Lou's Luncheonette
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Lou's Luncheonette in Sonoma, CA, on Highway 12. I haven't been back since they revamped Fremont Diner to Lou's Luncheonette. Luved the fried chicken back in the ole Fremont Diner days. Fast forward to present day, I recently got myself to Lou's for lunch. The fried chicken plate is gone off the menu. Instead it is a more concise menu focused on single items versus full entree plates. Casual eats and counter service. Darn cute small diner feel inside. Modern retro country diner aesthetics. The menu focuses on hamburgers (starting at $8), hot dogs ($7+), sides, chicken sandwiches including chicken 'n biscuits ($6), milkshakes, floats, craft beer, ciders, and wine. I studied this menu to figure out what the closest thing to fried chicken would be. I landed on ordering the #1 Chicken biscuit. It's fried chicken, honey butter, and hot sauce on a buttermilk biscuit. Whoa Nelly, that was darn delicious. The fried chicken was boneless light meat. Thick cut with the meat so extremely moist n tender. Crunchy fried and flavorful exterior, seasoned well. Such a satisfying audible crunch. Just like I remembered. I could taste the light touches of hot sauce in the crust. Then that biscuit. Mmm. Heavenly. Crunchy top and bottom with fluffy innards. Each bite was fabulous. You know when you eat something so darn delicious, the noise of the world just fades away. I had a food moment. To top that, it was only $6. Not a bad price compared to the size. Another notable thing to point out are the goats. At the back fence ,of the outdoor seating area, look for the old candy dispenser. Instead of being filled with candy, it's filled with goat feed pellets. Put in a quarter, turn the handle to get the pellets to feed the goats. Let me tell ya, once the goats hear the clicking from that knob being turned.... they all come a running and clamoring towards you. Watch out for the more smarter and aggressive ones that muscle the others to get the primo spot to stick their heads through the fence. Remember they can jump so don't stick your head over the fence unless you want a head bump. I chickened out and didn't hand feed them, instead I tossed the pellets over the fence.
Great little lunch spot with reasonable pricing which seems like it doesn't exist any more. $6 for a chicken sando and $5 for fries. The ranch was awesome the fries were perfect and the chicken biscuits sando was fire. And I think it was cheaper than fast food! Super homey inside and the people were as nice as can be. I'll be back as I work not too far.
We tried the fish sandwich and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and both were made to order fresh and delicious. The chicken was very crispy / juicy and the sauce had good spice.
Very good food and reasonable prices, with a large outdoor seating area with shade and sun. One ding was we ordered wine, which after ordering and paying they warned may take a little. After we got the food, almost finished eating, we went up to check on it and turned out it was barely dripping out and they hadn't poured one glass yet. All good because they swapped it out but I feel like it should be a little clearer if it's going to be 10-15 minutes per cup.
This place has some of the best fried chicken I have ever had! We had a Nashville Chicken and Lou's Lowcountry with a side of onion rings. The chicken was fried to perfection and came out hot and fresh. There are also goats next door and a goat food dispenser so brings some quarters.
My partner and I stopped in one day to find a little spot on the outskirts of town. The service was amazing they gave us recommendations and developed a great report. Telling us about the history of Lou's. We are looking forward to the spooky movie nights in the month of October. Great outdoor space where you can even feed goats! Pet friendly as our little guy travels with us everywhere! We stopped by one night after they were closed and they offered us a milkshake because everything else was put away! Now that is customer service. Their chicken sandwich and bacon cheeseburger were epic and the fries are the best we have had in Napa/Sonoma. Being locals we will definitely be back!
