Louis' Lunch

It is not uncommon to see a long line of customers spilling out of the entrance to Louis’ Lunch on Crown Street. The restaurant, which has been credited with the invention of the hamburger, currently occupies a small red brick Tudor-style building in downtown New Haven. With parking lots on either side of and behind the building, Louis’ Lunch proudly stands on its own. The front door is made of wood painted a deep red color, and latticed windows complimented by red wooden shutters on either side of the door allow curious passerby to peek in on the action inside. The building is hard to miss, with “Louis’ Lunch” and “Est. 1895” painted in white capital letters on the side of the building facing the street. Those who choose to venture inside will find that the burgers are served on toast instead of buns and common condiments like ketchup and mustard are forbidden. A visit to Louis’ is like taking a trip back in time, giving all those who stop by a chance to take a bite of New Haven history.