Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA

Review:

For a museum cafe, these were not the worst I've had. A little dry (perhaps they'd been sitting under a heat lamp?) but they seemed to have a light batter on them. That made them descent tasting, at least.

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Long John Silver

Long John Silver
7145 Redwood Blvd.
Novato, CA

Review:

Not terrible, and helped by having a good number of goodjums. Even though they're made from the batter used to coat the fish and chicken, they're a great addition. They're not soggy, the worst sin in my book, so they gain a full point for those two factors alone.

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Original Buffalo Wings

Original Buffalo Wings
7 Locations
Bay Area, CA

Review:

While no one from eastern Pennsylvania would mistake the cheesesteaks at Original Buffalo Wings as authentic, they're tasty for what they are, and one of the few approximations of my beloved V&S Cheesesteaks anywhere in this part of the world. So we order take-out from them as often as my wife will let me. The fries are usually pretty decent, occasionally too soggy, but when they're good, they're very very good. This batch was just so-so, sad to say, not that I didn't finish the double-order.

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Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box
7135 Redwood Blvd.
Novato, CA

Review:

Fast food fries are almost a separate animal in the frites pantheon, requiring that they be rated only amongst themselves. As fast food fries, Jack in the Box's have improved of late. The skin on gives them more flavor, even if they tend to be fairly greasy. But generally speaking, they're better than most fast food frites.


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S & S Restaurant and Deli

S & S Restaurant and Deli
Inman Square
Cambridge St.
Boston, MA

Review:

I spent Sunday walking around Cambridge visiting toy stores looking to pick up some presents for my kids, when next to one happened to be the S&S Restaurant, which had been there since 1919. Being a sucker for a diner, I plopped down at the bar for some chow, including, naturally, frites. Nicely crispy, a little oily but the seasoning worked well. Decent overall.

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Green Dragon Boston

Green Dragon
11 Marshall St.
Boston, MA

Review:

Many revolutionaries met at the Green Dragon, which first opened in 1654, and the place has quite a history. Here's how their website sums it up:

The Green Dragon Tavern has a long and rich history, playing an important part in the freedom of Boston during the War of Independence. Established in 1654 The Green Dragon was a favorite haunt of Paul Revere (Whom we consider a close Neighbor) and John Hancock (who’s brother lived next door!). Indeed, as has been ratified by Daniel Webster – the famous historian, that it was in the Green Dragon that the plans for the invasion of Lexington and Concorde were overheard thus starting the famous ride of Paul Revere.

Today, sadly, much of the interior has been modernized and appears tacky. Presumably more for historical and tourist reasons than political, the frites at the Green Dragon are still called "Freedom Fries." Their flavor, happily, was pretty decent though nothing to write home about. Mostly pretty crispy, they were fairly average.

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Bell In Hand

Bell In Hand
55 Union St.
Boston, MA

Reviews:

For a supposedly "historic" site, the Bell in Hand is surprisingly modern inside. The frites that came with the Sam Adams Burger (bacon, Swiss cheese and barbecue sauce) were battered with a light, tasty mix. Fairly crisp and good potato flavor. All in all, surprisingly good, despite being a little dry.


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Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ

Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ
1700 Beacon St.
Brookline, MA

Review:

I wanted to like these more, the place overall showed so much promise. The pulled pork sandwich I had with the frites was quite tasty. Unfortunately, despite good flavor, they were a little mealy and chewy, if not occasionally soggy.

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Deep Ellum Boston

Deep Ellum
477 Cambridge St.
Allston, MA

Review:

Although Deep Ellum's menu has four different presentations of fries, which they call "Fries 4 Ways," but I'm a purist and so ordered them just plain. The four ways, in case you're interested are Parmesean, Chili & Pepper Jack, Malt Vinegar & Fleur de Sel, and Truffled Gorgonzola. Nice and crispy, with a slightly sweet ketchup that wasn't Heinz. Pretty good flavor and very few soggy ones with a lot of what I call "goodjums," which are the small, very crispy bits and pieces that many places don't put in the bowl. But I love Goodjums (BTW, that's the phonetic spelling. I don't actually know how it's really spelled, even though I made the word up many years ago) and usually will give bonus points when they're included.

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World Trade Center Boston

World Trade Center Boston
One Seaport Lane
Boston, MA

Review:

Part of the lunch offered during the Craft Brewers Conference, along with some generally tasty sliders. Unfortunately, the fries were only so-so, at best.

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Atlantic Beer Garden

Atlantic Beer Garden
145 Seaport Blvd.
Boston, MA

Review:

By the hotel, it's selling point during a rainstorm, I went there for a late meal with Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, from Russian River Brewing, along with Bradley Lantham and Danny Williams, from the Brewers Association. I ordered the chicken and pear Panini. The fries were pretty standard, nothing special. A few were a little soggy, but most were fairly crispy and had decent, if unremarkable flavor.

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Cambridge Brewing Company

Cambridge Brewing
1 Kendall Square, Bldg 100
Cambridge, MA

Review:

I've known the head brewer at CBC for a few years, and I think Will and I have judged together at the GABF. And while I know he makes great beers, I was worried about his frites, not that he was directly responsible for them. The menu holds few clues to the frites, but happily they were perfectly crispy and very tasty. I'd guess a vegetable oil base and a lightly seasoned salt.


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Original Tommy's

Original Tommy's
2575 W. Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

Review:

Despite being in business since 1946, I'd never heard of Original Tommy's until Stone Brewing founder Greg Koch took me there. They're most known for their outrageous chili hamburgers, though they have great old-time burger joint fries, too. Most things at Tommy's are slathered in chili, though I prefer my frites plain. They definitely tasted like they were made with freshly sliced potatoes. They had very good, rich potato flavor and were cooked to perfection, not underdone as so often happens at busy burger joints.

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