Finally got a chance & dayoff to try this place. Friendly staff. Nice inside and outside patio area. Great food! My only complaint is theres no menus at all until you get right up to the register so i didnt have much time to make a decision. Almost got the brisket or pulled pork. We got the crispy chicken sandwich , chicken tenders fries & vanilla milkshake. Everything we ordered was delicious, moist, hot, fresh! Did not disappoint!! Chicken had a nice crunch, excellent flavor, moist, fresh, the shoestring fries had a nice crisp and nice amount of seasoned salt. They were super busy 8/17/25 on a Sunday. Good for families. The owners own Jacks gas station in sonoma i believe changed it from box car diner before covid. Great job! Will return. Order #91
So we were looking for a quick and light lunch as we had dinner plans and did not want to spoil our appetite. This is a roadside dive, with some indoor seating and a patio, nothing to look at. But the FOOD was Excellent and one meal was plenty for us to share. Got the Catfish and fries, with Cole slaw. The Root Beer I ordered was Craft Brewed, better than most too!
Lou's Luncheonette was the perfect wine country lunch stop. The vineyard views are beautiful, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the food was exactly what you want from a great diner--fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. We enjoyed feeding the goats, which added a fun and memorable touch to the visit. I also tried the rosé, which was crisp, refreshing, and paired perfectly with lunch. Between the scenic setting, delicious comfort food, and unique farm experience, this is a place I'll gladly return to and recommend to anyone visiting the area.
My husband and I stumbled on this place while Driving to bodega Bay, we are so glad we did we ordered the Okc burger, Nashville chicken sandwich and the highway fries the mustard sauce that was on there with a little bit of dill was amazing and grilled onions and pickles. It was a delicious experience, such a bomb place. We will definitely be back. We even talked about how this will become one of our destinations on the way to the bay.!
Love the casualness of this spot. Walk-up counter to order & buzzer system to pick up food. Inside and outside tables available. Umbrella's at every patio table ready for a beautiful sunny day! Always have the nicest guy takes our order & gives great recommendations when we're on the fence about what to order. Goats come right up to the fence at the back of the patio. Perfect spot to bring your kids or dogs, or both!
Legit bomb food. Family fun zone. I played ping pong with a random 8 year old. Mixed it up with a bachelorette gang. The buffalou sando was my fave. Biscuit was sweet I'll be back for a waffle and a milkshake. Bring quarters. Inside seating very nostalgic, underrated.
Awesome place with a great patio for those perfect Sonoma days. The vibe there is very chill and feels throwback. You can even feed the goats behind the patio. The food is really good, surprisingly good. Not a huge menu but the chicken fingers and the chicken sandwich are awesome. We were just there at a pretty slow time that would have been a really early dinner so the service was great. read more
27 days ago
Lou's is always good-- excellent fried chicken, excellent burgers (i get the Impossible swap), and the milkshakes are awesome. they run out of biscuits though, so be careful! the indoor seating is very cute, and the service is always very very friendly. we stop here when we can :) read more
Absolutely 5 stars. This cute little diner was probably one of the best spots for a quick lunch, around! Colin was so kind and helpful from the second we walked in. We ordered a catfish sandwich and I asked if we could do a split of fries and onion rings, which Colin immediately said of course! And then he offered to cut our sandwich for us since we were sharing. The catfish was cooked perfectly and tasted so delicious! The fries had the best crunch as well as the onion rings. Colin also brought us a peppered bbq sauce, spicy mayo and a delicious very dill ranch. All 3 of those sauces were tasty! We also had two beers. They have happy hour from 3-5 with lots on there so be sure to check that out. You can get a hotdog and beer for $10! They know what they are doing here and I highly recommend Lou's!! We'll be back next time we go to Sonoma! read more
4 hours ago
5 months ago
