SUPERIOR — A taste of nostalgia can be found on the outskirts of Superior.
The Original Louis’ Cafe opened Dec. 16 at 4927 E. Second St., the former home of KD’s Itasca. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, owners Tony Munoz and Annessa Milinkovich serve up pancakes, omelets, Greek salads, souvlaki, baklava and more.
Munoz, whose grandfather owned Louis’ Cafe on Tower Avenue, is bringing secret family recipes back to the Twin Ports. The family's restaurant history in Superior dates back to 1946 and continued until the Tower Avenue Louis Cafe shut its doors in 2004. Munoz remembers being there when he was young.
“We have all the same recipes,” he said. “The only thing we didn’t start out with was the gyro.”
That is expected to change soon. The machine needed to make gyros was set to be installed this week.
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The couple jumped into the restaurant business in December and haven’t had much time to catch their breath. They opened five days after signing the lease, in time for the weekend crowd.
“I wanted all of the KD’s people to come here on the weekend and then see that we were Louis,” Munoz said.
The first customers walked in the door expecting KD’s, Milinkovich said, but they enjoyed the new restaurant and the perfectly cooked eggs.
“They left really happy,” she said.
“I’m really glad we opened up that weekend,” Munoz said. “It was hard and it was rough. It was pretty crazy, but we did it.”
Munoz, 25, said he has cooked in many places, from New Zealand and Hawaii to South Carolina. When he decided to open a restaurant, though, he chose Superior.
“Every time I leave, I want to come back. You know, I just grew up here and all my family’s here,” Munoz said.
They considered opening the restaurant downtown serving from the afternoon through bar close. The Itasca building, and a breakfast/lunch menu, made more sense for the young owners, who have a 2-year-old son.
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“We’re really proud to be a family owned and operated business,” Milinkovich said.
“And we’re here for the community,” Munoz said.
Their focus is on providing quality food and service. Milinkovich said they aim to make the day brighter for everyone who stops by.
“I’ve been here every day from 5:30 to 5:30 pretty much, just making sure everything’s right,” Munoz said. “My goal is to bring back that Louis’ vibe.”
“People can just hang out here and be comfortable and just chat,” Milinkovich said.
Business has been steady and diners have been excited to sample the menu, the owners said.
“We’ve had a lot of people that come here and say that the food tastes the same, which is good, the pancakes taste the same, which is what I really wanted,” Munoz said.
The name is what’s bringing diners down, he said, and they want to follow the family recipe for success while adding their own modern touches.
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The restaurant currently employs 10, including family members, and the couple is seeking to hire additional experienced cooks. Future plans include expanding hours through 8 p.m. and offering a dinner menu. Currently, the restaurant serves breakfast and lunch for dining in or takeout.
Visit T he Original Louis’ Cafe Facebook page for more information and a menu.
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