Best Fries in Providence

[mom2allergickid]

I just moved here and am on a search for great fries. I have a daughter who is a fry fiend, and I thin they are not too bad myself. I'm really picky about quality though. Frozen zig zags will not do. What do you think the best fries in the Providence area are?

[abs294]

I used to work on Washington St, and we would go across the street to Bravo just to order their fries. Their homemade mayo was phenomenal too. I haven't been in a few years though, so I hope they're still as good as they were!

[MacshashRIP]

I love the fries at 5 guys burgers and fries, but I don't know if they are in Providence.

[frielover]

The best fries I ever had are at a tiny hole in the wall on Park Ave in Cranston called the Stadium. They taste homemade and are just delicious. The Fish is good too...

[Ichewonthis]

The Heritage Tap on Grand Ave in Pawtucket has terrific house made fries. Crisp on the outside ane mealy on the inside. Next would be Red Stipe's frites. I get out to a lot of restaurants and the first thing I try are the fries so these are my top two out of many tries.

[sarabean]

although i'm no expert, thee red fez has always had amazing fries, i think because they fry very little else and keep their oil fresh. also ivy tavern's garlic fries can be addictive...

[mom2allergickid]

Where is Stadium on Park? I've never noticed it.

[FjmArch]

It is to the West of Resevoir Ave. About 1 block past T's restaurant on the same side.

[tanker64]

NY System in Olneyville. Crispy and fluffy. Ambience is extra.

[icouldeattoo]

What they are fried in is a factor, but the main question to ask is, are they handcut. if they are serving frozen fries, they shouldent be even mentioned.
Peanut oil or lard are the best for flavor, but each have different issues

[dagwood]

I believe the OP's concern for what they are fried in is allergy-related.

[Liamlunchtray]

I think I'm in the minority here, but I just love the fries at Angelo's on Federal Hill. Thick, kind of soggy, and almost sweet. They are very similar to the fries at Ye Olde English Fish & Chips in Woonsocket. Plus, you cant go wrong with a place where "French Fries and Sausage" is a single side dish.

[taddybelle]

I couldn't agree more about Angelo's fries, they actually tastse like potatoes and are wonderful. The "French Fries and Sausage" is one of my favorite dishes there, in fact I had it for lunch on Sunday on our way home to Massachussets.

[mom2allergickid]

We tried American Joe's American Grill in the mall -- not worth the 1/2 wait at lunchtime, methinks. The fries are OK, but they serve a tiny portion as a side (at least on the kids plate).

Stanley's was a lot of fun, and in contrast to Joe's a small fries could feed a family of four... as an entree. I liked them, and was also pleasantly surprised by the garden salad -- made of real lettuce. My daughter thought the fries were too well done. Can't please everyone, I guess.

So far, Red Stripe is the winner for us, though I wish we could transport their fries to a diner-type setting. Something without white tablecloths...

Thinking of trying O'Rourke's tonight.

:-)

[mom2allergickid]

That's supposed to be "1/2 hour wait" in the previous post. I couldn't get the edit to work.

I called Minerva's Pizza and asked if they fry in soy oil. The chef first said "we have no soy products in our restaurant." I found that a little hard to believe -- he went and checked, and sure enough, they fry in soy oil. Oh well. maybe we'll try the pizza.

In case anyone else out there cares, Jullian's also fries in soy oil, and Chelo's said they don't know what is in their oil because "it comes out of a machine and has no ingredients on it." A little scary, that.

Though maybe not as weird as being so obsessed with fries...

[winedude]

I know the whole place isn't a chow favorite, but the fries at Citron are fresh cut, and among the best I've had in the city.

Joe's American Bar and Grill, in the Mall, is pretty mediocre IMHO, but the fries which come with their sandwiches are also fresh cut, and very good.

[mom2allergickid]

We've tried Red Stripe -- awesome fries, plus extra points for presentation. Good burgers and salads too. Hated the grilled cheese -- too much going on, like a turf war in my mouth.

L'attitude had good fries, and they get bonus points for being very warm and friedly (despite previous posts) and very accomodating of my daughter's food allergies. The chef actually went out and bought special oil to use for frying my daughter's fries. That doesn't happen every day!

Where is Stanleys?

We'll have to try O'Rouke's -- it is just down the street from us.

Thanks for all the suggestions, we'll keep you posted in our search for the perfect fry.

