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Lulu's Diner

4.4 (198 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

Lulu's Diner Photos

LULU'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Lulu's Diner

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Sausage, egg, and cheese on sourdough with hashbrowns
Ophelia M.

Stopped by this diner on a recent trip through the area and were delighted with our experience. The diner itself is bright and clean with huge windows and tall ceilings giving the place an open and airy vibe. The tables are comfortable with tables and booths available and everything has a classic diner feel. For my breakfast, I got their sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on sourdough which was large, flavorful, and filling. Truly, a classic breakfast sandwich in the best way. It came with a side of hashbrowns that were buttery and crispy Our server was a delightful, prompt, and friendly. Get to it!

Omelet and fried potatoes. Upcharge on the fruit cup. They should get gluten free bread.
David M.

Very cool place on historic Route 66! Food was wonderful, waitress amazing! Too bad I don't live closer.

Inside
Tahnyuh H.

I ate here while visiting the Decatur area with my sister. It is really clean and much like a family style diner or maybe a truck stop like diner. They serve huge portions and seemed pretty nice. The food is average. Because there are not a huge amount of places to go I would go here again.

Veggie omelette with wheat toast   Yummy
Bob C.

A 204 mile drive work related brought me to this gem from Chicago. I asked a co worker who works in the area and she directed me to LuLu's Great service Great food Great prices Big dining room Felt like mom cooked my meal I would drive 205 miles for another bfast from this awesome place :) And best of all they support the blue line and aren't afraid to show it Way to go !!

House omelette... so delicious, not a bite left
Sheri W.

This diner is a treasure in Springfield!!! As I was walking in I saw a man leaving with stacks of garlic bread, loaves that the business was donating to the lasagna lady in Springfield, who is delivering meals to Veterans. This business has a pay forward box for feeding people that are in need. I ordered an extra biscuits and gravy for a homeless guy downtown and they would not charge me for them. Not only are they giving back but the food is actually very very good. So if you visit and you like it as much as I do, make sure you put something in the pay it forward box. To me that is a restaurant with a big heart. Lulu also custom makes all of her desserts. And if I wasn't so full..., they looked beautiful.

Sharon C.

