Latitude Bar

The FryCap

 

Place: Latitude Bar

Taste: 9/10

Crispiness/Texture: 10/10

Presentation: 8/10

Ambiance: 9/10

Service: 8/10

BFG Factor: 6/7

BFG RATING: 50/57

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Firstly, Latitude is HUGE. Lastly, Latitude is HUGE. I took a virtual walk-through of the place so you can get an idea of what I mean. The video is after jump.

The fries are heavenly. They are your simple straight cut variety, but they have an exquisitely crunchy coating and great-tasting fluffy innards. They deserve their 50 of 57 BFG Rating. Latitude took the extra care to serve them with three dipping sauces (Siracha Mustard, Citrus Aioli, and of course Good Ol’ 57).

Latitude has a great Sunday and Monday Happy Hour for my football fans. Check out their site http://www.latitudebarnyc.com/ for more info.

BarFryGuy on J Blog

BarFryGuy was recently featured on the venerable J Blog a sophisticated blog that chronicles the musings of one Jada Gomez-Lacayo (@GoldenLadyJ). Check out the article HERE

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LIVE FROM THE BRONX: 27th HEAVEN

Words can't describe what it was like to be there when the Yankees won their 27th World Series. So this video will have to do :)

Watch more on the BarFryGuydotcom YouTube page

New Yankee Stadium

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GARLIC FRIES

The FryCap
Taste: 4/10 (8/10 if you LOVE garlic)
Crispiness/Texture: 7/10
Presentation: 5/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Service: 4/10
BFG Factor: 5/7
BFG RATING: 34/57 (38/57 for garlic lovers)

JOHNNY ROCKETS

The FryCap
Taste: 4/10
Crispiness/Texture: 5/10
Presentation: 4/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Service: 4/10
BFG Factor: 5/7
BFG RATING: 31/57

Let me start by saying this; I am a HUGE Yankee fan. The new stadium is a palace fit for the baseball royalty that the Yanks are, but the fries and service? There were long lines on everything except regular stuff like hot dogs, pretzels, and popcorn and I missed a Derek Jeter homerun waiting for the Garlic Fries. :(

Speaking of which, the Garlic Fries live up to their name. A LOT of garlic and no salt. I suggest you stay away unless you reeeaally love garlic.

Johnny Rockets fries were nothing special. They come out the same way they went in so you have to add your own salt and pepper and a healthy helping of Good Ol’ 57.

McFadden's NYC

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Let’s get down to Beez-Nass. My eyes lit up when I saw “Spicy Curly Fries” on the menu. What’s better than fries, you ask? Curly Fries. And what’s better than curly fries? Spicy curly fries. I was practically drooling at the thought of them, until they came out…

The FryCap
BFGs 35 of 57
Place: McFadden's 42nd and 2nd Ave
Taste: 4/10
Crispiness/Texture: 4/10
Presentation: 5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Service: 8/10
BFG Factor: 6/7 (Incredible drink special and awesome staff)

“There wasn’t too much flavor,” said one innocent bystander. “Actually more oil than anything and they were too crispy for so little flavor. They were supposed to be spicy curly fries but there were no spices :( We needed a lot of salt and pepper and 57 for decent eating.” I couldn’t agree more. If the menu had said “Crispy Waffle Fries”, this is a different review. Unfortunately, they need to do a better job of managing expectations. Oh, and actually serving what’s on the menu.

We came because my buddy Brandon won a half price happy hour (Email my friend Dina dina.mcfaddens@gmail.com for more info). Translated that means Jack and Cokes and Vodka Cranberrys for $4. Translated that means DRINKS ON ME!! My little brother JR had just finished taking his MCATs aka he's a future doctor. So I did what every forward-thinking, alcohol-guzzling, fry-eating critic would do... I put a down payment on my future hospital bills.

Ode to That Good Ol' 57

As my faithful Fry Kids already know, I rate bar fries on a scale of 1 to 57 (thanks to @JamieWarner for the idea). I’m sure you all are just dying to know why I’ve chosen this obnoxious number. Well, 57 is the number you will find on every bottle of Heinz Ketchup. My choice is fitting since ketchup is the perfect companion to the French Fry and, of course, any friend of the French Fry is a friend of mine.
Ketchup aka “Good Ol’ 57” is perfect because it satisfies all five tastes of your precious palate. That’s right FIVE. It is salty. It is bitter. It is sweet. It is sour. And the ripe tomatoes used to make it gives it the fifth taste umami which is the full-bodied taste that “turns a soup from salt water into a food.” This quote says it best:

“The taste of Heinz ketchup began at the tip of the tongue, where our receptors for sweet and salty first appear, moved along the sides, where sour notes seem the strongest, then hit the back of the tongue, for umami and bitter, in one long crescendo.”

