If you’ve walked down Carmine Street lately and caught a whiff of something dangerously good, that’s probably Skinny Louie — and no, you’re not imagining things.

The Miami-founded smash burger chain has officially planted its flag in the West Village at 11 Carmine St., marking its second Manhattan location after debuting in NoMad just last year. For NYU students who’ve already burned through their dining hall patience with bland meals, this one’s close enough to campus to be a problem for your wallet — and a gift for your stomach.

Founded in Wynwood, Miami, in November 2023, Skinny Louie expanded rapidly across South Florida, racking up locations in Little Havana, Coral Gables, Aventura and beyond — even landing five spots inside the Miami Heat’s Kaseya Center. Then in 2025, the brand earned major recognition in both Miami and New York City, taking top honors at South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash and winning multiple awards at New York City Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash 2.0 later that year.

Skinny Louie’s secret weapon is simplicity. The menu is short by design — three smash burger options made with 100% fresh Black Angus beef, along with fries, milkshakes and drinks — but each item is executed with enough precision that the limited menu feels intentional, not restrictive.

The centerpiece is the Skinny Louie Cheeseburger with grilled onions, double American cheese, pickles and the chain’s signature Louie sauce, pressed on a blazing griddle until the edges crisp up into something almost lacy. The Louie sauce ties it all together — rich without being heavy, and memorable enough to make you want more.

The Applewood Bacon Burger layers crispy smoked bacon under that same sauce for a heartier bite, while the Classic Burger is a no-frills reminder that when the patty is this good, you don’t need much else. The fries are golden and sturdy, and the milkshake trio — Cookies & Cream, Choco Brownie and Strawberry Bliss — is the kind of thick, indulgent finish a late-night smash burger deserves.

“The menu is intentionally simple: a straightforward smash burger done really well,” co-founders and co-CEOs Gonzalo Rubino and Matias Palloni told WSN. “It’s built around consistency, quality and an accessible price point, which naturally resonates with students.”

The West Village location wasn’t chosen by accident. The brand zeroed in on the neighborhood for exactly the kind of foot traffic that keeps a restaurant alive and thriving — local New Yorkers, not just one-time visitors.

“We chose the West Village because it’s one of those rare neighborhoods where people really build routines — it’s local, walkable and full of regulars,” Rubino and Palloni said. “Skinny Louie grows best in places where people come back often, not just once.”

For late-night stragglers — a demographic NYU students know all too well — the timing couldn’t be better. The West Village location stays open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether you’re stumbling out of a Bobst Library study session or a night out on Bleecker Street, Skinny Louie is ready to welcome you.

With four more New York City locations on the way — Upper East Side, Penn Station, East Village and Park Slope — the brand is clearly just getting started. But for now, the West Village is the move. You can visit skinnylouie.com for more information or check out @skinnylouie.burgers on Instagram or TikTok.

Contact Andrea Lui at [email protected].