A few of us went to newly opened (October ‘24) Louie’s Original after hearing that it’s a sister restaurant to posh, erstwhile-Michelin-starred Spruce in Presidio Heights. Its burger apparently has had quite a reputation (not only for being exceptionally good, but possessing labor-inducing properties for expectant mothers!). I had high hopes, especially since I don’t get to Potrero Hill to eat often enough. And have yet (shameful!) to dine at Spruce.
The long, narrow space is tucked beneath a luxury apartment suite and has that sterile, new-Potrero Hill development feel to it, although I am sure it is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Four of us ordered a variety of burgers/fries/onion rings/shakes on one very chilly evening.
The Big Sister burger, as it’s known here — the fancier of the burgers — comes with aged white cheddar, romaine, Roma tomato, pickled veg and a secret sauce. it is plunked into a cornmeal-dusted, house-made English muffin.
I also ordered chicken tenders for the table, which were nicely crispy, but not a stand-out for me (a bit dry). As for the burger, while the pickled vegetables were properly tart and crunchy, I found this a bit muddled, with the actual burger flavor drowned out. The English muffin was a nice touch, but I’m a sucker for a brioche bun.
For the Louie’s Original, the burger created for this space, you get a choice between one patty (Little Louie) or two (Big Louie), both of which come with lettuce, bread-and-butter pickles, secret sauce, onions (add on American or cheddar cheese, avocado, or bacon), and that beautiful house-made brioche which, contrary to popular opinion, can stand up to a burger! I found the Louie Original a much more palatable burger (and the Little will only set you back $8). That and the fried-chicken sandwich were actually my favorite sandwiches of the evening, the chicken being crunchy, flavorful, and not at all dry.
But the real star of the show, for me, were those waffle fries.
Oh, Mama. I’m not even a huge waffle-fry fan; too often, they’re greasy, heavy, and overcooked. These were akin to puffed-up Ruffles: Extremely light, super crispy, fluffy inside, and not a bit overdone. They have regular fries, too, if you don’t care for waffle fries (but do yourself a favor and try Louie’s). The onion rings were tasty, too, with a thin, crackly beer batter.
Of course, someone just had to order the Make ‘em Messy Fries:
Surprisingly, these were not the culinary shitshow I expected. Despite appearances, the toppings (pepper Jack cheese sauce, roasted onions, jalapeños, lime crema, cotija, green onions) were applied with a delicate enough hand so the combination did not overwhelm the fries.
And, sadly, I really wanted to love them, but the milkshakes were nothing special.
Not much flavor and, despite the heavy whipped-cream topping, not uber-creamy. Although, one of us did enjoy his special shake that night, a peppermint.
There’s craft beer and more-than-decent wine on offer, and all at not crazy-ridiculous prices. There’s even a fresh market salad available to keep things light.
While Louie’s Original didn’t necessarily wow me, for the money, it seems a good lunchtime option if you’re in the area.
1685 Mariposa St.
The real story here is that the developer of Mason on Mariposa which you say “has that sterile, new-Potrero Hill development feel” should be applauded! La Connessa, Louie’s Original, Magic Donut, and Le Dix-Sept … 4 great new restaurant / shops in their new retail spaces. If only every developer made such an effort to fill their ground floor retail spaces we’d have a much more vibrant city. Strongly recommend La Connessa — great Italian food in a beautiful space.