The four stars are purely based on the biscuits and gravy. I know it sounds funny cause it's a burger joint but have the biscuits and gravy because it's the best in town! Get your burger somewhere else that uses fresh ground beef not frozen patties. Like I said if I was rating the burgers I would probably give it two stars at the most. Biscuits and gravy! off the hook!
(4)
Arlisha G.
Decided to take a drive through the Milwaukie area, got hungry, saw this place and thought "what the hell". Once I walked in, I was greeted and seated. Place was pretty busy and I got into the decor. The waitress/owner (Debbie) came by and filled me in with some menu suggestions and also 3 small free samples of their famous chili. Not bad. Although I'm more of a burger kinda gal, I ended up ordering the *Heart Attack Hot Dog Meal with a chocolate banana milkshake. Might as well go all out if your ordering something that has "heart attack" in it. lol. LIKES * Parking - Own private lot * Staff - Super friendly * Interior - Fifties nostalgia/classic car scene * Food - Heart Attack Hot Dog Meal (comes with cole slaw & fries) and Chocolate Banana milk shake (love that it had small chunks of banana inside). * Events - They hold a Cruise-In Classic Car Show in their parking lot (check website or call on dates TBD) DISLIKES * None so far... Just another FYI... this is [my own opinion]. Everyone has a different taste/feel on things so to find out for yourself, you need to try new things. When you do, remember to Post it! Good luck!
(4)
Tony S.
We came to Lew's several months ago, on a Sunday afternoon, it was quite busy, but we were greeted and sat right away. The waitress was very busy, soon we realized she was the only one, and as far as we could tell only one cook. It did take time for her to get back to us to take our order, and some obvioulsy more time to get the food. While eating we did over hear her say that at least one person called in sick, there may have been another. OK I get that, and I gave the waitress a lot of slack. It took forever to get the check after we had finished eating. The waitress did apolgize, and didn't charge us for the drinks. Thank you! I fully understand being busy and short handed as I work in food service myself! Fast forward today: We decide to try Lew's again. We got there right at 5pm on May 7 2013. There was 2 other couples in the dinning area, couple 1 was just finishing up and leaving, couple 2 just ordered soon after we sat down. We were Greeted and sat very quickly. The young waiter came right over with menus and took our drink order. Came back soon with the drinks. Couple 1 had left, and soon he brought couple 2 drinks and food order out. Soon our food came, he asked if we would like ketchup for our fries, and that was the last time he came to our table. Couple 3 came in and sat, he came gave them menus, and took drinks. Couple 2 had some issue with their food and got up and complained. Couple 4 came and sat, but got up soon after waiting about 5 minutes went to counter and placed and order to go. Couple 5 came in and sat. The cook came and brought Couple 3 drinks, and took Couple 5 order,The waiter brought 3's food out, and 5's drinks. All this time we still had not got any ketchup. We had finished eating, and 3 had finished eating, still no check or drink refills, or how was the food. Soon after we got up and went to counter to pay. One time with bad service I can understand, busy day short handed! Bad service on a slow day, seems unforgivable. I doubt we will be back. If the food was outstanding or they had something special I might go back. As it is the food is avarage, and if this is the example of the service I am not impressed!
(2)
Jeremy S.
Sadly, we didn't even get fed here. Just sat at our table for 15 minutes waiting for the waitress to take our order. It was lunch time, and I my wife and had only an hour before I had to return to work. We waited 10 minutes for an acknowledgment from the waitress, but she still never took our order. We ran next door to the Jack in the Box...at least they are a good choice B when Lews fails to serve its customers.
(1)
K C.
Owner Service rate is F. Waited 30 min for a burger! I'm sorry, I fully support local businesses and have been to Lews for many years! The previous owners I loved!! But I am sad to report that this place isn't worth going to. President visit or not! My daughter and I went through the drive up on a Wednesday evening about two weeks ago. There was 1 person inside. They took our order and we Waited OVER 30 minutes!!! Yes 30 min!!!! For two simple burgers . When the waitress finally brought our food, she apologized and said that the owner got distracted from making our food because his son had come in to get food for their other location. .... Really?!!! So the poor family in the drive up is forgotten and waits because the owner had more important things to so than make our order! ?? I was so excited to take my daughter there and treat her to a local burger, but we were both very disappointed. The Burger patties weren't seasoned and it was a greasy soggy mess. Please being back a better Lews! One were customers come FIRST! Not third or forth ......
(1)
Marna G.
Corn dogs and onion rings for the win! Many years ago my husband and I were just tooling about one Saturday afternoon way before kids, learning the lay of the land in PDX and we wanted a corn-dog in the worst way. It was I think January and it wasn't fair weather for sure so there were no big long corn-dogs, you know the kind, freshly dipped, deep fried right there. So we find our selves in Milwaukee and we spy Lew's Dairy Freeze home of the Coney Island Dog and we spy yep - CORN DOGS! We drove right up to the drive through -- ordered up corn-dogs, a large batch of onion rings with fry sauce, and two medium pepsi's and Lew's had us at first BITE! Oh hell yes! Now we know that a steady diet of corn-dogs isn't good for anyone so we make a yearly trip out there, and now we bring our kid and it's always the same thing -- Corn-Dogs, a large onion ring and three pepsi's -- and the PEPSI -- oooh tons of carbonation! Or as we refer to it as "NEEDLES" Good, cheap, perfect, greasy diner food. Lots of memory's and the drive through still works. The customer service is fantastic as well. I hope to be going here until I am 100!
(5)
Alexis B.
We love Lew's. It's not the cheapest place, but the quality is worth it. Whether you done in, carry out, or drive through, they treat you with generous hospitality. On Valentine's Day it was busy and we had a wait with dine in, and they knocked the sides off our tab because of it. Those types of things. Chicken strips are bomb. We ask for them in baskets of 4. In my boyfriend's words, "Pretty delicious. If you want a hot burger and a big serving of fries..." Lew's! Check it out. Milkshakes are delicious and you can combine flavors.
(5)
Doug H.
We went to Lews hoping for a unique experience. I was hoping that the food would overcome the poorly planned decor which incuded a small "Spencer Gifts" mirror ball hanging from zip ties in the middle of the diner. Unfortunately, while unique, it was not a positive experience.. Our order was simple. hotdogs and tater tots. the hotdogs arrived refer cold in the middle.l but the tater tots had been left in the deep fryer so long that they were completly crunchy all the way through. The only flavor left in them was from the old fry oil out of the deep fryer.
(1)
Charity K.
Service is fast and friendly. Shakes are delicious and burgers/fries are good enough. Love the chocolate/pb shake combo and the fact that they will substitute veggie patties for meat - no problem! I'll keep coming back for the shakes!
(4)
Gary S.
We've lived fairly close to Lew's for 13 years, and have only been there a handful of times. Frankly the food is mediocre at best, but on this latest trip I'm sad to say the service was terrible as well. It was a Saturday evening, but the place was nearly empty, so there was no real excuse for it. Once our order was taken and food delivered it appeared as though several of the staff stepped outside for a smoke break or something all at the same time. Nobody checked on us again until it was time to bring the check, which meant I had to take our drinks up to the counter to get refills, and even then had to wait a couple minutes for anybody to come by. I think I overheard one staff person say the place had changed owners at some time in the past couple years, but if anything things seem to be going downhill. It will probably be a long while before we give them yet another second chance.
(2)
Jeff L.
I walked in. For the first time. Got seated then no service for 20 min. So I left and will never go back. It's sad cuz I only live 6 blocks away. But I will just take the drive to roaks down on 99e
(1)
Martin F.
It's a cool setting, 1950's diner plus kitsch that should be left out. Instead of a jukebox they have a big screen tv on the wall, probably a nice concession to current culture. Burgers and dogs just about any way you might want it. We arrived about 1:30 and waited ten minutes for our order to be taken. I had a tough time not getting up and leaving when our server walks up wearing a sleeveless t-shirt ( wife beater) seriously, wear something more appropriate please. The soda shows up in thick chilled mugs, reinforcing the experience of a 50's diner. The food comes out 10 minutes later and it is top notch. Large portions, natural cut fries ( no weird coating) the regular size was large enough to feed four hungry teenage boys. It's worth doing again. Perhaps the regular server was off somewhere else and someone from the kitchen was just filling in. I still think uniforms would add that last bit of authenticity as well as make for a much more professional appearance.
(4)
DandA T.
Went on a Saturday afternoon. My wife and I both thought the food was good. We had two little kids with us, and the waitstaff was very friendly and patient with us. We were surprised at how big the food portions are. The "kids meal" cheeseburger looks like the size of a regular burger at most other places.
(5)
Brandon V.
