Review Visit: June 8th, 2013 A seasonal place that sells Christmas trees during the cold weather days. That's right, Lou's is a place you can get food during the warm days and Christmas trees during the cold days. At least, I've always seen them selling Christmas trees in the fall and early winter. But, this was a bright and sunny summer day and my father and I were wanting to try Lou's for lunch. If you don't know Lou's, its kind of one of those old places that you order at this small building and then you eat outside, in your car, or get the food to go. Think an ice cream shack, but a focus on food instead of soft serve delights. I could picture this place in the past being one of those places that you ordered from your car and a lady wearing skates would be the one to bring your food out to you. Not so much anymore. We pulled up and had to look around for a parking spot. The parking situation here isn't ideal but with the space they have and the layout of Lou's, it's the best they can do with what they got. We hopped in line and waited our turn. The menu here is not any different than most places. Again, think ice cream shack but with the main draw being the food instead. I knew I would have to try their root beer. Something in my memory told me that this place was well known for that and I knew I would have to try it. I also like root beer, so that's another reason I wanted to try it. I think we both got your standard burger with some french fries. With the heat, we didn't want to spend too much time trying to figure out what we wanted. Burgers, fries, and a soda. A classic lunch. Despite the crowd at Lou's, we were able to sit down at one of the few tables that had an umbrella. For two Irish guys, this was a blessing. While we waited, we took the lovely photo used above. It was a bit of a wait as they were busy and places like this usually cook their food to order. That was fine by me as it gave my dad and I time to chat and people watch. At long last, they called out our name and we quickly grabbed our food so we wouldn't lose our table. The first thing I tried was the root beer. It was a great root beer. But truth be told, all root beer is great to me and tastes the same for the most part. So, the root beer at Lou's was great but didn't taste much different than others, in my opinion. After using the root beer to cool down a bit, I started working on my food so that wouldn't cool down too much itself. First up, burger! You don't come to these places expecting to be blown away by gourmet food. You come here for the experience of eating at a unique place, the low price, and the staple foods they offer. That is to say my burger was just that. It did everything a burger should do without showing off. It tasted good but didn't feel the need to blow my socks off and sometimes that is all you need. The same can be said about the french fries. Not every meal has to be the best ever. Sometimes getting exactly what you ordered and expected is all you need. Lou's is a fun place to stop at in Peoria for a meal that will be exactly what you expect and nothing more. Should there be snow outside, you can stop and get a Christmas tree instead. read more

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Best root beer ever! I've been coming here for like 30 years. I love that the look hasn't changed at all. Still has the old drive in feel. Great food- I usually get a burger, fries, and a root beer. Service is always quick even when they are busy. read more

Lou's has been a family favorite for many years. The food is good and they are known for their root beer! It seemed to be a little over priced this year... I miss the skate-up curbside service there used to be when I was a kid, but the counter style isn't terrible. read more

Fun drive in. Hamburgers, hot dogs, tenderloin. Picnic table seating. Outstanding root beer! Car service in the evening. read more

Lou's Drive-In - Lou's drive-in sign - Burgers Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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A gem on the north end of Peoria. Is it gourmet or hipster? No, but it has some of the best chili dogs in Central Illinois. At lunchtime you go up to the counter to order, and good luck Finnish a seat on a nice day. The fries are crispy and crinkle cut, and the tenderloin is more than just flat breading you get at so many places. Do yourself a favor and stop in! read more

Fantastic food, we love the atmosphere of an outdoor restaurant. Tables and the area were clean. Workers were prompt and friendly.

Very good service and food yesterday and was just 3 of us for our party and it was very delicious and a pleasant day outside.

Good atmosphere but food has no passion frozen from a box, I think it died two years ago taste. Very disappointing. I ordered the tenderloin meal and I think McDonald's chicken nuggets had better meat choice than this pork. I will not return. Go somewhere else. read more

Everything about this place is average at the very best including the service. The kids behind the counter are typical teenage kids, and don't treat their jobs seriously. The milkshake, so boring, the burgers are boring, the barbecue is very disappointing.. Go somewhere else. read more

