... about (drum roll please) french fries!
Send me your favorite fry place by Feb. 16. I'll scout possibilities and begin the tournament with 16 contenders, which will be whittled down week by week with a combination of taste-testing and voting (details to come).
The champion will be announced to coincide with the NCAA basketball championship. Previous years' winners: Moosehead Grill for wings and Luigi's for pizza.
NOTE: This is not a voting stage; it's just a call for suggestions on places we should try. The voting comes later. You can comment on this post, e-mail me at hschwab@charlotteobserver.com, tweet @helenschwab (be sure to use the hashtag #helendining), leave a message at 704-358-5250, or drop me a line at Helen Schwab, Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308 Charlotte, NC 28208-0308.
Rusty's Deli and Grille in Quail Corners Shopping Center
ReplyDeleteBig Daddy's
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd. Bar & Grill, fries
ReplyDeleteMoosehead Grill
ReplyDeleteBlackfinn
ReplyDeleteMoosehead
ReplyDeleteHef's - underneath Jason's Deli on Woodlawn.
ReplyDeleteMoosehead (fries at night, not during the day). For some reason they use different fries during the day...so get them for dinner, not during the day!
ReplyDeleteTenders Fresh Food in Cornelius
ReplyDeleteTenders Fresh Food in Cornelius
ReplyDeleteShowmars
ReplyDeleteNolen's Kitchen, Big Daddy's, Steak and Shake
ReplyDeleteLittle Village Grill which is located on W. Trade Street in the Gateway Village.
ReplyDeleteCrepe Cellar - hands down, my favorite fries in Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteArnie's Tavern at Birkdale Golf Club - Exit 25 in Huntersville.
ReplyDeleteMoosehead
ReplyDeleteThe Comet Grill
ReplyDeleteRusty's Deli and Brooks Sandwich Shop
ReplyDeleteLulu
ReplyDeleteFIVE GUYS!
ReplyDeleteOutback Cheesefries are still the best; although, Johnny Brusco's runs a close 2nd with addition of Pepperoni
ReplyDeleteBig Daddy's sweet potato fries. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteTenders, Cornelius
ReplyDeleteMatt's Chicago Dogs
ReplyDeleteNolen Kitchen has great fries.
ReplyDeleteLittle Village Grill - try them with chili and cheese sometime...awesome!
ReplyDeleteRooster's!!!!
ReplyDeleteMatt's Chicago Dog
ReplyDeleteRusty's and Five Guys for the win!
ReplyDeleteThe Comet!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd also nominate Big Daddy's. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteCommonHouse on Central Ave.
ReplyDeleteTry the chippers at Philosophers Stone ... like fries but a little bit crisper.
ReplyDeleteIf sweet potato fries count - The Penguin has the best, hands down!!
ReplyDeleteMEZ at the epicenter
ReplyDeleteThe garlic fries at The Tilted Kilt are the best french fries I have ever had in my life, and I have eaten some fries! They are absolutely addictive. Please try them. They should at least make your top three!
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd Bar & Grill - chip fries!
ReplyDeleteMr. C's, Monroe Rd and Wendover.
ReplyDeleteFor sure Little Village Grill. You can add extra seasoning to make them even better.
ReplyDeletePenguin!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLulu, Terra and Five Guys
ReplyDeleteFive Guys or Penn Station Subs
ReplyDeleteFor God's sake, go to Harris Teeter and get a bag of Ore-Ida!
ReplyDeleteFIVE GUYS....hands down.
ReplyDeleteDilworth Grille
ReplyDeleteComet Grill in Dilworth--- the BEST fries!
ReplyDeleteAthenian Corner, a new spot right off of Trade, next to CPCC, Great Food
ReplyDeleteShowmars, extra crispy...with ketchup w. salt on top of the ketchup.
ReplyDeleteThe fries @ Therapy Cafe are delish!
ReplyDeleteFive Guys hands down
ReplyDeleteFive Guys FRESH FRIES
ReplyDeleteThe Palm Frites at LuLu's
ReplyDeletethe comet!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Penguin. Showmars makes a good crinkle fry too!