Good food, horrible service! We came to this place two times and will no longer come here again. The first time we came here was a couple of months ago,perhaps in March it looked pretty busy when we came in there were several people sitting down most of them looking over their menus. When we sat down the woman came to our table and gave us the menu it took about five minutes for her to come back to our table to ask us what we wanted to drink, during that time we were sure what we wanted to order to eat. So after ordering our food and drinks she took about four minutes to arrive with the drinks so then she went around back again. We saw several people come in look around and wait to be served, some of them waited about 15 minutes without even being served they got up and left that was the first customers we saw leave, soon after more people who were waiting to be served got up and left. About 20 minutes our food arrived and I was just almost about finished with my soda, so we ate our meal it was really delicious so much that I finished the rest with an empty cup of soda. The waitress did not come back to give us refills on our drinks. After eating our meals we waited about 40 minutes for the bill to arrive. She finally came to us and said the refills are on the house and that we are short on staff. We paid the bill and left I was extremely disappointed in them. I decided I would give them one more chance later on down the road. The second time we decided to give them a try again perhaps they might of improved with their service got their act together. When we arrived there was about two tables that had people in them, the first table was just about finished eating, the server told us to take a table and he'll bring over some menus in a minute. We sat down and he came to bring us the menus, he asked us what we wanted to drink. We ordered our drinks, I was starting to have a better out look on this place maybe they did improve their service after all. He brought us drinks then asked us what we wanted to eat, after placing our order we sat there I this time I took small sips from my Lemonade because maybe I would not get a refill a second time. The people next to us who received their food were complaining about something but the music was too loud to even understand what they were complaining about. Later we found out that she was trying to put pepper on her hamburger and the thing spilt all kinds of pepper onto her hamburger basically making it uneatable. Those people left and complained to the manager and I was not sure if they even paid for the meal or they made her a new one. So soon we got our food and ate it. I was basically taking more sips of my Lemonade, he asked us if we wanted ketchup for out tater tots we said yes. Soon after that he never came back to our table again, we ate our food and I was disappointed I wanted to give them a second chance but their service is just so horrible to even come back again a third time. This was the last time we will be eating here. I suggest if you want to improve on your business have soda fountains so customers can refill their drinks themselves so they're not wondering when a server will be back to their table to see if they wanted a refill, unless you have to pay for refills which I believe is a shame... Also the second time around we saw customers leave after about five minutes because your servers are slow like turtles. I suggest you have two servers going at the same time so you can double the orders and have your drinks and food ordered quicker. Time to improve your service.
(2)
Jen K.
Lew's has a few claims to fame: 1) They have a vintage car Lew's cruise every September. 2) They serve Coney Island dogs. 3) Obama visited on his campaign sweep through Oregon. It is basic drive-in food that always seems most appealing on a hot summer night when you are young and calories seem to evaporate into thin air. Corn dogs, burgers, fries and onion rings. The best thing on the menu is their shakes, which come in about 12 different flavors, including marshmallow and peanut butter. Made with Dreyers ice cream, which is the ice cream of my youth. Their biggest problem is that there are a couple of places close by that have a better product and theme. For diner food with a 40s-retro vibe you can go to The Bomber and for 50s/60s hot rod style you've got to check out Hot Rod Pizza. At Lew's they have pictures of cars on the wall, but at Hot Rod Pizza they actually have the cars and tons of memorabilia. Chrome trumps formica every time.
(2)
Holy-foo' X.
Lew's does such a tremendous job instilling a sense of insta-nostalgia w/the big, old fashioned marquee outside, from the original owner days in the late 50s. Unfortunately those folks retired retired and sold out in '89, and things have somewhat been left to veer off the cliff since then. New ownership has taken the helm in 2012, and so hopefully that means a return to their heyday, of hosting vintage hot rods and updating the web page boasting of such events last in 1998. They have their little car shows every September, but the last one meriting mention on their no-frills web page was, again, from '98. It's easy to write this place off these day's a poor-man's Mike's drive-in, and the menu as stands at Lew's remains a far cry from Mike's robust offerings, including lean and tasty buffalo burgers, fried pickles, sweet potato fries, gyros, and a large, seasonally rotating assortment of ice creams. Why Obama's people in '08 had him make a campaign stop here, rather than @ Mike's, one can only guess. There's no accounting for taste, right? Perhaps a more meaningful comparison, in terms of the local competition, for Lew's--again, as is w/their current menu--would be Roake's, as both feature versions of the renowned Coney Island dog. But again, until the newfangled growing pains are sorted out and some of the former glory has been restored, this wouldn't be a pretty comparison and I doubt Lew's would want any part of it. Here's hoping they pull it together, and soon at Lew's! They preceded Mike's in Milwaukie by several years (but not Roake's, of course), and they continue to share an important piece of the common heritage.
(2)
meganoodle z.
Good shakes! Food was from the freezer to the friers.
(2)
Don W.
Had breakfast here for the first time not bad I was surprised at how good it was.
(4)
Sarah B.
My friend always raved about this place so, I decided to go in and was not impressed. My burger sucked and the staff seemed like they were disorganized and hungover from the night before. I may have went in on an off day and ordered the wrong thing, but I will not be going back anytime soon.
(2)
Benjamin T.
First off the service here is great. We didn't know until we arrived, that we were a few (~10) minutes past their posted closing hours. Not wanting to be 'those' people we were ok with going somewhere else, but Kelley and Jeremy were really enthusiastic about helping us, and reassured us that it was fine to stay for dinner. The food is quintessential Drive-In fare. There are a number of different burgers and great fries, curly fries and onion rings. Round it all out with a shake or float, and you have an amazing example of the Great American Roadside Diner. Inside there are all sorts of vintage car photos and memorabilia, this coupled with the famous vintage car cruise in the fall, make it a pretty cool place nestled among all the weird strip malls of 99-E. We really like this place and highly recommend it.
(5)
Lenny B.
Well I wanted a coney dog with onions and cheese and I did get me one, it wasn't anything to brag about and the chili was mostly flavorless (Hormel woulda even been better). But its good to see a Coney place still around and a drive thru to boot.
(3)
Amber S.
THE OLD BAIT AND SWITCH! One star for the very nice staff. I have driven by this place my entire life and never tried it until today. I'm a fan of roadside diners when I'm in the right mood and today I was excited to try this place. I went through the drive-through where there were signs promoting 'lunch special: burger, fries and a drink $5.95'. Cool! I'll take a cheeseburger, fries and a coke! They told me to pull forward for my total. There were two cars ahead of me so maybe 10 minutes later I got to the window and was told my total was $8.40. Not wanting to start all over I handed over my money but asked 'what's the deal with the $5.95 lunch special?'. I was told that's the small burger, small fries and small drink. The small burger only comes with mayo and pickles. "Well, what did I order?" I was told I got the regular burger, small fries, small drink. The difference between special burger and regular burger? Onions and a tomato. I was then handed the smallest soda cup I've ever seen. It was MAYBE an 8oz cup, but I'm pretty sure it was only 6oz. It was a sippy cup for a baby hobbit. The lady at the window handed me a menu with the managers email (or phone number or something) on it and BEGGED me to complain to him. Even the cook came to the window and BEGGED me to complain to the boss. They were so nice and SO apologetic I felt bad telling them that I wouldn't be back. I got the impression that they were embarrased about the price to portion ratio and that they get this complaint quite often. The food was ok, but it was just your typical roadside diner fare. Go to Mike's Drive-in for similar but cheaper food. I think they were being deliberately misleading and deceitful about the 'special' price, and the incredibaly small pop (I literally drank it dry in two drinks) was insulting for the almost $9 charge. Skip it.
(1)
Frederic N.
The service is really great! And their food is awesome sauce!! Lew's coney island is the restraunt to go to if you have good taste, and love good food. Why go to a different place when you could just go to Lew's coney island restraunt? You must go now!
(5)
Tony D.
Great burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Had their Western Bacon Burger recently, and it was absolutely delicious! The service level could improve a little, however.
(4)
Brian D.
I'm sorry to say this, but the lettuce was the most flavorful component of my bacon cheeseburger. I just don't see how a burger could taste like nothing.
(1)
Janelle H.
Don't pay attention to any posts more then 6 months old! New owners are making it better than ever! Breakfast all day and the bacon cheese burger to die for! It is hard to choose!!!
(5)
Mc G N.
2 stars for food taste. 1 more star for decor. Definitely food done ala 1960. Note to owners: people these days want flavors. Interesting will do. Unusual might also. Have your cook or waitstaff dream up a signature sauce or entree. Make it better than anyone else does. I just saved your business.
(3)
Erin F.
Please note: Lew's was recently purchased by new owners who are trying to 'bring this long time establishment back to it's former glory' as told to us by our waitress. Well, they are doing a good job so far. I have lived in the Milwaukie area for nearly 8 years and had driven by Lew's countless times. I decided Saturday night was finally the night and ventured to Lew's with my 5 year old & my boyfriend. We were immediately greeted and given our choice of places to sit. My daughter was given crayons and a coloring sheet by the waitress, who advised us of a coloring contest ending that night. This information kept my daughter occupied for some time. * BF ordered one of the burgers, which I swear he inhaled because it was gone in a matter of 5 minutes. He said it was excellent. * I ordered the chicken fried steak burger. Inventive!! Being from North Carolina I know a thing or 2 about good gravy and this was very, very good. My only suggestion would be a sturdier bun. BF & I shared a basket of onion rings. My daughter, who typically does not care for onion rings, ate a few herself. * Daughter got a corn dog and fries. Nothing special but there is a way to mess up a corn dog and they did not. It came in a cardboard classic car, reminiscent of the ones we got a an old drive in I went to as a kid. We will go back for absolute certainty.
(4)
Leah T.
