Cult-Favorite Smash Burger Joint To Open On The UES

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A cult-favorite smash burger spot that’s already made a name for itself downtown is heading to the Upper East Side next month — and it's marking the occasion with free burgers.

Skinny Louie will open its third Manhattan location on Second Avenue and East 81st Street, taking over the former Agora Turkish Restaurant space, with a grand opening on Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

"What we like about the Upper East Side is that it’s extremely neighborhood‑focused," co-founder and co-CEO Gonzalo Rubino told Patch.

On the menu, simplicity is the point. Skinny Louie sticks to burgers, shakes and fries. The burgers are all smash-style, pressed into a hot griddle so they develop a thin, crispy, lacy edge.

There are three different burgers on the menu: A classic, a cheeseburger, and an applewood bacon burger. However, those in the know order a fourth option that doesn’t appear on the printed menu: the "Very Best Burger," which features white cheddar, truffle mayo and jalapeño relish.

The off-menu item is the same one Skinny Louie used to win the long-running Burger Bash competition in both Miami and New York in 2025, Rubino said.

Rubino said he's looking forward to winning the hearts of the Upper East Siders, too.

"We know there’s competition here, and I’m always more than happy to have competition, because I think that pushes up your service, your operation, your quality and your overall experience," Rubino said.

To celebrate the opening, the shop will give away free cheeseburgers, one per customer, until the line dies down, Rubino said.

Officially, the promotion is for 100 free burgers, but Rubino told Patch he always just ends up serving everyone in line.

"We don’t like saying, ‘You’re number 100, and you’re 101, you don’t get it free,'" Rubino said. "We always end up serving the whole line."

Before that big night, Upper East Siders might spot signs of life behind the papered windows.

Skinny Louie typically quietly opens for delivery-only on the apps a few days early, then shifts into a soft opening with limited hours before the full launch.

"So, if you pass by and the door is open, feel free to come in," Rubino said.

Skinny Louie is located at 1565 2nd Ave.

Know of a business opening or closing on the Upper East Side? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.

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