ReplyDeleteBig Daddy's sweet potato fries cooked in duck fat !
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Matt's Chicago Dogs
ReplyDeleteLulu on Central Ave. and Thomas St. Tavern.
ReplyDeleteNIX sweet potato fries
ReplyDeletebojangles, freedom fries!
ReplyDeleteFunny -- we were talking about this just last night, and although I know I should be preparing oven fries more often, we all agreed that Five Guys is the winner. Hands down. Crispy, salty, lots of potato taste, and well, lots of fries! So that's three votes right there. (We go to the one in Southend, but aren't picky about the location!)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Matt's Chicago Dog. They're proud of their homemade chips, but the fries are out of this world !
ReplyDeleteFive Guys! You have to eat them first--save the burger for last.
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd. Bar & Grill and Five Guys!
ReplyDeleteParmesan Truffle Fries at Capital Grille. Nothing comes close.
ReplyDeleteGolden fries tossed in shredded Grana Padano, kosher salt
and white truffle oil.
Beantown Tavern in Matthews
ReplyDeleteBLACKFINN
ReplyDeleteRegular fries at Big Daddy's cooked in duck fat.
ReplyDeleteBig Daddy for sweet potato and Roosters for regular perfect fries
ReplyDeleteRegular fries at Big Daddy's fried in duck fat.
ReplyDeleteBig Als Pub in cornelius
ReplyDeleteBojangles! I like the seasoned salt on fries. Very tasty and crispy.
ReplyDeleteMoosehead. Best fries hands down.
ReplyDeleteAngry Ale's! Similar to Five Guys, but local.
ReplyDeleteThe Penguin - Sweet Potato Fries!!!
ReplyDeleteDUCKWORTH'S
ReplyDeleteWendy's
ReplyDeleteI really like Lulu's Pom Frites.
ReplyDeleteTenders Fresh Food, Cornelius
ReplyDeleteMatt's Chicago Dog, Cornelius
The Galway Hooker, Huntersville
This is headline news in the Charlotte Observer! Are you kidding me...
ReplyDeleteSonnys, the Penguin, and Showmars.
ReplyDeleteThe Soda Shoppe in Park Road Shopping Center...long standing in Charlotte, love their crinkle fries!!
ReplyDeleteBricktop and East Blvd B&G
ReplyDeleteCharley's (Cotswold)....bar far the best steak fries!!!
ReplyDeleteBig League Hot Dog in Mooresville, exit 33 by Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteFive Guys because they always pile them up high.
Tavern on the Tracks in South End
ReplyDeleteFive Guys, for real.
ReplyDeleteHarris Teeter.
ReplyDeleteFrozen section, Ore-Ida.
Tator Tots at Big Daddys or fries at Penn Station.
ReplyDeleteComet Grill!
ReplyDeleteMoosehead and Rusty's
ReplyDeleteMoosehead is #1. Can't beat the wings and fries combo!!
ReplyDeleteRusty's Deli - Quail Corners
ReplyDeleteMatt's Chicago Dogs, Big Daddy's
ReplyDeleteMoosehead. You should see the pic on the Eat My Charlotte blog at creativeloafing.com
ReplyDeletehef's off of woodlawn and joe momma's on s.tryon
ReplyDeleteMooshead is the best neighborhood bar in Charlotte. Best fries, best wings, best owners.
ReplyDeleteThe Counter - love the sweet potato fries!!
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd. Bar & Grill #1
ReplyDeleteMoosehead a close second
Ed's Tavern a respectable third
pppffttt!
ReplyDeleteVillage Tavern
Best fries!! You must try Martino's Italian Restaurant at Afton Village in Concord.
ReplyDelete5380 Village Drive STE 101
Concord NC.
The fries are too die for! I think they might be homemade, so good.
fries at arthurs in belk with their ranch to dip them in
ReplyDeleteDuckworth's Grill
ReplyDeletePark Road Shopping Center
Lebowski's on East Blvd
ReplyDeleteSweet potatoe fries at eeZ Asian Fusion (Birkdale Village in Huntersville)
ReplyDeleteFoster's grille, Concord
ReplyDeleteFive Guys
Five Guys. No doubting it.
