Go for breakfast! The brisket breakfast taco was delicious! My partner had the breakfast sandwich and he loved it. He scarfed it down before I could even sneak a bite. Service was friendly and prompt. We’ll go again!

Stopped by here for quick dinner and drinks before going to zilker hillside theater. Ordered wings, potatoes, and ranch water; it all tasted great and came out quick. The atmosphere in the patio is great too.

The bone in fried chicken was SO good (get the green sauce). The bartender Kristyn was an absolute delight. She made the whole night... her recommendations and conversation were top notch.

I had the best falafel burger here before ACL. Please try it.

The front hostess attendant was fantastic. We were served quickly and our interactions with the staff were amazing. The location was clean, bright, and seemed very sanitary. Pretty decent prices on most things, but this isn't your local dive bar for cheap beer. I would recommend this place!

Yummy, and I had a great time here! Stopped by for a drink to hype myself up to swim in the dark at Barton Springs and ended up being recommended a delicious dish. (Watermelon, Serrano peppers, feta cheese and mint.) 🙀 I’ll never show up at a pool party without this from now on. Both people working behind the bar were friendly, and fun to talk to. They even made my obscure drink recommendation. Someone came in specifically to watch a sports game and they already had it on one of the TVs so they know their customer base well. Groovy tunes and bar stools that swivel and can’t fall over. Five stars!

We have a great time every time! The food is consistently great and the staff are all really sweet. The green chilli cheeseburger hits the hangover spot so perfectly and when I’m feeling like taking better care of myself there are great salads to choose from.

The gal working the bar / counter could not have been more friendly. She gave a genuine welcome to everyone who came in the door immediately--- even while she was attending to other customers. I had the pulled chicken sandwich. To be honest, it was kind of boring with boring white bread. But when I ate each bite mixed with a bite of the side of grilled brussels sprouts--- it was perfection. A perfect balance.

Our go to spot, easy parking, quick food, never crowded. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best Browns backer bar I’ve been to - great service and food. Well done here!

Burgers deal is a great idea to stop in great place for shore but parking isn’t the easiest so off peak hours is easier and worth the drive to check it out

My new favorite Cobb salad. It’s bright, creamy, crunchy, savory, sweet… it hit all the marks for me!

If you are looking for a “Cheer’s Atmosphere” in the ATX, Lou’s is it! I love how friendly the staff is (they welcome customers as they enter - old school customer service & I am here for it!). The food and drinks are delicious. This is a spot where everything on the menu is worth trying. Great happy hour and homemade almond-based horchata. The atmosphere is old-school Barton Springs and they accommodate many sports fans with multiple screens and nooks. Thank you for honoring the Austin spirit and giving the Austin oaktree in the patio good people energy.

Not sure why Lou’s is averaging a 4.0 rating. Service was arguably the best in Austin, the food was fresh and full of flavor, and the parking was a dream (complimentary garage steps away from the door)!! Highly recommend!

Some of the best quality portions for the piece in the city and quality of the food.

Good vibe and good beer but the manager on staff was exceptional. She handled a guest who was over served with care but very candid. Had quick talk with her team in a super respectful way for the staff and clients around. Highly recommend!

Hidden Gem! 😍😍😍😍 Lou’s Barton Springs restaurant truly exceeded my expectations. The food is nothing short of fantastic, with a focus on high-quality ingredients that elevate every dish. The chicken was perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor, easily deserving a full 5 stars. But the real star of the show was the East Side Crunch, which deserves infinite stars! This dish is a hidden gem and completely underrated. The service was impeccable, with a friendly and attentive staff that made the experience even more enjoyable. Lou’s is a must-visit spot, and I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town. Highly recommended!

We eat a lot of wings and the jalapeño Thai wings we had for happy hour were only $7….and the BEST wings we’ve ever had. Will definitely be back, great spot to hang after the park. Love the Eastside location too…Nutella croissant and 1/2 custard on Sundays. Need I say more? Quality ingredients in all the food and friendly staff.

I stopped in on a Wednesday for the half price burgers and it was delicious! All of the staff were super friendly and helpful. I think I’ll be back next Wednesday.

This place has the best wings in Austin...hands down. I eat A LOT wings and this place is the best. Walked in here by chance too which is awesome. Also if you're lucky enough to get Kristen the bar tender, you're gonna have a great time. Great service and wings! Definitely coming back for half off wings happy hour.

5 stars across the board. Any other rating is from a fool. The team is in good spirits every time I enter and service is great. The texture, temperature and taste of everything I’ve eaten here is top notch. I often see people shoveling food into their mouth (me included) because it is mouth watering good food. Chef Esteban is the best!

