GetOut Magazine

Lucky Lou's bar noise makes talking tough, and food is lackluster
By ADRIENNE FRANK
Get Out

Wait: We arrived about 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday and were told to pick any seat in the place; we opted for a corner booth.

Service: Our server got the job done — refills came before we had to ask, and our food, to-go box and check were delivered quickly. But while she was nice enough, pleasantries and friendly chit-chat were kept to a minimum.

What we liked: We started out with the zucchini appetizer, served with creamy ranch dressing. The zucchini slices were thick and fresh, and only lightly fried — delicious. We also enjoyed the enormous chopped chicken salad — fresh, mixed greens (no iceberg here) tossed in a sweet honey lime vinaigrette and topped with grilled chicken drizzled in a peanut sauce. The crisp, not-too- salty fries that came with the club croissant were also tasty, though the sandwich itself — chicken, bacon and Jack cheese on what tasted like a day-old croissant — was lackluster and dry.

Scene: Lucky Lou’s seems like more of a bar than a restaurant. (A clean, well-lit bar, but a bar, nonetheless.) On this afternoon, the bar — which is far more spacious than the “dining room,” which only consists of five or six booths — was packed and loud. It was very difficult to hold any sort of converstation without screaming. The patio would’ve been a better dining option, had it not been filled with smokers.

Bathroom break: Clean, spacious and well-stocked. I also appreciated the selection of Bath & Body Shop soaps and lotions — including my personal favorite, mango mandarin.

Tab for two: $28 with tax and tip for zucchini ($4), chopped chicken salad ($10), club croissant ($7) and an iced tea ($1.50).

If work weren’t buying: For drinkers and diners, alike, Lucky Lou’s is a nice option in East Mesa. However, for folks in other parts of the East Valley, the restaurant is much like that club sandwich — not exactly noteworthy. Or worth the trek.

By CRYSTAL PETROCELLI
Get Out

Wait: We walked in at 11:45 a.m. on a gorgeous, 70-degree Sunday in mid- April (ah, memories!) and were instantly greeted and given our choice of tables on the patio.

Service: Our server was kind enough to warn me about the steak sandwich being just that — steak and bread — and asked if I wanted to add cheese or mushrooms. We never had to ask for drink refills and the bartender gave us a friendly goodbye as we walked out. Pretty impressive for a staff who, at the time, had been working at the recently opened Lucky Lou's for less than three weeks.

What we liked: The hearty steak sandwich and big burger were both juicy, well-seasoned and hot (something I've, sadly, become appreciative of). The former definitely benefitted from the suggested add-ons — grilled white onions, green bell peppers and mushrooms. The burger came with crispy romaine lettuce, a large slice of cherry-red tomato and plenty of onions — all on the side. We both opted for fries as our side but you can order anything from coleslaw to rice to a baked potato.

Scene: Lucky Lou's is a Vegas- themed, pub-style eatery with wide- screen TVs mounted in the corners and a wall of large black and white vintage Vegas photos. The bar — which doesn't have much division from the rest of the smallish restaurant — is sure to get customers jonesing for poker chips when their beers are plopped down on top of a glass-covered section of casino gaming felt (black jack, roulette, craps, etc.). There's a fenced-off section of sidewalk in front of Lou's that serves as a slightly cramped and barebones patio.

Bathroom break: The tidy women's restroom is a spacious single unit with white tile flooring and red walls. A curvy-shaped, contemporary mirror and funky lighting add a little Sin City style.

Tab for two: $23.50 with tax and tip for a burger ($7), steak sandwich ($9.50) and iced tea ($1.50).

If work weren’t buying: For the bar-and-grill-deprived masses in
northeast Mesa, Lucky Lou's is a great bet.

Next week: Our reviewers check out Yupha's Thai Kitchen in Tempe

Lucky Lou’s
1929 N. Power Road, Suite 103, Mesa

Major cross streets: Power Road east of McKellips Road
Reservations accepted: No
Kid friendly: Yes
Health report: No violations on April 28
Prices: $4-$12
Most interesting item: Turkey BLT ($6)