Sharon's View: So good is this place, we went for breakfast the two days we were in Springfield, Illinois. And I had the same meal both days. Now let me tell you, I'm not a traditional kind of breakfast meal person, I like eating leftovers. Especially leftovers from the night before. But when you're travel out of town, it doesn't quite work out that way sometimes. And what a delight this find turned out to be and a personal discovery for me; I think I'm re-adjusting my judgement towards traditional breakfast food. It wasn't terribly busy when we arrived, perhaps four other tables besides ours, were occupied. And more or less the same thing the following day. But that changed fast. And I know why. The people who work in this place that we came into contact with both days and the food served, is top tier. Such was the service, it felt like being in the company of old friends after a time apart. Such was the food. I didn't even add any hot sauce and God knows how I chug the stuff on just about anything. I had the meat skillet which boasted plentiful bacon, flavorful sausage with cheese mixed in and all on top of the best hash browns I've had to date. Not even a lick of salt and pepper was added by me. Chef Frankie seasoned it perfectly on his end. Three fried eggs cooked to my liking, atop the lot. All crowned with some delicious raisin bread, buttered by Jessica and the second day by Cindy. A lot to eat and I only ate half and saved the rest for later. The next day, Chase and I shared the meat skillet and it was very satisfying. Perhaps because it was perfectly seasoned with the right balance of ingredients and it hit the spot, spot on. I happened to see the food being delivered to the couple seated a few tables away from us. They're each having a wrap of some kind and golden looking fries and it looks amazing. Cindy sees my head whip up and she comes over to see to me. Before I even ask, she tells me they're having a club and gyro wrap. I think I'm going to have that next time we visit. The food advertises itself. That's the kind of attentiveness this place has. A head raise and a look is all it takes. Even though it's incredibly busy. The areas visible to me, the dining area, was every clean and quite tidy and I have to mention the loo was pleasantly shipshape and I like that. It shows the pride in their place encompasses all areas of the diner. What a lovely surprise, when we're walking to the car and Cindy lightly jogs out to us - I know, because I watched her - to specifically thank us for visiting and wish us a safe journey home. A sincere thank you for coming. A wonderful feeling. Abit like when you're given a sweet treat you were eyeing but weren't expecting to get, from that friend you've not seen in a while. Chase's View: I am, and have been, on a seemingly endless quest for biscuits and gravy that can come close to the ones that my wonderful grandmother made for me in my childhood. Now, for me, my experience with Lulu's Diner and their take on biscuits and gravy, though it wasn't my grandmother's, is one that is beyond satisfying. What was missing for me, and this is all a personal perspective, is that the gravy is very lightweight. They don't combine their sausage grease with the other ingredients and this leaves it lightweight. Now bear in mind that when I do biscuits and gravy, I am not eating them to be heart-healthy and I am not certainly not interested in pros and cons of "too much" grease; it's a taste journey that is as much a sentimental embrace as it is a ode to my palette and my belly. Just so you know. Aside from the lightness, the sausage bits are generous and flavorful. Truly. I ordered something called a Horseshoe at Jessica's suggestion after our short conversation about what I wanted to eat. Jessica, our server, well, her attentiveness was stellar. We talk about haute cuisine, Michelin Star, five-star, nouveau cuisine and all of the seemingly elevated dining experiences, and Jessica ranks right up there with all of them in her willingness to make sure that you having a wonderfully delightful meal. Coffee was hot and I never wanted for more. Food was hot and tasty. And again, the service was top notch. Day two saw my beloved and I return for breakfast one more time. Yes, that's how good the food was. And on day two, my wife and I shared a meal. Even with sharing it, it was filling. It was hearty, tasty, delicious, hot and well, downright "hell yeah". Our server Cindy, just like Jessica from the day before, was stellar 2.0. One more thing. The chef, Frankie, well, gees Louise, a master in the kitchen. Everything that we ate was on point. Nothing was over or under seasoned. As Goldilocks said, it was "just right". If you are looking for a place that isn't interested in dazzling you with decor and instead focuses on your actual enjoyment of your meal, and a place that puts your satisfaction front and center, put Lulu's Diner on your agenda.

Steak skillet
Cara B.

I got the steak skillet and we ate outside. The coffee was really good! (I take mine black) The bathrooms were super clean and the staff was very friendly. They did forget the cheese on my hubs' eggs but we managed to survive. Would definitely go back and recommend stopping by!

Dennis's breakfast burrito
Ron T.

I'm a diner fan...While I love the experience when the atmosphere blends with the food; that doesn't always happen as was the case with Lulu's. An intriguing neon sign out front, but the exterior and interior were nothing exciting. The menu was very complete with choices of eggs, omelette's and several other items (but no breakfast burrito). I shared my disappointment with Dennis (?) my waiter who indicated he could prepare one-and he did. The burrito didn't take too long to prepare, tasted good and was reasonably priced. Thank-you...

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5 years ago

First time here with a buddy, food was great, service was quick. A nice small breakfast option for anyone. Will definitely be back.

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9 years ago

Great breakfast at about $10 each. Lots of food. The cinnamon raisin bread was yummy. Eggs fixed just the way I like them. Coffee very good

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7 years ago

Really enjoyed our lunch at Lulu's. Food was excellent as was the service. Very friendly!!

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9 years ago

Great breakfast menu! Nice place, clean, friendly diner. Key Lime cake was good too! Convenient to downtown.

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9 years ago

We had the Cinnamon roll. So light and fluffy. Great frosting. We were told the cinnamon rolls are baked fresh daily.

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The reviews are correct. Good steak and eggs special. Will for sure return. Yummy and clean. Great waitress.

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Page 5 of 5

Ask the Community - Lulu's Diner

Is Lulu's still open?

Lulus is open from 7am-2pm everyday.