That’s music to my tongue…

Read the full article The Ketchup Conundrum by Malcolm Gladwell

Village Pourhouse Downtown: So nice I had to do it twice!

BFG FryCap
Place: Village Pourhouse 63 3rd Ave at 11th St.

BFGs: 45 of 57
Taste: 8/10
Crispiness/Texture: 8/10
Presentation: 8/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Service: 8/10
BFG Factor: 6/7 (more Beer Pong :) )

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On my boy Jamie’s birthday, I got a text that read “Open bar tonight at Village Pourhouse from 7-8, just do the following…” It was from my good friends at @BuzzTxt who do drink specials and open bars just for showing the hostess a text message on your phone at the door. (Text BTX to 95495 to join) I have no idea how it works, nor do I care. All I know is it is very easy to lose count of how many drinks you consume when you don’t have to pay for them, like [insert tasteless joke about girls at bars here].

This is the Village Pourhouse located downtown on 3^rd Ave and 11^th Street. It is classier than its 109^th Street fraternal twin but the menus are identical. Do you know what that means Fry Kids? Another order of Village Pourhouse Smothered Fries! (Check out the review from the previous posting for more on this Three Cheese and Bacon creation.) Then we all stumbled, erm, “walked” to Bar None on 3rd and 13th for a few games of beer pong and great music.

BarFryGuy's Jenga: How To Eat Cheese Fries

When you order a basket/plate of fries for the table, everyone’s natural inclination is to reach out and grab a fry. This is all fine and good until... [Enter: Cheese Fries] People reach out then pause. Perplexed with brow furrowed and hand hovering over the basket, they concentrate in search of a dry portion of a fry sticking out. You can see in their eyes that they are weighing the level of pleasure they will receive after successfully securing a fry covered in cheese (and chili, bacon, etc.) and the level of dismay they will feel if/when they make a mess of the table, or worse, themselves. I call this Jenga.

I know what you’re thinking. “Why not just grab a fork?” Think, young padawan. We’re in a bar. What if you have to ask the waitress for the fork and wait for it to show up? That, grasshopper, is the difference between winners and losers. By the time you get a fork, BarFryGuy has already eaten all of the good parts--my table and shirt be damned! That’s why God made Wet-Ones and Jesus made Tide-to-Go. So you (loser) can watch me (winner) enjoy my cheese fries.

David Rossitter = Winner

The moral of the story is you can’t play Jenga with a fork. Now go out there and be somebody!

Happy eating Fry Kids. ~Your friendly neighborhood BarFryGuy

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Join me on my quest to find the best Bar Fries in the World!

Village Pourhouse Uptown

Hey, remember me? I was in rehab this summer trying to reform this whole fried food and alcohol diet. If you’re reading this, CONGRATULATIONS! You’re the reason I relapsed!! Go ahead; pat yourself on the back. I’ll wait. ...… Ok, back to business! :)

I’m an honorary member of the Nickelodeon softball team (still undefeated at the time of this communication) and after winning a game uptown at 108th and Riverside we headed over to the Village Pourhouse on 109th and Amsterdam for celebratory drinks and frites. Before I get into that though, a word of advice. Don’t be like me when you grow up. I had not one but TWO Makers on the rocks before going to the game, got there right before we started, and prayed the ball didn’t get hit to me. I did, however, hit the game-winning single so I guess I have favor with the Alcohol gods… but I digress.

We ordered two beer bongs (or Hi Toppers) of Bud Light for only $20 each. Peaking at the menu, it only took me four seconds to decide what I wanted. I ordered the Smothered Fries. Oh. My. Jesus… If you’re on a diet, please cover your eyes.

