319 Louisville Ave
Monroe, LA

“Before the Great Depression, before the Second World War, before air conditioning, television, all-you-can-eat salad bars or the Internet, there was Lea’s Lunchroom. At first glance, it really wasn’t much to look at…just a small town diner located on a busy state highway with what can only be described as a limited menu at best: Ham sandwiches, a special-of-the-day plate lunch, strong Louisiana coffee and homemade pies. Lea would say there wasn’t any sense in a menu-that would just waste time. In his eyes, if the food is good enough, people will return.” -Lea’s

319 Louisville Ave
Monroe, LA

“Lea Johnson never intended to create a landmark restaurant. It all started in 1928 in Johnson’s native Cheneyville, just a few miles down the road from the restaurant’s current location. Trained as an auto mechanic, Johnson tired of the long, hot hours of automobile repair work and decided to do something different. Acting on a hunch, Johnson traded one car for two counter tops, five stools, one coal-oil stove and a coffee pot. Not long after, he hired a skinny, redheaded, seventeen-year-old high school graduate, who he called Miss Georgie, to sell coffee and popcorn and manage the café. In 1939, Lea married Miss Georgie because, as he jokingly liked to say, he was tired of paying her $4 a week salary. Meeting, hiring and marrying Miss Georgie soon proved to be a serendipitous moment for the restaurant because it was from her side of the family that the pie recipes originated.” -Lea’s

319 Louisville Ave
Monroe, LA

You can’t stop at Lea’s without getting the Smothered Biscuit! People come from all walks of life to try this southern delicacy of eggs, meat, and gravy!

319 Louisville Ave
Monroe, LA

“No trip to Lea’s Lunchroom is complete without a slice of their world-famous pies. The secret to Lea’s pies comes from Mrs. Georgie’s side of the family. “The pies are my mother’s recipes,” Mrs. Georgie said in an interview during the 1980's with Louisiana Life magazine, “I use to go to the restaurant at 3 a.m. to meet the pie makers to make the pies.” “ -Lea’s

319 Louisville Ave
Monroe, LA

“In 2008, the youngest grandson, Toby Traylor, opened a Lea's in Monroe. It has been voted the Best Breakfast in Monroe!” -Lea’s