Lou's Luncheonette in Sonoma, CA, on Highway 12. I haven't been back since they revamped Fremont Diner to Lou's Luncheonette. Luved the fried chicken back in the ole Fremont Diner days. Fast forward to present day, I recently got myself to Lou's for lunch. The fried chicken plate is gone off the menu. Instead it is a more concise menu focused on single items versus full entree plates. Casual eats and counter service. Darn cute small diner feel inside. Modern retro country diner aesthetics. The menu focuses on hamburgers (starting at $8), hot dogs ($7+), sides, chicken sandwiches including chicken 'n biscuits ($6), milkshakes, floats, craft beer, ciders, and wine. I studied this menu to figure out what the closest thing to fried chicken would be. I landed on ordering the #1 Chicken biscuit. It's fried chicken, honey butter, and hot sauce on a buttermilk biscuit. Whoa Nelly, that was darn delicious. The fried chicken was boneless light meat. Thick cut with the meat so extremely moist n tender. Crunchy fried and flavorful exterior, seasoned well. Such a satisfying audible crunch. Just like I remembered. I could taste the light touches of hot sauce in the crust. Then that biscuit. Mmm. Heavenly. Crunchy top and bottom with fluffy innards. Each bite was fabulous. You know when you eat something so darn delicious, the noise of the world just fades away. I had a food moment. To top that, it was only $6. Not a bad price compared to the size. Another notable thing to point out are the goats. At the back fence ,of the outdoor seating area, look for the old candy dispenser. Instead of being filled with candy, it's filled with goat feed pellets. Put in a quarter, turn the handle to get the pellets to feed the goats. Let me tell ya, once the goats hear the clicking from that knob being turned.... they all come a running and clamoring towards you. Watch out for the more smarter and aggressive ones that muscle the others to get the primo spot to stick their heads through the fence. Remember they can jump so don't stick your head over the fence unless you want a head bump. I chickened out and didn't hand feed them, instead I tossed the pellets over the fence. read more
Great little lunch spot with reasonable pricing which seems like it doesn't exist any more. $6 for a chicken sando and $5 for fries. The ranch was awesome the fries were perfect and the chicken biscuits sando was fire. And I think it was cheaper than fast food! Super homey inside and the people were as nice as can be. I'll be back as I work not too far. read more
3 months ago
We tried the fish sandwich and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and both were made to order fresh and delicious. The chicken was very crispy / juicy and the sauce had good spice. read more
14 days ago
Very good food and reasonable prices, with a large outdoor seating area with shade and sun. One ding was we ordered wine, which after ordering and paying they warned may take a little. After we got the food, almost finished eating, we went up to check on it and turned out it was barely dripping out and they hadn't poured one glass yet. All good because they swapped it out but I feel like it should be a little clearer if it's going to be 10-15 minutes per cup. read more
3 months ago
This place has some of the best fried chicken I have ever had! We had a Nashville Chicken and Lou's Lowcountry with a side of onion rings. The chicken was fried to perfection and came out hot and fresh. There are also goats next door and a goat food dispenser so brings some quarters. read more
8 days ago
My partner and I stopped in one day to find a little spot on the outskirts of town. The service was amazing they gave us recommendations and developed a great report. Telling us about the history of Lou's. We are looking forward to the spooky movie nights in the month of October. Great outdoor space where you can even feed goats! Pet friendly as our little guy travels with us everywhere! We stopped by one night after they were closed and they offered us a milkshake because everything else was put away! Now that is customer service. Their chicken sandwich and bacon cheeseburger were epic and the fries are the best we have had in Napa/Sonoma. Being locals we will definitely be back! read more
17 days ago
Friendly service, nice hot chicken sando, outdoor seating on a nice Saturday. The only negative was they didn't have anything on tap due to being out of O2 oh and their sad little hot dog, lol. All in all a nice stop on the way to the beach. read more
Finally got a chance & dayoff to try this place. Friendly staff. Nice inside and outside patio area. Great food! My only complaint is theres no menus at all until you get right up to the register so i didnt have much time to make a decision. Almost got the brisket or pulled pork. We got the crispy chicken sandwich , chicken tenders fries & vanilla milkshake. Everything we ordered was delicious, moist, hot, fresh! Did not disappoint!! Chicken had a nice crunch, excellent flavor, moist, fresh, the shoestring fries had a nice crisp and nice amount of seasoned salt. They were super busy 8/17/25 on a Sunday. Good for families. The owners own Jacks gas station in sonoma i believe changed it from box car diner before covid. Great job! Will return. Order #91 read more
1 month ago
So we were looking for a quick and light lunch as we had dinner plans and did not want to spoil our appetite. This is a roadside dive, with some indoor seating and a patio, nothing to look at. But the FOOD was Excellent and one meal was plenty for us to share. Got the Catfish and fries, with Cole slaw. The Root Beer I ordered was Craft Brewed, better than most too! read more
