Ilze Balodis, center, with her granddaughter, Anika, left, and Anika’s dad, Leon, at Cafe Louis in South Portland. Photos courtesy of Ilze Balodis

In April, the Portland Press Herald held a drawing for 10 lucky readers to receive a $100 gift card to any restaurant on our 2024 list of the Best 75 places to eat and drink in Greater Portland. In exchange, we asked winners to take a photo and answer a handful of questions about their experience.

Here’s what Ilze Balodis of Farmington had to say about her visit to Cafe Louis in South Portland:

Soon after getting the $100 gift card, my granddaughter, Anika, and her dad, Leon, and I went to Cafe Louis.

I had looked online to check their hours and was very excited to be able to treat them to some good and interesting food.

We went mid-afternoon and, as we went in, were told that it was happy hour, and only a limited menu was available. I was disheartened because I was looking forward to a full meal, but we stayed anyway and ordered a couple of burgers and a cebiche tostada.

When our food arrived, I launched into taking-picture mode so that I could document our experience and send it to you.

Ilze Balodis didn’t let a photo-taking mishap ruin her ceviche tostada at Cafe Louis.

As you look at the pictures, you will see the disaster that unfolded as I posed with my cebiche tostada. I tilted the plate so that the tostada and its lovely toppings could be seen in the picture, and then – the lovely toppings slid on to my sweater, and my lap. Fortunately, Anika and Leon were astute enough to keep taking pictures, so we have evidence of the mess.

Once I cleaned up as best as I could, I had my cebiche and was amazed how delicious it was. All the ingredients had been chopped into astonishing minute little cubes. They were so tiny, I asked if there is some magic machine that accomplishes this and was told the chopping is all done by hand. Impressive.

The burgers were also excellent – juicy and tasty. I especially liked the burned cheese that was part of the toppings, all of which were imaginative and yummy.

I’m looking forward to returning to Cafe Louis during a regular mealtime, so that I can try one or more of their tempting offerings.