I was someone who once tried to purchase Lew's from the previous owner. I have always loved this place and was severly disappointed in its decline over the past 5 years. Shortly after it was purchased by the current owners I decided to stop in and see if they had started to change things. At the time, the only real changes I could see were some decor changes and the dropping of some menu items that should never have been there to begin with. I was still very disappointed in the quality of the food and the speed of service was horrendous! Today I figured we would give it one more go. The decor continues to improve minus the fact that they took out the jukebox which I really thought was a welcome change the first time I visited. The menu seems to have grown again, but this time with food that fits the restaurant's theme...THANK GOD!! Service is still a bit slow, getting better though...but I think they are still working on increasing business to warrant bringing in more staff....at least that is what I'm hoping is the case. The food...this is a serious point for me. Being someone who had her own hopes and dreams and grand plans for this place...I want it to live up to its fullest potential. The greatness that has made it a staple in this community for 40 or so years. I can honestly say...well...it's getting better. My biggest complaint about the food is that they still are not making their own burger patties. I mean...COM'ON folks. A 60s style eatery MUST have good burgers if they are going to compete. The frozen patty just doesn't cut it. The patty is small and has the flavor of something I use to get in high school. I know that sounds harsh...I'm sorry...I feel very passionate about this. Get some ground beef, throw in some salt, pepper, and a few other things, roll out some little balls, squish them onto the grill and call it a day! There is no excuse that I can think of for going cheap in this area of you menu. I can almost guarantee that Lew didn't use frozen patties...I can't confirm that but I would put money on it. PLEASE do your business a favor and upgrade the burger! I love you this place and want to see its legacy continue for many many many more years. You are doing such a wonderful job of bringing back all of its charm. Keep up the good work...I love to see good people doing right by a community staple!
(4)
Rick T.
I just went to lews tonight and ordered the Coney burger, The sauce use to be way good, but it was this thick spicy bla tasting sauce, the burger was open faced with tons and tons of sauc, ,it use to be a great "burger" that you would pic up and eat with just the right amount of sauce, now its over kill! They went to a new style of fry that was soaked in oil! after going to lews since I was 16 (now 38) I will NOT be returning at all, the changes they made took it from what was one great food place, Burger king down the road would have been way better!, the new owners should not fix what's not broken, They are trying way harder than the last owner but the food was not good tonight at all!
(2)
Shannon L.
I am so glad we went to Lews before I read the reviews. Seeing the comments about horrible service makes me wonder if some of the reviews are actually the competition. If anything they are over the top friendly and fast. Anyways, I also grew up in Milwaukie and Lews Dairy Freeze was the place to go for a good drive in. It has become our place for a good drive in again. The service is so personable its hard not to fall in love with the place. The burgers are great! Fresh buns, fresh ingredients layered in the right places, frozen patties I guess?? but good ones. Definately not the low standard of Rex Putnams McDonalds style patties as stated before. The shakes are perfect and served the good old fashioned way. We have all had the banana splits that were TDF and made with all the ingredients they should, unlike most places. We have had breakfast. Eggs benne was great. The hashbrowns were just okay but the home fried potatoes my daughter had were delicious. Also, you get a 10% discount if you drive a classic car. So we do. We like the oldies music and all of the pics of the cars. Just remember it is an old building but I think they have done wonders to make it clean and nice. I took my particular Mother there and she enjoyed it.
(4)
Paula W.
I've driven by Lew's about a million times in my life and have always considered it that place where they have Cruise-Ins and ice cream. But Saturday morning I was out and about and noticed that they served breakfast and thought I'd give it a shot. It wasn't until I was standing inside that I realized that this place has an even greater claim to fame. On the wall above the menu are about a dozen photos of Obama and his family when they stopped by for ice cream back in May, 2008. No clue as to their impression of the place, just a bunch of 8 x 10's in plastic sleeves tacked to the wall. They actually have a pretty good sized menu with decent prices. I decided on the Garbage Pile breakfast - hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, eggs, peppers, onions, cheese all kind of mooshed together. The presentation was lacking but the meal itself was pretty decent. The coffee was hot, and though not as plentiful as I would have liked, it was acceptable. Though it's not the kind of place I would eat at often, I will probably give Lew's another try.
(3)
Sam O.
Ouch, yes a 1-star. I don't do this very often, but I feel I had to, and I will explain why. I'll start with the good: the server was very friendly, and the staff was bouncing around filling up coffee regularly. That's about where it ends. Our food took way long to get to us, with no explanation why (there were a couple tables that came in with, or after us, which got their food, ate, and paid before we got ours.) This does happen once in awhile, I understand, and when the food is good, it's more palatable, but... Let's just say, it was less than mediocre. The bacon was soggy/greasy, and their blintzes, were not blintzes. They were thinned out pancake batter with barely any filling. I won't start on the strawberry goo on top. And the pancakes themselves tasted like they were out of a box. And I didn't know coffee this bad was even allowed in the pacific NW. my wife said it tasted like church-basement coffee, whatever that means. Sorry for the low rating, but there are way to many better options in this area, and I doubt I'd go back.
(1)
Curt B.
Holy shit. I've eaten at some strange places around the world but I've never witnessed a tweaker rodeo quite like this. We stopped here for a quick lunch last Sunday and there were two people working; both of whom clearly had more than a passing familiarity with drug use. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for second chances but I'm not interested in catching Hepatitis from a burger joint. The fun started when I ordered a Coney Island hot dog and drink. Just so I'm clear (crystal you might say) it was immediately obvious when we walked in that our waitress had lived a very hard life. She was as loud as she was fidgety. We sat in a booth across the dining room from the kitchen, but within view. At one point I looked up and unfortunately made eye contact with the waitress who is clear across the store and yelling in my direction "what kind of drink did you order?" Awkward but my ass is in the booth so I'm committed at this point. Here's where it gets weird...both the waitress and the "cook" are running around the place like cats chasing a laser pointer. They are clearly stressed but for no apparent reason. Finally, the waitress comes out balancing a couple different orders which she attempts to set down on the back of a booth. At that point she yells to her buddy "can you give me a hand!?" Of course right as he arrives she drops the Coney Island dog into the booth. Her buddy yells "who had the dog?" At this point I've lost my appetite. But wait...it gets better. My waitress isn't a quitter after all (see what I did there) so she tells me "it will only take a minute to make another." Unfortunately, at that point another table asked her for silverware that she forgot to bring. Next thing I know the heroine of this tale is in the kitchen throwing silverware on the ground and yelling "I'm done...I'm out of here!!" Poor thing, the strain was more than she could bear. True to her word she doesn't bother to pick up the silverware (or my hot dog), grabs her purse and walks out the door. And then there was one... At some point he did get my Coney Island dog which was nothing more than a boiled hot dog with chopped onions, tomato's and relish. I'm not an expert on Coney Island dogs but I'm pretty sure its supposed to have some kind of sauce with it. I took one bite and left. For shits and giggles...I took a photo of my first hot dog sitting pretty and proud in the pile where it landed. It was there when I left. Hell, if someone told me it was still there today I wouldn't be surprised.
(1)
Liz S.
Seriously don't waste your money; you'd be better off at McDonalds. I'm not sure how this place stays in business. It is not good.
(2)
Atterly C.
Honestly I haven't tried going inside yet, but I have gone through the drive thru twice with the same result: slowwwwww service!! I literally watched my food get "cooked", put in a box and set on the line where it sat for close to ten minutes, both times? There wasn't an explanation, apology or any sign that they even cared. The biscuits were definitely pre-bought, frozen and heated under a heat lamp, the sausage looked like brown and serve and the egg was rubbery and cooked to death. The second attempt I tried a "milkshake" that I'm pretty sure consisted of dehydrated nondairy creamer and Hershey's strawberry syrup. Maybe there's a different experience inside but I doubt the foods any better. There are most definitely multiple establishments within spitting distance that put Lew's to shame.
(1)
Kristine P.
As far as drive-in's go this was pretty good. I ordered the burger, drink, and fries special for $5.99. The burger was decent sized and cooked perfectly and they serve crinkle cut fries! Yum! Also, they scored points for having a fry sauce. It was pretty much mayo, ketchup, and some other ingredient I couldn't point out.. a little spicy perhaps. Anyway, I will return if only for the fries!
(3)
Deborah I.
One star for the milkshake that was average at best.. We went there because they were having August Friday night cruise in/hot rods... We paid 30.00 for a burger, coney dog, fish and fries, tots and a side of coney sauce and a side of fry sauce and a side of tarter sauce and a shake. We didn't get the coney sauce, the fry sauce or the tarter sauce.. They almost forgot the shake and were in such a big hurry to get it to us that it was all vanilla ice cream on top and lumps of berries at the bottom. The fish was saturated in oil as were the tots. My husbands coney dog was soggy and average and not hot. We had passed this place a few times and finally decided to stop.. What a bust! The gal at the window was cheery and fine, but obviously forgetful.. Shame they can't figure out basic stuff...like fillilng the entire order or taking the fish out of frier when it's done... :(
(1)
Megan L.
I've been by Lew's a couple of time now, and they remind me of a place in Idaho that my husband and I use to visit. The burgers are alright, and the fries are always good. The atmosphere is alright, and the owner/ manager is friendly. Fun place to stop in for a quick bite. But it is not a place I would go all of the time.
(4)
Lisa M.