A lot better than expected. Enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service. Would recommend and plan to visit again.

We were looking for a bite to eat last Thursday night, about an hour prior to closing, when we came upon Lou's and thought we would give it a try. We received a warm welcome upon arrival and opted to sit at the bar, however we were slightly nervous with what appeared to be an underwhelming menu. However, we opted for a draft beer (Honey Celis, which was great to find on tap), the Falafel burger (I added Swiss cheese), Green chile burger and garlic parmesan fries. The food came fast and was fantastic! The Falafel was fresh and the addition of the yogurt dressing was delicious! I would definitely order it again. The Green chile burger also tasted great, however the fries were even tastier. The bartender provided great service and was friendly. The other nice thing is the free parking in the garage behind the restaurant. Just ensure that you request the parking code from the bartender/server, which is required you exit the parking garage. We will definitely stop by again when we are in the vicinity. Thanks, Lou's!

Great experience- great food, good relaxing music, great ambiance, liked the indoor seating that the east austin location doesn’t have. Got to use a QR code at table to order, which let us go right to our table to sit down, have high chairs and booster seats. Great service, great food- got a variety of things- salad, burgers, custard, shake- all great! Would definitely come back! Also easy parking in the garage right behind it, complimentary with your qr code.

I’d been going to Lou’s East Side for about 9 months before Barton Springs opened, but I LOVE this location! Parking is always easy, and it’s covered. I’ve had a range of things on the menu at this new location, but the same things always call to me— breakfast tacos (with both sauces) & iced Mexican mocha in the morning, or the burger/wings & their wine based drinks for lunch or dinner. I could sit and drink 4 Paloma’s back to back, and I have. The drinks are hard not to keep ordering, and it’s made it even more dangerous now that you can order directly from your table lol. Staff is awesome, helpful and funny. The managers here are very involved and friendly as well. Super happy this location exists and I look forward to spending more time here.

delicious food and great frozen drinks ! staff was friendly and welcoming.

One of my favorite gems in Austin. Friendly service, great food, drinks, and fun atmosphere. Also, excellent happy hour deals—try the wings and margaritas! ✌️

Food was good. Happy Hour was fun. Wait staff was fast and attentive. Pretty casual place. Order by QR Code. This location has garage parking which makes it ideal for this area. If I could change one thing it would be to be able to keep the tab open instead of closing it each time we order drinks. Otherwise, my friends and I enjoyed this location.

I went to this lovely place on an unexpected date over my weekend in Austin. This humble burger was quite tasty! It was really satisfying, the burger was well cooked and seasoned, and the sauce was just right. Additionally, the staff was incredibly nice, polite, and efficient. The dining experience was excellent in general and the prices were reasonable for the area. One thing that stood out was the ability to order food from the QR code on the table, really efficient!

Great spot to eat. My running group and I come here every Saturday and the food is delicious. Reasonably priced and inside is always clean and well kept. The breakfast sandwich is delicious but my friends got the omelette which also looked excellent. Right near Barton springs so even if you want to catch something to eat after a swim, I highly recommend! They have other things on their menu too which I look forward to trying. Staff is nice and caring.

Really enjoy both locations. Barton springs is more indoor and Cesar Chavez is all outdoor. Fried and rotisserie chicken are both fantastic!! Salads are excellent and drinks are consistent. Service is friendly and helpful. Priced fairly... so by and try it

As a nonbeliever of whole roasted chicken in general I am very impressed by the roasted bird at Lou’s. Dark AND white meat are both flavorful and juicy. The skin has a nice crispness to it but still slightly pliable. The green sauce is reminiscent of the sauce that comes with Peruvian rotisserie chickens. Pro move: order all the sauces and a few extra green sauces!

The Larry's bowl was absolutely amazing. It was healthy with lots of ingredients, tastes, and vinegarette. Chai latte was really good too. The order was fully online so it was easy. Just sit on any seat and you'll order on phone. Food is right away!

This place is super cute and has a great vibe. We got a lunch snack the guacamole was fresh and flavorful! Fresh hand crafted cocktails. And fresh ice cold beer. Can’t go wrong!

Austin's awful parking headache is solved by Lou's free parking garage. We sat in the dining room that shows off the incredible view of the trees. Wow! The best burger and fries I've eaten in a looong time. We halved the burger and you could see the artistry from within the buns! The 'parmesian' fries were award-winning. And back to SA we went. Extremely satisfied.

Such a cool spot in a really cute neighborhood. Fast and friendly service, and really tasty home made guacamole and chips. Definitely would recommend stopping here if you’re ever in the area.

