Frtjz - sanfranciscoCA

581 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.864.7654
http://www.frtjzfries.com/

I truly believe my first solid food was a french fry from McDonald's. Fries are one of those snacks I could never get enough of. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (i.e., shoestring fries, steak fries, seasoned fries, garlic fries, waffle cut fries, crispy fries, soggy fries) so you never get tired of them.

One day, while walking the streets of San Francisco with Brian, my cravings for a good batch of fries began to arise. Brian, being the wonderful boyfriend he is, immediately started to research where we could find the best fries in the city. Nine out of ten reviews claimed "Frtjz" was the place to go. It was then, that I discovered the wonders of Belgium Fries.

Now, these look like your ordinary steak fries, but a few things make these very special. First of all, Belgium Fries are double cooked. They are first fried at a low temperature to cook the potato, then in a higher temperature to create the perfect texture. Secondly, the fries are served in a paper cone called a, "Frietzak." This is the way the vendors sell them on the streets of Belgium. Finally, Belgium Fries are served with a side of mayonnaise. Mayo and Fries? It sounds interesting, but Frjtz takes this idea to a whole new level.

As we entered a restaurant of modern deco, I was overwhelmed with all the different choices! We had the choice of purchasing a small or large size, add garlic, spicy sauce or white truffle oil, and a list of over 20 types of dipping sauces to choose from! We couldn't decide on just one, so the three that sounded the most appetizing were the Parmesan peppercorn ranch, the tamarind-cashew ketchup, and the Curry ketchup... mmmm.

While waiting for our "Frtjz" to be prepared, I couldn't help but admire what else this place has to offer. Not only does this trendy deli serve Belgium Fries, they also offer a variety of salads, sandwiches and crepes (I heard the Valencia location also includes a brunch menu). I'll have to go back for a dessert crepe. Anything with Nutella will do, thank you.

With so much seating available, chic-looking tables, and fancy lighting, the place also looked like it could be a great late-night hang out. Nothing is better than a midnight snack of fries!

When the tower of Frtjz arrived to our table, I immediately ate a single fry without being accompanied by a dipping sauce. I wanted to know if the fries were as good as people claimed they were without being hidden behind any special sauces.

The reviews were right.

After one bite into this piece of double-fried goodness, I just couldn't stop! It was crispy on the outside and full of soft potato on the inside; delicious.

So, how was it with the dipping sauces? Even better! My favorite was the Parmesan peppercorn ranch.

But remember... there's still 17 more to try!