When times are good, when times are bad, French fries are there for you. They’re crispy, salty, slathered with ketchup or aioli friends who simply want to make you smile. Here’s our taste-tested, dining editor-approved fries for any walk of life. Dig in, Sonoma County.
New Additions
Augie’s French: There’s no shortage of potato choices at this Santa Rosa bistro — duck fat roasted Yukons, buttery pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and the creme de la creme, skinny fries with a sauce boat of bearnaise sauce. Share with a friend. 535 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-531-4400, augiesfrench.com
Bistro Lagniappe: The Bentley of French fries. Hand-cut fries (pomme frites) cooked in rendered duck fat with a crisp outside and feather-light inside. Served with sauce choron — a rich Bearnaise with tomato. 330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-473-8181, lagniappehealdsburg.com
Iggy’s Organic Burgers: Iggy’s Style fries are a hot mess, but sooooo good you should order two. Thick-cut fries with melted cheddar, pickled onions, Iggy’s Million Island sauce, pickles and grass-fed beef. 109 Plaza St., Healdsburg; 6700 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, iggysburger.com
Grata: Cacio e pepe fries. All the flavor of the classic pasta dish — Parmesan and cracked black pepper — on a basket of fries. 186 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-620-0508, grataitalianeatery.toast.site
War Pigs Craft Kitchen: Dirty fries are oh so naughty. Thin-cut fries piled with melty cheese sauce, pulled pork, coleslaw and more sauce. 8492 S. Gravenstien Highway, Cotati, 707-508-5551, warpigsbbq.food
Healdsburg Bar & Grill: [Insert new description.] 245 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-3333, healdsburgbarandgrill.com
Still Great
Handline: Hand-cut, double-fried French fries. Get the homemade ketchup and special sauce. 935 Gravenstein Highway S., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com
Fern Bar: Aged fries with smoked mushroom ketchup and aioli. 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com
Sequoia Burger: Classic burger and fries at Sequoia Burger in Sebastopol. 1382 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol, 707-829-7543, sequoiaburger.com
Acme Burger: You can’t have a good burger without great fries! 1007 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-615-7309; 2781 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-665-5620; 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-665-5620; 330 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-559-3820; 701 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Suite D1, Petaluma, 707-665-5012, acmeburgerco.com
Willi’s Wine Bar: Truffle fries. Nuf said. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, williswinebar.net
Americana: Real beef-fat fries are beyond outstanding with their mushroom burger and a milkshake. 205 Fifth St., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com
Smokin’ Bowls: Hand-cut fries, fried in beef fat, tossed with their own seasoning and topped with all kinds of horrifyingly delicious sauces, pulled pork, cheese, sour cream and more. 295 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-665-5265, smokinbowls.com
Underwood Bar and Bistro: Flat Iron Steak Frites. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
McDonald’s: Love ’em or hate ’em, McDonald’s fries are the fast food standard that many of us associate with childhood. They’re simply the best. Period. Various locations.
The Fries I Miss
Bistro Ralph: A mountain of tangled shoestring fries. The best ever. Ralph pops up for one-night dinners from time to time in Healdsburg so keep a lookout for these one-of-a-kind French fries.