We had the chicken sandwich was good have the sauce on the side just to be safe. The drinks are great

This is a chill location for drinks and/or dinner. I like that there is an indoor dining area (unlike the Chavez location). I usually order the chicken but this evening I ordered the chickpea burger. It was delicious!

Great lunch spot with tons of indoor and outdoor seating. Ordering through a QR code is convenient and the food was good! Philly cheesesteak and Parmesan and garlic fries especially

Lucy Martinez

Food was good. Happy Hour was fun. Wait staff was fast and attentive. Pretty casual place. Order by QR Code. This location has garage parking which makes it ideal for this area. If I could change one thing it would be to be able to keep the tab open instead of closing it each time we order drinks. Otherwise, my friends and I enjoyed this location.

Averie

I went to this lovely place on an unexpected date over my weekend in Austin. This humble burger was quite tasty! It was really satisfying, the burger was well cooked and seasoned, and the sauce was just right. Additionally, the staff was incredibly nice, polite, and efficient. The dining experience was excellent in general and the prices were reasonable for the area. One thing that stood out was the ability to order food from the QR code on the table, really efficient!

Paul Stanik

Great spot to eat. My running group and I come here every Saturday and the food is delicious. Reasonably priced and inside is always clean and well kept. The breakfast sandwich is delicious but my friends got the omelette which also looked excellent. Right near Barton springs so even if you want to catch something to eat after a swim, I highly recommend! They have other things on their menu too which I look forward to trying. Staff is nice and caring.

Bubba

Really enjoy both locations. Barton springs is more indoor and Cesar Chavez is all outdoor. Fried and rotisserie chicken are both fantastic!! Salads are excellent and drinks are consistent. Service is friendly and helpful. Priced fairly... so by and try it

Matthew Hyland

As a nonbeliever of whole roasted chicken in general I am very impressed by the roasted bird at Lou’s. Dark AND white meat are both flavorful and juicy. The skin has a nice crispness to it but still slightly pliable. The green sauce is reminiscent of the sauce that comes with Peruvian rotisserie chickens. Pro move: order all the sauces and a few extra green sauces!

Chika

The Larry's bowl was absolutely amazing. It was healthy with lots of ingredients, tastes, and vinegarette. Chai latte was really good too. The order was fully online so it was easy. Just sit on any seat and you'll order on phone. Food is right away!

Jacob Hermanson

This place is super cute and has a great vibe. We got a lunch snack the guacamole was fresh and flavorful! Fresh hand crafted cocktails. And fresh ice cold beer. Can’t go wrong!

Rick Diego

Austin's awful parking headache is solved by Lou's free parking garage. We sat in the dining room that shows off the incredible view of the trees. Wow! The best burger and fries I've eaten in a looong time. We halved the burger and you could see the artistry from within the buns! The 'parmesian' fries were award-winning. And back to SA we went. Extremely satisfied.

Kaitlynn

delicious food and great frozen drinks ! staff was friendly and welcoming.

Dominic Imwalle

Best Browns backer bar I’ve been to - great service and food. Well done here!

Caitlyn Horn

Such a cool spot in a really cute neighborhood. Fast and friendly service, and really tasty home made guacamole and chips. Definitely would recommend stopping here if you’re ever in the area.

Adam Gross

We had the chicken sandwich was good have the sauce on the side just to be safe. The drinks are great

Lou’s at Barton Creek has quickly become one of our favorite spots to bring the family. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and it’s perfect whether we’re grabbing a quick bite or hanging out for a while after a walk on the trail. There’s always plenty of parking (which is rare in Austin!), and ordering couldn’t be easier—you just scan the QR code at your table and order from your phone. Everything comes out fast and hot, and the food is consistently great. It’s super family-friendly, too. Our toddler loves running around the outdoor space, and we love being able to sit back with a cold drink and enjoy the laid-back vibe. We’ve been dozens of times and it never disappoints. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a casual, easy, and delicious spot in the area.

Baron Davis

Lou’s at Barton Creek has quickly become one of our favorite spots to bring the family. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and it’s perfect whether we’re grabbing a quick bite or hanging out for a while after a walk on the trail. There’s always plenty of parking (which is rare in Austin!), and ordering couldn’t be easier—you just scan the QR code at your table and order from your phone. Everything comes out fast and hot, and the food is consistently great. It’s super family-friendly, too. Our toddler loves running around the outdoor space, and we love being able to sit back with a cold drink and enjoy the laid-back vibe. We’ve been dozens of times and it never disappoints. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a casual, easy, and delicious spot in the area.