The burgers were pretty good. Customer service was mediocre at best. The cook made a backhanded comment as my bf and I walked out. Apparently he was mad that we didn't tip. We were the only Hispanics dining in there at the time. We felt like second class citizens the entire time because the waitress walked passed us TWICE without showing any concern for us unlike the Cooper family who was treated like royalty only 3 tables down. The racial tension could have easily been cut with one of their badly stained forks.the tables were so sticky and gross. Tweeker rodeo for sure...
(2)
Nick H.
This remains a fine choice for a gut-bomb kind of meal if you are A- old B- drunk C- all of the above (so I have been told). I love reading the 'bad' reviews; they seem to consist of people that had to Wi-fi, text or otherwise occupy themselves while their food got cooked and got pissed because they didn't hear their order called. "I waited 40 mins for my order and when I got it, it was cold" Pay attention, bitch. That red plastic triangle thingy with a number on it means come and get it when the number is called.
(3)
Jason A.
When it's over, it's over! Lew's what happened? This used to be "the" place on McLoughlin. How many of us have memories of Lew's? Stopped by as I hadn't been in a long time. Just so sad. You know walking in when you see the ice cream freezer sitting there empty in the lobby that something is off. I ordered a chocolate shake(my Lew's usual), and a friend and I split some fries. Fries were crispy and actually pretty good. Milkshake wasn't made with a lot of care but still tasted decent. I think the trouble for me here is the dirty kitchen, the grime on the ground, the seating area that was torn up, and a restroom that's less than appealing. I'll save the further details, just isn't worth it. It's like they gave up 10 years ago and have just been waiting until their regular customers have passed on, and are refusing to close out of respect for them. I can appreciate that, and I'm sure to the owners it's a source of family pride and don't want to let it go. Service was so so, but when you see the employees out front smoking and just hanging around, you know there's just not much focus on this business anymore. It's a shame. This place holds memories for me. Going here for Boy Scout events, seeing the car show, just seeing that sign lit up at night driving 99E is special. It represents a by-gone era when towns like Milwaukie were your cliche All American types before it turned into a car lot plus Walgreens. I think that sooner rather than later we'll be passing by with our children and grandchildren and saying, gee remember when.................
(1)
Krista W.
I've lived in Milwaukie for 6 years. I've driven by here a million times, and tonight we decided to finally stop in. It seemed like a Mike's, which we love, so thought we would try it out. I'm so sorry that we did. My husband, myself, and our 3 kids were all sadly disappointed. In everything. We were the only diners in the place. It took 10 minutes for the only waitress to take our drink order (4 milkshakes and a soda), it was another 20 until we saw those. After placing our order (4 burgers, a PB&J kids meal, and coney fries), we didnt see our waitress again for another 30 minutes. When our food finally arrived, it wasnt spectactular. In fact it was awful. Our burgers were soggy, the coney sauce left something to be desired, and there was more bread than PB&J. My 6 year old makes a better PB&J. I will say that the milkshakes were delicious. By the time we decided we really couldnt eat anymore of it, we waited for 10 minutes for our waitress to bring the bill. But she was M.I.A. Again. I finally went up front to get her attention and get the bill. $50! We were there for over an hour. And the only thing we felt was okay to actually injest were the milkshakes. Most expensive milkshakes I've ever had. Needless to say, we arent coming back. We'll stick to Mike's.
(1)
B.Marie G.
We are new to Milwaukie Oregon, and love all the old fashioned burger shops. We stopped here and I will never go back. the food wasnt bad, but the people were so unprofessional. I believe the main cashier was tweaked out of his mind, and everyone in the back was just talking and listening to heavy metal rather loud. It took a LONG time to get a simple order, i just dont think they could focus. When you are obviously twacked out, its time for help people!! .
(2)
Stephanie Y.
Horrible service, waited forever for our food and then when the hot dog arrived it was cold. They literally took it back heated it in the microwave and brought it back. Would not recommend this place at all!!!
(1)
Patrick C.
They have 4.99 breakfast special: one bacon or one sausage link - it's okay one egg - it's a egg. hashbrowns - crispy top but full of butter on the bottom. one pancake - surprizingly good. coffee - included? yes please. lots of place make you choose between potatoes and pancakes. I want both and got them at Lews. The coffee service was spot on and you just can't beat the price for a lazy morning. The best surprize was the pancake which was a little crisp on the edges from the gridle butter. Yum! We also split a half order of bisquits and gravey. it was fine. Kelli our server (same as last time) is a riot. We'll keep coming back.
(4)
Ashley P.
After years of wanting to stop and give Lew's a try, I finally thought one night "what the heck" and pulled over. The cashier girl was friendly, helped me look through the menu and decide what to get. I ended up getting a three piece chicken tender meal with fries and a medium soda for a little over $8. The chicken tenders were HUGE, one would have been enough. They were also delicious and freshly cooked, and so were the fries. The only problem that I had with this restaurant was the KETCHUP...I know that sounds weird but I took it to go and was given some packets of ketchup, and I swear the ketchup was 4 years expired or something because it tasted absoluletly rancid. I would absolutely recommend stopping by and giving this place a chance...just beware the packets of ketchup!
(3)
Carl T.
I grew up in Milwaukie as did my parents before me. Lew's has always been there for me. Kind of like that goofy uncle you only see once a year at the holidays. Kind of a mystery and kind of a comfort. I know Lew's has changed hands a couple of times over the past forty years and I recently really hadn't heard anything good about it. I drive by the restaurant multiple times every day and I have been looking forward to going in and trying it. As it has recently changed hangs, again, and I have been seeing the parking lot almost full. Something new must be going on. Today was the day! I went in around lunch time to about a half full restaurant. The decor is still a 1950's theme with cool old car motif etc. The restaurant looked in good shape and the floors and the few vacant tables were clean. A very nice lady swiftly greeted me and directed me to the menus and to a booth. I think I overheard her name was Kelly. She was prompt and the service was VERY good. I ordered the Spicy burger with Jalapenos, fries and a root beer. As I waited for my order I heard the cook singing and having a great time. He's a big guy covered in tattoos and when I saw him emerge from the kitchen with a big smile on his face it made me smile. I think I overheard his name was Ryan. He came out to ask the customers how the food was. How great is that? He obviously enjoys his work and the presentation of the food and the fun environment shows it. The Burger and fries arrived and looked SPECTACULAR! see the photo. The waitress did not bring out ketchup which I usually always insist having on my burgers. I forgot to ask for some not her fault. I couldn't wait for ketchup so I took a bite and to my surprise it didn't need any. It was very juicy and full of flavor. The Jalapenos were really good and really spicy just like I like em. Whatever sauce they use on the burgers is outstanding. Unfortunately the meat was clearly a previously frozen patty and nothing to write home about. The fries were not seasoned at all and they seamed stale and just over room temperature. The fry sauce was a life/fry saver and was very good. The burger was better than most but not supper great. I am looking forward to trying the Heart Attack dog next time I go. Service 5+ stars My only advice is your food looks spectacular if you used fresh hand made patties I would be a regular. Maybe put ketchup bottles on the tables? Support this local business they deserve it! I'll be back : )
(4)
Felicia B.
We love getting burgers and fries from Lew's! Everything is always so yummy, especially the fry sauce! The dogs always appreciate treats everything we go through the drive-thru. This is definitely our favorite burger place - great old fashioned burgers, quick and friendly service, and lots of food or the money.
(5)
Elizabeth P.
Not only is Lew's an amazingly cute throwback of a place it has about the nicest waitstaff and crew I have encountered in Portland. We got personalized service from Blu who takes such pride in his workmanship that it really comes across in the food he creates. I got the chili cheese burger and onion rings. Sooooo good!
(4)
Joe K.
The service is the saving grace why I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1. The waitress was enthusiastic and very friendly right as we walked in. She told us a little bit about the history of this establishment and if there was any questions we could ask. She also let us know that we could read more about it in this little pamphlet. The food was alright. For having supposed to be known for their coney chili sauce, there wasn't much to it. It was alright, but I don't know about it being famous for its taste. The milkshakes weren't bad, but weren't the best. The portions were alright. The coney dog was huge as it should be but contained a lot more chili and onions than meat. I don't think I'll be going back but I wish there were more places that had a waitress like the one here.
(2)
Jess K.
This place is just sketchy. Awhile back I decided to give it a go, as I was in the mood for a burger, was in the area, and didn't want to go to one of the gazillion chain restaurants in the area. Bad. Call. Sure the decor is kinda cool, lots of retro car pictures, there's clearly a bit of history there. Thats about where the charm stops. The woman who took my order was nice enough, asked me if I was SURE I didn't want to sit down to eat there. I was en route to a friends, and thus declined. I placed my order, paid [something like ten bucks for a burger, fries, and a drink], and ended up waiting for what seemed like forever for my food. WHILE I was waiting, I witnessed a waitress walking around the dining area, crinkling up her nose, then going to get a can of air freshener and proceed to seriously stink up the whole place [thank goodness I was the only one there]. I had to listen to the reaaaally obnoxious cook sing, yell to the waitresses, and just generally be loud and annoying the entire time I waited. Finally got my food and left... turned out to be very bland, sparse with ingredients and no flavor. Crinkle cut fries were ok. The end. Just a blah place.... will not return. Seems like a place that could revamp itself one day.. with some actual quality food and an attempt at a better atmosphere.... but until then it's only one star here.
