NYC Food Guy Recommends… French Fries
March 28, 2008
French Fries. They’re NYC Food Guy’s guiltiest pleasure. That being said, only a few places in the city really do something special with our potatoey friends. I’m a purist at heart but I can’t turn down fries slathered in melted cheese or chili or both. I’m here to direct you to a few spots who exemplify French fries at their finest…
Read on for some of the greasiest, crispiest, heart-stoppingest, and most delicious French Fries this city as to offer…
Virgil’s Real Barbecue
Trainwreck Fries ($10.50)
nr. Broadway (212) 921-9494
These are the most delicious cheese fries I’ve ever had. They’re covered in monterey jack, cheddar, crispy pieces of bacon, and sliced jalapenos. It’s served covered in some excellent buttermilk ranch dressing, but I order it on the side because I don’t like hot ranch dressing. I recommend you do the same. Served on a hot skillet, these fries are best when dipped in some ranch and then some ketchup. Go to Times Square, spend the money, and follow up with some of the best Banana Pudding I’ve ever eaten.
RUB
BBQ Chili Cheese Fries ($8.50)
nr. Seventh Ave. (212) 524-4300
These are the messiest and probably best chili cheese fries I’ve ever had. The medium cut, skin on fries are strong enough to hold the weight of the many chunks of tender brisket and glops of melted cheddar. I’m not usually a fan of this kind of generic melted cheese but it works in this case and is definitely worth the price.
Houston’s
Price $5
(212)888-3828 378 Park Ave S, New York 10010
Btwn 26th & 27th St (212)689-1090
Houston’s is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s a chain so that may sound like a cop out, but they consistently put out excellent and delicious food. These fries are thin, crispy shoestrings dusted with salt and pepper. They’re irresistible. I have never once finished the serving next to my burger or ribs and not wanted more fries. I’ve always been scrounging for the crumbs and last little bits, they’re that good. Houston’s Burger, Ribs, Artichoke dip appetizer, and Warm 5-Nut Brownie Sundae are also amazing, each one good enough to warrant a spot on the plate of my last meal.
Pommes Frites
Regular $4 Large $6.25 Double $7.75 plus 34 sauces according to website
123 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003
nr. 7th St. (212) 674-1234
Delivering on their name, these fries are true to the Frites form. Thick cut and potatoey, they’re crisp on the outside, and hot and fluffy on the inside. Choose from one of what seems like a million sauces and you’re good to go. I had honey mustard and was pleased. The best thing about this place is that they’re open until 4AM on weekends making them a must stop after some East Village gallivanting.
Market Table
Price $7
at Bedford St. (212) 255-2100
Market Table is a swanky little spot, not the type of place you go to for just fries, but if you wanted to you could sit at the bar and munch on these crispy, seasoned bad boys. I’d ditch the cocktail sauce they serve them with and get some ketchup. These were crisp, potatoey, and overall perfect.
Telepan
72 W. 69th St., New York, NY 10023
nr. Columbus Ave. (212) 580-4300
You’re looking at the “Volcano”. Use your imagination and you can see why. It’s a volcano of onion rings shooting flashes of deep-fried potato all over your plate. Fancier than Market Table, Telepan only serves their meals in a prix fixe form so ordering a volcano to go is not an option. Either way these fries were delicious. They were crispy and addictive. I think they were a little too small for optimum dipping but I would be as bold as to forgo the onion volcano in lieu of more fries.
The Spotted Pig
Price $7
at Greenwich St.
(212) 620-0393
Crisp and matchstick thin, these fries are addictive and plentiful. Rosemary is interspersed within this massive clump of fried potato, hindering full enjoyment. After all, I don’t want to eat leaves with my French Fries. Either way, you have to check this place out just to see what all the fuss is about. Burger purists beware, the famed burger comes with stinky, soft Roquefort cheese, something I can’t develop a taste for.
The Smith
Price $5
nr. 11th St. (212) 420-9800
I ordered these fries well done and the kitchen delivered. I’d probably pass on that however when you order because these arrived so crispy the potato dried up and all I could taste was burnt fried. My friend ordered them normal however and although they’re quite standard, they were cooked perfectly and I’d consider them a fancy diner style fry.
Ziggiz – CLOSED
Price $2.00
nr. 25th St. (212) 683-3663
This location is closed. This Gramercy grease pit serves humongous orders of double-fried skin-on shoestrings that are the quintessential late night delicacy. Open until 3AM during the week and 5AM on weekends, NYC Food Guy implores you to get over there and try what I think are arguably the best fries in this entire city.
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