Bos Taurus
I’ve been to Louis’ Lunch by the way (in Connecticut State History, which I had a Semester of, it is the one and only original burger as recognized by the Library of Congress).
It’s not much to look at, a tiny square building between two parking lots which emphasizes it’s diminutive size. Inside there’s a Counter with a Closet behind it on the extreme left, a Grill at a right angle going back to the wall, a Corridor to the Bathroom with Coat Hooks on the right hand wall, and the Bathroom itself. In the Front of the House there are 3 Round Tables, one on the left in front of the Counter, two on the Right near the Window. Just before the Bathroom Corridor is a slightly larger Rectangular Table jammed kind of underneath the Coat Hooks (what can I say, it’s a teeny tiny place). There’s Booth Seating built into the front exterior walls and a narrow Counter on the outside of the grill with 5 or 6 stools. That’s it. It’s incredibly claustrophobic and if you could squeeze 35 people in it they’d all have to hold their breath.
There are not a lot of options. You can have a Burger. You can have a Cheese Burger (Kraft Yellow American). You can add Tomato and Onion. You can ask for either Tomato OR Onion and the Counterperson will give you the stink eye, but they’ll do it. Not that they’re overtly hostile as part of some schtick like the Waitstaff at Durgin Park mind you, most of the customers are regulars and they know what they’re getting. NO lettuce, pickles, bacon, ketchup, mustard, mayo, secret sauce. There are places that serve that, but not here. No Buns- Toast, and not that Artisanal Bread kind, Wonder Bread or a Balloon equivalent.
How is it? Surprisingly ok. The meat is well seasoned, juicy, and Medium Rare, the Tomato mitigates the Onion though I do recommend the Cheese because the Toast is quite dry.
The restaurant is traditionally closed during the month of August (for annual spoon-counting).
This is funny because there’s not a scrap of cutlery in the place.
If you’ve never been it’s worth trying. Certainly a unique experience.