(1)
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Address :14911 SE McLoughlin Blvd
Milwaukie, OR, 97267
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Chris W.
The four stars are purely based on the biscuits and gravy. I know it sounds funny cause it's a burger joint but have the biscuits and gravy because it's the best in town! Get your burger somewhere else that uses fresh ground beef not frozen patties. Like I said if I was rating the burgers I would probably give it two stars at the most. Biscuits and gravy! off the hook!
(4)Arlisha G.
Decided to take a drive through the Milwaukie area, got hungry, saw this place and thought "what the hell". Once I walked in, I was greeted and seated. Place was pretty busy and I got into the decor. The waitress/owner (Debbie) came by and filled me in with some menu suggestions and also 3 small free samples of their famous chili. Not bad. Although I'm more of a burger kinda gal, I ended up ordering the *Heart Attack Hot Dog Meal with a chocolate banana milkshake. Might as well go all out if your ordering something that has "heart attack" in it. lol. LIKES * Parking - Own private lot * Staff - Super friendly * Interior - Fifties nostalgia/classic car scene * Food - Heart Attack Hot Dog Meal (comes with cole slaw & fries) and Chocolate Banana milk shake (love that it had small chunks of banana inside). * Events - They hold a Cruise-In Classic Car Show in their parking lot (check website or call on dates TBD) DISLIKES * None so far... Just another FYI... this is [my own opinion]. Everyone has a different taste/feel on things so to find out for yourself, you need to try new things. When you do, remember to Post it! Good luck!
(4)Tony S.
We came to Lew's several months ago, on a Sunday afternoon, it was quite busy, but we were greeted and sat right away. The waitress was very busy, soon we realized she was the only one, and as far as we could tell only one cook. It did take time for her to get back to us to take our order, and some obvioulsy more time to get the food. While eating we did over hear her say that at least one person called in sick, there may have been another. OK I get that, and I gave the waitress a lot of slack. It took forever to get the check after we had finished eating. The waitress did apolgize, and didn't charge us for the drinks. Thank you! I fully understand being busy and short handed as I work in food service myself! Fast forward today: We decide to try Lew's again. We got there right at 5pm on May 7 2013. There was 2 other couples in the dinning area, couple 1 was just finishing up and leaving, couple 2 just ordered soon after we sat down. We were Greeted and sat very quickly. The young waiter came right over with menus and took our drink order. Came back soon with the drinks. Couple 1 had left, and soon he brought couple 2 drinks and food order out. Soon our food came, he asked if we would like ketchup for our fries, and that was the last time he came to our table. Couple 3 came in and sat, he came gave them menus, and took drinks. Couple 2 had some issue with their food and got up and complained. Couple 4 came and sat, but got up soon after waiting about 5 minutes went to counter and placed and order to go. Couple 5 came in and sat. The cook came and brought Couple 3 drinks, and took Couple 5 order,The waiter brought 3's food out, and 5's drinks. All this time we still had not got any ketchup. We had finished eating, and 3 had finished eating, still no check or drink refills, or how was the food. Soon after we got up and went to counter to pay. One time with bad service I can understand, busy day short handed! Bad service on a slow day, seems unforgivable. I doubt we will be back. If the food was outstanding or they had something special I might go back. As it is the food is avarage, and if this is the example of the service I am not impressed!
(2)Jeremy S.
Sadly, we didn't even get fed here. Just sat at our table for 15 minutes waiting for the waitress to take our order. It was lunch time, and I my wife and had only an hour before I had to return to work. We waited 10 minutes for an acknowledgment from the waitress, but she still never took our order. We ran next door to the Jack in the Box...at least they are a good choice B when Lews fails to serve its customers.
(1)K C.
Owner Service rate is F. Waited 30 min for a burger! I'm sorry, I fully support local businesses and have been to Lews for many years! The previous owners I loved!! But I am sad to report that this place isn't worth going to. President visit or not! My daughter and I went through the drive up on a Wednesday evening about two weeks ago. There was 1 person inside. They took our order and we Waited OVER 30 minutes!!! Yes 30 min!!!! For two simple burgers . When the waitress finally brought our food, she apologized and said that the owner got distracted from making our food because his son had come in to get food for their other location. .... Really?!!! So the poor family in the drive up is forgotten and waits because the owner had more important things to so than make our order! ?? I was so excited to take my daughter there and treat her to a local burger, but we were both very disappointed. The Burger patties weren't seasoned and it was a greasy soggy mess. Please being back a better Lews! One were customers come FIRST! Not third or forth ......
(1)Marna G.
Corn dogs and onion rings for the win! Many years ago my husband and I were just tooling about one Saturday afternoon way before kids, learning the lay of the land in PDX and we wanted a corn-dog in the worst way. It was I think January and it wasn't fair weather for sure so there were no big long corn-dogs, you know the kind, freshly dipped, deep fried right there. So we find our selves in Milwaukee and we spy Lew's Dairy Freeze home of the Coney Island Dog and we spy yep - CORN DOGS! We drove right up to the drive through -- ordered up corn-dogs, a large batch of onion rings with fry sauce, and two medium pepsi's and Lew's had us at first BITE! Oh hell yes! Now we know that a steady diet of corn-dogs isn't good for anyone so we make a yearly trip out there, and now we bring our kid and it's always the same thing -- Corn-Dogs, a large onion ring and three pepsi's -- and the PEPSI -- oooh tons of carbonation! Or as we refer to it as "NEEDLES" Good, cheap, perfect, greasy diner food. Lots of memory's and the drive through still works. The customer service is fantastic as well. I hope to be going here until I am 100!
(5)Alexis B.
We love Lew's. It's not the cheapest place, but the quality is worth it. Whether you done in, carry out, or drive through, they treat you with generous hospitality. On Valentine's Day it was busy and we had a wait with dine in, and they knocked the sides off our tab because of it. Those types of things. Chicken strips are bomb. We ask for them in baskets of 4. In my boyfriend's words, "Pretty delicious. If you want a hot burger and a big serving of fries..." Lew's! Check it out. Milkshakes are delicious and you can combine flavors.
(5)Doug H.
We went to Lews hoping for a unique experience. I was hoping that the food would overcome the poorly planned decor which incuded a small "Spencer Gifts" mirror ball hanging from zip ties in the middle of the diner. Unfortunately, while unique, it was not a positive experience.. Our order was simple. hotdogs and tater tots. the hotdogs arrived refer cold in the middle.l but the tater tots had been left in the deep fryer so long that they were completly crunchy all the way through. The only flavor left in them was from the old fry oil out of the deep fryer.
(1)Charity K.
Service is fast and friendly. Shakes are delicious and burgers/fries are good enough. Love the chocolate/pb shake combo and the fact that they will substitute veggie patties for meat - no problem! I'll keep coming back for the shakes!
(4)Gary S.
We've lived fairly close to Lew's for 13 years, and have only been there a handful of times. Frankly the food is mediocre at best, but on this latest trip I'm sad to say the service was terrible as well. It was a Saturday evening, but the place was nearly empty, so there was no real excuse for it. Once our order was taken and food delivered it appeared as though several of the staff stepped outside for a smoke break or something all at the same time. Nobody checked on us again until it was time to bring the check, which meant I had to take our drinks up to the counter to get refills, and even then had to wait a couple minutes for anybody to come by. I think I overheard one staff person say the place had changed owners at some time in the past couple years, but if anything things seem to be going downhill. It will probably be a long while before we give them yet another second chance.
(2)Jeff L.
I walked in. For the first time. Got seated then no service for 20 min. So I left and will never go back. It's sad cuz I only live 6 blocks away. But I will just take the drive to roaks down on 99e
(1)Martin F.
It's a cool setting, 1950's diner plus kitsch that should be left out. Instead of a jukebox they have a big screen tv on the wall, probably a nice concession to current culture. Burgers and dogs just about any way you might want it. We arrived about 1:30 and waited ten minutes for our order to be taken. I had a tough time not getting up and leaving when our server walks up wearing a sleeveless t-shirt ( wife beater) seriously, wear something more appropriate please. The soda shows up in thick chilled mugs, reinforcing the experience of a 50's diner. The food comes out 10 minutes later and it is top notch. Large portions, natural cut fries ( no weird coating) the regular size was large enough to feed four hungry teenage boys. It's worth doing again. Perhaps the regular server was off somewhere else and someone from the kitchen was just filling in. I still think uniforms would add that last bit of authenticity as well as make for a much more professional appearance.
(4)DandA T.
Went on a Saturday afternoon. My wife and I both thought the food was good. We had two little kids with us, and the waitstaff was very friendly and patient with us. We were surprised at how big the food portions are. The "kids meal" cheeseburger looks like the size of a regular burger at most other places.
(5)Brandon V.
