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    Uncle Loui's Cafe

    4.1 (322 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Uncle Loui's Cafe Photos

    UNCLE LOUI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Loui's Cafe

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    French toast side
    Maria L.

    ULC makes the perfect diner breakfast for a chilly, foggy morning in Duluth. There are no reservations so you may have to wait a bit, but they move tables through pretty efficiently and I've never had to wait long to be seated. The breakfast classics are all great, but I especially enjoyed the gyros scramble - it was a tasty and unique take on breakfast. It isn't a fancy breakfast, but it is hearty and well executed. Service is a little chaotic at times and they can make you feel a little rushed, but I understand that they're just busy and trying to turn tables over.

    House special
    Yasiri N.

    I came here with a group of 7 on Sunday morning before a Vikings game was on. We were seated pretty quickly, I called and asked what the wait time would be and they said about 30 mins but we were seated in about 15. The booths are a little small, you can fit 4 people per booth. The food was great, typical no frills breakfast food at reasonable prices and portion sizes. If you're looking for a comfortable small town diner to get some breakfast food, this is your spot!

    Alan P.

    Uncle Lou's Café is a retro place to visit if you like diner vibes, open kitchen and a 25+ year-old vintage experience in the heart of DULUTH! It is small so make sure you get there early to make sure you get a table as we got there and had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. When you arrive, make sure that you order the coffee right off the bat as for diner coffee it is actually pretty good. And I'm telling you you must order the French toast! Of course it's typical diner food, but it tasted good, the service was fast and the whole experience was worth it!

    Victor M.

    This place is like an old-school diner. You start your adventure by parking across the street in a very large parking lot. Then as you exit your car you will see the big green sign and a line lol. I asked the staff and there is always a line and in the summer time the line can go for blocks they say. The seating is a bit tricky because it's seat yourself. You wait in line and when you get to the front of the line you need to keep your eyes peeled for the next open spot that may fit your party or group. As soon as the group pays and stands up to leave you walk over to the table and wait. The service is very quick and they bus the tables at an incredibly fast rate and they do keep track of who leaves and who comes in. They have a system and it works I was surprised how efficient it is. When you walk in the doors the place looks very small in front and you spot some cool old school diner stools and a kitchen. The restaurant goes all the way back so you have to keep an eye out in the back too and just see who's leaving with coats or bags. We had 3 groups in front but it went fast and there were not many people camping out. The people that come here seem to mean business. They come to eat and not work on their memoirs or thesis so they eat and go. The staff were all very kind and friendly and coffee was at the table in a blink of an eye. The food came out very quickly and we were a little confused on how to pay. We were not sure if we had to go up front or wait at the table. We saw some people going up and some just waiting. Our server came up and took care of us. They had about 6 or 7 different types of hot sauce to choose from at the tables and lots of other options. The place is a little divvy but has many awards hanging on the wall and it's always packed so if you're not used to divvy-type places take into consideration that the place always has a line and it's packed. You can even watch the cooks make your food, unlike some places where the cooks are hidden in the back. I would recommend you at least stop here once and give ULC a try.

    Gyro scramble, pancake and ham and cheese omelette.
    George M.

    Old school diner that's been slinging it for years. Large tasty portions, quickly served, astonishingly affordable and a bit of sass. Plus perfect hash browns- crispy on the outside and soft inside. I swear I've had the same waitress for more than two decades.

    Menu

    We are on a 10 day road trip north & this was by far our best meal.. My hubs had a scrambler with a side of french toast me ( breakfast hater) I went with country fried steak. Yummy on all aspects with GREAT service and very clean. This is an "old school" diner that seems to know exactly how to do what they do... fyi there is plenty parking across the street..

    Front half of restaurant.
    Deb F.

    We had to drop off a relative at the hospital before 7 am and would be hanging around all day so decided to find a place for breakfast that was within walking distance. I used Yelp to find this place and thought we had hit the jackpot with an average 4 star review. Nope. Not even close. My husband always would say if it has the word "cafe" in the name it's going to be a good place to eat. He now say he cannot say that anymore. The 3 stars is an overview of everything but would use 2 stars for the breakfast food we ordered. The waitress we had was friendly and attentive. The food came out fast. There was ample seating in the front of the restaurant and the back was closed (lights off). I k ow this because the restrooms and kitchen are in between the dining rooms. My husband ordered pancakes and sausage. Pancakes were as big as your head. I asked my husband how they were and he wrinkled his nose and shook his head no. He had 3 sausage links of which I ate one. We both agreed they were't very good-almost over cooked/dry. There were 3 syrups on the table and the waitress pointed out that they were maple, blueberry and maple cinnamon. My husband said the maple and the maple cinnamon tasted the same but all 3 syrups were nothing special. I ordered the loaded hash-browns. My first taste was that they were greasy. If there was 1/2 slice of bacon in there it was hard to find. The hash-browns themself are the kind that come in a box dried and you put them in a bowl of water to reconstitute them. While I appreciate that they were crispy there was no "home cooking" going on here-not that they advertise it as such. They also serve lunch so unless I were to come back here more than once to give a few more dishes a rating I'll leave the 3 stars for now.