Food was good. Just about what you'd expect from a place like this. Burger was hot, juicy and tasty. Fries were really good. Service was decent taking into consideration that it was pretty busy. I wasn't expecting to have red carpet service like some people seem to expect. I also don't expect them to raze the building or buy adjacent properties to make room for more parking and complain on here about the parking. Atmosphere was great. Very nostalgic and nice to eat outside on a warm summer day. read more

I. Love. Drive-Ins. I love the throwback feel of drive-in theaters, diners, and everything else that says, "Hey. Things were a little simpler back when we could motor over in dad's hotrod Boss Hoss, and have a curbie bring us a coupla malts and some cheese fries, knowwhati'msayin' Doll?" Nowadays, the seasonal opening of Lou's is a light at the end of the winter-frosted tunnel, a sign that better warmer times are ahead. Honestly, if you're from the area or have spent a good amount of time there, and you haven't had a frosted mug of their root beer on a sunny afternoon at the counter- or over at one of the stone picnic tables- your life is lacking just a little bit. If you just can't get enough of their homemade sweet elixir, you can take some home at a cut-rate price. A gallon will run you about $6. Worth every penny if you're having an ice cream social. "I'm [effin'] Lou. Who the [eff] are you?" read more

Lou's Drive-In - The sign directing you to root beer bliss. - Burgers Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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I grabbed lunch at Lou's with my husband on a beautiful Friday afternoon. Parking is limited, but luckily we found a spot. A cool thing about this place is that they do curb side service after 5pm. For patrons that decide to eat at their cars before 5pm, they can use serving trays that hang quite snugly on their windows/car doors. Anyway, I had the 2 chili-cheese hot dog basket with fries and small drink. I liked the fact it wasn't messy but there were they put an adequate amount of chili, cheese, and onions per dog. I also "shared" a strawberry milkshake. However, I only had 2 slurps before my husband drank it all. Needless to say, Lou's makes a good shake. My husband got their double cheese burger. They made a mistake and served him a basket with fries... no charge tho! Well, if you're in the area and looking for a classic burger stand with no frills, stop at Lou's! read more

Lou's Drive-In - Order at the window and hopefully find a seat! - Burgers Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Ahhh lous root beer! Simply heaven on earth ! Get yourself a cheeseburger with everything to go with your root beer! They sell half gallon and whole gallons ! I recommend you make it a burger basket burger, drink n fries)! This is A piece of Peoria history. Long lines and worth the wait! Car hop service after 5pm! read more

I used to come here win i was younger and haven't been for a long time but came there Thursday and the food and drinks was not very good at all hot dogs and root beer lovers beware and for what i paid was not worth it and will be back anytime soon read more

Best chili dogs in Peoria in my opinion. Any time I drive by in the summer it's hard not to stop and get 2 of them with a root beer float. You can't go wrong with that. I only wish they were open longer, but it's probably better for my health that they aren't. read more

Pros: Fun atmosphere, good greasy food, and AMAZING root beer floats. Cons: Service seems to be a bit hit or miss. On a recent visit they had forgotten to turn the ice cream machine on, so we had to wait a bit for a root beer float. We ate lunch then when we asked if root beer floats were ready, they discovered no ice cream in the actual machine. The floats were why we had come, so that was disappointing. I get the impression every time I am here that it is a bit disorganized. The servers are nice in general, just young and lacking in training. read more

Wanna pork tenderloin sandwich on Memorial Day? Well then stop at Lou's. I was told by friends that I must have a pork tenderloin sandwich while I was visiting central Illinois and Lou's did not disappoint. Fried crispy, yet not heavy at all; I coulda had two, but wanted to appear somewhat lady-like especially after the fries and root beer float. I'm told that they are known for their root beer and I'm not surprised, it was amazing. I am no connoisseur, but I have to say it was the best root beer I've ever had. The fries were perfect, nice and crispy. My companion's cheeseburger was tasty and not greasy at all. All-in-all a great place to stop for a bite. They have tables set up outside, so you can sit and enjoy a nice afternoon as we did. If I lived anywhere near this place, there is no doubt that I would be a regular. read more

Aside from the flat root beer (which is more for root beer floats) this is a pretty neat seasonal spot. I ordered a chili cheese tamale (non-veg) and it was as expected, a punch of sodium induced chili cheese tamale, which was quite good. The waitresses were all very friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have about the menu or how the food is prepared. The service is generally fast however, if you go with a good sized crowd, be prepared to wind up the wait time. I went with about 10 people and our food came out at random times, some waited 5 minutes while others 20 minutes. Pro Tip: Bring bug spray if you can or expect the mosquitos to dine on you while you dine on your food. read more