ReplyDeleteFive guys and Rusty's Deli
ReplyDeleteBricktops at SouthPark
ReplyDeleteNix, Downtown Charlotte
ReplyDeleteThe Comet Grill!! Although Five Guys is right up there too...
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree. Crepe Cellar has great fries.
ReplyDeleteYes, Crepe Cellar in NoDa has great fries.
ReplyDeleteMez Truffle Fries
ReplyDeleteHef's Bar and Grill--hands down
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I LOVE the fries at Matt's Chicago Dog in Cornelius, NC. Give 'em a try!
ReplyDeleteTLC Wings in Pineville
ReplyDeleteBT's Burger Joint in the RiverGate Shopping Center
Five Guys, hands down!
ReplyDeleteIf sweet potato fries count. Then EEZ fusion Huntersville
ReplyDeleteFive Guys at SouthEnd for sure - super fresh and taste like, gee, I don't know POTATOES! : )
ReplyDeleteComet Grill...for sure.
ReplyDeleteFive Guys!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFive Guys are incredible; also can't beat Big Daddy's sweet potato fries.
ReplyDeleteMcDonalds!!!!
ReplyDeleteFive Guys
ReplyDeleteThe Comet Grill!
ReplyDeleteCosmos
ReplyDeleteRed Robin has endless baskets of fries. Might not be the best tasting-but the gimmick is on point...
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd Grill (chip fries) & Carolina Soda Shoppe at Park Rd shopping center (crinkle cut)
ReplyDeleteOre-Ida at my house.
ReplyDeleteKristopher's in Matthews
ReplyDeleteTenders in Cornelius has the best fries!
ReplyDeleteTenders Fresh Food in Cornelius
ReplyDeleteEast Blvd Bar and Grill - reminiscent of the Press Box
ReplyDeleteBojangles
BLT Steak's sweet potato fries with rosemary & blue cheese -- inhalable.
ReplyDeleteWhiskey Warehouse
ReplyDeleteFive Guys
Comet Grill
blackfinn's fries are amazing. crispy, flaky, and lightly seasoned. If you like the typical soggy yellow fries there are not for you
ReplyDeleteThe cafeteria at Carolinas Medical Center. They really hit the spot after an angioplasty.
ReplyDeleteEnd the voting...Comet Grill.
ReplyDeleteIf they need toppings then they ain't that good.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to find fries in Charlotte I really like. The place needs a real Belgian frites place (Lulu comes close) where you can also get real poutine.
ReplyDeleteFive Guys!
ReplyDeleteRusty's. It really isn't close.
ReplyDeleteShomars FOR SURE
ReplyDeleteFive Guys and Penn Station
ReplyDeleteJoe Momma's on S Tryon St and Five Guys for regular fries. The Stringbean in Belmont for sweet potato fries.
ReplyDeleteLebowski's
ReplyDeleteBranchview Tavern for Funnel Cake Fries.
ReplyDeleteMcDonalds, Mez, and little village grill
ReplyDeleteMax's Ally for Sweet Potato Fries
ReplyDeleteGotta give some love to south of the border.
ReplyDeleteWing King(Rock Hill) - Fries
McHales(Rock Hill) - Homemade Chips
I could almost guarantee you that all the people who like Five Guys fries are not from here originally. I tried them and absolutely hated them. I threw most of them away--yuk! Dry and burnt is not my idea of a good french fry.
ReplyDeleteHartigan's!
ReplyDeleteDD Peckers
ReplyDeleteFive Guys, hands down.
ReplyDeleteGreen's - uptown
ReplyDeleteRusty's, Common House, Five Guys
ReplyDeleteD D Pecker's!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Comet. And I think fast food french fries shouldn't be a part of the discussion.
ReplyDelete131 Main and/or Tenders Fresh Food (Cornelius-owned by the same people I believe, have the same fries, but sometimes better at 131 Main).
ReplyDeleteBAD DOG!!! BAD DOG!!! BAD DOG!!! BAD DOG!!! ...located in University Area
ReplyDeleteregular fries or sweet potato fries...can't lose either way
Little Village Grill...perfection!