    Pancakes were homemade, fluffy and about 10" round. Comes with a healthy glob of whipped butter melting down. Always order two and pay the price later. Go for three! I dare you. Three types of syrup on the table, packets of jam and an assortment of sauces. Come for the cakes. I think that's what they're popular for. Other food was ok. Coffee could be a bit more flavorful. The service was excellent, honest classic diner with a great local feeling. Comfortable place. I like supporting joints like this. I'm glad we found it.

    Front

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    6 months ago

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    16 days ago

    Fast service and delicious food! The pancake had a hint of nutmeg/pumpkin AND they had homemade cinnamon syrup.

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    25 days ago

    My only complaint is always crowded because of the great food ! Love the classic and the unique choices they offer. Service is excellent.

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    The food was total greasy spoon, just what we were looking for. Pancake that covered the plate! Service was amazing.

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    1 year ago

    I got the gyro eggs Benedict. I never could have imagined before how well those flavors could come together until I tried it. Delicious!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great little cafe to stop at, we enjoyed the small town feel and the fast service. If you are in Duluth this is a good option.

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    1 year ago

    Good food, good service. Visiting from Texas and had the 2 eggs, 2 sausage, and hash browns. Delicious

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    2 years ago

    Great food! Great service! One of those unassuming places that kills it! And very reasonably priced as a bonus!

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Uncle Loui's Cafe

    Is the corned beef hash out of a can?

    Yes it is, according to the waitress.

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    Duluth Grill

    Duluth Grill

    4.6
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    My son and I were visiting Duluth this past weekend and had breakfast at Duluth Grill, Sunday,…read more5/31. We had checked reviews and saw there were some reviews indicating this restaurant was not as good as it used to be. We decided to see for ourselves as the menu, other positive reviews sounded like it was an incredibly good place to go. It is. It was. It was busy, being a Sunday morning especially, but the staff was handling it all well from our perspective . I used to manage restaurants a long time ago and was impressed with the flow. Our waitress, Natalie, was delightful, knew the menu well to describe and answer questions, and we were not wanting for anything. She checked on us, always grinning and managing the iace well. I had the banana bread pancakes. A perfect choice ! They came and looked like a picture stacked up and flowing down with Carmel, maple bourbon syrup, marzcapone cream and nuts. So delicious. I took half home and enjoyed the rest later. Heated up perfectly with a 20 second zap in micro. My son had the corn beef hash skillet and said his was just as good as mine. We both agreed that we had no idea why reviews were negative, especially going on a busy morning. We will be going back every time we visit. I recommend you do too.

    We love the Duluth Grill. I still miss the old, bigger menu…read more My husband always orders a more traditional breakfast and he really liked it. Today I went for the Blueberry Yum Yum which is a chicken sandwich with blueberry compote and jalapenos. They make their own compote and are almost out so hurry while you can to try this item. Very good and very messy but the combo worked surprisingly well. Don't miss the hashbrowns as they are truly excellent. And the Local tea is always a favorite with honey and lemon. Free parking. Cynthia S. did a great job serving us today.

    Photos
    Patio Plants
    Patio Plants
    Everything Skillet, Bacon, and Bang Bang Cucumbers
    Everything Skillet, Bacon, and Bang Bang Cucumbers
    Bibimbap Bowl and maple oat latte.

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    Bibimbap Bowl and maple oat latte.
    The Social House

    The Social House

    4.0
    (48 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Not sure how I overlooked this place. I will say move over Duluth Grill, I have a new favorite…read morebreakfast place in Duluth! We went to the Lake Ave. location in Canal Park since it was walking distance. Walking into the establishment you are greeted with the aromas breakfasts being made and a hostess who was friendly. We opted to eat outside under the covered patio to enjoy the day. The menu has plenty of options to suit one's fancy - pancakes, waffles, pecan/cinnamon rolls for those with a sweet-tooth, and of course any number of savory plates for the rest of us. Making an eating decision can prove difficult. the Huevos Rancheros looked appealing as did the breakfast sandwich, and the brisket eggs Benedict. I opted for what was behind door number four and picked the country fried steak and eggs. Much to my delight, instead of the usually Sysco food distributor breaded chopped steak topped with a gravy from an institutional food can - They actually used a rib-eye for the steak, and homemade gravy. I also had the option of toast or a pancake. I always love me some decent rye toast, but today was a day to mix it up, and the pancake was nice, and not too big. I also liked that there was an option for blueberry syrup, or Maple syrup. The other item ordered was the Greek Omelet, my wife truly enjoyed it, and they also cooked her hash-browns to order which she appreciated (she likes them really, really crispy). I this will definitely be a must have place to eat every time we are in Duluth. I highly recommend this place.

