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We all know where the best french fries come from. McDonald’s aside, it seems like the restaurants that understand their place in the universe and obsess over the details can’t help but dish up truly memorable french fries.
Maybe you want a cheap happy hour, maybe you want a fancy night out. Either way, fries should be involved:
🐔 Zuni Café / zunicafe.com
The french fry moon to your chicken sun // image credit: me
Already crowned the king of of parents weekend, you’re not going to read anything here about one of SF’s most well-known restaurants that hasn’t been said before. If you do want to read something new about Zuni, head over here.
There is no experience quite as sublime as walking into a fine dining establishment with the express intention of ordering the french fries (with a side of roasted chicken and bread salad, of course).
Order This ⬇️
Piccolo fritto
Anchovies (if you’re into that, this is the place)
Caesar salad
Ricotta gnocchi
Chicken for two
Shoestring fries
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations | Takeout: N/A | Map
NOTE: while the fries are good at any hour, it can be advantageous to go for a late afternoon lunch when the restaurant is less busy
🍟 Palmer’s Tavern / palmerssf.com
Palmer’s // image credit: me
Palmer’s was one of the first ~cool~ hangout spots that got recommended to me when I first moved to the city and it’s one of the few that has weathered the storm of the last five years. If you’re sitting out on the sidewalk on a sunny afternoon, drink in hand, you’ll understand why.
You’ll also understand when a plate of their curry fries arrives at your table. A strong daily happy hour lineup with $10 cocktails cements Palmer’s as the Fillmore GOAT.
Order This ⬇️
Deviled eggs
Crispy risotto bites
Spicy meatballs
Palmer’s burger
Curry fries
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations | Takeout: N/A | Map
NOTE: if anyone knows any restaurants that look more like an Edward Hopper paining than Palmer’s, I’d love to hear from you
🍔 Automat / automatsf.com
The fries didn’t make it to the main course // image credit: me
Although Automat recently ended their dinner service, the bakery brainchild of Lazy Bear’s chef-owner David Barzelay and former sous chef Matt Kirk comes out swinging for lunch.
While you should definitely check out what they’ve got going on in the pastry case, you have one main goal here: using their perfect fries as a vessel for their equally perfect automac (get it?) sauce. If you happen to have any left by the time your burger comes, you’re an even bigger winner.
Order This ⬇️
Little gem wedge salad
Double smashburger
Frankie’s fries
Eat Here 🔗 Reservations: N/A | Delivery & Takeout | Map