Two Requests and a Surprise Contender

Welcome back to Your French Fry List!  It's been almost a month since I last posted, so you know there have been lots of fries since June 8.  Some of the places were not even judged worthy of posting to the blog.  At least not at this time.  So sorry to fans of Wild Eggs, Gold Star Chili, and Five Guys.  Wild Eggs fries were just too average.  Gold Star was nice, but they've been done better elsewhere.  Five Guys may be worthy of a future post.  Their fries may belong in their own space, as they are fried in peanut oil.  I'm not sure if they belong on the top 10 list yet, so I'll have to taste them again soon (or a few times!).  Until then...

Jeremy Shannon has commented on all of these posts wondering when I would finally review Burger Shakes.  If you aren't familiar, Burger Shake is a 60+ year old fast service restaurant on the north side of Lexington's New Circle Road.  They serve their burgers very fast, as they come off a conveyor belt that ensures proper grilling for each patty that is served.  Their fries are constantly cooking, as the line keeps forming.  Despite only accepting cash (no cards here), their food keeps Lexington coming back for more.  Jeremy this review is for you.

I imagine that Burger Shake's fries have been exactly the same for their entire time in business.  These are shoestring style fries that are cooked to a really nice crisp.  Imagine times when you've been to McDonald's where the fries definitely stayed longer in the fryers than their robots allow.  When the fries tasted so good and crispy that you just couldn't eat enough.  That's what these fries are like.  Usually fries like this end up being a little bit too dried out and get cold quickly.  Not these fries.  Every last fry was delicious, and the only thing that upset me was when I was out of fries.  

These fries are truly top 10 worthy.  There are legends that the fries are served like Five Guys where they fill up the fry box, and they give you another scoop on top.  I'm not sure if I came on the wrong day, but that didn't happen to me.  The "large" order I bought was much like a medium elsewhere.  That's fine if you are a more dainty person, but I'm a big'un.  I needed more fries.  Also I've got to take points off for not accepting cards as payment.  The best donuts in Lexington are at a place called Spalding's.  I only have them once or twice a year due to their stubborn insistence on cash only.  I'm afraid that will happen with me and Burger Shake as well.  If you have cash on you at all times, I recommend this place.  That's fine if you still have a land line, read a daily printed newspaper, and rent videos from your local video store.  For the rest of us, Burger Shake will have to be a rare treat when you have some cash in your pocket.  The good thing is that it only takes about $5.  Happy Jeremy?

I'm not sure that I've ever reviewed a less likely establishment for this list than Fat Katz Pizzeria in Georgetown, KY.  Of course Fat Katz is known for their award winning pizzas, and this is what got my wife interested in going.  We checked out the menu with plans to do a delivery or carry out for her with me getting a nice drive through somewhere else.  Then I saw they have all kinds of other foods besides pizza including...fries.

These fries were completely unexpected for me.  They are a mix between two of my favorite types of fries - golden crinkles and steak fries.  Yes this is basically a crinkled steak fry or a fat flattened golden crinkle.  However you want to classify it, these fries are game changers!  They somehow managed to make a relatively crisp fry while maintaining a soft well cooked interior that has the consistency of a fluffy baked potato.  No baked taste here, as these are definitely fried.  Fat Katz is highly recommended, and I can say these are on The List!  Truly top 10 worthy in a shocker.

Next to Jeremy Shannon, the person I heard from the most was my friend Sharon Workman.  She requested that I try the fries at Ramsey's saying they were unquestionably the best fries she has ever had.  Ramsey's is known as a place where people in Central Kentucky can get some home style country types of food.  That may be great if you are in the mood for grits, pie, or cornbread.  I'm always in the mood for great fries.  These fries just didn't make the cut.

But they are golden crinkles!  You have so many other golden crinkles that are list worthy!  Sorry Sharon.  These fries were more along the lines of average.  They are missing something that would make them excellent.  They weren't particularly crispy, and they didn't stay hot throughout the meal.  I'm not even completely sure that I finished all of them.  Don't get me wrong.  These fries weren't bad.  They are much better than say Wendy's or Applebee's.  They just aren't anything that will make you come rushing back for them.  In other words, these fries just aren't list worthy. 

There you have it.  2 more fries that have been deemed worthy of being added to The List.  1 that didn't make the cut.  What needs to be on the next review?  Let me know with your comments.  Remember, only plain fries will be reviewed.  No spices, no toppings, no cheese, etc.