Shake Shack in New York City

This is for the Shake Shack at East 23rd (Madison Square Park).

First of all, the mushroom burger is amazing. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the fries. Perhaps the fact that we were sitting in 20 degree weather outside while eating (but then why did the burger taste so awesome in spite of this??) colored my views a bit, but I was not a huge fan of these fries. This could also be due to the fact that I'm not into thick zig-zaggedy fries (although the thick fries at Farmer Brown still managed to knock my socks off. See review below).

On the plus side they are super cheap. I think I need to give these a second chance, but for now, they are a 5. I'm just not that convinced.

+++

Price: $2.75

Portion Size: Medium

Texture: Crispy on outside, a bit mealy on inside

Greasiness Level: 3 out of 5 (a bit greasy)

Seasoning: Underseasoned

Fried in: Soybean oil. Take note: they recycle cooking oil and turn it into bio-diesel. Hi, earth friendly.

Condiments: ketchup, salt, pepper (pick 'em yourself)

Overall Quality of French Fries: 5 out of 10

Farmer Brown in San Francisco, CA

This review is for the sweet potato fries at Farmer Brown. I have nothing to compare these to, since I normally eat up the regular-potato type of fry and when I do order sweet potato fries they are usually cut thin like a regular shoestring fry. BUT. These are a french fry REVELATION. The sweet potato fries are cut quite thick and thus, you would expect them to be undercooked and pasty inside. In fact they are not, and the waiter denied that they were baked first, and then fried--he stated that they are simply dropped in the deep fryer, and that's the end of the story.

Oh, really? How then, are these thick-as-marshmallows sweet potato fries so perfectly cooked and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside, with just a very slight crisp on the outside? They come piping hot, garnished with salt, parsley, and a sprinkling of cayenne and a side of lemon aioli (I thought it was garlic aioli, but the website says it was lemon. Then again, I wasn't really paying attention, since they are perfect alone, and don't really need the aioli at all to be quite honest.)

My only criticism of these fries is that I wish the outside was a bit crispier. That would have definitely sealed the deal. But for now, they are an almost-perfect 9.

+++

Price: $8.00 (pricey, but so hearty that this side could literally be a meal in itself)

Portion Size: Medium (but again, very hearty)

Texture: Very subtle crisp on outside, soft and perfectly cooked on the inside

Greasiness Level: 3 out of 5 (a bit greasy)

Seasoning: Well seasoned with salt, parsley, and cayenne

Fried in: Some sort of vegetable oil

Condiments: Lemon aioli (although they don't really need them)

Overall Quality of French Fries: 9 out of 10

B Restaurant in Oakland, CA

* NOTE: This place has sadly closed!
 

Holy cow, folks. I wasn't sure it could ever happen again, but I now present to you another 10 (Note: photo below does not do these fries justice!).

The Truffle Fries at B Restaurant are to die for. They are cooked with parsley, and are served with sides of both ketchup and garlic aioli (I kept insisting it was Ranch Dressing, but apparently I can't tell the difference between the two), which is nice if you want to mix it up a bit, but honestly, these tasty potatoes are pretty darn perfect on their own. The truffle oil is not overwhelming, and the taste of the fries have just a hint of earthiness to them. They are well seasoned, and it has been rumored that these are at the buffet table in heaven. The folks upstairs approve!!! Amen.

Price: $6.00

Portion Size: Medium

Texture: Crispy on outside, soft on the inside

Greasiness Level: 3 out of 5 (a bit greasy)

Seasoning: Well seasoned with salt and parsley

Fried in: Some sort of vegetable oil

Condiments: ketchup and garlic aioli (which this here Blogger kept insisting was Ranch Dressing)

Overall Quality of French Fries: 10 out of 10

I Promise!

Dear Readers,

I am not ignoring your french fry recommendations! But every week I just seem to "find" myself at a new place that happens to serve fries, and I really should not be eating these fried goodies more than once a week (ideally, only once a month).

Amba and Flora are both on my to-do list, and by to-do I mean, "before the year ends." And I will not lie: I have had fries from 3 different places in San Francisco that I simply never had time to review, so I'll have to go back with a camera and properly report back. Additionally, I tasted fries at a restaurant recently during a happy hour when I was very distracted while making conversation, and that place too needs to be revisited (um, I cereally think they might be worthy of another TEN!).

