Directly West of Trinity High School in the heart of St. Matthews is a small restaurant with an interesting story.

Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago is run married couple Lonnie and Diane Edwards, and they have been making food for Louisville since their move from Chicago in 2003. Many students walk by and drive by it, but how many know the story of how our neighbors came to be? The owners were nice enough to tell me a little bit about their history and the restaurant.

Lonnie’s originally opened in Chicago in 2001 and got its menu based off the various cuisines, but one product that took off quickly was Vienna Beef. According to Mrs. Edwards, “Vienna Beef has been serving hot dogs since the Great Depression.”

Vienna Beef would sell a hot dog for a nickel which was too expensive for people during the Great Depression to afford. To get business, they decided to make a full meal out of a hot dog by putting a salad on top of it, or “walking it through a garden.” This idea became extremely popular, and got the name “Chicago Dog” which is what Lonnie’s menu is based on.

When I walked into Lonnie’s, I immediately noticed the Chicago theme. It has a very classic vibe inside with Chicago sports merchandise all over the walls. The Edwardses are huge sports fans when it comes to their Chicago teams including the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, and especially the White Sox. It has about 10 tables and a counter that takes up one side of the restaurant where you can see them cook everything.

After talking to them for a while, I looked at the menu and saw “The Shamrock Special.” While waiting, I was treated to multiple samples including their chili and Italian beef. The chili had a lot of flavor and warmth, while the Italian beef was coated in delicious seasoning. The Shamrock Special is a polish sausage, served with fries and a drink. The hotdog itself had a great crunch and salty flavor, and the fries were a great classic side with ample seasoning. I got mine with onions and cucumbers and the onions especially took the texture and flavor to another level.

If you are ever hungry after school or in the area, I strongly recommend trying out Lonnie’s. The owners are great people, and the food is perfect for lunch — and they have a meal named after us!