I liked the Angus salada and enjoyed outside sitting. The cashier was superfriendly

Great food but way too overpriced. For example I got a Cobb salad that was $16 and came with barely anything on it and was still hungry by the end. This is true with most of their items - anything with chicken on it really only has like 4 pieces.

Good food. Ordering on the dumb app is a drag. Wish you could just order like we did way back in 2023 with a person.

fried wings were good even without BBQ sauce they had run out of by 5pm on a Friday nite. couldn't reorder pitcher of beer as that wasn't working for reasons unknown. they have a nice patio but it is very noisy making communication a shouting match. free parking in this area is major asset. having to order and pay thru barcode app is tricky for some people.

A small group of 6 of us ate here, in the old Ski Shores location. The ambience is lively, and the people watching and smells are delicious while you wait for you meal. It is loud and echoey in here so it’s a bit hard to talk with a big table. I ordered the thick cut onion rings which were absolutely delicious, and perfectly seasoned. For my burger, I got the Icehouse burger and my taste buds thanked me, delish! Definitely come and check it out

Lou's is solid all the way around. The chicken tender sandwich is my go to and the atmosphere is always on point. Great place to watch the game or hang out with friends especially on a pretty day. My only complaint is they don't accept cash and that's no bueno in my book. 👍

Definitely surpassed my expectations with its tasty fried chicken and overall decent food. As is often the case in this kind of place, do skip the salad though. Convenient app-based ordering - you just walk in, seat anywhere, and order from your phone.

Ugh!!! No Budweiser. No Jameson! No real wing sauce!! Restaurant felt clean. The wings were really really good, but the wing sauce is weak, especially for wings this good. The bartenders were attentive and nice. And no discount for being named Louis. It was my birthday the next day.

Very tasty and big burgers and the parmesan garlic fries were very good. Could have had more green chilies on the green chili burger. The service was a little slow since it wasn't that packed with people, but busy enough. Worth visiting again.

Fried chicken was worth the wait. Drinks were good but a lot of ice. Music was kinda wild

We stopped by Lou's for an afternoon snack after a walk around Lady Bird Lake. We shared the Greek salad, the Cobb Salad and the bowl with chicken tenders added. We also got fried pickles, parmesan French fries and frozen custard. The salads were fresh and yummy! The pickles and fries outstanding and the custard to die for!! Great meal.

food was great! get the wings! hate how you order at the table with the code, but whatever. that’s everywhere in austin it seems.

Friendly staff! Seat yourself. This location is very busy, but food and drinks were delicious. Parking isn’t the best, but there is a parking garage available. You can order from QR code on table and it’s brought out to you.

Very good hamburgers, not expensive, free parking place, friendly service, very good place to have lunch

This is a great and inexpensive place on Barton Springs. The burgers are fantastic as are the fries (all of em) the rotisserie potatoes and salads. I haven't had a bad meal yet. However on Wed a run club does meet there, making an annoying crowd, for the patrons. Parking is easy. If you have a big vehicle park down the road and walk however if you have a smaller one parking in the garage is great and they comp the parking. The servers are great but you do order online, so use a CC. In short this is a great place sure to become an Austin staple. Give it a whirl.

We met a friend at this restaurant for lunch. Before we went, I read the reviews. Based on the reviews it seemed that the food was good, but the service was lacking. So I went with an open mind. The food was really good and the the food runner was very attentive to our table. In addition, there were several bussers there who took away empty glasses and plates. For the price and the quality of food, it was definitely worth it. We started our meal with cocktails. I had the Gin/tonic, my roommate, the Bloody Mary. Both were fantastic. Then we shared the guacamole. It was really good, in texture and flavor. The accompanying chips were super fresh. We also had the spicy cucumber side. It was amazing. For my main I had the Greek salad and my roommate had the burger. These dishes were also really good. I would definitely come back.

Fast food service! Bar top was a little bit longer to get a menu or order but completely understandable with drinks in high demand. They validate parking for their garage and have seat yourself and order via QR code for orders. Tasty plates, wasn’t to sure what kind of cuisine it was considered. Almost like a mash up of American, Tex-Mediterranean. Chicken fell off the bones and the seasonal watermelon feta was a great addition, especially for the summer heat. I would highly consider the Piri-Piri sauce if you like spicy. They seem to have some great happy hour and week day specials that will certainly bring me back. Come check it out for yourselves.

