Louie, Louie’s Steak House ©2022
Watering hole, pick-up bar, that served delicious steak, chops and fish. Huge standup bar that ran the length of the narrow but deep restaurant. It was always filled with patrons waiting their turn at a table or looking to” get lucky” with meeting… a someone special. It was dark wood paneled, softly lit, with rose muted tablecloths, lots of fresh flowers, “L” monogramed chinaware, sparkling glasses. The popular place was filled with chatter and cigarette smoke.
Sounds like many other hang-out joints in Manhattan…but this place had its special personality. That was host Louie Stiles.
He was a heavy-set broad… tall of man with short legs, & hoarse-raspy, deep-bass voice. (It was as a loud whisper).
Louie large -headed with thick black bushy hair and brows, bulb-ish nose, thick puckered lips, a pock scarred complexion… (Say it, Dee-Dee), he was ugly!
His claim to fame was that he in a few gangsters' movies such as “The Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight”, etc. as he had “the perfect look”. Gruff and mean…but Louie was really a loveable gnome!
Sweet and good-natured and welcoming.
Louie had a pretty, young girlfriend, Lynda, who at his side in Louie, Louie’s …during the week.
He had a plain wife, “dull Arlene” in the suburbs…for weekends, and for respectability.
Well one evening I was having a business dinner, in his eatery, when I noticed, Louie, alone…hovering about near my table.
When he saw our waiter clearing our dinner plates, before serving us coffee, he said to my tablemates, “Please excuse Dee-Dee for a minute”.
Huh?
He takes my elbow to gently lead me a private corner, to inform me, “I can’t believe it both Lynda & Arlene, left me at the same time”, tears forming in his droopy brown eyes.
A teary -eyed St. Bernard looking for sympathy…but what could I do?
“Sorry, Louie…”, I said.
