Niki W.
Yelp
Salty Bitch & Slightly Lukewarm Smash: A Husky Happy Hour Tale
Last night, to celebrate a big win (a new client for my consulting practice... yes ma'am, we love a productive queen moment), my hubby and I strutted into The Husky for a happy hour drink and nibble because nothing says "I'm thriving" like a martini and a burger.
I'm usually pretty dialed in on New Orleans happy hours, so I was genuinely excited to try The Husky's, which runs daily from 4-6 pm. We arrived right at 5pm, meaning we hit the sweet spot of "early enough to get a seat" but late enough to feel like we still have productive lives.
First of all...The Husky is stunning.
Moody. Art deco. Brass. Deep greens. Bronze tones. The kind of place that makes you sit up straighter and start speaking in lower register like you're in a noir film.
We sat at the bar since we were just doing a drink + snack situation, and honestly...bar seating here is an experience. It felt fancy without being "everyone whispers and I'm scared to chew loudly."
We both went for the three-patty smash burger + fries for $14, which is an excellent deal, especially in New Orleans where burgers are starting to cost the same as tuition.
They also offer a happy hour combo: burger + old fashioned for $20, which is borderline criminal in the best way.
I wasn't in an old-fashioned mood, I was in a martini mood, which is more of a lifestyle than a beverage.
So I ordered:
Smash burger + fries ($14)
Martini ($9)...and you get to choose your "dirty level."
Naturally, I chose the highest level: "Salty Bitch."
Because if I'm going to be dirty, I'm going to be honest about it.
I also asked for blue cheese olives, and let me tell you:
Best I've ever had. Period.
MOVE OVER, random restaurants stuffing olives with blue cheese drywall chunks and calling it "gourmet." The Husky's olives were filled with an ultra-creamy blue cheese situation that tasted like it had been piped in by angels with culinary degrees.
My husband got an allspice dram + fig gin cocktail, and it was delicious...warm, spiced, just sweet enough, like fall decided to flirt a little.
Now, about the burger...
And here's where things got... slightly less fetch.
The burger was... fine.
Not bad, not tragic, not "call the burger police"... just okay.
The brioche bun? Great. Lightly toasted. Soft but structured. Doing its job.
But the meat patties were the part that fell flat. And that's saying something, because I literally changed out of my bad-ass lady boss blazer before we went, fully expecting this burger to come in hot and drip greatness all over me like a delicious, greasy badge of honor. But the patties weren't very warm, and they didn't have that glorious smash burger magic where the edges are crispy, the middle is juicy, and you're actively ruining your outfit as the universe intended.
And honestly? I suspect the patties may have been made ahead of time to prepare for the stampede of happy hour burger orders. Which I understand from a volume standpoint...but a smash burger is not the place to cut corners. If you're going to smash, you've got to commit to the sizzle.
The fries though??
Absolutely nailed it.
Crispy, flavorful, and served with a rosemary aioli that made me want to request a small vat of it to take home as emotional insurance because ya know...I'm saucy.
Service was warm, friendly, and attentive...that sweet spot of hospitality where you feel welcomed, not hovered.
Bottom line...
With $9 happy hour cocktails, a $14 burger+fries, and the option to basically get a $6 old-fashioned when paired with the burger combo, the happy hour value here is solid.
This place is a win-win, I just wanted the burger to be more of a win-win-WOW.
Would I go back? Absolutely.
Because:
the vibes are immaculate,
the drinks are strong and fun,
the olives are the best thing I've eaten in a briny minute,
and I still want to try the full dinner experience, especially with how stunning the space is.
I'll be back for the vibes, the martinis, and those heavenly blue cheese olives... but next time I need the burger to actually smash.