The Best Fries in Strongsville

For the longest time I have been bored with fries. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a tasty deep-fried potato as much as anyone. It’s just that over time I’ve discovered most places don’t even try to do anything to jazz up this all-American side dish known as French fries.

Still, in my many jaunts to the many restaurants in town, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how good their spuds here really are. My faith and hunger for them has been reignited in the almighty potato and its rightfull place as the supreme side dish.

I hate to say it, but for the longest time it seemed like McDonalds had been the go-to place for quality, tasty fries. Yes, they may be fast food, but dang if Ronald and his team haven’t nailed it in perfecting the art of the fried spud. Even after stopping the use of lard (a move I often lament) their potatos are still McGreat. However, I’m happy to report there are still a few places that are doing the golden arches better in the art of frying fries.

These are my top three picks for the Best Bites in fries for Strongsville. There are certainly other stud spuds out there, but it’ll be awfully hard to find better ones than these:

18066 Royalton Rd.

Mmmm, these light, crispy thin fries are delectable, and fried in lard. (Take that, McDonalds!) It may sound disgusting but the results are pure heaven. Give Iron Chef Michael Symon his due, his “Lola Fries” are beautifully seasoned in sea salt and rosemary. Sadly, their strength is also their weakness. These matchstick-sized fries don’t hold up well under the weight of the chili in their chili-cheese fries incarnations. So I’d stick with them in their pure, true state and enjoy. (And feel free to liberally dip them in Lola steak sauce.)

17962 Pearl Rd.

Since writing this column, one of the biggest surprises for me was when I tasted the  wonderful sweet potato fries found at The Bier House. I was in heaven when I took my first bite and I have been back several more times since just to feed my fix. I didn’t care what my main course was as long as I was getting these amazing fries as my side. My wife loves them too and will simply order a dinner salad and a batch of these incredible fries. On my first visit, I couldn’t put my finger on what made them so distinctively crunchy. The chef revealed the secret: they’re lightly covered in tempura batter and dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this.

15147 Pearl Rd.

The sweet potato fries are also very good at Cleats. If you like spuds, this is the ultimate place to go to induldge as they offer them in all sorts of way. Eleven to be exact! How many places actually have a large portion of their menu cornered off with the header “Spotlight Spuds”? Cardboard boats filled with their fresh-cut fries or homemade chips (I actually liked the chips the best) are only 99 cents every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Great deal for great spuds.