The restaurant's classic feeling marks one of its most attractive qualities, according to Carl Thum, a writing professor and the director of the Academic Skills Center at the College. Black and white photographs throughout Lou's reveal that the interior has changed little over time.
"The Lou's today is pretty much the same Lou's that was there when I first came to Dartmouth in '83," Thum said.
With only three owners in its history, the restaurant has maintained a distinctive "personality" and "commitment to customers" that will continue into the future, general manager Marc Coelho said.
Managers have made only minor changes to retain competitiveness and keep up with local demand, with the most recent being an initiative to increase environmental sustainability, according to Coelho. Since 2009, Lou's has been certified as a "green" restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association.
"We compost, and all of the plates and utensils we use for our catering business are biodegradable," he said. "And we're trying to get customers to buy our new travel mugs so that they don't have to use paper cups."
Lou's has also recently updated its menu to address customer demand. Gluten-free items have been added to the menu, as well as an egg white goat cheese omelet to satisfy the demand for healthy options.
The most popular items on the menu, nonetheless, remain staples like cruller French toast and poached eggs on corn beef hash, also known as "The Doc's Favorite," Coelho said.
The restaurant was originally established as a local diner to serve primarily Dartmouth students and continues to be popular among the student body.
"It's so good and very traditional," Grace Sollender '15 said. "It's great for when family or visitors come that's where I always take them, and it's not too expensive."
The history of Lou's is tied to that of Dartmouth and has become a treasured part of the Dartmouth experience for many.
"When alums come back, one of the things they want to do is go to Lou's," Thum said.
John "Hans" Morris '80 said he fondly remembers being the "late night sandwich man" for Lou's in 1980. Morris and his friend visited fraternities and residence halls late at night, selling sandwiches and baked goods from Lou's, he said.
"We would pick up [the food] around 10 p.m. and walk around campus until we sold out," Morris said. "There was no question the product was outstanding, and this isn't just nostalgia talking either. It's a fine, fine memory."
Deirdre McDonald '86 said she considered Lou's an ideal location to meet friends on a weekend morning and placate the effects of a "late night largely spent in a fraternity basement."
In addition to its role in College life, Lou's provides a gathering place for community members from Hanover and surrounding areas.
"Often local residents come in to grab something to go on their way to work or during a break," Coelho said. "And we cater a lot of local business meetings and local events."
Nicki Walker, manager of College Supplies, located next to Lou's, said she often drops in to the restaurant for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
The relationship between Lou's and the Hanover community extends beyond serving food, according to Coelho.
This Valentine's Day, for example, Lou's sponsored a blind auction for a giant cupcake, with proceeds directed to the Upper Valley Haven, a local emergency shelter, he said.
Despite the success of the business, Coelho said Lou's is not looking to expand.
"People coming in here know that there's going to be a line," Coelho said.