S Miller

This is a great and inexpensive place on Barton Springs. The burgers are fantastic as are the fries (all of em) the rotisserie potatoes and salads. I haven't had a bad meal yet. However on Wed a run club does meet there, making an annoying crowd, for the patrons. Parking is easy. If you have a big vehicle park down the road and walk however if you have a smaller one parking in the garage is great and they comp the parking. The servers are great but you do order online, so use a CC. In short this is a great place sure to become an Austin staple. Give it a whirl.

janna k

We met a friend at this restaurant for lunch. Before we went, I read the reviews. Based on the reviews it seemed that the food was good, but the service was lacking. So I went with an open mind. The food was really good and the the food runner was very attentive to our table. In addition, there were several bussers there who took away empty glasses and plates. For the price and the quality of food, it was definitely worth it. We started our meal with cocktails. I had the Gin/tonic, my roommate, the Bloody Mary. Both were fantastic. Then we shared the guacamole. It was really good, in texture and flavor. The accompanying chips were super fresh. We also had the spicy cucumber side. It was amazing. For my main I had the Greek salad and my roommate had the burger. These dishes were also really good. I would definitely come back.

Elizabeth C

Fast food service! Bar top was a little bit longer to get a menu or order but completely understandable with drinks in high demand. They validate parking for their garage and have seat yourself and order via QR code for orders. Tasty plates, wasn’t to sure what kind of cuisine it was considered. Almost like a mash up of American, Tex-Mediterranean. Chicken fell off the bones and the seasonal watermelon feta was a great addition, especially for the summer heat. I would highly consider the Piri-Piri sauce if you like spicy. They seem to have some great happy hour and week day specials that will certainly bring me back. Come check it out for yourselves.

Oh no! They changed their happy hour menu. Gone are the days of the 1/2 price Lou's Classic Burger during happy hour! They replaced it with 2 for 1 burgers, but only on Wednesdays. Too bad!

When I entered I was given a paper menu with a horrible print job that made it feel like my eyes were acting up. Double print on top of each other made it very difficult to read the menu so I used the electronic menu on the screens as well. I ordered the half rotisserie chicken and I was unimpressed by the flavor. Menu items seems a bit over priced which I can only assume due to the location. No half portion of salads were available and items come out a la carte for those prices a side should be included but I digress. Overall a disappointing visit. I cannot comfortably recommend Lou’s to others until I visit for a second time.

Food is really good, drinks too. Saw some of the reviews complaining about the qr code ordering experience so I knew what I was getting into. However I must have missed the reviews about the default tip being 22%‼️for no service other than running food to you. No way! lol I hope the staff is getting paid properly because there is no way people are tipping for no service

Pricey, small menu. Great patio.

Lou's was a good find. The food was good. The atmosphere was good. Nice afternoon spot in Barton Springs for a quick bite. What I liked most was ordering from the table and sitting outdoors. I would give it another try and perhaps order something other than the Greek salad.

The food was pretty good. I had a burger and fries, which were standard burger and fries. My friend had a BLT which he said was "very very good." So, no complaints there. You seat yourself, and, since it wasn't busy, this was easy. Then, you scan a bar code to get the menu and order on your phone. There is no 5G service there, so the menu was slow to download on a weak 4G signal. There was a Lou's Guest Wifi, but no signs to indicate the password to get onto the wifi. All of this takes place with no interaction with the people who work there. When placing your order, you pre-pay. This includes a tip. I should have put zero and then put cash on the table after, because, when you prepay for service, you get no service. The tip is supposed to be a reward for excellent service, at least that's how I was raised. Anyway, the ordering screen defaults to a 22% tip, with choices for 20% and 25%. Tipflation is really bugging me since the pandemic, but that's my issue. I chose 20%, because no one seated us, no one took our order, no one came around to answer questions about the menu or make recommendations, no one told us the wifi password. It didn't take long for the food to come out, and someone did serve it to us. She also gave us a thing to get out of the parking garage for free. That was our one and only interaction with the staff. It lasted less than 30 seconds, and that's what I got for my $7.58 tip. They never came back to check on how the food was. They never asked if we needed anything else. When my ice tea was empty, I did get a refill, but had to walk my glass over to the bar to get it. It was a 12 ounce glass, so it didn't last long either. The restaurant is nice and clean, airy and comfortable. I liked the atmosphere. I'm sure the location has expensive rent, so I'm not surprised the meals were over $20 each for simple food. The one thing they could improve, and it needs a LOT of improvement, is the service. While the staff were friendly, this was 99% a self-service experience.

People say the daytime food isn't that good for how expensive it is. I've eaten there a few times and agree And they said the employees at the Barton Springs location used to act all weird and smug about it when you try to order breakfast. Why on earth?! Lol. Now the place doesn't even open till 11, so breakfast is completely eliminated. Everyone wants this place to serve breakfast again. That's the main thing that gets discussed any time this place is mentioned.

