for a Mich Golden on tap since there were no micro brews or other beers with flavor to compete. I got the 'tall' one which comes in about a 32 oz. glass. Some places you can tell from that first sip and smell who cleans the lines often, this taste being a bit stale.
After looking at the menu I was quickly reminded why I keep avoiding this place. There's nothing special here. One of the highlighted items on the menu is 'Big Louie's burger', (The menu boasts it is 'Big Louie's favorite'.) however, it's a typical California burger with an egg. So not much there for jazz. Scanning the rest of the menu doesn't bring any other surprises or for any reason for Big Louie to open a restaurant for that matter. It's the most basic menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers. There is a kick at the end of specialties that includes ribs and steak, but I had the ribs last time and it wasn't worthy of a review.
I settled on the French Dip and upgraded from chips to the seasoned waffle fries with a side of their 'signature seasoned sour cream'. We didn't have to wait too long for it to arrive which was nice. However, upon inspection and that first bite I could tell why. The roast beef was clearly deli sliced and still cold from refrigeration. Essentially they pulled out the deli meat from the fridge, slapped it on a bun and melted the Swiss cheese over the top in hopes of the meat warming up as well. It was not. This didn't bode well for the flavor. There was a definite 'shine' to the whole thing, either a lot of cheese grease or brushed with some oil. Make sure you have plenty of napkins.
The waffle fries were good. I expected more I guess. (Usually when you upgrade for the side of fries you can't seem to finish them.) The side of seasoned sour cream had a nice flavor. However, in execution, I rate the Tavern in Edina or Woodbury as having the best waffle fries and seasoned sour cream.
There's nothing about this place that draws you in or makes an imprint on your mind that you should come back to it. It's another restaurant playing it safe and they do that well. I would like to imagine though that Big Louie might've had bigger dreams after the Prohibition was lifted when he first started this place.