STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Victor Patel, a familiar name to many Staten Islanders through his family’s seven businesses—including Honey Bee Lotto and Victory Wine and Liquor—is venturing into the food service industry with Home Frite, a fast-casual restaurant centered around gourmet French fries.
Fries are brined which is how seasoning is carried through to the core. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
“People must try this to know the quality of the food,” said Patel, who is launching his first restaurant at age 37. The menu features specialty fries, smashburgers, and shakes, with hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The grand opening promotion includes buy-one-get-one-free deals for four weeks and free fries for the first 100 customers.
Patel’s picks
Patel recommends first-time visitors try the truffle fries with lemon aioli. He and his wife first tried the item at Smorgasburg, a gourmet collection of vendors in Brooklyn. They sampled the spuds from an angular cone which offered a convenient slot for the accompanying dipping sauce. They were hooked on the idea.
Victor Patel, left, and his neice Yani Patel recommend the lemon aioli with the truffled fries.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The restaurant’s signature fries are made from Idaho-grown Russet potatoes brined in sea salt, pre-fried, and blast frozen, ensuring they’re seasoned throughout.
“When you taste the fry, it’s seasoned until the middle of the French fry,” Patel explained. “Our menu is fry-focused. The main idea is that our menu is to be a perfect match for the French fry. It’s approachable for all ages.”
The Home Frite staff offers a warm welcome to its patrons from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The concept’s home base can be found in Bed Stuy; its first franchise was established in Pomona, N.Y. According to Patel, the style of fries served at Home Frite can be found at locations like Bryant Park, World Trade Center, Williamsburg, and Prospect Park, with vendors collectively selling approximately 500,000 pounds of potatoes annually, and projections to reach 1 million this year.
Home Frite comes to the former home of Wing World. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Home Frite makes most of its sauces in-house, with the exception of Heinz-brand ketchup. The restaurant features a distinctive bumble bee theme with yellow and black decor and a tiled floor. There are several tables for those who will enjoy their orders at the restaurant.
The restaurant offers a 15 percent discount for first responders and is available for delivery through Uber Eats, Grubhub, and their website, homefrites.com.
More than fries
Beyond fries, Home Frite promotes itself with the tagline “Come for the fries, stay for the burgers,” and has expanded its menu to include chicken sandwiches. The restaurant has also implemented community-focused promotions, including a recent $5 discount for customers who showed their voting stickers on election day.
A poster on the wall shows why Home Frite’s smashburger is so special.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The address of 332 New Dorp Lane might be a familiar one to readers. It was former home to Wing World, a locally owned wing and fry operation that opened in August, 2016.
Home Frite can be found at 332 New Dorp Lane and can be reached by phone at 718-351-9464. Its website is homefrite.com.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance/SILive.com Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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