Lou’s was good! The sangria was very tasty. The chicken wings are massive as well! The food is just okay as an overall quality- but would recommend the drinks.

Ok so I’ve gotten old and California has taken over my home while I’ve been asleep but $20 (without tip) for a small sandwich and a pint of lager was quite the sticker shock. No fries or chips with that sandwich either. Still, your paying for the ambience which this place has and the food is good - not great, but good. Just picture yourself on Rodeo Drive. OH! And another thing I did not like. I took out my money and handed the counter server a $20 and was told, “we don’t take cash”. Don’t take cash?! What?

The parking was the worst thing about this place. The garage is apparently paid by the restaurant, but unfortunately, no server explained what we needed for the parking garage. We figured our digital receipt would have whatever proof needed, but we were wrong. There is a QR code given to you for the garage (we were never given one and found this out after leaving by a sign hidden near the garage) if there was not a valet by the gates who got us through, we would've had to pay 18 bucks for parking. Getting the worst out of the way, the food is good-not great for the price - but good. It is priced high for the taste and came out to be around 50 for 2. When walking in, you seat yourself and order from a QR code on the table. No server comes out to welcome you until after you've ordered your food. It is jarring to have no service as a new customer and then be asked by the online menu to tip. Who am I tipping in this case? Seems like I'm giving the business more money when they've cut labor... I don't mean to seem harsh, the staff are quite nice when you meet them. I think the business should change how it operates to have staff seat you as you come in. The atmosphere is nice and chairs and tables are placed well for space. Honestly, if the prices were lower and servers were present, I would be more inclined to come again. But until then I'd rather just go to Dan's or Willy's for a burger.

Prices seem reasonable until you realize they don't include any extras. That's ok, the menu is clear. One of us enjoyed his falafel burger but my pulled chicken sandwich had very little filling and lots of bread. The flavor was good but quality control lacking - 5 pieces of gristle in one sandwich? Tips are due as you order (newer trend we dislike) so no way to grade food at the end of the meal. Servers were great, and brought water for our thirsty dogs.

The food was mostly meh, but there was no wait for a table on a Sunday afternoon, and the patio atmosphere was lovely. It’s open seating, and ordering through the QR was easy. My thoughts on each menu item we ordered: • chips & queso - bare minimum honestly. I wouldn’t order again. • pulled chicken sandwich - it was okay. I expected tastier flavors. • fries - bland • chicken tenders - now these were moist and tasty. • frozen custard - I got mine with Swedish Hill cookie crumbles and it was delicious! So much so that I’ll probably hit up Swedish Hill soon for their cookies. If I go back, I’d get a salad, chicken tenders, and absolutely the frozen custard with cookie crumbles. No need to waste my time on appetizers or sides.

Jen Martinez

The food was mostly meh, but there was no wait for a table on a Sunday afternoon, and the patio atmosphere was lovely. It’s open seating, and ordering through the QR was easy. My thoughts on each menu item we ordered: • chips & queso - bare minimum honestly. I wouldn’t order again. • pulled chicken sandwich - it was okay. I expected tastier flavors. • fries - bland • chicken tenders - now these were moist and tasty. • frozen custard - I got mine with Swedish Hill cookie crumbles and it was delicious! So much so that I’ll probably hit up Swedish Hill soon for their cookies. If I go back, I’d get a salad, chicken tenders, and absolutely the frozen custard with cookie crumbles. No need to waste my time on appetizers or sides.

Management must be out of their minds if they think it’s ethical to recommend 22% as a tip at a self ordering establishment. We had to order from a QR code at the table we sat ourselves at. You pay for everything up front, including tip… a 22% tip. For what? For you to hand me food? When they dropped off our drinks, we asked if we could also get water. She told us we could get it ourselves at the water station that had no cups. She even said it looked like there were no cups, but I could ask for one after I go up there and check myself.

Food is okay, service is lacking at best. No one cleared my party’s table of empty plates and drinks. So things would just pile up.

Definitely Pass this place up. Sub mediocre food at an above average price. Worst onion rings in Austin. Burgers packed with shredded lettuce. I dont know how they did it, but the patties had no juice, but extra grease. Between the road traffic noise and the too-loud speakers, conversation on the patio was impossible. 2 stars because at least they are dog friendly.

