I learned that the Roosevelt Hotel hosted the first Academy Awards in 1929, and according to the bartender, it lasted a mere 15 minutes. According to Wiki, if that's not Hollywood enough for you, it is supposedly haunted by the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe (in her afterlife, she's been seen dancing around in the ballroom) and Montgomery Clift (people claim that his ghost plays the bugle!). Oh yeah, and Courtney Love got taken away in an ambulance there.
The hotel's Spanish Colonial architecture shines through in the glamour and splendor of the lobby (I wasn't a paying guest, just a fry-seeker, so I have no idea what the rest of the building is like), indeed old and glamorous (I should mention that if I ever win the lottery, I would indeed like to be a paying guest and spend time playing vintage bowling in the "speakeasy gaming lounge"). Bubbling fountain, anyone? Ceiling fresco, anyone?
So now to the fries. They are kennebec steak fries, which is not really my favorite type of fry, so right off the bat I had a bias against them. They were huge, slightly crispy on the outside, and as expected, meaty on the inside, and not seasoned well. But thankfully there was a side of ketchup to dunk them in. However, points for the fact that they arrived PIPING HOT. I should also note that even just sitting at the bar, my friends and I were treated like royalty. I would go back just to hang out at the lovely bar, a quick air-conditioned get-away from the crazy surroundings (tourists, Gruaman's Theater, etc.). I don't really care that these fries weren't my favorite, I love this place.
+++
Price: $6.00
Portion Size: Small
Texture: Crispy on outside, soft and meaty on the inside
Greasiness Level: 3 out of 5 (a bit greasy)
Seasoning: Salt and parsley
Fried in: Some salt of vegetable oil
Condiments: ketchup, salt, pepper
Overall Quality of French Fries: 5.75 out of 10.
*Note: But I would go back for the ambience!