With full belly,

The French Fry Lady

Adamson's French Dip Sandwich and Wood Fired Oven in Sunnyvale, CA

First of all, this place has a crazy-*ss name: Adamson's French Dip Sandwich and Wood Fired Oven. Second of all, one would probably go here mainly for the French Dip Sandwiches, but I tried the fries anyway.

The price is right! A buck-ninety-five for a medium size serving. And the first bite was scrumptious. The fries are almost orange in color and I don't know why (should I be concerned?). They certainly have a very prominent "lardy" taste, as if they have been cooked with some sort of meat. You might think: Perhaps the oil they're cooked in is the same oil used to cook the various meats served? But that can't be, since according to their web site, "the meat is roasted in a real wood-fired oven." Or perhaps it was just the flavor of the oil itself; sometimes even vegetable oil can make fries taste as if they've been fried in lardy animal product.

While seasoned well with salt, after the first 5 or so fries, the lard flavor started to annoy me. Now, that doesn't mean I didn't finish the fries, but I can't say I would take a trip out of my way to revisit. (Apparently the meat sandwiches are pretty darn good, although I cannot personally vouch for this claim.)

Price:$1.95

Portion Size: Medium

Texture: Crispy on outside,

soft on the inside

Bonus Surprise: Almost orange in color

Greasiness Level: 5 out of 5 (pretty darn greasy)

Seasoning: Pretty well seasoned with salt

Fried in: Some sort of vegetable oil

Condiments: Choose your own: ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, pepper, salt

Overall Quality of French Fries: 6 out of 10

Delfina Restaurant in San Francisco, CA Redux

Perfect fries by candlelight.

Some of you may remember my first post about Delfina Restaurant. Well, the rumors are all still true. The fries are still outstanding. I did want to share that on this second visit to experience the fine fried carbohydrates, the waiter revealed that the fries are "fried twice." Aha, so that's the secret! The original scores still stand, posted below for your convenience.

Price: $4.00

Portion Size: Extra Large (a steal!!!!)

Texture: Crispy outside with tender soft potato inside

Greasiness Level: 1 out of 5 (meaning not greasy at all; very little oil left behind on fingers)

Seasoning: Salt, sage, rosemary

Fried in: Rice Oil

Bonus: Fried sage and rosemary

Accompanied by Condiments: No

Overall Quality of French Fries: 10 out of 10

(It will be difficult to not give every fry I eat a 10. I promise to be as discerning as possible.)

Wurstkuche in Los Angeles, CA

A quick detour to LA to taste the fries at Wurstkuche. I tried to look up the meaning of Wurstkuche but I can't find it, although their motto is "Purveyor of Exotic Grilled Sausages." However, some have been known to come here for the fries alone.

The menu states that the fries are "Double dipped," which I interpret to mean they are fried twice. You can order 2 different sizes: Klein (small, with one dipping sauce) or Groot (large, with two dipping sauces). I opted for the Klein.

There are many dipping sauces to choose from:

Sweet and Sassy BBQ, Buttermilk Ranch, Thai Peanut, Tzatzkiki (greek yogurt sauce), Chipotle Ketchup, Curry Ketchup, Bleu Cheese Walnut and Bacon, Sundried Tomato Mayo, Chipotle Aioli, Pesto Mayo.

You can also order White Truffle Oil Glaze on top for an extra $1.50

I ordered my Klein with the Pesto Mayo and kept life simple.

The portion size was just right, and the fries were beautiful to look at and arrived piping hot. I must say that these fries are cut quite thickly, so there is a lot more potato inside as opposed to the types of fries I am used to--equal parts fried-outside to soft-potato-inside. These are hearty fries and I am definitely more of the shoestring type, so please keep this in mind when reading my ratings below. (I am also waffling on the final rating, because they were obviously high quality fries, but personally, wide fries are just not my favorite.) I did enjoy them, ate every last one, and if I was in the hood I would probably not be averse to coming back to try them again.

Price:$3.50

Portion Size: Medium

Texture: Crispy on outside, soft--and a lot of potato--on the inside

Greasiness Level: 3 out of 5 (slightly greasy)

Seasoning: Just a tad bit underseasoned, but I suppose that's what the dipping sauce is for

Fried in: Some sort of vegetable oil

Condiments: So many to choose from (see review above)

Also, a few types of different mustards on the table, salt, pepper

Overall Quality of French Fries: 7.25 out of 10