So, i will say the fried chicken was was fresh and crispy. The rest of the food, not so much. And drinks appear to come from the local convenience store. With a healthy markup. And, fairly sure the "Ranch Dressing" was just seasoned milk.. Somebody's kinda place obviously, not mine. Other than that, this is a wannabe McDonald's without their own kiosks. Though, for the prices I would think they could afford servers. You order and pay on your phone. Got questions about the food? You'll figure it out when ya get it. From what I could find you'll pay with the card in your digital wallet or else, no other options. If it presented itself as a fast food joint I could have had more realistic expectations.

Good food but the system setup is a QR code you have to place your order through an app or website and fill out card details for each item. It’s more like fast food ordering but even fast food has a human interaction. Also the website kept glitching for most people at our table. All the food came out at different times. Would recommend they go back to regular service, they even ask for a tip. All they provided was running of the food and bringing our drinks

Been in Austin for a minute (30 years), and this was our first visit to Lou's...we were in for lunch on Sunday August 4, 2024 after a quick round at Butler. Nice looking place, but wasn't feeling the "order from a QR code" vibe, and then expecting to tip. I don't understand why some restaurants provide zero guidance on their menu, make you order through a QR code, and then expect patrons to tip? Ordered the whole chicken and a side of fries, mainly because they don't offer many "side" options. I think their chicken is priced well, and the fries are really good, but it was $12 for a shot of Tito's!! We won't be coming back. :(

Nathan Barney

So, i will say the fried chicken was was fresh and crispy. The rest of the food, not so much. And drinks appear to come from the local convenience store. With a healthy markup. And, fairly sure the "Ranch Dressing" was just seasoned milk.. Somebody's kinda place obviously, not mine. Other than that, this is a wannabe McDonald's without their own kiosks. Though, for the prices I would think they could afford servers. You order and pay on your phone. Got questions about the food? You'll figure it out when ya get it. From what I could find you'll pay with the card in your digital wallet or else, no other options. If it presented itself as a fast food joint I could have had more realistic expectations.

Honestly, this was mind bogglingly the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant in my entire life. Why this staff and management want to work in this industry is beyond me, they appear to completely hate their jobs. Why do it then? Seriously. There's a clearly good reason you're sub 4 stars.

Here’s the thing, I hate to leave this review because I love Lou’s (on the east side)… BUT my husband and our friend got really bad food poisoning from the chicken sandwich. I had the burger and was, more or less, fine. And we are 100% positive it was the chicken sandwich - don’t want to get into detail here. If you want to try Lou’s head to the east side location.

Overpriced average food and a lazy business model. You order at the counter and pick-up your own meal, so there is no real service from the staff. Also, there are sketchy hidden fees, like a 5% packaging charge if you take-out. 5% to wrap up a taco? No thanks!

Should be zero stars. You order through a QR code and pay before you receive your food, they also ask for the tip prior to service. The manager (black glasses and tats) wouldn’t let us add a table to our seating because it would confuse the orders, so we didn’t. Well, we saw the person who had our food wandering around aimlessly looking for our table, so I guess the don’t have a clue where the tables are anyway. Waited 35 mins for our orders to arrive, I was finished my burger before my husband received his. Chicken was dry. I had to ask 2 different servers to bring water to our table (there is a water station that is self serve). Restaurants are trying to get away with the least amount of work possible, and this place takes the cake. Also, obviously not accepting cash.

So overpriced that it hurts. Here's just one example. Basic chickpea burger. $11 on the menu. No fries, no drink, nada. Just the sandwich. Add tax and tip, and this fool here paid $14 for a chickpea burger at lunchtime. Thought I was grabbing a quick lunch and it ended up being the price of a decent sit-down meal at a restaurant. P. Terry's is two minutes away, the food tastes better, and it's half the price. Lou's feels like highway robbery every time.

Don't bother with this place. Have questions? "Scan the QR code." Want to go talk to the bartender? "Scan the QR code." Want to know where the bathroom is? "Scan the QR code." That's all I heard. Basically, you're invisible here. Oh and the food sucks. I got a burger that made my stomach hurt like hell. They probably put laxatives in it...

I live in Austin and don’t mind spending good money on good food, but this place is a ripoff. My wife and I came here for a casual date night and spent $67 on the following: - a burger (we split it) - an order of plain fries (we split them) - a salad (we split the crunch salad) - 2 Margaritas (we each had 1 marg on the rocks) If the food was any good, I wouldn’t be complaining but we could have spend $20 at PTerry’s down the street and had a better meal. Keep in mind that this $67 didn’t even get us full-service. You order at the counter (like P Terry’s). And you get exactly I ketchup with the fries. I asked for salt and hot sauce and got: - 1 tiny salt packet - 1 hot sauce packet Now the quality. - burger was an over cooked hockey puck. - fries were not crispy and very bland - margs were $12 and watered down with tons of ice Please get this place out of here. We always say that bad food doesn’t last long in Austin because there are so many good places to compete with. I hope this is true with Lou’s.