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The first thing the waitress did was bring a bowl with cold water for my dog. The service was…read moreexcellent, the pulled pork nachos were excellent, the strawberry blonde ale was very good. Highly recommend this place

After attending a conference in Springfield, I decided to treat myself to a solo dinner at Obed &…read moreIsaac's. Having previously visited the Peoria location, I was looking forward to a similarly enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, this visit fell short of my expectations. I started with the buffalo cauliflower bites, and they were easily the highlight of my meal! They were absolutely delicious and honestly the one thing I truly enjoyed during my visit. Unfortunately, things went downhill with my entrée. I ordered the salmon, and to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. The taste and texture were incredibly off-putting, almost as though I wasn't eating real salmon. It simply didn't taste right, and I couldn't enjoy it. What made the experience even more frustrating was the lack of attentive service. My server never returned to check on my meal or ask how everything was going. By the time they came back, it was only to offer me the check and a to-go container. I didn't even have an opportunity to express my disappointment with the salmon or give the restaurant a chance to address the issue. The ambiance also didn't quite measure up to what I remembered from the Peoria location, which I found much more enjoyable. Overall, the buffalo cauliflower bites were a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing dinner. Between the unpleasant entrée, inattentive service, and underwhelming atmosphere, I can't say I'd be eager to return to this location. Hopefully, my experience was an exception rather than the norm.

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Abe's Hideout - Basic burger with tasty potato salad as the side.

Abe's Hideout

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SO glad I walked for a mile in the blistering heat to come here…read more I am staying at the super 8, and it was on the hotel recommendation list. I wanted to watch the Michigan wolverines game so I called down there and spoke to a really nice woman, who ended up being my bartender when I got there. I was originally going to go to four stars, but they are getting five because the bartender told me that they would change the channel for me at whatever TV I was sitting at so I could watch my game! I sat at the bar naturally after being greeted by the really nice hostess. Now generally I despise this state outside of rural areas because the people here are just menacingly rude and judgmental. That being said, walking to the bar, all of the afternoon patrons in there were casting looks at me that could tame a rabid polar bear. Already dealing with that in other parts throughout the state, I just sat there and smiled as they stared and judged. Anyhow, my first bartender, I never caught her name, but she was excellent! Took really good care of me. Shift change in the middle of my visit, and my second bartender was jennifer, she was equally as delightful! I ordered fried okra for an appetizer when I got there, drank some beers, had a couple VERY well proportioned glasses of whiskey and watched my game. Come suppertime, I turned around to see the crowd and the entire restaurant was completely packed! And the personalities of the people that I interacted with at this point were a complete 180. SUPER nice people. For supper I ordered the ribeye, rare. I first cut into it and it looked medium, but sometimes steak just Cooks quicker in certain areas, but outside of the end piece that was cooked perfectly. I had a loaded baked potato which was seasoned great, and green beans and I had blackberry cobbler for dessert, per the recommendation of my bartender. Right through the doors, they have gaming, and a few slot machines also, if that's your thing. I really enjoyed the decorum, and the place was really clean, even the bathrooms. It's not very often that I would return to a restaurant in the state, but this is definitely worth revisiting if I'm ever back in the area! ***DISCLAIMER*** This pure, uncut, honest review is federally protected under Federal Law by way of Bill #EO14149. Removal or alteration of this review by Yelp and/or their affiliates without Expressed consent by it's author is strictly prohibited by FEDERAL law. VIolators will be prosecuted, and litigation imminent.

Disclaimer: I am in a diet so my food in cheese less with no extra…read more.. fun Bartender was on it and pleasant. The burger even with no toppings. The veggie toppings were fresh and clean. I would repeat. The ambiance is based on president Lincoln and done well...very cool

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Food was 5 stars. Service was 5 stars…read more Atmosphere 5 stars Leo our waiter 5 stars I ordered chicken fajita and husband ordered Al pastor, and it was fantastic. Food was hot and delicious, Leo our waiter, was fast & attentive, we look forward to eating here again.

