Yet another fine dining establishment is struggling

[pubic_assistance]

4 hours ago, JamesB said:

guess my palate isn’t quite as exquisite and refined as yours. 😁

Well...I think the issue is that some people just never HAD real fresh cut Pommes Frittes as a kid. They grew up eating frozen fries and therefore THAT is what their brain thinks is the standard. Food memory has lots of nostalgia built in.

[+ EVdude]

22 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

Fresh cut POMMES FRITES are still one of my favorite indulgences.

Amen! I still mourn the day their 2nd Ave East Village location burned down. They reopened over on Mcdougal which is much less convenient but perhaps better for my waistline.

Pommes Frites New York | Authentic Belgian Fries at 128 MacDougal Street

WWW.POMMESFRITESNYC.COM

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Discover Pommes Frites in New York, serving authentic Belgian fries with extraordinary sauces at 128...

 

[pubic_assistance]

7 hours ago, EVdude said:

Amen! I still mourn the day their 2nd Ave East Village location burned down

My favorite Belgian Pommes Frites were from Le Petite Abeille https://www.instagram.com/petiteabeillenyc/?hl=en Sadly the chain closed...but ONE of the locations (right near me) in the West Village, remains open under the name OSCARS. The new owner is British and serving some British fare, but kept much of the Belgian Menu from the Petite Abeille ...including their most wonderful Belgian Fries, cut fresh, fried in the right peanut oil and served salted to perfection. Once you have eaten real french fries (actually BELGIAN...Americans get everything wrong when it comes to language) you would never eat those dry disgusting sticks of frozen potato at McD's again.

[samhexum]

7 Chain Restaurants Boomers Still Love That Serve Massive Portions

APPLE.NEWS

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As a whole, Boomers value consistent and affordable chain restaurants. Here are the ones currently in operation that serve up sizable...

 

[MikeBiDude]

On 11/12/2025 at 3:31 PM, samhexum said:

Admit it; you have always hated them for not making the McRib a permanent part of the menu.

 

It’s baaaaack!

 

[+ Gar1eth]

On 11/14/2025 at 2:01 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Once you have eaten real french fries (actually BELGIAN...Americans get everything wrong when it comes to language) you would never eat those dry disgusting sticks of frozen potato at McD's again.

Au contraire, my good man!!  My Mom used to make homemade French fries from time to time-often when she made meatloaf.  And yes they were incredibly good. But that doesn't mean I turned my nose up at the fry offerings at Mickey D's. Obviously they weren't as good as my Mom's. But most food establishments didn't cook as good as my Mom. 
 

These days I'll still eat McDonald's fries. But I think that since they quit using tallow they aren't as good. Wendy's may be my favorite fast food fries now. 

[MikeBiDude]

5 minutes ago, Gar1eth said:

These days I'll still eat McDonald's fries. But I think that since they quit using tallow they aren't as good. Wendy's may be my favorite fast food fries now. 

Theres a movement to go back to beef tallow at McDonalds and other chains. Why? The current food police is now nixing seed oils, i.e soybean oil which McDonalds and others blend into their shortening. Much like many healthy food trends that go on/off over the years…tallow is now gaining favor over seed oils.

Steak and Shake has already converted to 100% beef tallow.

[+ Gar1eth]

31 minutes ago, MikeBiDude said:

Steak and Shake has already converted to 100% beef tallow.

When I lived in Cincinnati 20 something years ago, I'd go to Steak and Shake. I didn't like it that much, but it was open 24 hours. And it wasn't too far from where I lived. I looked for it online fairly recently. And I think that location must have bit the dust along with the Applebees I used to go to and the Famous Dave's BBQ. 

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, Gar1eth said:

when she made meatloaf.

You lost me at "meatloaf"....

[+ Gar1eth]

24 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

You lost me at "meatloaf"....

It's delicious. By maybe we didn't grow up in the same type of culture. A friend of mine from the Midwest and I often have made it a few times. In fact he had a minor surgical procedure. I went over to his place and made one. It was delicious. We all enjoyed it. 

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, Gar1eth said:

By maybe we didn't grow up in the same type of culture.

Clearly.

Did you also eat Government cheese ?

 

[+ Gar1eth]

2 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

By maybe we didn't grow up in the same type of culture.

 

54 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Clearly.

Did you also eat Government cheese ?

 

I'm not much for cheese except on pizza and cheesecake.-and a few other exceptions. But my grandmother used to get it. 
 

And here's a photo from the last time I made meatloaf.  It was delicious. 
 

Edited 15 hours ago by Gar1eth

[BSR]

3 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

Au contraire, my good man!!  My Mom used to make homemade French fries from time to time-often when she made meatloaf.  And yes they were incredibly good. But that doesn't mean I turned my nose up at the fry offerings at Mickey D's. Obviously they weren't as good as my Mom's. But most food establishments didn't cook as good as my Mom. 
 