Village Pourhouse’s Smothered Fries are handcut and deep-fried then drowned in three cheeses and (wait for it….) BACON. As teammate Jeremy Schloss so eloquently put it, “If you put cheese and bacon on something, it’s impossible to suck.” This is a bit of an overstatement, but I like where his head’s at. What’s amazing about them is there’s cheese and bacon throughout the dish. Unlike other bars that just put cheese atop the fries as a mere afterthought, Village Pourhouse said smothered and they meant smothered. They are served with sour cream, Ranch, and Good Ol’ 57. They also come with a warning to consult your doctor to make sure your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. Oh wait, that’s Cialis… Either way, these fries are not for the faint of heart, and I don’t recommend them to any Calorie Counters. :D

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BFG FryCap
Place: Village Pourhouse 109th St. and Amsterdam Ave.

BFGs: 45 of 57

Taste: 8/10
Crispiness/Texture: 8/10
Presentation: 8/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Service: 8/10
BFG Factor: 6/7 (Several games of Beer Pong! VIDEO)

Sutton Place Rooftop Bar

On a beautiful Monday Night after our game at Roosevelt Island where the Crazy Lizards softball team pummeled some woebegone opponents 19-7 with the help of my 3 hits :) , we ended up at the Sutton Place Rooftop Bar which is walking distance from the Roosevelt Island Tram. Speaking of the Tram, I'm afraid of heights and all I could think about was what I'd do if the Green Goblin showed up and tried to make Spiderman choose between us and Mary Jane Watson, but I digress...

Sutton is a great scene. This was a Monday so it wasn't crazy and we got to enjoy good conversation without the pretentious people that normally frequent a place with $7+ Beers and $12+ Cocktails. It would have been awkward wearing our Crazy Lizards tees surrounded by cocktail dresses and business suits.

Now, I'm not one for rules, but I do have one (yes, only one). When drinking outdoors, drink something that requires a fruit. If you close your eyes, it feels like you're on vacation. Our waitress Cyce from Frisco suggested the Steak Fries which she informed me were "seasoned with Magic". I doubt this Muggle knew the first thing about magic, but I ordered a basket and a Corona (of course).

They came fresh and hot. They had just the right amount of crispness for Steak Fries. You need their innards (that's right, innards) to be soft in order to really enjoy them, but you don't want them to be soggy and formless. As I suspected, there was no "magic" on them but they didn't need it. A little S & P and that good ol' 57, and they were good to go!

Place: Sutton Place Rooftop Bar
BFG Rating: 45/57
Taste: 8/10
Crispiness/Texture: 8/10
Presentation: 6/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Service: 9/10
BFG Factor: 5/7

Hudson Beach Cafe

It was only a matter of time. You can't go running around the city making a living tasting food and not come across a few bad seeds. I shed a tear for fry lovers everywhere after choking down a couple of Hudson Beach Cafe's excuse for fries (BFG rating: 19/57, See FryCap below). Oh! And couple this with it coming on the heels of the worst ass kicking I've ever seen in softball. We lost 33-1 and went to drown our sorrows in carbonated, alcoholic liquids. More Pics

Hudson Beach Cafe, an outdoor terrace bar, had a chill set up and splendid views of Riverside Park, the Hudson River and the New Jersey skyline beyond that. "Self, what a great place" I said to myself. "Order the fries." It was all downhill from there. The "fries" (I put them in quotes because I don't want them confused with the food I love) were undercooked and tasted more like used fry grease.

I was actually afraid to send them back because our waitress was Australian. I hear they can dismember you without even thinking... Anyway, I sent them back against my better judgment and they returned just as bad and probably with hint of phlegm..

So what do you do with terrible fries at an outdoor bar?? You play a game of "Catch It In Your Mouth". Men vs. Women. The women won hands down... Funny because it's true. (If you're reading this mom, sorry. Couldn't help myself. I'll get you a house when I open BarFryGuy's Bar and Grill. :D )

To the FryCap!!

Hudson Beach Cafe: 105th St. and Riverside
Taste: 0/10
Crispiness/Texture: 0/10
Presentation: 1/10
Ambiance: 9/10
Service: 5/10
BFG Factor: 4/7 (A game of "Catch it in your mouth" makes any meal better)

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Rest In Peace Michael Jackson :'(

Here's a playlist of 500 MJ songs. Enjoy :)
http://www.imeem.com/people/K1rrgZa/playlist/u7huhN2c/mj-june-09-music-playlist/

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary!