4 months ago
Lou's Luncheonette was the perfect wine country lunch stop. The vineyard views are beautiful, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the food was exactly what you want from a great diner--fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. We enjoyed feeding the goats, which added a fun and memorable touch to the visit. I also tried the rosé, which was crisp, refreshing, and paired perfectly with lunch. Between the scenic setting, delicious comfort food, and unique farm experience, this is a place I'll gladly return to and recommend to anyone visiting the area. read more
4 months ago
My husband and I stumbled on this place while Driving to bodega Bay, we are so glad we did we ordered the Okc burger, Nashville chicken sandwich and the highway fries the mustard sauce that was on there with a little bit of dill was amazing and grilled onions and pickles. It was a delicious experience, such a bomb place. We will definitely be back. We even talked about how this will become one of our destinations on the way to the bay.! read more
3 months ago
Love the casualness of this spot. Walk-up counter to order & buzzer system to pick up food. Inside and outside tables available. Umbrella's at every patio table ready for a beautiful sunny day! Always have the nicest guy takes our order & gives great recommendations when we're on the fence about what to order. Goats come right up to the fence at the back of the patio. Perfect spot to bring your kids or dogs, or both! read more
Legit bomb food. Family fun zone. I played ping pong with a random 8 year old. Mixed it up with a bachelorette gang. The buffalou sando was my fave. Biscuit was sweet I'll be back for a waffle and a milkshake. Bring quarters. Inside seating very nostalgic, underrated. read more
5 months ago
Passing this place you wouldn't think it's real, like its to picture perfect. But then you go inside and the decor inside matches the outside, right down to the 1940s payphone on the wall. Wine, Beer Burgers and fried chicken. The food Is delicious but the atmosphere makes everything taste better. The staff is excellent! Especially the captain of the ship Colin, I stayed about a half hour longer just talking to him. Great vibes, great food, in an unbelievable location. Lou's is something special! The only thing missing was apple pie. This is Americana at its finest! read more
2 years ago
Scrumdiddlyumptious! I've had this place on my must-try list for a while, and I finally got the perfect opportunity to check it out. I had only one Sonoma winery tour scheduled for 3:00 pm, so I made my way up from the city and arrived around 1:30 pm for a slightly late lunch. It was still a bit busy at this time, but despite the crowd, the service was friendly and fast. If you love Southern food and aren't afraid of mayonnaise, this place is for you. For the classics - their potato salad, hushpuppies, and deviled eggs were all perfect. While I thought the fried chicken could have been made with better quality meat, the biscuit and fixins were absolutely divine. I probably wouldn't order the chicken again, but I'd definitely return for everything else. I'll be sure to order extra biscuits next time. The food and service were great, and the ambiance was really nice too. The interior is itty bitty, but they have a sizable outdoor patio, complete with umbrellas, a huge mural, and even few Tonka trucks. It seemed super kid/pet-friendly overall. There were several dogs on the patio, each with their own water bowl. This is a perfect spot to bring the whole family to relax and enjoy warmer weather days. read more
This place is a MUST. The most charming little place I've ever been to. As we were driving into Sonoma for the weekend we stopped here for lunch. Hands down one of the BEST burgers I've ever had. Get yourself a burger, fries, and a glass of rose and head to the tables outside. We also ordered the potato salad and the deviled eggs. MY GOD, this place is delicious. The service is quick, order at the counter inside and they give you a pager and buzz you when the order is up. We may be hitting this place for breakfast on the way out, as it was that GOOD!!! read more
So glad we stopped at Lou's on our way from Santa Rosa to Sacramento. That biscuit is the best I've ever had! I wish the chicken tender that was in it was bigger but it tasted good. The homemade pickles were amazing and I usually don't like pickles. The potato salad was good too, very dill forward but the overall blend of flavors was nice. Great service and super cute ambiance with a nice patio and goats in the back. I'm definitely stopping by whenever I'm in Sonoma! read more