Good food, horrible service! We came to this place two times and will no longer come here again. The first time we came here was a couple of months ago,perhaps in March it looked pretty busy when we came in there were several people sitting down most of them looking over their menus. When we sat down the woman came to our table and gave us the menu it took about five minutes for her to come back to our table to ask us what we wanted to drink, during that time we were sure what we wanted to order to eat. So after ordering our food and drinks she took about four minutes to arrive with the drinks so then she went around back again. We saw several people come in look around and wait to be served, some of them waited about 15 minutes without even being served they got up and left that was the first customers we saw leave, soon after more people who were waiting to be served got up and left. About 20 minutes our food arrived and I was just almost about finished with my soda, so we ate our meal it was really delicious so much that I finished the rest with an empty cup of soda. The waitress did not come back to give us refills on our drinks. After eating our meals we waited about 40 minutes for the bill to arrive. She finally came to us and said the refills are on the house and that we are short on staff. We paid the bill and left I was extremely disappointed in them. I decided I would give them one more chance later on down the road. The second time we decided to give them a try again perhaps they might of improved with their service got their act together. When we arrived there was about two tables that had people in them, the first table was just about finished eating, the server told us to take a table and he'll bring over some menus in a minute. We sat down and he came to bring us the menus, he asked us what we wanted to drink. We ordered our drinks, I was starting to have a better out look on this place maybe they did improve their service after all. He brought us drinks then asked us what we wanted to eat, after placing our order we sat there I this time I took small sips from my Lemonade because maybe I would not get a refill a second time. The people next to us who received their food were complaining about something but the music was too loud to even understand what they were complaining about. Later we found out that she was trying to put pepper on her hamburger and the thing spilt all kinds of pepper onto her hamburger basically making it uneatable. Those people left and complained to the manager and I was not sure if they even paid for the meal or they made her a new one. So soon we got our food and ate it. I was basically taking more sips of my Lemonade, he asked us if we wanted ketchup for out tater tots we said yes. Soon after that he never came back to our table again, we ate our food and I was disappointed I wanted to give them a second chance but their service is just so horrible to even come back again a third time. This was the last time we will be eating here. I suggest if you want to improve on your business have soda fountains so customers can refill their drinks themselves so they're not wondering when a server will be back to their table to see if they wanted a refill, unless you have to pay for refills which I believe is a shame... Also the second time around we saw customers leave after about five minutes because your servers are slow like turtles. I suggest you have two servers going at the same time so you can double the orders and have your drinks and food ordered quicker. Time to improve your service.
(2)Jen K.
Lew's has a few claims to fame: 1) They have a vintage car Lew's cruise every September. 2) They serve Coney Island dogs. 3) Obama visited on his campaign sweep through Oregon. It is basic drive-in food that always seems most appealing on a hot summer night when you are young and calories seem to evaporate into thin air. Corn dogs, burgers, fries and onion rings. The best thing on the menu is their shakes, which come in about 12 different flavors, including marshmallow and peanut butter. Made with Dreyers ice cream, which is the ice cream of my youth. Their biggest problem is that there are a couple of places close by that have a better product and theme. For diner food with a 40s-retro vibe you can go to The Bomber and for 50s/60s hot rod style you've got to check out Hot Rod Pizza. At Lew's they have pictures of cars on the wall, but at Hot Rod Pizza they actually have the cars and tons of memorabilia. Chrome trumps formica every time.
(2)Holy-foo' X.
Lew's does such a tremendous job instilling a sense of insta-nostalgia w/the big, old fashioned marquee outside, from the original owner days in the late 50s. Unfortunately those folks retired retired and sold out in '89, and things have somewhat been left to veer off the cliff since then. New ownership has taken the helm in 2012, and so hopefully that means a return to their heyday, of hosting vintage hot rods and updating the web page boasting of such events last in 1998. They have their little car shows every September, but the last one meriting mention on their no-frills web page was, again, from '98. It's easy to write this place off these day's a poor-man's Mike's drive-in, and the menu as stands at Lew's remains a far cry from Mike's robust offerings, including lean and tasty buffalo burgers, fried pickles, sweet potato fries, gyros, and a large, seasonally rotating assortment of ice creams. Why Obama's people in '08 had him make a campaign stop here, rather than @ Mike's, one can only guess. There's no accounting for taste, right? Perhaps a more meaningful comparison, in terms of the local competition, for Lew's--again, as is w/their current menu--would be Roake's, as both feature versions of the renowned Coney Island dog. But again, until the newfangled growing pains are sorted out and some of the former glory has been restored, this wouldn't be a pretty comparison and I doubt Lew's would want any part of it. Here's hoping they pull it together, and soon at Lew's! They preceded Mike's in Milwaukie by several years (but not Roake's, of course), and they continue to share an important piece of the common heritage.
(2)meganoodle z.
Good shakes! Food was from the freezer to the friers.
(2)Don W.
Had breakfast here for the first time not bad I was surprised at how good it was.
(4)Sarah B.
My friend always raved about this place so, I decided to go in and was not impressed. My burger sucked and the staff seemed like they were disorganized and hungover from the night before. I may have went in on an off day and ordered the wrong thing, but I will not be going back anytime soon.
(2)Benjamin T.
First off the service here is great. We didn't know until we arrived, that we were a few (~10) minutes past their posted closing hours. Not wanting to be 'those' people we were ok with going somewhere else, but Kelley and Jeremy were really enthusiastic about helping us, and reassured us that it was fine to stay for dinner. The food is quintessential Drive-In fare. There are a number of different burgers and great fries, curly fries and onion rings. Round it all out with a shake or float, and you have an amazing example of the Great American Roadside Diner. Inside there are all sorts of vintage car photos and memorabilia, this coupled with the famous vintage car cruise in the fall, make it a pretty cool place nestled among all the weird strip malls of 99-E. We really like this place and highly recommend it.
(5)Lenny B.
Well I wanted a coney dog with onions and cheese and I did get me one, it wasn't anything to brag about and the chili was mostly flavorless (Hormel woulda even been better). But its good to see a Coney place still around and a drive thru to boot.
(3)Amber S.
THE OLD BAIT AND SWITCH! One star for the very nice staff. I have driven by this place my entire life and never tried it until today. I'm a fan of roadside diners when I'm in the right mood and today I was excited to try this place. I went through the drive-through where there were signs promoting 'lunch special: burger, fries and a drink $5.95'. Cool! I'll take a cheeseburger, fries and a coke! They told me to pull forward for my total. There were two cars ahead of me so maybe 10 minutes later I got to the window and was told my total was $8.40. Not wanting to start all over I handed over my money but asked 'what's the deal with the $5.95 lunch special?'. I was told that's the small burger, small fries and small drink. The small burger only comes with mayo and pickles. "Well, what did I order?" I was told I got the regular burger, small fries, small drink. The difference between special burger and regular burger? Onions and a tomato. I was then handed the smallest soda cup I've ever seen. It was MAYBE an 8oz cup, but I'm pretty sure it was only 6oz. It was a sippy cup for a baby hobbit. The lady at the window handed me a menu with the managers email (or phone number or something) on it and BEGGED me to complain to him. Even the cook came to the window and BEGGED me to complain to the boss. They were so nice and SO apologetic I felt bad telling them that I wouldn't be back. I got the impression that they were embarrased about the price to portion ratio and that they get this complaint quite often. The food was ok, but it was just your typical roadside diner fare. Go to Mike's Drive-in for similar but cheaper food. I think they were being deliberately misleading and deceitful about the 'special' price, and the incredibaly small pop (I literally drank it dry in two drinks) was insulting for the almost $9 charge. Skip it.
(1)Frederic N.
The service is really great! And their food is awesome sauce!! Lew's coney island is the restraunt to go to if you have good taste, and love good food. Why go to a different place when you could just go to Lew's coney island restraunt? You must go now!
(5)Tony D.
Great burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Had their Western Bacon Burger recently, and it was absolutely delicious! The service level could improve a little, however.
(4)Brian D.
I'm sorry to say this, but the lettuce was the most flavorful component of my bacon cheeseburger. I just don't see how a burger could taste like nothing.
(1)Janelle H.
Don't pay attention to any posts more then 6 months old! New owners are making it better than ever! Breakfast all day and the bacon cheese burger to die for! It is hard to choose!!!
(5)Mc G N.
2 stars for food taste. 1 more star for decor. Definitely food done ala 1960. Note to owners: people these days want flavors. Interesting will do. Unusual might also. Have your cook or waitstaff dream up a signature sauce or entree. Make it better than anyone else does. I just saved your business.
(3)Erin F.
Please note: Lew's was recently purchased by new owners who are trying to 'bring this long time establishment back to it's former glory' as told to us by our waitress. Well, they are doing a good job so far. I have lived in the Milwaukie area for nearly 8 years and had driven by Lew's countless times. I decided Saturday night was finally the night and ventured to Lew's with my 5 year old & my boyfriend. We were immediately greeted and given our choice of places to sit. My daughter was given crayons and a coloring sheet by the waitress, who advised us of a coloring contest ending that night. This information kept my daughter occupied for some time. * BF ordered one of the burgers, which I swear he inhaled because it was gone in a matter of 5 minutes. He said it was excellent. * I ordered the chicken fried steak burger. Inventive!! Being from North Carolina I know a thing or 2 about good gravy and this was very, very good. My only suggestion would be a sturdier bun. BF & I shared a basket of onion rings. My daughter, who typically does not care for onion rings, ate a few herself. * Daughter got a corn dog and fries. Nothing special but there is a way to mess up a corn dog and they did not. It came in a cardboard classic car, reminiscent of the ones we got a an old drive in I went to as a kid. We will go back for absolute certainty.
(4)Leah T.
