newyork frenchfries

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Candle Cafe West Decent fries. Didn't come out as hot as I would've liked but not bad. Ketchup was tasty.

[nyfrenchfries]

Runner and Stone on 3rd avenue in Brooklyn Specifically in the area for one last trip to Pickle Shack before their unmomentous close, you can imagine how disappointed we were to find out that the restaurant had permanently closed early. No more "thrice fried" French fries were to be had that day, or maybe even ever... but I still wanted potatoes. Out came the phones and a new place was found around the block that also had French fries on its menu, Runner and Stone. We promptly ordered the French fries with hollandaise as well as a couple other items and we were off to the races. The fries came out covered in the hollandaise. I shouldn't have assumed that the hollandaise would come on the side. Their hollandaise sauce was fresh and had that great lemony flavor that we all have grown to adore. The fries were crispy, thin, and hot. By the time I was done I almost had forgotten about the earlier incident. Overall no complaints at this joint that I'll surely revisit.

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Upstate NY - decent

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Our hearts go out to those affected by the closing of Pommes Frites. I always loved their Irish Curry dipping sauce the most. I will have a guest review of a past trip to Pommes Frites in the weeks to come.

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Ask around Bushwick at the darkest time of night and you'll find out about Tina's Place, a diner catering exclusively to the nocturnal. Appropriately named for its larger than life waitress, Tina's does not open until 3 AM. Yes, 3 in the morning. The service is fast and the prices are cheap but the portions definitely reflect this. An order of a grilled cheese, onion rings, and french fries barely filled out one plate. Below average to average flavors also seemed to be the sentiment of the table. OK at 3 AM when nothing else is open, but otherwise skip the trip.

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A five minute walk south of Prospect Park, before you hit the historied Green-Wood Cemetery, lands you at the Terrace Coffee Shop. Located in the middle of a residential area in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, this cozy restaurant offers a wide variety of classic diner dishes as well as some traditional Mexican plates.

I opted for an order of french fries and a baked potato topped with cheddar cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and sauteed onions. The baked potato was split wide open and topped generously. The fries however were severely under-seasoned and tasteless. They were obviously pulled from the freezer not long before I ordered. With no salt or pepper on the table and my stomach full from the loaded baked potato I abstained from finishing the rest of the fries.

Skip the fries, but if you’re in the area and hungry it’s worth a visit on a cold day.

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Pickle Shack in Park Slope

Somewhat out of the way but well worth the trip, Pickle Shack entices diners with a small but well thought out fully vegetarian menu. Salads and sandwiches make up most of the dishes and you can tell with a quick glance they are made with great ingredients. A must order on the menu is the restaurant's signature dish, the Fried Oyster Mushrooms. Big oyster mushrooms are coated in a cornmeal batter and then fried to perfection.

The fries are hand-cut and according to the menu "thrice cooked." Three seems to be the magic number because the fries came out amazingly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Not too hard and not too soft, like the perfect mattress. The flavor was all that you would expect from perfectly cooked hand cut fries, but never seem to great. Potatoes the way they were meant to be tasted.

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A summer day trip to Coney Island requires a stop by Nathan’s Famous, home of the annual world famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, for a taste of some all-American food history. Known mostly for their hotdogs, Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island boasts a wide menu variety featuring items such as salads, fried clams, and even frog legs.

On a super sunny Sunday I opted for an order of their cheese fries. Hot crinkle-cut fries are scooped into a perforated box and topped with a creamy cheese sauce - nothing fancy. The signature red fork spear that is included with all fry orders are the perfect utensil for eating this messy dish. The hot, greasy fries soak up the cheese and the two create a perfect combination. The cheese isn’t too powerful and surprisingly lets the fries true taste shine through.

If hotdogs, fries, and generic boardwalk food are not your thing, a two or three block walk away from the water takes you to one of the best pizza places in Brooklyn, Totonnos.