ReplyDeleteTenders in Cornelius is solid...Cant beat Five Guys.
ReplyDeleteseasoned fries at Nix on 5th downtown
ReplyDeleteJOE MOMMA'S Grille on S. Tryon St.!! Have been eating them for yrs. And their steak n cheese!!
ReplyDeleteDuckworths Mooresville- Sweet Potato & Regular Fries.
ReplyDeleteOutback Steakhouse
Five Guys
Bojangles
Lulu's Wine/Dine on Central Avenue. Simply the best fries EVER.
ReplyDeleteCafe Monte @ Phillips Place
ReplyDeleteCafe Monte @ Phillips Place
ReplyDeleteThe Comet!! Period
ReplyDeleteBrickTops in SouthPark has the best...they are thin and crispy!
ReplyDelete131 Main
ReplyDeleteDilworth Neighborhood Grill
ReplyDeleteBentley's - Belmont
ReplyDeleteHome fries with cheddar & bacon!
Great pickles too!
Cafe Monte is pretty good but their frites suck big time as well as the attitude of most of the wait staff. Their frites are a cold version of McDonalds.
ReplyDeleteI vote for LuLu for palm frites and Common House for bacon, pimento cheese and scallion loaded fries.
Zack's on Scaleybark.
ReplyDeleteGo back to Moosehead Grill
ReplyDeleteThe Sub Corral in Belmont
ReplyDelete4:15 person....I forgot about Zacks. I'll give them my vote althouh I lie at the lake and rarely get down there. The Onion Rings are killer..but fries are darn good as well.
ReplyDeleteI had planned to give somewhere else my vote but you reminde3d me...Zack's it is!
I absolutely love the fries at Nathan's at the airport...piping hot and full of potato flaver, just enough salt and a splash of malt vinegar...potato perfection!
ReplyDeleteLulu on Central Ave.
ReplyDeletefenwicks hand cut fries. mmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteMickey Dee's!
ReplyDeleteY'all ackin' like y'all don't eat Mickey Dee's fries! Oh please...
For $1, ya just can't beat 'em unless ya frying at home.
However, a hot pepper cheesesteak and fries at Arthur's in the Overstreet is a winner.
Eat Here Now in Ayrsley.
ReplyDeleteHard to find, Fries are impossible to beat. Hand cut and salty!
Crepe Cellar, Crepe Cellar, Crepe Cellar. Did I mention Crepe Cellar?
ReplyDeleteTilted Kilt....fries with a view!
ReplyDeleteAnyplace that serves shoestring fries should be immediately disqualified (they stay hot for only a couple of minutes). They need to be crinkle-cut, and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, hot, and a uniform golden color. Tough to get it right.
ReplyDeleteTenders in Cornelius has the best...especially with the creamy garlic dipping sauce!
ReplyDeleteAkropolis (Arboretum) and Hef's Bar & Grill (near Park Road Shopping center)
ReplyDelete1849 Pizza & Wing Company in Statesville
ReplyDeleteThe Liberty (South Blvd)
ReplyDeleteLulu and Bricktops
ReplyDeleteTenders and 131 Main in Cornelius (same owners - same awesome fries)
ReplyDeleteMoosehead by far... and I agree about getting them at night. By far the best with the Comet coming in a close 2nd.
ReplyDeleteTo the Big Daddy's posters.. ARE YOU KIDDING?? That place is gross - never could understand the hype. Over priced yuppie burger and the fries are without a doubt not even close to being a nomination..
Comet Grill and Nolen Kitchen
ReplyDeleteThe Penguin - Sweet Potato Fries
ReplyDeleteThe Liberty - Potato Fries w/aioli sauce
Akroplis Cafe in the Arboretum. Absolutely worth the calories! Crispy on the outside, hot and steamy inside. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteMac's speed shop
ReplyDeleteGalway Hooker
Irish chips at Dandelion Market... dipped in Bourbon BBQ sauce... amazing!
ReplyDeleteMax's Ally in Concord. Hand-cut fries made daily.
ReplyDeleteSix Pence Pub in Baxter Village
ReplyDelete