Out In Oildale, Luigi’s Has Been Packing Italian Sandwiches Into Bakersfield Lunches Since 1910

Most lunch spots last a few years. This one in Bakersfield has lasted more than a century, and it still serves only lunch.

The doors open at 10:30 in the morning and close at 2:30 in the afternoon, yet the line forms anyway, with cars parked blocks away and families who have been coming for generations. Italian sandwiches are a big part of the draw, built on rolls from a neighborhood bakery and handed across a deli counter that has outlasted almost everything around it.

Keep reading to find out where it is, how it began, what to order when the sandwich craving hits, and the timing tricks that help regulars avoid the longest waits.

An East 19th Street Address With a Long Memory

Some addresses become landmarks simply by refusing to leave. Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen sits at 725 E 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93305, in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, United States.

The business wears several hats at once. It is an Italian grocery, a deli, and a sit-down restaurant, all operating as one lunch destination.

Its roots go back to 1910. That makes it one of the longest-running food businesses in the city, and the old-school setting shows no interest in pretending otherwise.

Lunch is the whole game here. There is no dinner service, so the kitchen puts every bit of its energy into a single midday window, and locals plan their day accordingly.

The spot is officially categorized as an Italian restaurant. Still, plenty of people know it first as the place where the sandwiches come from, which fits the long-standing deli side of the operation.

Newcomers sometimes arrive expecting a small corner shop. What they find is a much bigger operation, with a store, a deli counter, a dining room, and a patio spread across the property.

Getting the address right is step one. The rest of the story explains why so many people keep coming back to this particular stretch of East 19th Street.

A Lunch Counter Born in 1910

William Howard Taft was in the White House when this business first opened its doors. More than 115 years later, it is still feeding Bakersfield at lunchtime.

The early identity was that of an Italian grocery. Over the decades, the business grew into the combined grocery, deli, and restaurant that exists today, without losing its original character.

Staying open for over a century is rare for any restaurant. Doing it while keeping a lunch-only schedule is even rarer, and it says a lot about how loyal the local crowd has become.

Longtime regulars talk about the place as a family tradition. Some first came as children with a parent who worked nearby, and now they bring their own kids to order the same favorites.

That kind of continuity is part of the appeal. The restaurant feels less like a trend and more like a piece of the city’s everyday routine.

Quick history bit: the business has now passed the 115-year mark, which means it has served lunch through more than a century of change in the valley.

History alone does not keep tables full, of course. The layout and setting have a lot to do with it too, and that is where things get interesting.

Three Businesses Under One Roof

First-timers often need a minute to get their bearings. The property is large, and it holds more than a single dining room.

On one side, there is the shop. It works as a small Italian market where guests can browse shelves, grab packaged items, and place take-out orders.

Then comes the deli, the engine behind the sandwich reputation. Orders move quickly, and the staff behind the counter know the menu well enough to help indecisive customers make a choice.

Finally, there is the restaurant itself. It offers table service, room for large family groups, and a back patio for those who prefer to eat outdoors.

Many people who come for a special event leave saying they want to return on their own time. The goal is usually to explore the store and deli more slowly, without a schedule to keep.

That mix gives the place flexibility. A quick sandwich to go and a long sit-down lunch with extended family can both happen here on the same afternoon.

It also explains why the parking lots fill up. With three reasons to stop in, the crowd is never just one kind of customer, and the next section shows what they see once they sit down.

Checkered Tables and Photo-Covered Walls

Nobody hired a trendy designer for this dining room, and that is exactly the point. The look is proudly old-school.

Tables are dressed in red and white checkered coverings. It is the classic Italian lunch-spot style, and it has stayed put while other restaurants chase new looks every few years.

The walls are the real conversation starter. They are covered with pictures, lots of them, and first-time diners often spend part of their meal scanning the frames.

Those photos give the room a lived-in personality. They hint at the decades of history that came before, and they make the space feel more like a community scrapbook than a showroom.

The overall mood is relaxed and busy at the same time. Tables turn over steadily, staff move between them, and conversations bounce around the room.

Several team members often help at a single table. Guests tend to notice how friendly the crew is and how they seem to back each other up during the rush.

It is a setting that suits a long catch-up lunch as much as a quick bite. Once the decor has been properly admired, attention usually turns to the menu, and the deli has plenty to say.

The Sandwich Side of the Legend

A deli that has lasted since 1910 had better know its way around a sandwich. This one clearly does.

The sandwiches are one of the main reasons locals keep this address in regular rotation. Meat sandwiches in particular have become part of the restaurant’s reputation around town.

The Pierucci Pastrami is a name worth remembering. Regulars recommend adding cheese and roasted red pepper to it, a combination that has earned a loyal following.

The bread matters as much as the fillings. Rolls come from the nearby Pyrenees Bakery, another Bakersfield institution, so the sandwich is a small partnership between two long-standing local businesses.

The steak sandwich also gets plenty of attention. It is a frequent pick among those who want something hearty in the middle of a workday.

Sandwiches here are a great fit for take-out. The shop handles to-go orders efficiently, which makes a deli run possible even on a short lunch break.

Some people call a sandwich here the best way to start the weekend. Saturday lunch at the deli has become a ritual for plenty of families.

Sandwich fans should also keep an eye on the calendar. A certain weekday special has its own dedicated fan club.

Tuesday’s Prime Rib Sandwich Tradition

Tuesdays carry a little extra weight on East 19th Street. That is the day the prime rib special shows up.

Among the most devoted regulars, the prime rib sandwich is a standout favorite. Some longtime customers plan their week around it and make Tuesday their standing lunch date.