Truly unreal experience of how rude one of the bartenders at this location is. Didn’t receive a margarita by the time our food came out and every table was getting beverages before food. I asked the food runners twice about it, that went straight to the bartender black hair, glasses, tattoos, completely ignored it twice. After we FINISHED our food, I asked the girl at the counter about it again, instantly turned to the man to ask him about it and he straight Ignored it and made the same margarita FOR ANOTHER TABLE. I then nicely asked the girl for a refund and I guess he handles that too and says “hold on let me get caught up on drinks” sir, you MISSED a drink that was ordered 45 minutes ago, won’t make, now won’t give me my money back? Lovely service. Ended up walking out not getting my money back.

Great patio and great food! The service is TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. They must not be from Austin. Here in Austin we have great hospitality. I sat and watched 3 couple leave. If you eat here DO NOT expect to be greeted or served w hospitality at all. Just order and EAT the delicious food! OH I love the post friendly.

Thumbs down to restaurants without servers. Ordering food and paying through QR is not my cup of tea. Came with a couple of people traveling from other countries. Their international credit card was not accepted through the app. There was no assistance through ordering system, answering questions about menu nor follow up on food order. Had to go to the bar to get napkins, plates for appetizers and beers. Overall bad experience and would not recommend visiting this restaurant until their service model changes.

First the good, free parking. Now the bad. I have no desire to order off my phone, that's not why I go out. Wanted a glass of water, water station is hidden so you'll buy bottled water of phone. Can of coke $3.50. no thanks. Got the Cobb. Tasted decent but it had barely any chicken at all. Almost no dressing.. My cocktail tasted lame but no server so I just decided to move and know I won't be going back

Just had the worst experience at Lou’s! It used to be such a fun and interactive restaurant that has now gone completely contactless and lifeless. We sat ourselves, ordered ourselves, and the extent of human interaction was our food being dropped off and then the worker running away but they ask for a 22% tip of everything from a burger to a $3 order of fries that you have to manually change. We weren’t talked to once but when it comes to parking validation you have to find a worker on your own to get the qr code! Overall an ingenuine experience that felt lazy and cheap that was carried by the scenery of Barton springs alone. What used to be a place I loved and recommend has now taken the easy way out when it comes to service. I’ll be spreading the word of a truly disappointing experience.

What a ridiculous world that we have built for ourselves that we think it’s normal and okay to give an email address or phone number to get fried chicken. Money exchange is the requirement- not identity. My order failed at the text message verification step, and when I asked to place an order manually- couldn’t event find anyone interested in helping- left without attaining any delicious fried chicken. Lou’s management, if you read this- get it together.

Probably the most bland food I have ever had. Overpriced fries that taste like cardboard. The burgers have sloppy fatty cuts that are bland as can be. The queso tastes like water and has the consistency of water. The “Parmesan” fries are normal fries with the lightest sprinkle of cheese on it. I never had such poor food in Austin. Everything is self serve and you still are asked to tip. Never coming back here again.

Garrett R

Probably the most bland food I have ever had. Overpriced fries that taste like cardboard. The burgers have sloppy fatty cuts that are bland as can be. The queso tastes like water and has the consistency of water. The “Parmesan” fries are normal fries with the lightest sprinkle of cheese on it. I never had such poor food in Austin. Everything is self serve and you still are asked to tip. Never coming back here again.

I’m not usually one for a hit job but this one deserves it. The Shredded chicken sandwich was absolute garbage. The table had two and they were both horrible. They claim to have all of these lemon dressings and it was just old shredded chicken on bread, not even mayo to help you choke it down . There was nothing else. Overpriced and horrible. Do not waste your time. And the Parmesan fries were garbage as well. Not even a hint of rosemary or Parmesan. It sucks that we used to have such iconic restaurants right next to Barton. Springs and this is all that we’re left with.

Taren Jay

I’m not usually one for a hit job but this one deserves it. The Shredded chicken sandwich was absolute garbage. The table had two and they were both horrible. They claim to have all of these lemon dressings and it was just old shredded chicken on bread, not even mayo to help you choke it down . There was nothing else. Overpriced and horrible. Do not waste your time. And the Parmesan fries were garbage as well. Not even a hint of rosemary or Parmesan. It sucks that we used to have such iconic restaurants right next to Barton. Springs and this is all that we’re left with.