    We were in Duluth for a weekend and wanted an upgrade over the free hotel breakfast. We came here…read moreright when they opened and it was families and small kids. I think the boozy brunch crowd comes in late morning. We were seated quickly and ordered breakfast. We got the usual pancakes, French toast, etc. Everything was good. Best ever? No, but pretty solid and the portions were generous. The kids ate it, which is most important. The service was good, too. It was a bit hectic for the staff because they sat like 8 parties of 4 all at once - all with kids, so it was a lot for them to manage, but they pulled through and we were well taken care of. I heard it gets packed by mid-late morning, so if you can, get there early!

    Photos
    Specials Menu
    Specials Menu
    Storefront
    Storefront
    The Social House

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    Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar

    Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar

    4.2
    (154 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I had the most amazing pulled chicken sandwich at Zeitgeist. Here are the rest of the ingredients:…read morehavarti cheese, pickles, cabbage & carrot slaw, pickled jalapeño, grilled pineapple, kaiser bun, lime wedge. Along with their amazing food, they also do some very good cocktails.

    Happy we stopped by this lovely community restaurant in Downtown Duluth! The menu is simple but…read morethoughtfully crafted with local ingredients, and we happened to visit on a Tuesday when they had live music -- such a nice touch. I started with the Tempura Fried Cauliflower appetizer, which ended up being my favorite dish of the night! You can choose between sambal aioli or crabapple BBQ sauce -- I had the aioli drizzled on top and the crabapple sauce on the side, and it was amazing. I'm not usually into autumn spice flavors, but the crabapple sauce was subtle, slightly smoky, and paired beautifully with the crispy cauliflower. For my entrée, I had the Coconut Curry Bowl. It was flavorful and hearty, though a bit strong and salty for my personal taste. They also offer a kids' menu with generous portions (I've included a photo for reference -- grilled chicken, fries, and veggies). Overall, great vibes, friendly service, and a wonderful cause. We loved supporting a non-profit restaurant dedicated to the arts and community development!

    Photos
    Live Music Every Tuesday: 5pm-7pm
    Live Music Every Tuesday: 5pm-7pm
    Chocolate Torte
    Chocolate Torte
    Spiced Pomegranate Fizz

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    Spiced Pomegranate Fizz
    Lake Ave Restaurant & Bar

    Lake Ave Restaurant & Bar

    4.1
    (396 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Very mixed bag. Had the cava-colada drink, which was really good! Ordered the fresh pasta at the…read moreserver's recommendation and it was so bland and mushy I sent it back. I have never done that before, but this was inedible. It was replaced with a burger, which was fine. Not mind-blowing. Good fries, but unevenly seasoned. I was so excited to celebrate my birthday here and it was disappointing. My nephew had the mac & cheese and thought it needed more cheese sauce - but the hot dog he added to it was excellent. My mom's strawberry salad had no strawberries on it. When we asked the server, she said that it was a strawberry vinaigrette. When we double checked the menu, it looked like strawberries were one of the ingredients, and it was topped with a poppyseed vinaigrette. My dad had the white fish and was very happy with it. My sister had a pork chop and said it was good. Our server was really nice and gave no pushback on replacing the entrée.

    we were up here for our annual anniversary getaway. This place is located a stones throw away from…read morethe lift bridge in the Dewitt Seitz building. Our experience started off on a bit of a sour note. We were a walk-up (no reservation), so we were put on the waiting list, which was fine. We said, 'That's cool, we will just have a cocktail at the bar.' The hostess stated, 'We can't.' We went over to the Mexican bar and waited. One thing I noticed was that there were three empty tables. We waited and came back, and lo and behold, the same tables were still empty, and remained so for basically the entire duration of our dinner. The food was fine, nothing really stood out per se. The steak was a bit under-seasoned, and the salad my wife had was ok. I would say that the cocktails were well-prepared. I completely understand that one is paying for the location, but I honestly would think one would get something a little better than what we were served.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Best Mac and cheese ever! Wish I could get the recipe
    Best Mac and cheese ever! Wish I could get the recipe
    Pickled Norwegian (and La Granada)

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    Pickled Norwegian (and La Granada)

    Uncle Loui's Cafe - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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