Hold The Ketchup: National Hamburger Day Celebrated At Louis' Lunch

NEW HAVEN, CT —In 1895, Louis Lassen opened his restaurant, Louis’ Lunch. Five years later, in 1900, Lassen created what is described as "the very first hamburger for a customer who needed a quick sandwich he could eat on the go." Indeed, the Library of Congress recognizes Louis' Lunch as the birthplace of the "Hamburger Sandwich."

A tradition passed on and perfected by the Lassen family for four generations, the restaurant is owned and operated today by Louis’ great-grandson, Jeff Lassen. And though it started as a lunch wagon, it is the oldest continuously-operated hamburger joint in the country.

Tuesday, in honor of National Hamburger Day, the diminutive but unmistakable eatery on Crown Street was particularly fitting given its designation as the burger's birthplace.

And so state and local officials including New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and state Comptroller Sean Scanlon, and regular folks hungry for a burger on a Tuesday, visited Louis' Lunch.

The spot where his descendant served up the restaurant’s signature menu item —a burger that's a proprietary blend of five cuts of meat ground daily —from its original cast-iron grills. Each burger is freshly prepared and hand-rolled, grilled then served on white toast with options of cheese, tomato, and onion.

Condiments are prohibited. No, really. Which is why the Heinz ketchup pop-up dispenser outside Louis' Lunch in March was either a clever marketing campaign by the condiment-maker or just really funny.