Bar... Check.
Fry... Check.
Guy... Check.

 

Left: Don't even think about it. Raphael taught me how to use these!
Right: Getting light-headed trying to get my TMNT game for the Nintendo to work... I did not succeed. :( But it brought back memories from 1989 :)

COWABUNGA! To celebrate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turning 25 this year, I decided to have a viewing party for the first two movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret of the Ooze! This was easily one of the best ideas I've ever had in my life (behind creating BarFryGuy and ahead of going to NYU). This is all thanks to Vanilla Ice's GO NINJA, GO NINJA GO!

Ah yes good times. But wait.. I'm supposed to be talking about fries...

Well after the party, I took several faithful Fry Kids to Jake's Dilemma on Amsterdam (Upper West Side holleeeeer). While there, I ate Jake's Seasoned Fries (37/57 BFGs. See the FryCap below), won a game of flip cup, read an encyclopedia, and danced to Beyonce's Single Ladies (I couldn't control myself... Kinda like THIS GUY)

These bad boys were lightly seasoned with Old Bay or something because they had a special little zing to them. They were served with cold ketchup which was a nice compliment to the subtle spices on the fries. There is one drawback with this cut style fry. Invariably, you get scraggly little bastard fries at the bottom of the basket. No one likes scraggly little bastard fries.

Top: Jake's Basket of Joy. Seasoned Fries.
Left: BFG and Rosanna, tonight's Honorary Intern without whom these pics don't happen
Middle: BFG and Fry Kids Folashade and Caro IN YA MOUTH
Right: BFG and Brooke our charismatic waitress

Quick aside before the FryCap. I try to take notes when I go out and I always end up with some incoherent nonsense the next day that makes me go "Huh?". The next day my notes had a quote from Rosanna: "It's Merry Masturbation Month!" I have no idea what that was in reference to... Oh well.. to the FRYCAP!!

Jake's Dilemma: 430 Amsterdam Ave (81st)
Taste: 5/10
Crispiness/Texture: 6/10
Presentation: 5/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Service: 9/10 (Brooke danced to the entire Single Ladies song)
BFG Factor: 5/7 (We trashed complete strangers in a match of Flip Cup with their own beer!)

I'm (Almost) Famous!!

So I googled "bar fry guy" and one of the top hits was a random furniture site I've never heard of featuring my YouTube video!!! I'm Famous!!!!

http://www.bestpricesfurniture.com/hallway-furniture/bar-fry-guy-does-karate

Ocean's 8 at Brownstone Billiards

So I took a looooooong trip to Brooklyn for my friend Cat's birthday. I know what you're thinking "Brooklyn?? BROOKLYN?? Don't people get shot out there??" Yes. Yes, they do. But nothing will deter BarFryGuy from his stated goal of delivering you the very best this city has to offer. Even if that means traipsing all the way to Crooklyn to darken my liver and devour some great fries.

Scrump-CHEE-Us Steak Fries

Ocean's 8, originally uploaded by BarFryGuy.

There is nothing not to like about Steak Fries, but it is wonderful when establishments take the extra care to use special seasoning and serve them with something other than the good ol' 57.

Ocean's 8 which is a pool hall (they also have bowling and ping pong) takes pride in they're food offerings and your palette is beneficiary of that TLC. The Steak Fries are lightly seasoned and served with BBQ sauce and Honey Mustard sauce. Do you know what that means, Fry Kids? No extra work for my lazy ass. No salt shakin'. No 57 bottle tappin'. No burning calories period. After all, exercise is for the birds. Who the hell wants to live forever???

Fry Cap!!
Place: Ocean's 8
BFGs: 39 of 57
Price: $$
Location: 308 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn

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Slattery's Midtown Pub

So, first of all, this place is literally 8 steps away from my office building (yes, I work. And yes, I counted). Second of all, the fries are Scrump-Chee-Us! These curly fries are perfectly seasoned and perfectly fried and they went well with my Killian's Irish Red. I usually order them for myself and as soon the basket hits the table my friends inhale them. Bastards.

But no one is worse than this guy (below). Listen up Fry Kids. This is what happens when you order a QUESADILLA in an IRISH pub.

"Eeeeh there was a lot of cheese." Brandon said, "It was a Three-Cheese, Heart-slowing Quesadilla."

