July 13 is National French Fry Day and fans across the Garden State are celebrating their favorites at local restaurants. Some purists enjoy the simple double-fried version while others seek out outrageously topped fries.
Here are 15 of our favorite northern New Jersey french fries.
Bin 14, 1314 Washington Street, Hoboken, 201-963-WINE
Executive Chef Anthony Pino and Chef de Cuisine Justin Antiorio put an Italian twist on french fries. Their three popular offerings are the pecorino fries, the Cacio e Pepe Fries (cheese, fries, black pepper, yolk) and the truffle fries with Romano and black pepper.
Broadway Diner, 55 River Road, Summit and two Bayonne locations, 201-455-8239
While the disco fries at this popular diner are the favorites, the loaded waffle fries topped with melted cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon and sour cream also have a devout fan base.
BURG, 55 Park Place, Newark, 973-482-2874
The secret to Chef Chris Siversen’s ultra-crispy-yet-still-chewy fries is that they’re cooked three times. BURG’s version of disco fries features crisp fries layered with béchamel and gravy. Fans who want to take things to the next level can add bacon, sour cream and scallion for the whole hot mess.
Callahan’s Hot Dogs, 10 Broad Street, Norwood, 844-HOT-DOG1
Callahan’s offers several kinds of loaded fries for just $4.50. Any combinations can be requested on sweet potato fries or curly fries instead of the usual steak fries. The top sellers are buffalo bacon blue cheese fries (chunky blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce topped with crispy bacon pieces), the BBQ pulled pork and cheddar fries (homemade BBQ pulled pork marinated for 48 hours, cheddar cheese sauce and topped with a drizzle of the house-made signature BBQ sauce) and the Broad Street disco fries (house-made brown gravy and mozzarella cheese baked in the oven then topped with grilled onions).
George & Martha’s, 67 Morris Street, Morristown, 973-267-4700
This Morristown hot spot offers guests smothered fries: french fries topped with smoky applewood bacon and green onions then smothered with bleu cheese for a tangy bite.
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, 1 E Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, 201-445-4115
This popular Bergen County restaurant serves poutine fries: covered in taleggio cheese and foie gras gravy with fines herbes.
Jefferson Diner, 5 Bowling Green Parkway, Lake Hopatcong, 973-663-0233
The often-featured-on-Food-Network diner serves some of the best, classic disco fries around. No fancy ingredients: fries, melty cheese and brown gravy. Just the way diner disco fries should be.
Kimchi Smoke, 49 W Church Street, Bergenfield, 201-338-8333
At his food truck-turned-storefront-restaurant, Robert Cho has created the outrageous, decadent ChoLander Fries. The concoction features crispy fries loaded with smoked kimchi, cheddar cheese, pulled pork and his BBQ sauce named Fatboy Sauce.
Kraverie, 24 Mercer Street, Jersey City, 201-737-5877
Created in 2011, Kraverie came to be when two of Jersey City’s most popular food trucks decided to park their wheels and team up. One of the most popular dishes is the kimchi cheese fries, which can be topped with bulgogi ribeye.
Paramus Ale House, 270 Route 4 East, Paramus, 201-342-4800
Zinger Mountain Melt—crispy fries topped with the franchise’s own medium garlic Zingers—and then smothered with melted Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon and green onions. The literal mountain is served with a choice of bleu cheese or ranch dressing.
Park & Sixth, 279 Grove Street, Jersey City, 201-918-6072
At Park & Sixth, the mac-n-cheese fries have their cult following for a reason: crisp fries topped with gooey mac-n-cheese. What’s not to like!? Not a mac-n-cheese fan? Try the John Travolta fries, which are topped with short rib gravy, Gorgonzola and cheddar.
Pig & Prince Restaurant & Gastro-Lounge, 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, 973-233-1006
Leave it to Chef Mike Carrino to serve a Breakfast Poutine which features seasoned french fries and southern-style sausage gravy topped with fried eggs.
Redux, 3 Central Avenue, Madison, 973-845-6263
While they are called disco fries, Chef Rob Ubhaus’ version of the popular diner dish is unlike any other. The highly addictive dish features wedge fries topped with rich veal “gravy” and slabs of Saint Andre cheese.
Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, 70 Kingsland Road, Clifton, 973-661-2435
Truffle fries made with truffle oil, Parmigiano Reggiano and Italian herbs, and—new to the menu—herbed polenta fries, made with Pecorino Romano, chopped parsley and cracked black pepper, served with tomato sauce.
Taphouse 15, 75 State Route 15, South Jefferson, 862-437-1300
At this recently opened restaurant, fries take a beefy turn. The short rib cheese fries feature crispy fries topped with braised short ribs and American cheese served in a cast iron skillet.
BONUS FRIES!
Fricassée, 6 Park Street, Montclair, 973-744-2191
While they’re not technically extreme in any way, the fries at Fricassée are a must have. No over-the-top gilding here, just well-made, crunchy-on-the-outside, velvety-on-the-inside fries. Chef and owner Mark Papera says cooking the fries in pristine oil where no other foods are fried results in a product with a clean taste without off-putting secondary favors. Quick tip: Dip the fries in mussels Meunière broth.
Cheers,
Veronique