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A day game at Yankee Stadium was the perfect way to bring in Spring and welcome the warm weather. Derek Jeter wasn’t playing but the rest of the Yankees made up for it by hitting five home runs and handily beating the Red Sox 7 to 4.

The smell of garlic permeates the air surrounding the “Garlics Fries” stand on the main floor of Yankee Stadium. Make sure the people you’re with are willing to tolerate the smell if you decide to order these fries. The cheese is forgettable and artificial and offers little to the fries.

Something to note: The large garlic, cheese fries were only listed as having 440 calories. I’m not sure as to how that can be correct.

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Bareburger on Court St

The hunger inside me was growing, but the need to move was not so I decided to compromise and order food by way of the bicycle delivery man. How do these guys do it?

Both kinds of fries here, regular and sweet potato, are decent. Good flavor with a texture that comes in at about average. Keep in mind I had the fries delivered. Eating them at the restaurant will likely result in a better experience.

It seems like in the past five years or so the demand for sweet potato fries has been on a steady incline. I enjoy them every once in a while, but ultimately see them as a novelty. Please don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re eating healthier because you ordered sweet potato fries by the way.

For the vegans out there, Bareburger also features a decent amount of vegan items on the menu that are of course proudly labeled as such.

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Preserve 24 on East Houston street

Preserve 24 tries hard to wow its diners with its surplus of rarities on the walls and reclaimed wood covering every imaginable surface but instead comes out looking like NYC’s version of a TGI Fridays.

The fries were decently cooked and topped with truffle oil, parsley, and “Ouray” cheese. The truffle oil drizzled on was a nice touch, but is something I would only consider getting once or twice a year. Truffles are so distinct in flavor that they tend to overpower most other ingredients. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The rest of the food was sub par, featuring a “shaved” Brussels sprouts salad that was more pecorino cheese and arugala than anything and pancakes as dense as a 90s sitcom meatloaf. This place might be good for a group just because there’s so much space, but otherwise I’d say skip the trip.

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Champs on Ainslee Street

Get the bacon cheese fries here and make sure they ask you which bacon you prefer. I went to Champs again last week and the bacon was totally different than the one in the picture, long and stringy, and less enjoyable. As always when you’re at Champs don’t forget to order the mozzarella sticks. They’re proven fun for the whole family.

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A Special Guest Review

Northeast Kingdom in Bushwick

When it comes to the french fry family tater totes are a true novelty. There is something special about those totes… Maybe it’s the reminiscing of elementary school days or just simply the fact they aren’t offered too often at restaurants. Whatever the reason, the tater totes at Northeast Kingdom supply a special taste and crisp found potentially no where else? These tots are fried in duck fat. You blend that with their house-made ketchup and boy do you have something special on hand.

Matt Schiels of mattschiels.tumblr.com

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Champs on Ainslie St.

I have had the chili & cheese fries here before and found them to be really good in taste but lacking in execution. Way too much chili and not enough fries.

When visiting this vegan paradise for the second time I decided to try my luck with the bacon & cheese fries.  The flavor and texture of the roughly chopped seitan bacon sprinkled over the hot, gooey cheese and fries surpassed all my expectations. This dish makes it easy to see why bacon and cheese are so popular in modern cooking. When I am back at Champs, which I am sure will be soon, I may even ask for two orders. 

Try the mozzarella sticks here too. They're great.

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Rosamunde Sausage Grill in Williamsburg

The french fries accompanied the sausage nicely by not standing out and being adequately seasoned and well cooked.  I wouldn't make the trip if you're craving just fries, but if wieners are on your mind then hop on by.

Don't be discouraged if you're looking for a place to eat with vegan friends, Rosamunde offers more than one vegan sausage variety.

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Alchemy Bar in Park Slope

Not good, avoid.

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A plane ride west to visit a good friend landed me in the middle of Hayes Valley, San Francisco. The names of the restaurants escape me, however, that may be a good thing for them as the fries did not stand out among the cool air and beautiful views. The polenta fries were a novelty that will most likely stay a novelty in the near future.