Jackass.

Quick Fry Kids! To the Fry Cap!! (Old school Batman reference, anyone? Anyone?)

Bar: Slattery's Midtown Pub
BFGs: 41 of 57
Price: $
Location: 36th between 5th & Madison

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Bar XII

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At the goading of everyone’s favorite bartender Ngoc, my buddies Jamie (@jnwarner), Brandon (@sleepchant), and I indulged in Bar XII’s splendid Chili Cheese Fries. The hand-cut fries were topped with chili, two cheeses, and beans. Oh yea, and three tiny strips of lettuce (for everyone on a diet [^_^] )

Sure they’re bad for you, but I don’t care about my health and neither should you. You have not lived life until you’ve stuck your face in a plate of these.




Last week I asked you Fry Kids to vote how you like eat Chili Cheese Fries: Forks, Fingers or Face First. Needless to say, Forks won. So what’s wrong with this picture?



Don’t try this at home. Professional Pig On Closed Course.
I’m never going out with Jamie again.

Fry Cap
Bar: Bar XII
BFGs: 43 of 57
Price: $$

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BarFryGuy the Drunken Master

So you thought Jackie Chan was the Drunken Master??

Bar XII: Chili Cheesey Goodiness!

Bar XII 4, originally uploaded by BarFryGuy.


Man I love my job!

Not only does Bar XII have these incredible Chili Cheese Fries (above), they also have Ngoc (right) their incredibly cute Vietnamese bartender, and I, of course, get to enjoy the company of both.

"Hey, It's the BarFryGuy!" -Ngoc, upon seeing me

"I will drive across town and execute you." -Brandon, upon being jealous of my star power.

The explanation of this pic (right) and the full review of Bar XII coming soon!

This week's Fry Poll:
Fingers or Forks for Chili Cheese Fries?

Bar: Bar XII
Location: 34th and 3rd
BFGs: 43 of 57

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For more photos from this trip click here. Comments or Suggestions? email me at barfryguy@gmail.com

The Den

Let's start this thing off right! Right here at home in Harlem!

The Den makes it feel OK to stay uptown for a drink without A) having to take a long train or cab ride home and B) getting pistol-whipped for your Jordans. This classy uptown joint clearly has character with menu items ranging from the "Bruce Leeroy Popcorn Shrimp" to "The B.I.G. Burger". But we all know what I'm here for...

They offer Sweet Potato Fries and Shoestring Fries, and I ordered the latter (pictured) at my waiter Kevin's suggestion. Besides, my verdict is still out on orange potatoes...

These bad boys get 34 of 57 BFGs for effort. They're regular shoestring fries but the Fry Cook took the extra step of sprinkling seasoning salt on them. If The Den cares about their fries, subsequently they care about me. And my Heineken was only $5!

As a complete aside, the girl sitting next to Brandon (@sleepchant) and I also ordered fries. Out the corner of my eye I saw her reach in her bag and pull out a g*ddam packet of salt! She couldn't wait 2 minutes for the waiter to bring her salt so she took matters into her own hands! All this with out even tasting them first. Lakeva (seriously, that's her name), if you're out there babygirl, high blood pressure is real. Stop it.

Frycap
Place: The Den
Location: 2150 5th Ave and 132nd St.
Price: $$
BFGs: 34 of 57 (yes, like the ketchup)

Any suggestions on other good bars in Harlem? Email me @ barfryguy@gmail.com
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Mission Statement

Everyone has their vice. Mine is Bar Fries. I like them thin or thick, seasoned or plain. Straight, curly, or wedged. I like them with salt and pepper, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and anything else you can imagine.

This site will review my favorite fried food at many fine establishments across this fine city. I'll also share random stories of tomf*ckery.

Join me and indulge in the unholiness-ness of the Bar Fry.

First and Foremost, Thank You

The first thing I really need to do is thank everyone who made this idea possible. Everyone who supports my crazy ideas without laughing in my face (totally cool to laugh behind my back :D ). Everyone who inspires me to be great. Everyone of you that I have mined for free advise. Thank you. Special thanks to Jamie Warner- Unapologetic Optimist. Brandon Carter- Writer, Over-cover Genius. Marvin Thomas (@marvinythomas)- Entrepreneur, Consultant, and Friend.

Let the games begin!!