I was someone who once tried to purchase Lew's from the previous owner. I have always loved this place and was severly disappointed in its decline over the past 5 years. Shortly after it was purchased by the current owners I decided to stop in and see if they had started to change things. At the time, the only real changes I could see were some decor changes and the dropping of some menu items that should never have been there to begin with. I was still very disappointed in the quality of the food and the speed of service was horrendous! Today I figured we would give it one more go. The decor continues to improve minus the fact that they took out the jukebox which I really thought was a welcome change the first time I visited. The menu seems to have grown again, but this time with food that fits the restaurant's theme...THANK GOD!! Service is still a bit slow, getting better though...but I think they are still working on increasing business to warrant bringing in more staff....at least that is what I'm hoping is the case. The food...this is a serious point for me. Being someone who had her own hopes and dreams and grand plans for this place...I want it to live up to its fullest potential. The greatness that has made it a staple in this community for 40 or so years. I can honestly say...well...it's getting better. My biggest complaint about the food is that they still are not making their own burger patties. I mean...COM'ON folks. A 60s style eatery MUST have good burgers if they are going to compete. The frozen patty just doesn't cut it. The patty is small and has the flavor of something I use to get in high school. I know that sounds harsh...I'm sorry...I feel very passionate about this. Get some ground beef, throw in some salt, pepper, and a few other things, roll out some little balls, squish them onto the grill and call it a day! There is no excuse that I can think of for going cheap in this area of you menu. I can almost guarantee that Lew didn't use frozen patties...I can't confirm that but I would put money on it. PLEASE do your business a favor and upgrade the burger! I love you this place and want to see its legacy continue for many many many more years. You are doing such a wonderful job of bringing back all of its charm. Keep up the good work...I love to see good people doing right by a community staple!
(4)Rick T.
I just went to lews tonight and ordered the Coney burger, The sauce use to be way good, but it was this thick spicy bla tasting sauce, the burger was open faced with tons and tons of sauc, ,it use to be a great "burger" that you would pic up and eat with just the right amount of sauce, now its over kill! They went to a new style of fry that was soaked in oil! after going to lews since I was 16 (now 38) I will NOT be returning at all, the changes they made took it from what was one great food place, Burger king down the road would have been way better!, the new owners should not fix what's not broken, They are trying way harder than the last owner but the food was not good tonight at all!
(2)Shannon L.
I am so glad we went to Lews before I read the reviews. Seeing the comments about horrible service makes me wonder if some of the reviews are actually the competition. If anything they are over the top friendly and fast. Anyways, I also grew up in Milwaukie and Lews Dairy Freeze was the place to go for a good drive in. It has become our place for a good drive in again. The service is so personable its hard not to fall in love with the place. The burgers are great! Fresh buns, fresh ingredients layered in the right places, frozen patties I guess?? but good ones. Definately not the low standard of Rex Putnams McDonalds style patties as stated before. The shakes are perfect and served the good old fashioned way. We have all had the banana splits that were TDF and made with all the ingredients they should, unlike most places. We have had breakfast. Eggs benne was great. The hashbrowns were just okay but the home fried potatoes my daughter had were delicious. Also, you get a 10% discount if you drive a classic car. So we do. We like the oldies music and all of the pics of the cars. Just remember it is an old building but I think they have done wonders to make it clean and nice. I took my particular Mother there and she enjoyed it.
(4)Paula W.
I've driven by Lew's about a million times in my life and have always considered it that place where they have Cruise-Ins and ice cream. But Saturday morning I was out and about and noticed that they served breakfast and thought I'd give it a shot. It wasn't until I was standing inside that I realized that this place has an even greater claim to fame. On the wall above the menu are about a dozen photos of Obama and his family when they stopped by for ice cream back in May, 2008. No clue as to their impression of the place, just a bunch of 8 x 10's in plastic sleeves tacked to the wall. They actually have a pretty good sized menu with decent prices. I decided on the Garbage Pile breakfast - hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, eggs, peppers, onions, cheese all kind of mooshed together. The presentation was lacking but the meal itself was pretty decent. The coffee was hot, and though not as plentiful as I would have liked, it was acceptable. Though it's not the kind of place I would eat at often, I will probably give Lew's another try.
(3)Sam O.
Ouch, yes a 1-star. I don't do this very often, but I feel I had to, and I will explain why. I'll start with the good: the server was very friendly, and the staff was bouncing around filling up coffee regularly. That's about where it ends. Our food took way long to get to us, with no explanation why (there were a couple tables that came in with, or after us, which got their food, ate, and paid before we got ours.) This does happen once in awhile, I understand, and when the food is good, it's more palatable, but... Let's just say, it was less than mediocre. The bacon was soggy/greasy, and their blintzes, were not blintzes. They were thinned out pancake batter with barely any filling. I won't start on the strawberry goo on top. And the pancakes themselves tasted like they were out of a box. And I didn't know coffee this bad was even allowed in the pacific NW. my wife said it tasted like church-basement coffee, whatever that means. Sorry for the low rating, but there are way to many better options in this area, and I doubt I'd go back.
(1)Curt B.
Holy shit. I've eaten at some strange places around the world but I've never witnessed a tweaker rodeo quite like this. We stopped here for a quick lunch last Sunday and there were two people working; both of whom clearly had more than a passing familiarity with drug use. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for second chances but I'm not interested in catching Hepatitis from a burger joint. The fun started when I ordered a Coney Island hot dog and drink. Just so I'm clear (crystal you might say) it was immediately obvious when we walked in that our waitress had lived a very hard life. She was as loud as she was fidgety. We sat in a booth across the dining room from the kitchen, but within view. At one point I looked up and unfortunately made eye contact with the waitress who is clear across the store and yelling in my direction "what kind of drink did you order?" Awkward but my ass is in the booth so I'm committed at this point. Here's where it gets weird...both the waitress and the "cook" are running around the place like cats chasing a laser pointer. They are clearly stressed but for no apparent reason. Finally, the waitress comes out balancing a couple different orders which she attempts to set down on the back of a booth. At that point she yells to her buddy "can you give me a hand!?" Of course right as he arrives she drops the Coney Island dog into the booth. Her buddy yells "who had the dog?" At this point I've lost my appetite. But wait...it gets better. My waitress isn't a quitter after all (see what I did there) so she tells me "it will only take a minute to make another." Unfortunately, at that point another table asked her for silverware that she forgot to bring. Next thing I know the heroine of this tale is in the kitchen throwing silverware on the ground and yelling "I'm done...I'm out of here!!" Poor thing, the strain was more than she could bear. True to her word she doesn't bother to pick up the silverware (or my hot dog), grabs her purse and walks out the door. And then there was one... At some point he did get my Coney Island dog which was nothing more than a boiled hot dog with chopped onions, tomato's and relish. I'm not an expert on Coney Island dogs but I'm pretty sure its supposed to have some kind of sauce with it. I took one bite and left. For shits and giggles...I took a photo of my first hot dog sitting pretty and proud in the pile where it landed. It was there when I left. Hell, if someone told me it was still there today I wouldn't be surprised.
(1)Liz S.
Seriously don't waste your money; you'd be better off at McDonalds. I'm not sure how this place stays in business. It is not good.
(2)Atterly C.
Honestly I haven't tried going inside yet, but I have gone through the drive thru twice with the same result: slowwwwww service!! I literally watched my food get "cooked", put in a box and set on the line where it sat for close to ten minutes, both times? There wasn't an explanation, apology or any sign that they even cared. The biscuits were definitely pre-bought, frozen and heated under a heat lamp, the sausage looked like brown and serve and the egg was rubbery and cooked to death. The second attempt I tried a "milkshake" that I'm pretty sure consisted of dehydrated nondairy creamer and Hershey's strawberry syrup. Maybe there's a different experience inside but I doubt the foods any better. There are most definitely multiple establishments within spitting distance that put Lew's to shame.
(1)Kristine P.
As far as drive-in's go this was pretty good. I ordered the burger, drink, and fries special for $5.99. The burger was decent sized and cooked perfectly and they serve crinkle cut fries! Yum! Also, they scored points for having a fry sauce. It was pretty much mayo, ketchup, and some other ingredient I couldn't point out.. a little spicy perhaps. Anyway, I will return if only for the fries!
(3)Deborah I.
One star for the milkshake that was average at best.. We went there because they were having August Friday night cruise in/hot rods... We paid 30.00 for a burger, coney dog, fish and fries, tots and a side of coney sauce and a side of fry sauce and a side of tarter sauce and a shake. We didn't get the coney sauce, the fry sauce or the tarter sauce.. They almost forgot the shake and were in such a big hurry to get it to us that it was all vanilla ice cream on top and lumps of berries at the bottom. The fish was saturated in oil as were the tots. My husbands coney dog was soggy and average and not hot. We had passed this place a few times and finally decided to stop.. What a bust! The gal at the window was cheery and fine, but obviously forgetful.. Shame they can't figure out basic stuff...like fillilng the entire order or taking the fish out of frier when it's done... :(
(1)Megan L.
I've been by Lew's a couple of time now, and they remind me of a place in Idaho that my husband and I use to visit. The burgers are alright, and the fries are always good. The atmosphere is alright, and the owner/ manager is friendly. Fun place to stop in for a quick bite. But it is not a place I would go all of the time.
(4)Lisa M.