Having a specific day for a specific dish adds a fun rhythm to the menu. It also gives regulars a reason to switch up their usual order now and then.

The broader menu goes well beyond sandwiches. There is a wide spread of Italian lunch plates, appetizers, and desserts, so groups with mixed cravings rarely have trouble finding something for everyone.

People who come frequently often say they have never had a bad meal here. That kind of consistency is a big reason the lunch crowd stays so loyal year after year.

Planning tip: specials tend to draw extra interest, so arriving early on a special day is a smart move.

Tuesday also happens to be the first day of the working week for the restaurant. With Sundays and Mondays closed, the Tuesday reopening brings a wave of regulars who missed their fix over the long weekend.

Not everyone wants to wait for a table, though. Luckily, there is a quicker route for the grab-and-go crowd.

A Market Built for Grab-and-Go

Time is short and the dining room is packed. That is exactly the moment the shop earns its keep.

The store sits right alongside the restaurant. Guests can place take-out orders there, which is a handy workaround when every table is spoken for.

The shelves offer more than a pickup counter. Cheeses, olives in several varieties, pickled vegetables, crackers, and bottled or canned sodas are among the items available.

Store staff get credit for being fast and knowledgeable. They can walk newcomers through the menu and help them settle on an order without holding up the line.

For people who only need a few things, the shop makes a quick stop simple. It is easy to grab a sandwich for lunch and pick up a couple of pantry items for later in the same trip.

Outside, there are chairs for those waiting on take-out orders or a table. It is a small touch, but it makes the wait more comfortable on busy days.

Food to go also travels well from here. Road trippers and out-of-town guests often leave with extra items packed up for the drive home.

Those who prefer to stay put have another option worth knowing about, and it happens to be outdoors.

The Back Patio Advantage

Indoor seating gets most of the attention, but the back patio has quietly built its own fan base. It is one of the most frequently mentioned features of the whole property.

The patio offers a calmer alternative to the busy dining room. On a pleasant day, it turns lunch into a relaxed outdoor break from the rest of the afternoon.

Servers work the patio just as attentively as the indoor tables. Guests appreciate that staff check in regularly without hovering over every bite.

Outdoor tables are a natural pick for groups who want room to talk. Families and friends often settle in here for an unhurried meal.

Weather in Bakersfield plays a role, of course. Mild days are prime patio days, while the hottest stretches of summer may push more people indoors.

Seating tip: when making a reservation, it never hurts to ask about patio availability, especially for a celebration or larger group.

The patio also gives the restaurant extra breathing room during peak hours. More seating means the wait moves a little faster for everyone.

With so many seating choices, the place welcomes a wide mix of people. Who exactly shows up for lunch here says a lot about its role in the city.

Regulars, Road Trippers, and Three Generations

Ask around Bakersfield and plenty of people have a personal story tied to this lunch spot. Some go back decades.

Families are a huge part of the crowd. Grandparents, parents, and kids often share a single table, and there is enough space to book large family or friend gatherings.

Regulars form another loyal group. The counters in particular tend to fill with familiar faces, so newcomers hoping for a counter seat should expect to wait a bit.

Out-of-towners find their way here too. Travelers passing through the valley often look it up, confirm with local relatives, and end up calling it the best stop of the trip.

Some fans drive more than an hour just for lunch. That kind of commitment says plenty about the restaurant’s pull beyond city limits.

The place also works for events. Celebrations, office lunches, and group outings are common, which is another reason the room stays lively.

People who expect a quiet, hushed dining room may want to adjust their plans. This is a social, busy, community-centered spot, and that energy is part of the charm.

All that popularity comes with one side effect. Getting a seat takes a little strategy, and the next section covers exactly how to handle it.

Hours, Waits, and the Parking Puzzle

Timing is everything at a restaurant that only serves lunch. The window is short, so a little planning goes a long way.

Hours run from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Crowds are the norm, not the exception. Even so, waits on a typical visit often stay around 20 minutes, thanks to a staff that keeps things moving.

Weekends are a different story. Delays can stretch much longer, so booking ahead is strongly recommended for Saturday lunch.

Reservations are available, and they matter. For special occasions or big groups, reserving weeks in advance is a smart idea.

Parking is the other puzzle. The lots fill up fast, street spots are hard to find, and it is common to see cars parked several blocks away.

Avoid if possible: major holidays and graduation season, when parking becomes especially scarce and the crowds swell.

Arriving right at opening is the easiest fix. Early birds usually get the best shot at a table and a closer parking spot.

With the logistics handled, there is only one question left. Is it worth all the effort, and what does lunch actually cost?

A Lunch Worth Planning a Day Around

More than 115 years in, the formula here remains refreshingly simple. Serve a strong lunch, treat people well, and let the regulars do the rest.

Prices typically land in the $20 to $30 range per person. Many first-timers expect it to cost more and leave feeling the value is fair for the quality.

The appeal goes beyond the menu. The history, the photo-lined walls, the patio, and the busy market all add up to an experience that feels rooted in Bakersfield.

Sandwich lovers have a clear game plan. Start with the Pierucci Pastrami on a Pyrenees Bakery roll, then save Tuesday for the prime rib sandwich.

Plenty of people leave already planning the next visit. The menu is wide enough that it takes several trips to work through the favorites.

For current details, the restaurant’s website at shopluigis.com is the place to check before heading out. Hours and specials are worth confirming, especially around holidays.

The short version is easy to remember. Come early, reserve on weekends, bring patience for parking, and arrive hungry.

Some lunch spots chase attention. This one has simply kept showing up since 1910, and Bakersfield keeps showing up right back.