July 11 is National French Fry Day this year, as if we need any excuse to eat crispy, delicious fried potatoes.
Our staff at The Times-Picayune picked their favorite places to get fries in New Orleans. Here are some options for you to consider if you’re partaking in this very starchy holiday.
Ian McNulty
Delachaise, 3442 St Charles Ave., Uptown: The crinkly-crisp texture of these fries cooked in goose fat is just right, and they’re full-flavored too. A vertical cone of these with aioli on the side is like a bouquet of flowers arriving at the bar. See also its sister restaurant Chais Delachaise (7708 Maple St.) for another rendition of goose fat fries.
La Boca, 870 Tchoupitoulas St., Warehouse District: The Argentine-style steakhouse also serves its crisp fries in a cone (coincidence?), this time crowned with chunky garlic and chopped parsley. The chimichurri (ostensibly for the steak) served on the side adds to the garlic factor, and I’ll drag these through the proveletta melted cheese appetizer, too.
Chelsea Shannon
Sneaky Pickle, 3200 Burgundy St., Bywater: They are addictive, hand-cut and go great with the bar’s martini.
Michelle Hunter
Bahn Mi Boys, 3244 Magazine St., Uptown: I almost hesitate to include the K-Town Fries because I don’t want them to sell out! I wasn’t even a smothered French fry fan when I first tried this mouthwatering side dish. The perfectly seasoned beef, the sauce and even the egg. PERFECTION!
Julia Guilbeau
Bouligny Tavern, 3641 Magazine St., Uptown: The fries, served with a garlicky basil aioli, are even better when you pair them with a dirty martini!
Hannah Levitan
Rosella, 39 S. Cortez St., Mid-City: I liked the special of fries paired with an Aperol spritz. It’s the perfect portion size, too.
Justin Mitchell
Brewery St. X, 734 Loyola Ave., Central Business District: They’re always crispy and fresh and are cooked in beef fat. They’re best paired with a Caesar salad and crisp Diet Coke or draft beer.
N7, 1117 Montegut St., Bywater: This French fusion restaurant has pomme frites that cannot be missed. Make your reservation for later in the evening and enjoy them with a cocktail in the courtyard. Post a photo on Instagram. Romanticize your life.
Jonah Meadows
Sylvain, 625 Chartres St., French Quarter: Consistent thin style. Always crisp, often burnt, very salty. Good with mayo.
Victor Andrews
Antoine’s Restaurant, 713 St Louis St., French Quarter: Not exactly a French fry but the soufflé potatoes at Antoine’s are one of my favorite ways to enjoy “pomme de terre.” Supposedly, the tale goes, they can trace their lineage back to Napoleon. The emperor traveled into battle with his chef and enjoyed fried potatoes. For one particular battle, the chef fried the potatoes too soon (the fighting ran long, who knew?). So the potatoes were put aside. When the Napoleon was ready, the chef brought the oil up to a higher temperature and refried the potatoes, creating the “souffle” effect. Light, crisp and tasty, they are certainly delightful, especially served with a white or mayonnaise-based sauce.
Chain French fries
Bob Warren’s favorite fries in St. Tammany Parish are from Five Guys, and Hilary Scheinuk says Raising Cane’s fries with a fountain Coke is a migraine cure.