[Sean]

http://www.stanleyshamburgers.com/

[Garris]

Red Stripe fries, of the narrow variety, are great.

Surprisingly also in Wayland Square are Minerva Pizza's fries. Crispy, hot, and soft on the inside. I wasn't expecting much, but they're really good... My wife, who is a fry snob, actually said, "Pretty good," which is high praise in her book (she too loves Red Stripe's fries).

[digga]

Julian's on Broadway (West Side of PVD). On the thicker side, but not steak fry-sized. They sprinkle spice mix on top which is so delicious.

[OOliver]

Sweet Potato Fries at Oak - Hope Street/Blackstone Blvd (though the reataurant has been under new ownership - not sure if this is still on the menu). They are a meal in itself.

[sk3]

non-chains: hope street pizza
chains: chelo's - steak or curly fries.

[im hungry]

the frites @ red stripe are pretty awesome,shoestring style,aoli and all.the polenta fries at laterie are pretty great too,but you get them with one of the best burgers in provi,they are almost next door to each other,so go for the "fry olympics".havent been,but heard the new stanleys is serving some good fries,even with cheese and gravy!!

[Sean]

The fries I mentioned earlier are from the new Stanley's in Providence, delicious...

[dagwood]

I hate to be the voice of dissent on this but I did not care for Stanley's fries at all. (I did love their burgers though).

That said, I was only there once, so perhaps it was an off night. We got the cheese fries, and after one bite I had no more. They weren't bad, per se, just not anything special. (I didn't care for their onion rings either.)

[dagwood]

O Rourke's in Pawtuxet Village (I believe at that point it's Warwick, just south of the bridge) has great great great "real" fries. Skin on, slightly greasy, coarse salt (so coarse it's visible on the fries) loads of flavor. Killer fish 'n chips too, if you're a fan.

If you take Broad Street in Cranston south, you'll hit it. It's on the left hand side, just over the bridge. (From Providence, take Rt 10 south to Park Ave exit, make a left on Park, take Park till the end, make a right on Broad.)

[RIRN2008]

I totally agree!! Their fries are incredible, and the rest of their menu is pretty darned good, too!

[dagwood]

I just found out they're expanding upstairs. I think it's supposed to be more like a "lounge" area but not really sure. I'd love it if they would put a porch on the back; the view back there is lovely.

My only complaint is the wine list, or lack thereof. They have great beer on tap, but if you'd prefer a nice glass of wine you're kind of up the creek. We used to frequent l'attitudes right up the road, which does have a nice wine list, but the chef/owner there is so arrogant and inhospitable we refuse to give him our business any longer (and I know many many many people who agree),

If O'Rourke's added a few nice bottles of wine to their menu, they'd be perfect.

[RIRN2008]

I know when they were remodeling (before O'Rourke's opened), there was talk of the upstairs opening as more of a restaurant rather than the pub downstairs...but things might have changed since then. Either way, I'm very happy for the O'Rourke family!

L'attitudes does have a bit of an attitude, doesn't it ;-)

[no0b]

Fries are a hard one. What are you looking for? Crunchy? Greasy and Soggy? Big and Fat "potato wedge" style? "Shoe String"(Mcdonalds style)

Johnny Rockets is a "Fast food" type chain but definitley has good fries. They're right in Providence Place Mall and another on Thayer street.
http://www.johnnyrockets.com/index2.php

Chellos has good fries..

[Sean]

Stanley's, hand cut, cooked dark and very crispy...

[mom2allergickid]

My idea of an ideal fry: Achieves the perfect balance between a crisp exterior and soft, fluffy interior. Not soggy, but not hard and crunchy either. Golden brown. I like them hand-cut with the skin still on.

Thinner than steak size or wedge size. Shoestring is good, so is anything up to about 1/2 inch thick.

Fried in canola oil. They taste better, and my daughter isn't allergic to it. :-)

Where is Chellos? Is it a chain? I can't find a website for them.

Johnny Rockets posts their ingredient lists on their web page, and it looks like their fries are frozen. :(

[no0b]

You know, I actually thought that the other day. I went to the new one in Cranston that I've never been to and they were..yuck. I'd delete my recommendation if I could. LOL. Maybe the other Johnny Rocket's I went to just made them better cause Cranston sucked.

Chelos is a chain. No idea if they're frozen or not.
www.chelos.com