These days I'll still eat McDonald's fries. But I think that since they quit using tallow they aren't as good. Wendy's may be my favorite fast food fries now. 

Did your mom fry her fries twice?  That seems to be the key.  For what it’s worth, both Belgians and McDonald’s fry 2x, although other details differ.  

A burger spot near my Airbnb (La Revolución, if you’re ever in Madrid) makes the awesomest fries I’ve ever had, yes, twice-fried.  I concede that McDonald’s fries can be really good, but only 60 seconds after they come out of the fryer.  Once they cool off just a bit, they’re just sh!t fast-food fries.  In contrast, the local burger spot’s fries are still amazing even after 10+ minutes, totally room temperature.  Pretty sure McD’s takes a few shortcuts.

 

Edited 15 hours ago by BSR
Fixed link

[MikeBiDude]

5 minutes ago, BSR said:

McDonald’s fry 2x, although other details differ.

I don’t think so…but would be interested in seeing where you heard this?

[BSR]

3 minutes ago, MikeBiDude said:

I don’t think so…but would be interested in seeing where you heard this?

Googled it.  Fried once at some central processing plant, frozen, packaged, and shipped out.  Then they’re fried again at the local spot.

[MikeBiDude]

Just now, BSR said:

Googled it.  Fried once at some central processing plant, frozen, packaged, and shipped out.  Then they’re fried again at the local spot.

Oh yeah that, you’re correct. All fast food places (all frozen fries in general) get potatoes/fries that are blanched at the various potato grower’s processing plant. I thought you meant twice fried in the restaurant - which is actually a big no-no.

[+ FrankR]

On 11/14/2025 at 3:01 PM, pubic_assistance said:

My favorite Belgian Pommes Frites were from Le Petite Abeille https://www.instagram.com/petiteabeillenyc/?hl=en Sadly the chain closed...but ONE of the locations (right near me) in the West Village, remains open under the name OSCARS. The new owner is British and serving some British fare, but kept much of the Belgian Menu from the Petite Abeille ...including their most wonderful Belgian Fries, cut fresh, fried in the right peanut oil and served salted to perfection. Once you have eaten real french fries (actually BELGIAN...Americans get everything wrong when it comes to language) you would never eat those dry disgusting sticks of frozen potato at McD's again.

I believe Five Guys also use peanut oil.  It is an interesting taste, but too rich for me to enjoy.  
 

Stop hating on America - we don’t get everything wrong. We did pretty good with clam chowder and apple pie! 

[pubic_assistance]

4 hours ago, FrankR said:

Stop hating on America - we don’t get everything wrong.

I was referring to names of things. Like calling the Native Americans "Indians" because the sailors thought they had reached India.  Americans call Pommes Frites "French" fries because some Belgians speak French. Technically they should be called Belgian Fries.  

As far as Five Guys ...amongst the fast food purveyors Five Guys has the best fries.

Hysterical that fresh, higher quality food, that should be regarded as the standard is described as "too rich".  

I do realize that a lot of middle America people grew up poor and didn't have access to fresh food, so their memories are all about eating poverty food instead of fresh food.

I also did not grow up with money, but our location in the heartland of Pennsylvania Farm culture meant that we always ate fresh, high quality food. Not frozen, processed junk.

[caramelsub]

9 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

I was referring to names of things. Like calling the Native Americans "Indians" because the sailors thought they had reached India.  Americans call Pommes Frites "French" fries because some Belgians speak French. Technically they should be called Belgian Fries.  

And I thought you were the anti-woke/anti-politically correct one. 😉 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

16 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

As far as Five Guys ...amongst the fast food purveyors Five Guys has the best fries.

Oh ... When friends asked me if I ever had Five Guys, I said "Yes" but didn't know it was a restaurant. 😈 

 

[+ Gar1eth]

10 hours ago, BSR said:

Did your mom fry her fries twice?

While I couldn't swear (because it's not nice to swear), I sincerely doubt my Mom fried them twice. They were still delicious.  
 

I agree with McDonald's fries being not so good once they cool down.  

[+ Gar1eth]

6 hours ago, FrankR said:

I believe Five Guys also use peanut oil

I'm actually not that big a fan of their burgers. I mean they are ok-nothing particularly special. And they are very expensive. 

[samhexum]

19 minutes ago, Gar1eth said:

I'm actually not that big a fan of their burgers. I mean they are ok-nothing particularly special. And they are very expensive. 

I used to mystery shop them occasionally.  For free, they are darned good and the fries, while greasy, are as well.  I read that they no longer give the extra scoop in the bag.

 

[caramelsub]

44 minutes ago, Gar1eth said:

 

I agree with McDonald's fries being not so good once they cool down.  

I actually like my fries slightly cooled down and on the soggy side from the grease.

[+ Gar1eth]

57 minutes ago, samhexum said:

 I read that they no longer give the extra scoop in the bag

What extra scoop?

 

57 minutes ago, samhexum said:

I used to mystery shop them occasionally

How do I get that gig?