"Lou is situated in an old home, which has been modified to feature a vaulted ceiling after much of the attic was removed. Our hostess and server informed us that the establishment is intended to be a wine bar. We received a warm welcome right as we entered and were promptly shown to our table. Since it was our first visit, we were pleased to be seated at a window table for two.
We decided to share a pick-three à la carte option and each ordered an entrée for brunch. The fresh-squeezed orange juice tasted more like it came from a Nestle Sunkist dispenser, but the still water was delightful. Our trio of selections included the Verlasso Lox, which had a strong fishy flavor and didn't seem particularly fresh, though the accompanying chili mix was a delightful addition that we ended up using on everything. We also tried the soft scrambled eggs, which were definitely scrambled but not particularly soft (yet quite tasty for scrambled eggs), and the Salmon Rillettes. We were disappointed to find that the Salmon Rillettes were topped with cilantro, which one of us is allergic to. Surprisingly, this dish turned out to be one of our favorites, tasting fresh and smoky, reminiscent of an excellent homemade smoked salmon dip.
My partner ordered the Crispy Potatoes, adding a chili oil-fried egg. The portion was generous and quite filling due to the amount of potatoes, but it was a bit lacking in seasoning and flavor. The cultured mushroom cream that accompanied it wasn't particularly enjoyable on anything except the Verlasso Lox, as it helped to mellow the fishiness. The cream was semi-sweet and didn’t really taste like mushrooms.
I opted for the breakfast sandwich featuring house-made chorizo and pecorino. This was definitely my favorite dish overall, with perfectly scrambled eggs on a toasted bun, chorizo, a minimal amount of potatoes, and a lemon aioli that added an unexpected burst of flavor. We both enjoyed the spicy lacto-fermented sauce, which we used as a dipping sauce for both the potatoes and the sandwich. It was rich in flavor without being overly spicy—around a 6/10 for heat and 8/10 for flavor.
In summary, we really enjoyed the breakfast sandwich and the salmon rillettes enough to rate our experience 5 stars and make plans to return, especially since the prices are reasonable given the quality.
Parking: There are limited parking options around Lou, and it often seems crowded. The areas behind the restaurant tend to have many cars parked on the grass, with a few parallel-parked on the street. It appears that the deli next door also occupies many of the reserved spaces."