The burgers were pretty good. Customer service was mediocre at best. The cook made a backhanded comment as my bf and I walked out. Apparently he was mad that we didn't tip. We were the only Hispanics dining in there at the time. We felt like second class citizens the entire time because the waitress walked passed us TWICE without showing any concern for us unlike the Cooper family who was treated like royalty only 3 tables down. The racial tension could have easily been cut with one of their badly stained forks.the tables were so sticky and gross. Tweeker rodeo for sure...
(2)Nick H.
This remains a fine choice for a gut-bomb kind of meal if you are A- old B- drunk C- all of the above (so I have been told). I love reading the 'bad' reviews; they seem to consist of people that had to Wi-fi, text or otherwise occupy themselves while their food got cooked and got pissed because they didn't hear their order called. "I waited 40 mins for my order and when I got it, it was cold" Pay attention, bitch. That red plastic triangle thingy with a number on it means come and get it when the number is called.
(3)Jason A.
When it's over, it's over! Lew's what happened? This used to be "the" place on McLoughlin. How many of us have memories of Lew's? Stopped by as I hadn't been in a long time. Just so sad. You know walking in when you see the ice cream freezer sitting there empty in the lobby that something is off. I ordered a chocolate shake(my Lew's usual), and a friend and I split some fries. Fries were crispy and actually pretty good. Milkshake wasn't made with a lot of care but still tasted decent. I think the trouble for me here is the dirty kitchen, the grime on the ground, the seating area that was torn up, and a restroom that's less than appealing. I'll save the further details, just isn't worth it. It's like they gave up 10 years ago and have just been waiting until their regular customers have passed on, and are refusing to close out of respect for them. I can appreciate that, and I'm sure to the owners it's a source of family pride and don't want to let it go. Service was so so, but when you see the employees out front smoking and just hanging around, you know there's just not much focus on this business anymore. It's a shame. This place holds memories for me. Going here for Boy Scout events, seeing the car show, just seeing that sign lit up at night driving 99E is special. It represents a by-gone era when towns like Milwaukie were your cliche All American types before it turned into a car lot plus Walgreens. I think that sooner rather than later we'll be passing by with our children and grandchildren and saying, gee remember when.................
(1)Krista W.
I've lived in Milwaukie for 6 years. I've driven by here a million times, and tonight we decided to finally stop in. It seemed like a Mike's, which we love, so thought we would try it out. I'm so sorry that we did. My husband, myself, and our 3 kids were all sadly disappointed. In everything. We were the only diners in the place. It took 10 minutes for the only waitress to take our drink order (4 milkshakes and a soda), it was another 20 until we saw those. After placing our order (4 burgers, a PB&J kids meal, and coney fries), we didnt see our waitress again for another 30 minutes. When our food finally arrived, it wasnt spectactular. In fact it was awful. Our burgers were soggy, the coney sauce left something to be desired, and there was more bread than PB&J. My 6 year old makes a better PB&J. I will say that the milkshakes were delicious. By the time we decided we really couldnt eat anymore of it, we waited for 10 minutes for our waitress to bring the bill. But she was M.I.A. Again. I finally went up front to get her attention and get the bill. $50! We were there for over an hour. And the only thing we felt was okay to actually injest were the milkshakes. Most expensive milkshakes I've ever had. Needless to say, we arent coming back. We'll stick to Mike's.
(1)B.Marie G.
We are new to Milwaukie Oregon, and love all the old fashioned burger shops. We stopped here and I will never go back. the food wasnt bad, but the people were so unprofessional. I believe the main cashier was tweaked out of his mind, and everyone in the back was just talking and listening to heavy metal rather loud. It took a LONG time to get a simple order, i just dont think they could focus. When you are obviously twacked out, its time for help people!! .
(2)Stephanie Y.
Horrible service, waited forever for our food and then when the hot dog arrived it was cold. They literally took it back heated it in the microwave and brought it back. Would not recommend this place at all!!!
(1)Patrick C.
They have 4.99 breakfast special: one bacon or one sausage link - it's okay one egg - it's a egg. hashbrowns - crispy top but full of butter on the bottom. one pancake - surprizingly good. coffee - included? yes please. lots of place make you choose between potatoes and pancakes. I want both and got them at Lews. The coffee service was spot on and you just can't beat the price for a lazy morning. The best surprize was the pancake which was a little crisp on the edges from the gridle butter. Yum! We also split a half order of bisquits and gravey. it was fine. Kelli our server (same as last time) is a riot. We'll keep coming back.
(4)Ashley P.
After years of wanting to stop and give Lew's a try, I finally thought one night "what the heck" and pulled over. The cashier girl was friendly, helped me look through the menu and decide what to get. I ended up getting a three piece chicken tender meal with fries and a medium soda for a little over $8. The chicken tenders were HUGE, one would have been enough. They were also delicious and freshly cooked, and so were the fries. The only problem that I had with this restaurant was the KETCHUP...I know that sounds weird but I took it to go and was given some packets of ketchup, and I swear the ketchup was 4 years expired or something because it tasted absoluletly rancid. I would absolutely recommend stopping by and giving this place a chance...just beware the packets of ketchup!
(3)Carl T.
I grew up in Milwaukie as did my parents before me. Lew's has always been there for me. Kind of like that goofy uncle you only see once a year at the holidays. Kind of a mystery and kind of a comfort. I know Lew's has changed hands a couple of times over the past forty years and I recently really hadn't heard anything good about it. I drive by the restaurant multiple times every day and I have been looking forward to going in and trying it. As it has recently changed hangs, again, and I have been seeing the parking lot almost full. Something new must be going on. Today was the day! I went in around lunch time to about a half full restaurant. The decor is still a 1950's theme with cool old car motif etc. The restaurant looked in good shape and the floors and the few vacant tables were clean. A very nice lady swiftly greeted me and directed me to the menus and to a booth. I think I overheard her name was Kelly. She was prompt and the service was VERY good. I ordered the Spicy burger with Jalapenos, fries and a root beer. As I waited for my order I heard the cook singing and having a great time. He's a big guy covered in tattoos and when I saw him emerge from the kitchen with a big smile on his face it made me smile. I think I overheard his name was Ryan. He came out to ask the customers how the food was. How great is that? He obviously enjoys his work and the presentation of the food and the fun environment shows it. The Burger and fries arrived and looked SPECTACULAR! see the photo. The waitress did not bring out ketchup which I usually always insist having on my burgers. I forgot to ask for some not her fault. I couldn't wait for ketchup so I took a bite and to my surprise it didn't need any. It was very juicy and full of flavor. The Jalapenos were really good and really spicy just like I like em. Whatever sauce they use on the burgers is outstanding. Unfortunately the meat was clearly a previously frozen patty and nothing to write home about. The fries were not seasoned at all and they seamed stale and just over room temperature. The fry sauce was a life/fry saver and was very good. The burger was better than most but not supper great. I am looking forward to trying the Heart Attack dog next time I go. Service 5+ stars My only advice is your food looks spectacular if you used fresh hand made patties I would be a regular. Maybe put ketchup bottles on the tables? Support this local business they deserve it! I'll be back : )
(4)Felicia B.
We love getting burgers and fries from Lew's! Everything is always so yummy, especially the fry sauce! The dogs always appreciate treats everything we go through the drive-thru. This is definitely our favorite burger place - great old fashioned burgers, quick and friendly service, and lots of food or the money.
(5)Elizabeth P.
Not only is Lew's an amazingly cute throwback of a place it has about the nicest waitstaff and crew I have encountered in Portland. We got personalized service from Blu who takes such pride in his workmanship that it really comes across in the food he creates. I got the chili cheese burger and onion rings. Sooooo good!
(4)Joe K.
The service is the saving grace why I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1. The waitress was enthusiastic and very friendly right as we walked in. She told us a little bit about the history of this establishment and if there was any questions we could ask. She also let us know that we could read more about it in this little pamphlet. The food was alright. For having supposed to be known for their coney chili sauce, there wasn't much to it. It was alright, but I don't know about it being famous for its taste. The milkshakes weren't bad, but weren't the best. The portions were alright. The coney dog was huge as it should be but contained a lot more chili and onions than meat. I don't think I'll be going back but I wish there were more places that had a waitress like the one here.
(2)Jess K.
This place is just sketchy. Awhile back I decided to give it a go, as I was in the mood for a burger, was in the area, and didn't want to go to one of the gazillion chain restaurants in the area. Bad. Call. Sure the decor is kinda cool, lots of retro car pictures, there's clearly a bit of history there. Thats about where the charm stops. The woman who took my order was nice enough, asked me if I was SURE I didn't want to sit down to eat there. I was en route to a friends, and thus declined. I placed my order, paid [something like ten bucks for a burger, fries, and a drink], and ended up waiting for what seemed like forever for my food. WHILE I was waiting, I witnessed a waitress walking around the dining area, crinkling up her nose, then going to get a can of air freshener and proceed to seriously stink up the whole place [thank goodness I was the only one there]. I had to listen to the reaaaally obnoxious cook sing, yell to the waitresses, and just generally be loud and annoying the entire time I waited. Finally got my food and left... turned out to be very bland, sparse with ingredients and no flavor. Crinkle cut fries were ok. The end. Just a blah place.... will not return. Seems like a place that could revamp itself one day.. with some actual quality food and an attempt at a better atmosphere.... but until then it's only one star here.
(1)