2 New England Restaurants Named Among The Best For French Fries
Do you want fries with that? Tasting Table recently published a list of restaurants with the best French Fries in the country and two New England establishments were named.
“From high-end steakhouses and neighborhood brasseries’ to fast food restaurants and even grocery store freezer aisles, fried spuds can be found in just about every type of restaurant or shop across the country,” Tasting Table explains. Their feature is specific to non-fast food restaurants.
Whether a side dish, an appetizer or just a delicious snack, French Fries are always a fan-favorite. They come in all shapes and sizes. Shoe strings crispy versions, thick cut steak fries, seasoned curly fries, waffle fries, and even tater tots (are those considered fries, though?).
The two restaurants in New England that were recognized for having some of the best French Fries in the country serve two very different styles.
Duckfat – Portland, Maine
This is literally a French Fries restaurant. The original Duckfat on 43 Middle Street has been serving fresh batches of fries since 2005. It has become such a destination that they now have two locations that are just 15 minutes from each other. What you have to appreciate about Duckfat is how they simplify their offering. Their Belgian Frites are hand-cut and then fried in duck fat. You can get a large or small cone with five different dipping sauce options.
If you want to fancy it up, the poutine dish is the same Duckfat fries topped with locally sourced cheese curd, duck gravy, and chives.
The Puritan Backroom – Manchester, New Hampshire
If you travel about an hour and a half south, you will arrive at The Puritan Backroom for a plate of fries at the other New England restaurant that was named among the best. Here, they have a wide variety of French Fry styles. Traditional homemade fries pair perfectly with any of their 25 handheld meals. If you want to change it up, you can get sweet potato or spicy fries as well. The best part? Delicious fries (and a pickle) come with every burger or sandwich order.
There Are Now Over 90 Wahlburgers Locations
What started as one south shore, Massachusetts burger joint has now turned into a very popular chain. Mark Wahlberg is obviously most well-known for his entertainment career, but his restaurant business is also doing quite well. In fact, there are over 90 Wahlburgers locations now in the world.
Mark’s older brother, Paul, is a renowned chef. Along with brother Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on The Block, the trio opened their first “Walhburgers” restaurant in 2011. This restaurant, sporting an easily recognizable green logo, is in Hingham, Massachusetts in the Shipyard development. It sits along the harbor right across the street for Paul’s first endeavor in the area, a high-end Italian eatery called Alma Nova (named after his mother Alma).
Where It all Began… Hingham
The first official Wahlburger was met with much anticipation. With the brothers in town for the opening, along with many prominent Boston sports stars, like David Ortiz, the Hingham location was quite busy right away. Its location is essentially at the dock of the Boston commuter ferry so it also became a tourist attraction as it was easy to get to for those in the city.
The interior of the first Wahlburgers is a style now replicated across many others. The walls are plastered with billboard-style images of Mark’s movies, Donnie’s performances, and the A&E show promo shots.
Menu
A traditional burger is the mainstay of the menu. However, there is no shortage of creative options to add to it. Mark, Paul, and Donnie note their favorites on the menu. In addition, there are numerous options of fries, tots, and pickles to go along with it. If burgers are not your thing, you can choose between chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, mac and cheese or chili. Finally, all of this can be washed down with a shake.
Reality Show
In 2014, the A&E network created a reality show about Wahlburgers. It aired for ten seasons. Though the show centered around a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant and its development, Paul, Donnie, and Mark also made appearances on the program. The show brought you inside the passionate conversations about the restaurant’s growth. Furthermore, it showcased Alma, the family’s breakout star.
Later that year, the franchise model began with Walhbergers Toronto opening. One by one, new Walhbergers locations were opening across the country. Next, in 2018, the Wahlberg’s partnered with Hy-Vee, which would open over 25 locations in the Midwest.
Going Global
The burger doesn’t stop there. In addition to Canada, there are now four Wahlburgers in Australia, and one in Auckland, New Zealand in addition to two in Toronto. Other notable spots include within the Walhlberg’s hometown of Dorchester, MA, around the corner from Fenway Park, and a spot on Hollywood Boulevard.
Bring It Home?
Wahlburgers at Home offers selections of their premium meats, sauces and pickles available at grocery stores across the country. There’s a rolling Walhburgers food truck. Lastly, there are surprise new items like the Government Cheese Fondue set, and specialties announced numerous times per year. Paul often explains the inspiration behind the items, and some of them are available to order. For example, the Chorizo Jam Burger.
Wahlburgers is still growing. The newest locations include recent openings in Las Vegas, NV and Quincy, IL. To find the Wahlburgers nearest you, visit: Wahlburgers.com
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
