Worth the Wait? Weekend Brunch at Lou's in Hanover and the Four Aces in West Lebanon

In the Upper Valley this fall, one of the bigger weekend questions has been simple: where can you actually get a seat for brunch? A Valley News story published October 23, 2026 looked at the lines at two of the area's busiest diners, Lou's Restaurant and Bakery in Hanover and the Four Aces Diner in West Lebanon. The two sit about eight minutes apart.

Lou's Restaurant and Bakery, Hanover

Lou's, on South Main Street, has been serving breakfast since 1947, and the Valley News reports it turns 80 next year. Owner Jarett Berke has owned it for eight years.

The room. Lou's serves breakfast and lunch only, with 88 seats, including 13 at the counter. The Valley News describes round black stools at a counter beside glass cases of cakes, pies and cupcakes, globe lights hanging from a pressed-tin ceiling, and black-and-white photos from the restaurant's past on the walls. Breakfast is served all day, according to a photo caption in the story.

The bakery. Lou's has a bakery in the basement, which Berke said brings in about 30 percent of the restaurant's revenue. "Everything that we have here is baked here, including our breads," he told the paper. Lou's website lists cakes, pies, muffins, scones and breakfast cookies for pre-order, along with takeout and catering.

What to order. The story mentions people lining up for cruller French toast.

The line. On weekends the line starts at the front door and runs the length of the room. On a typical Saturday or Sunday, Lou's serves somewhere in the high 500s to low 600s, including takeout. Berke said lines grow in October, after the summer outdoor seating closes and fall visitors, Dartmouth events and hotel guests arrive. Lou's closes at 2 PM, and on a recent Sunday around 1 PM, staff walked down the line to warn people they probably would not be seated before closing.

Four Aces Diner, West Lebanon

The Four Aces is a Worcester Lunch Car, No. 837, built in Worcester, Massachusetts, and serving West Lebanon since 1952, according to the Valley News. When it moved down the hill to Bridge Street in 1986, a building went up around it. Owner Doug Allard described it as "literally enclosed, cocooned under a building."

The paper reports that Worcester Lunch Car Co. built 651 diners between 1906 and 1961. Five came to the Upper Valley, and the Four Aces, the last to arrive, is now the only one still running.

The room. Inside, a red barrel ceiling curves overhead. Red vinyl booths line one wall, and chrome-stemmed stools with red seats face a long counter over a small-square tile floor. A Magic 8 Ball sits on every table. There are 64 seats.

The owners. Doug and Stephanie Allard bought the Four Aces on May 1, 2025. Allard's uncle had owned the diner and created the menu it still uses. The Allards also own the Fort, on Heater Road in Lebanon.

The line. Allard said fall sales have been running 12 to 15 percent above normal, and on weekends, lines reach the parking lot. On a busy day the diner serves 400 to 500 covers.

Hours. The diner's website lists it as open Monday to Sunday, 7 AM to 2 PM, with online ordering ending at 1:30 PM. Its phone number is 603-298-5515.

Tips for beating the line

Using what the owners and regulars told the Valley News:

• Go on a weekday. One longtime Four Aces regular said he never comes on Sunday mornings because of the crowds.
• Arrive early at Lou's. With a 2 PM close, arriving late on a weekend risks not being seated at all.
• Sit at the counter. Both diners have long counters, and diner fans quoted in the story said they prefer them.
• Order ahead. Both diners offer online takeout ordering on their websites, and Lou's takes bakery pre-orders.
• Expect quieter mornings later in the season. Berke said business trails off in November, and Allard said it slides through December after a spike before Thanksgiving.

Sources

• Molly Hughes, "The battle for weekend brunch in the Upper Valley," Valley News, October 23, 2026 (updated October 26): https://vnews.com/2026/10/23/upper-valley-diners-brunch-lines/
• Lou's Restaurant and Bakery, official website (bakery menu, takeout, catering, phone): https://lousrestaurant.com/
• Four Aces Diner, official website (hours, online ordering, phone): https://www.4acesdiner.com/