Cambridge Brewpub

Cambridge Brewing
1 Kendall Square, Bldg 100
Cambridge, MA

Review:

This was my second trip to the CBC in as many months. These were similar to the ones I had before, but were presented Belgian-style, with some garnish, too. Unfortunately, I think the paper in the cone may have made the frites more soggy, even as they soaked the grease up, it leeches back to the frites making them soggier. Too bad, they were probably better before that.


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Brasserie Jo

Brasserie Jo
120 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA

Review:

Nice presentation (and more importantly good paper that doesn't make the frites soggy). The frites were Belgian-style but were also skin on. But they were nicely crispy with good flavor.

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Eastern Standard

Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Ave.
Kenmore Square
Boston, MA

Review:

The second stop on the Boston fry crawl was a place that had been recommended by one of the marketing people from the Boston Beer Co. My local crawl companions, Todd and Jason, were very familiar with the spot. It was attached to a hotel, but had completely separate management. It was a beautiful place, with a great beer list to boot. My grilled cheese sandwich was terrific and the frites did not disappoint. I'm not usually a fan of seasoned frites, but these were subtle and did not overpower the potato flavor. They were also well-salted.Their rating was no doubt improved by the setting, the food and the beer list.

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Boston Beerworks

Boston Beerworks
Fenway Park location
61 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA

Review:

The first stop on my Boston fry crawl was Boston Beerworks near Fenway Park. The frites were skin on and, sadly, a bit too soggy. They were also a little too brown which is usually a sign that they oil they were fried in has been in use too long. The flavor suggested the oil may have been peanut oil. There were some interesting large crystal salt on some of the fries but it was unevenly distributed. Overall, a disappointment, too mealy and chewy.


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El Toro Brewpub

El Toro Brewpub
17605 Monterey Rd.
Morgan Hill, CA

Review:

On the way back from Monterey, we stopped by to pick up some beer at El Toro Brewing and decided to also have a quick snack, as the natives were getting restless (translation: my kids were hungry). Naturally, I ordered a plate a frites. The simple presentation initially hid the fact that these were awesome frites with great flavor and just the right amount of salt (trickier than it sounds). There were lots of small goodjums in the mix, too. Served with a nice chipolte ketchup.

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Ol' Factory Cafe

Ol' Factory Cafe
1725 Contra Costa St.
Sand City, CA

Review:

Monterey's best beer joint also has great food, especially their frites. Good skin on fries, well-cooked and crispy. Also, extra points for presentation, which many restaurants overlook. Tthese babies will go well with any beer.

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The Dog House

The Dog House
537 S. Highway 1
Bodega Bay, CA

Review:

Damn fine frites, hand-cut, skin on, nice and crispy. What could make them better than that description? When purchased with a burger or a hot dog, you can eat as many frites as you want! That's as dangerous a prospect as I can imagine.

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Carl's Jr.

Carl's Jr.
35 Rowland Way
Novato, CA

Review:

Despite the slight seasoning and being skin on, these are pretty average, a little dry and mealy.

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Lauren's Cafe

Lauren's Cafe
14211 Highway 128
Boonville, CA

Review:

Great flavor and a terrific job of creating a fry with a crisp crust but flaky and soft inside. A real surprise.

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Italian Delite Subs

Italian Delite Submarine Sandwiches
971 Front St.
Novato, CA

Review:

The closest sandwich shop to where I live, a mere block away at most. They make decent sub sandwiches, including an okay west-coast approximation of a cheesesteak. It doesn't really pretend to be a Philly version, which is good, and so is alright for what it is. Unfortunately, the fries could be better. I like the chop cut with skin on, but they're always too brown, I presume because they use the same oil too long. They're also usually pretty greasy, but occasionally you're get a pristine batch. When that happens, they're much better. It's really too bad. They have an opportunity to make very unique frites, but instead ruin the effort by the way they cook them.


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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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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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