7 great french fries at St. Louis restaurants

Plus, delightful dipping sauces to pair

Friday, July 12, is National French Fry Day, but let’s be real: The Sauce team never needs an excuse to order fries. At nearly every restaurant, no matter how upscale, fries are mandatory for us. We just need to know what they’re like, especially if a good dip is included. Here’s a list of some of our current favorites. 

Planter’s House fries at Planter’s House
Although they’ve always offered a full menu, we go to this classy Lafayette Square joint for the cocktails – famously some of the best St. Louis has to offer. A round of drinks demands salty snacks, and the Planter’s House fries never let us down. Choose your seasoning from a rotating lineup of flavors that right now include salt & pepper, dill (our usual fave), cacio e pepe (our current fave) or hot fries. Both housemade ketchup and aioli come with, but our hot take is that you just can’t beat Heinz, so please stop trying. We like to double up on that and the aioli, which is completely irresistible.
1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com

 

 

Truffle fries at Herbie’s
At a recent meal at this Clayton business lunch spot, the truffle fries completely stole the show. The $19 price tag may seem alarming – but only until the bowl hits your table. A generous mound of perfectly crispy shoestring potatoes are generously seasoned with salt, herbs, Parmesan and topped with gorgeous, thinly shaved slices of black truffle and even more Parm. Ketchup and truffle aioli accompany the feast, and it’s ideal to alternate dipping for a sweet-salty combo followed by rich, truffle-infused umami bombs.
8100 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.769.9595, herbies.com

Yuca fries + Huancaina at Jalea
We’re always down to diversify our starches. Yuca fries are the perfect start to any meal at this St. Charles Peruvian bistro. Their shatteringly crispy exterior gives way to warm, mashed-potato-like insides and, like most dishes at Jalea, the sauces are somehow the best part. Your order comes with huancaina, a creamy Peruvian pepper cheese sauce that rules, but we insist on batting those eyelashes real pretty and begging to also try a side of the aji amarillo and cilantro cream cheese sauces that come with the plantain chips. Actually, just order those too.
323 N. Main St., St. Charles, 314.303.0144, jaleaperuvianbistro.com

French fries at Side Project Brewing
Ever since we first laid eyes upon the fries on Side Project Brewing’s long-awaited food menu, we haven’t been able to shut up about them. Thin, crispy matchstick-style potatoes are positively smothered by a stunning snowcap of freshly grated Parmesan – so much Parmesan it’s shocking. Lemon aioli comes on the side because we all deserve it.
7458 Manchester Road, Maplewood, sideprojectbrewing.com

Tallow fries at Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions
When the potatoes are upstaging the burger at a butcher shop, you know there’s something special going on. Classically cut fries are fried in beef tallow and served with your choice of gochujang aioli, fermented ketchup or black garlic aioli for a snacking experience that tastes deliciously savory and meaty.
2733 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.647.2567, bolyardsmeat.com

Portobello fries at Tim’s Chrome Bar
Potato purists, avert thine eyes! While we still love the crispy, double-battered potato fries at the adorably retro Tim’s Chrome Bar in South City, the portobello fries have won our hearts. Long, juicy strips of portobello mushroom are coated in a crunchy, chunky batter, sprinkled with Parmesan and come with a side of lemon-basil aioli. You’ll be scooping out every bit of that aioli with your fingers by the end, which tastes like a super creamy pesto-meets-green-goddess dressing.
4736 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314.742.7881, timschromebar.com

Rip Fries at Mac’s Local Eats
Mac’s Local Eats lives up to their name and dials the St. Louis vibes up to 11 by seasoning their super crunchy double-battered fries with Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets seasoning. The sweet-salty-spicy balance is perfection. Don’t forget the sauce – we can’t get enough of their garlic aioli but sometimes like to go totally nuts and order a side of Ripped Cheese Sauce, housemade with Rolling Lawns whole milk and seasoned with – you guessed it – even more Red Hot Riplets.
5656 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, 314.393.7713, macslocaleats.com

Additionally, Lion’s Choice has just launched a menu of loaded fries. We haven't tried them yet, but they look pretty delicious.