My Mom worked as a curbie at Lou's when she was a teenager. Her best friend was Lou's daughter, and they are still friends today. Today, Lou's is owned by two of his children. Whenever we visit Peoria, we make a stop at Lou's. It has changed little since my Mom worked there, and still offers curbie service after 5 on weekdays and all day on weekends. We went to the counter, and I noticed the huge barrel of root beer. If you find yourself at Lou's, do yourself a favor and get a mug of the best root beer you'll likely ever have. The menu has changed a little, adding a Boca burger for the veggies out there. We had the Coney basket, which is two hot dogs and fries. The hot dogs are boiled, not grilled, which is my only minor disappointment. Prices are reasonable, the staff is teenagers, who they are quite polite and friendly , and Lou's is a genuine slice of Americana. My English boyfriend loved it! read more

Lou's Drive-In is an old-fashioned drive-in. And thankfully, the food is better than ever. I picked up a pair of chili dogs with fries and a chocolate malt. (Not the healthiest combo, to be sure, but drive-ins aren't exactly for the health nuts out there.) We sat at the counter and had good service, as it was a cooler-than-average July day outside (thankfully) and all the windows were open. The food came out in about 10 minutes. So let me say this first: I prefer my hot dogs grilled/charred, with a boatload of toppings. These dogs (and their buns) are steamed. If you get the chili dogs, they're topped with chili and crunchy onions. And for the first time I understand why a hot dog like this is acceptable. The chili wasn't stick-to-the-pot thick, but instead a little bit loose, with warm spices (think cumin and paprika instead of chili powder) instead of heat. Combined with a thick, steamed hot dog sausage (but not so far as to lose all the meat flavor), I loved it. The fries weren't quite shoestring-thin, but they were crispy, hot and just right as well. The chocolate malt was creamy and just-right malty. I even liked the sip of root beer I had from my wife's cold mug. I'm pretty sure it's reconstituted, but the recipe is right: smooth, and just right for root beer floats. I'm sure it would go with the rest of their menu fine. I'd call Lou's a genuine slice of Americana, but that'd be selling them short. They're what drive-in food is supposed to be. read more

Instantly took a liking, when the lady at the register complimented my engagement ring. I don't wanna brag but it's freaking BEAUTIFUL!!!! Anyhoot, the Fiancé and I ordered the tenderloin meal, (I just learned about this "Tenderlon' that Peoria has) and it was delicious! Since I've been here I tried numbeous ones from different places but so far this one here is the best! The root beer is also very good. Glad we came just a day prior to the place closing for the season. read more

Just picked up a barbecue sandwich, hot dog and fries. We eat here quite often in summer and this is the worst sandwiches I have ever gotten. The barbecue sauce was almost black looking and the edges looked dried out, like it had been made for sometime. Also had a taste of vinegar. The hot dog was very brown looking in color also like it had been steamed before. Very, very disappointed.....7/2/19 read more

I would like to give this a better review since it is an icon in Peoria. The food is flavorless but fun atmosphere.

Love their tenderloins! We ordered tenderloins this afternoon and they were quite good. They aren't the oversized thin kind of sandwich that many places serve. These were still much larger than the bun and thicker. That extra thickness along with the fresh toppings make for a great tasting meal! The service was very friendly and prompt even with the brisk business on a warm Friday afternoon. read more

You can't count on their posted business hours. They close whenever they want and I'm not just talking about the COVID-19 situation this year. Yes, we had plans this year and I also had a date last year to meet there an hour and a half before their closing time but of course they closed early... Two times now. I'm through. read more

We try to stop here at least once a season, which is April-August. It's a fun atmosphere. One can sit at tables out front, at the counter, or get curbside service in your car. I love the onion rings!! My husband likes the tenderloin. The root beer is the most stout that I've ever tasted--super sweet. The reason I am only giving this place 3 stars is because the service has been shaky the past few times we've dined there. It's staffed by high school girls, and many of them would rather stand out front and chat with each other than wait on customers. The last time we went, we waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to wait on us. There were 5-6 girls just standing at the front, gabbing. I had to go up to the counter myself to ask for menus, and they looked at me like I was imposing. We had already been sitting for about 10 minutes by that point. I then had to go up and ask someone to wait on us. I shouldn't have to do that at ANY establishment, regardless of the age/experience of the waitstaff. read more