Stopped in for breakfast. Ordered the eggs Benedict and hubby ordered the Finer breakfast, which was the 2 eggs with choice of bacon, sausage, etc. hash browns were included in both breakfasts. Very tasty and hardy breaker! Order at the counter and you can sit inside or out in their beautiful outdoor space. The folks were friendly and service was great. read more
9 months ago
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1 year ago
We met another family for lunch here and got chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, coleslaw, fries and lemonade! Everything was delicious and it was perfect for the kiddos, because there is ping-pong, trucks and goats, oh-my! You put your order in at the counter and then they give you a little ring-a-ding, which will, you guessed it, ring when your order is ready! The place is kept clean and orderly, and service is fast even when it's busy! There are a few tables inside, but since we had a big group we sat outside. Lots of seating outside! We will be here again for sure! read more
This place gets five stars for great food and great nostalgia. This is a fantastic roadside food shack with an elevated twist on a classic menu. Yes, you can get burgers and fries. But you can also get a fried oyster sandwich on a buttered roll or a heap of homemade pimento cheese served with picked and celery. The fried shrimp roll that I ordered was delicious and the red sauce wasn't very spicy. It wasn't huge, so I'm glad I ordered the pimento cheese snack platter as a side. read more
1 year ago
Cool place, great nostalgia, wine country adjacent! We will definitely visit, eat and drink there again! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This place is a nice hidden gem. Has a lot of breakfast brunch and lunch option. Order at the counter and find an outdoor seat. They'll bring the food to you. It's super casual yet comfy. They have items like chicken and waffles, grits, double Patty burger, kale salad, fries, and more. I wanted to try the dessert but was so full. The food can be pretty heavy- I was stuffed for hours. Tour buses even make a stop here- and great choice as it's quick and easy. Def stop by and get some shade or sunshine! read more
7 months ago
Every time we come to Sonoma we stop here. It's just outside of town, oozing with charm and nestled in between vineyards and baby goats (at least it was on a recent friday in July). Although it's called a Luncheonette (and in my mind, I still call it the Fremont Diner as it used to be named), I feel like it's the perfect brunch spot. They have biscuits that would do a southern grandma proud. I get the ham biscuit that comes sweet and sour with mustard and jam (sounds like an unorthodox combo but hold your judgement until you try it). They have waffles, fried chicken, a rotating selection of old timey desserts, eggs, salads, sandwiches. Comfort food, simple but delicious. You should sit outside if you can, although there are a few inside tables. Play ping pong while you wait for your order to come up at the window, chat with the goats, put your phone away and gaze into the rolling, grapevine filled hills in the distance. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
Finally tried here this weekend. I LOVED the ambiance and decor. The outside is dog friendly and child friendly- they even have toy trucks and dog bowls for your child/dog. The butter that came with the biscuits was DELICIOUS and the hush puppies were great. The burgers/tenders were good, although a bit basic. Very good! read more
The amount of time that I have been saying that I want to try this place and dont actually come is insane. I was finally in the area and decided that this was the day. To order, you stand in line and order at the counter. They have menus to look over just in case you arent too sure on what to order. After you order you are given a buzzer and you find somewhere to have a seat, we decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful day and they had picnic tables with umbrellas for shade. We ordered the hush puppies, a burger and a chicken tender basket. Portions were great on everything except the burger. It came out child size and with a TOWER of fries. The hush puppies were dry and no real jalapeño favor to them. I wasnt too impressed with the food especially with all the fame the local people have given it, but I would try it another time because it might have been their off day. Btw: everything is "do it yourself" so help yourself to napkins, condiments, togo containers and the water station. And dont forget to bus your own table afterwards. read more
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More info about Lou's Luncheonette
2698 Fremont Dr
Sonoma, CA 95476
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(707) 938-7370
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https://lousluncheonette.com
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Ask the Community - Lou's Luncheonette
Do they offer breakfast?
Yes! Waffles, Pancakes Omelettes & Benedicts! And they have awesome burgers
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