Top 10 Places to Get Great Sweet Potato Fries
When I started working on today's topic in earnest I was surprised to find that very few places in Baltimore actually have sweet potato fries on their menus. When I went back to the Sun's archives to check out what other reviewers had found, I didn't come up with any that hadn't been mentioned in the previous post asking for suggestions.
Oh, well. The good news is that those restaurants and bars that do have sweet potato fries on the menu do a fine job of this salty-sweet treat.
Here's my list: ...
* Abbey Burger Bistro in Federal Hill. The menu is limited, so the kitchen can get important things like the fries right.
* Annabel Lee Tavern in Canton. These got the most votes when I asked for suggestions.
* Artful Gourmet Bistro in Owings Mills. Thin, crisp-edged and lightly salted, so seductive you have to keep taking just one more.
* Donna's in Cross Keys. Disclaimer: Donna is a friend of mine. However, these are really good sweet potato fries. The ones from Donna's in Columbia got Midnight Sun Sam's vote.
* Gertrude's at the BMA. You won't find them listed among the sides.They come with Cranky Hank's BBQ Pork.
* Golden West Cafe in Hampden. These are rosemary sweet potato fries. Normally I believe in not messing with a good thing, but Golden West manages to pull off the combination.
* Mad River Bar & Grille in Federal Hill. When Sam did a carryout column on sweet potato fries, these were awarded his Best Bite. "None of the other restaurants we tried nailed it quite like Mad River," he said.
* Miss Shirley's in Roland Park. Hot and crisp, served with a sprinkle of coarse salt and wrapped in a cone of black-and-white checked paper. Mango ketchup and citrus aioli come on the side.
* oZ. Chophouse in Maple Lawn. The best of all the sides we had there: hot, grease-free, salty and sweet.
* Rub in South Baltimore. The sweet potato fries have a red pepper, garlic and onion seasoning, which could be too much, but isn't.
(Chiaki Kawajiri/Sun photographer)
Comments
I often order sweet potato fries instead of regular fries when they're an option. First place I ever remember having them was GAMPY's -- remember the Great American Melting Pot on North Charles Street? I guess it's long gone, but in my days as a young theater rat it was one of the few places in that area where we could dine post-show. We'd order them there with maple syrup for dipping. Mmmmm. Yeah, that was healthy dining at 1 AM.
Of the places you listed, I do like Miss Shirley's a lot, partly because of the interesting presentation and partly because they just taste good. I think my favorites aren't on your list, though -- Carson's Creekside in Middle River has excellent SP fries.
Posted by: Linda | January 13, 2009 6:53 AM
If you find yourself on the Homewood campus of JHU, check out Cafe Azefran in the Muller Building. A huge pile of great sweet-potato fries at a low price...
Posted by: Zevonista | January 13, 2009 8:01 AM
Little havana should definitely be on here
Posted by: cooper | January 13, 2009 8:23 AM
The Paper Moon Diner near the BMA and Hopkins Homewood Campus and Life of Reilly in Butchers Hill have GREAT sweet potato fries!
Posted by: Trish | January 13, 2009 8:35 AM
Although this list may have been tough to compile now, give it another 6 months and I think you will see even more restaurants with sweet potato fries options. It's so trendy!!! But that's okay cause they taste great.
PS- I think Five Guys should do sweet potato, their regular fries are out of this world, and I think in the peanut oil they would be pretty good.
Posted by: Rebs | January 13, 2009 8:37 AM
Although it's not your every day place, if you should go to the Apple or the Apple Blossom Festival in Biglerville PA, there is a truck there that sells the most amazing hot fresh sweet potato fries - and has a variety of toppers like Old Bay, cinnamon and sugar, vinegar, whatever your taste may be...
Posted by: Joyce W. | January 13, 2009 8:42 AM
I sure do you like them french fried potaters.. mm hmm.
Posted by: bryaninimonium | January 13, 2009 8:43 AM
I know what I'm getting for dinner tonight
Posted by: NR | January 13, 2009 8:59 AM
The ones at Miss Shirley's are delicious, most particularly because of those dipping sauces.
Linda-- I still miss Gampy's, for the clientele as much as the food.
Posted by: bonnie | January 13, 2009 9:27 AM
Thortons in Locust Point.
Posted by: MP | January 13, 2009 10:43 AM
Both Red Star in Fells and Life of Reilly in Butchers Hill have good ones too.
Posted by: Larry | January 13, 2009 10:47 AM
I consider Miss Shirley's to be the absolute hands down best SP fries around. Coming in at a close second is the Artful Gourmet Bistro in Owings Mills - their SP fries are delish.
Posted by: tennisgal1206 | January 13, 2009 10:53 AM
City Cafe in Mt. Vernon does great sweet potato fries, too!
Posted by: BW | January 13, 2009 11:17 AM
Lil Havana's should be somewhere on that list.
Posted by: Michael | January 13, 2009 12:00 PM
I love all of the above mentioned restaurants, however, a new cafe named, "TERRA CAFE" wasn't mentioned. Terra Cafe has awesome sweet potato fries with mango kethup. It's located on the corner of 25th Street and St. Paul Street. Near the JHU Homewood campus.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2009 12:19 PM
I second Carson's Creekside for Sweet Potato Fries. I had them yesterday with a burger and they were very good.
Posted by: LouieNCanton | January 13, 2009 1:04 PM
I'll agree that the fries at Golden West are very good, but not good enough to make me want to deal with the lousy service again. Kinda overpriced, too.
Posted by: Gwen | January 13, 2009 1:56 PM
The Grapevine Cafe in Cockeysville has good sweet potato fries and if you are ever in New Castle, Delaware be sure and eat at Jessop's Tavern where the fries are wonderful.
Posted by: Linda | January 13, 2009 3:52 PM
how about some suggestions OUTSIDE of the city?
Maple Lawn is outside the city, as are Owings Mills and Columbia. EL
Posted by: Julk | January 13, 2009 5:56 PM
Golden West in Hampden also does cinnamon sugar SP fries, aside from the rosemary ones. They are delicious.
Posted by: Scott | January 13, 2009 6:08 PM
Birches now offers sweet potato fries which I was very happy to find out. They offer it as part of a special "seasonal" menu, or something on those terms, which has I think 5 or 6 other interesting frie options like truffle oil fries and crab and cheese fries.
Posted by: kkeds | January 13, 2009 7:25 PM
Sunshine Grille in Fork has sweet potato fries...
www.sunshinegrille.com
Posted by: 'Cuse | January 13, 2009 10:02 PM
Sweet Potato Fries..The Rumor Mill in Olde Ellicott City..probably ther best I have tried (and I thry them every place we go that offers them)
Really great babayback ribs as well..
Posted by: mike gussin | January 22, 2009 7:41 PM
You can also get some awesome sweet potato fries at Shucker's in Fells Point, The Life of Reilly, and Tapabar in Little Italy.
And sometimes Greene Turtle has them too as a seasonal item, but they serve them with melted vanilla icing. So, if you've got a sweet tooth like me, keep an eye out for this one!
Posted by: Alize | August 19, 2009 9:53 AM