Unbelievable service and food! My husband and I came in for…read morebreakfast today, and I cannot say enough good things about our experience. I was looking for something with beans and originally ordered the breakfast huarache, mistakenly assuming it was a burrito. I prefer flour tortillas over corn, which started a whole conversation about how the dish is prepared. First, our waiter went to the kitchen to check on modifications, then a second waiter kindly came over to explain the traditional preparation, and finally, the chef himself came out to help! He explained that a huarache is open-faced, not a burrito, but immediately offered a perfect solution: he could custom-make their breakfast burrito using pinto beans as the protein for me instead. When the chef brought it out, it was HUGE. He took the time to explain exactly how he made it and told me to just ask for him or request the modification next time. Not only was the service incredibly attentive, but the burrito was easily the best I've ever had. It's 9 hours later and I am still full from eating just half of it! The food is amazing, the restaurant is clean, and it's clear this team truly cares about their customers. We will definitely be back!

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Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers - Double Cheeseburger

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Review Visit: September 27th, 2016…read more I have been to many ice cream shacks/burger and let me tell you... This may have been one of the best burgers I have ever had. It easily places Top 5 for me. Maybe even Top 3! I grabbed a simple burger with the usual toppings and it was amazing. They are thin patties a la Steak N Shake, but they taste 100x better. For $2 for a simple burger... you really can do no better. I grabbed a small strawberry ice cream and that was pretty great, too! But why not a perfect 5? Well, the cashier was great at taking the order, but the professionalism of the staff behind the counter was a bit immature. Maybe I am just getting old.... They also have quite a few Decatur locations, one in Pawnee, and one in Mt. Zion you can also visit, if you are never in Springfield, IL.

They need to improve on everything. It's the dirtiest and most expensive Krekel's locations out of…read moreall of them. Place needs dipped in a vat of sanitizer and a paint job. The owner is obviously checked out because the place is a wreck and disgusting. Can't afford even to paint the picnic tables I guess. Food isn't great either and takes forever. Used to have a manager who worked here for years and the food was better. Since he has left and the owner is there, place is a mess. Burgers aren't the same anymore and again paying way more than any other location by far and their rent is no way more than other locations like in Forsyth! Btw, Forsyth is the best location for all aspects- clean, food is always good and the staff is amazing! Worst Krekel's out of all of them.

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Charlie Parkers - Old school hash n eggs.....look at the size of the pancake!!

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What looks to be a plain old Quonset hut is disguising a really cool little diner. We were greeted…read moreand sat immediately, which was surprising for a Saturday morning. There were only a couple of empty tables in there, but that changed quickly and within 5 minutes there was a wait of 20-30 mins. Our server "TT" took our orders right away and the entire time we were there no one's beverage got even close to empty. Considering how many tables she had, the amount of attention she dedicated to us was impressive. The food was great! Biscuits and gravy, hash browns and bacon were yummy as were the waffles. For 4 adults the tab came to $52 with drinks, before tip. Not a bad value especially since 3 of us took half of our food to go because the portions are so large. We will be back next time we're in town!

At a time when the concept of "value" is flying away at warp speed, this lovely relic is going the…read moreother direction in the absolute BEST way! We stopped in on a day's drive from Kansas City to Chicago, due to the quantity and quality of reviews all over the internets, very much including Yelp! We were hungry and in need of some energy for lunch, and Charlie Parker's delivered on both! The place looks like a small military airplane hangar, but don't be fooled: inside is some of the best greasy spoon food you could wish for in the Midwest! The dining room is bright, tight, and fun, decorated to the inch by fun, colorful and humorous memorabilia! We ordered, and were served just a few quick minutes later. Each platter (correct word!) was stuffed with awesome, tasty food! Amongst the four of us, we had some sweet and some savory options, and we all tried each others! We all agreed - the food was delicious! When the bill came and printed at the bottom was a number less than $100, less than $50, I almost lost my mind! We were STUFFED to the gills with awesome diner fare, and our bill was barely $40! How did this happen? I pray this place is somehow eeking out a profit, as I seriously can't remember getting so much awesome food for so little cost in a sit-down restaurant. If it IS making money, then MAJOR kudos to the owner - this business model should be copied throughout the land. Food = 4/5 Facility = 4/5 Service = 4/5 Ambiance = 4/5 Value = 6/5

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Lulu's Diner - tradamerican - Updated November 2026

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