I have always enjoyed Lou's. I won't visit the East Peoria location (I'm an old dog and will always prefer the original) however, I wish them well. Having said that, a few observations: The absolute best popcorn; it is amazing! To confirm a note from Bob Z., yes ... the tenderloin is my favorite, too. The root beer is outstanding, but only in a frosty mug. And so here's the rub and three-stars. While the ambiance and old-school drive-in charm is something we all love, the food is lackluster and in serious need of attention. Really, no signature food items; no signature shakes or malts? I love chili dogs and while I love Lou's chili, the dog absolutely no flavor. Ultimately it's the quality and consistency of the food that keeps people coming back. Lou's is iconic. Great atmosphere - great service - but the food is just so-so. It's a shame. I've been a Lou's customer for 40+ years, and I'll keep coming back but, you really should have invested in your food/menu and not another location. read more

Really bad malt flavor all wrong,wanted strawberry malt but got strawberry which tasted it had chocolate syrup in it,.

Delicious root beer float but the past 2 times Ive been here the young lady taking my order has been really rude. She has curly dark hair. She's not very good at costumer service. She ruined my whole experience. If you don't like your job at least pretend like you do. read more

Only place left that you can get a good hot dog in Peoria food is real good service is alright hard to get in out of

I used to go to this place with my dad all the time as a kid. Eating a hotdog at a drive-in is the perfect sort of nostalgia.

The pork tenderloin sandwich is comparable to a breaded piece of paper. There is more breading than meat and the meat is paper thin. Fries are ok, nothing special. Great root beer, however. read more

Great location. Food was hot and fresh. Tenderloin sandwich crispy and tasty. My son loved the root beer from the big barrel. I would recommend this place to everyone - just be aware that the line gets long at lunch. read more

Bad Experience-Please be sure to check your food before you leave. I live far from Peoria, and had a doctors appt, so I wanted to grab some lunch on the go. I waited for about 20 minutes for my order which costed 34.00. I ordered 2 bacon double cheese burgers and 2 regular cheese burgers, and chili cheese fries. Did not check my food until I got home thinking my order was fine. There was NO CHILI CHEESE that I payed for my fries, or bacon on the 2 burgers, and the fries were practically burnt. They even charge you for lettuce, tomato which should be free. However, I contacted the manager at the time on duty which doesn't have the authority to do anything but apologize, she contacted the owner and the owner specifically informed her that she will mail a check to me for $18 a week goes pass and nothing. So I called today and was able to speak directly to the owner, and she stated she will not give me a refund that they do not give cash back only gift certificates and that she has no knowledge of ever even saying she would send a check for $18. I then explained to her that I do not want to eat back their again and that I live far, so a gift certificate would not be of any benefit to me. She was very non-nonchalant and really didn't even care about a customer having a bad experience that spent such a large amount. I will never go back their again. The food was bland no salt even on the burnt fries. They may look busy, but looks are very deceiving there!!!! Beware there are a lot of young cooks and staff that she has working there!!!!! read more

Lou's Drive-In - Bland Bacon burger, but NO BACON, the OVERCOOKED FRENCH FRIES - Burgers Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Absolutely the worst tenderloin ever. My wife threw hers away after one bite. Any frozen loin from a grocery store is better than this fare. You'd think the fries would help make the meal better but even these were inedible. Finally the root beer, anything out of a bottle is better and I do mean any bottle including diet. Avoid this place if at all possible. John read more

Great root beer, good popcorn, and fun summer drive- in food classics. Worth the trip. Curbside servers.

It was alright food the one time I went there. The problem is, though, that it is now closed and the place is for sale

If you want a good meal and the total nostalgic atmosphere, step back into the 1950's eat at Lou's Drive-In. I'm glad to see the tradition being kept up. Had the tenderloin basket with root beer, all very good. read more

A 50s-style drive-in restaurant featuring root beer from the barrel. The sandwiches and fries are good but the root beer is the real draw here. A perfect place to eat and relax on a summer day. They close for the winter, so enjoy it while you can. read more