Best fries in New Bedford? Here are the winners, in time for National French Fry Day
Seth ChitwoodNEW BEDFORD — Attention all fry lovers in New Bedford, have you ever wondered where you can find the best french fries in town? Well, look no further. In honor of National French Fry Day on July 12, SouthCoast Today invited readers to vote for their favorite French fry spot in an online poll.
And the winner goes to none other than dNB Craft Kitchen at 768 Purchase St., New Bedford.
"We are so thankful to our community for voting us the best of the best fries. We work so hard to make a product New Bedford can be proud of and we couldn’t do it without all of our customers," said dNB Craft Kitchen co-owner Amelia Ruvich.
What makes the fries so good is that dNB Craft Kitchen hand cuts the potatoes in-house every day and fry them in a beef-fat blend. "That is the secret to making them so good," Ruvich added. "We make a house-made spicy ketchup that they are served with."
The fries can also be turned into poutine by topping them with house-made beef gravy and cheese curds, another fan-favorite special.
dNB Craft Kitchen led our poll with 24% of the votes for serving the best fries. This spot also offers a scrumptious selection of eight unique burgers, with the option to create your own.
Pair your french fries with their signature Southern Belle, featuring juicy beef, micro greens, American cheese, jalapeno sweet corn aioli, and crispy bacon on a grilled potato bun. Or try the flavorful New Guy, with gruyere, french onion mustard, egg yolk jam, and mushroom relish. Don't miss out on their famous poutine served over fries as well as herb fries.
We asked, you answered:Here are America's favorite french fries
Did you know this about fries?
Did you know that french fries were not actually invented in France, but in Belgium? In fact, they were originally called "frites" in French, which literally means "fried."
But how did these tasty fries make their way to America? In the late 1700s, Thomas Jefferson visited France and became fond of their fried potato dishes. He brought the recipe back with him to America and the rest is history.
However, it wasn't until 1853 that the first french fry potato cutter was patented by a man named J.H. Wiswell. This made it much easier to cut the potatoes into thin strips, leading to the popularity of fries. The term "French" in french fries does not actually refer to the country, but to the way the potatoes are cut.
It is believed that the term "frenching" was used to describe cutting food into long, thin strips.
In 2017, a record breaking 2,894 pounds of fries were made in Mexico. Fries are also the most popular fast food in America, with the average person consuming 30 pounds of fries per year. But beware, these tasty bites pack a calorie punch with the average serving of french fries contains about 500 calories.
How other restaurants ranked
With restaurants in our survey such as Cove Surf & Turf, Freestones City Grille, Top Shelf Bar & Grille, The Whale Tail and others. This is how our readers voted:
No. 2: Danny's Seafood Bar & Grille
Danny's Seafood Bar & Grille, a beloved fixture in New Bedford's North End for 48 years, is a family-run establishment by the Mattos family. Located at 574 N Front St., their menu boasts a wide selection of mouth-watering dishes, including chicken tenderloins, clam casino, shrimp cocktail, and more.
Don't miss their signature Maryland-style steamed shrimp and scallops wrapped in bacon. And with their famous french fries winning 18% of the vote in our poll, you won't want to miss out on this local gem's seafood delights.
No. 3: Cove Surf & Turf
Located at 1500 Cove Road, experience some of the best of New England's ocean bounty at Cove Surf & Turf. Their award-winning chef's passion shines through in every dish, according to the website, from the traditional Maine clams to local sea scallops. But more than just a restaurant, they pride themselves on being a family that believes in giving back to the community and celebrating our New England spirit.
With a heated patio covered deck or inside at the bar (or a booth), guests are invited to taste famous dishes such as fish and chips, clam cakes, chowder, lobster rolls, and more. Voted third in the poll, the renowned french fries, are also a fan favorite side for their tasty seafood dishes.
But the SouthCoast is home to so many other great restaurants serving up some yummy fries. Here are a few others that garnered some votes, even if they didn't crack the top three.
Moby Dick Brewing Co.
According to a previous Standard-Times article about restaurants nearby the Whaling Museum, located at 16 S. Water St., founded in 2017, Moby Dick Brewing Co. sits at the intersection of the city's whaling past and future possibilities. The brewery is housed in a 1927 building that was once a bustling whaling supply and tropical fruit district. Just a block away from State Pier, visitors can indulge in fresh seafood and locally brewed ales and lagers while soaking up the sun and sea breezes at one of their outdoor tables.
Moby Dick Brewing Co. is not only a nod to the city's history, but also a celebration of its current thriving industries, including fishing and offshore wind energy. Take a break from exploring and stop by to meet the friendly staff, savor the delicious and affordable food, and witness the expert brew crew in action.
Pour Farm Tavern
Pour Farm Tavern has been a go-to spot for craft beer lovers since 2008, boasting 24 taps to choose from. With new owners Jen and Brad Cardoza at the helm in 2022, this cozy tavern continues to offer a mouthwatering menu featuring smoked wings, chicken fingers, soft pretzels and fried cauliflower.
But it's the fries that steal the show here as well, with options like seasoned fries topped with indulgent beer cheese, crumbled bacon and scallions, or a hearty chili cheese version. Burger fans will also find plenty to love with choices like the Classic, Smokehouse, Portuguese and Cubano, as well as unique offerings like the Pulled Pork, Haapastrami and Smoked Chicken Cheesecake.
And let's not forget hot dogs, with standout options including the Cheese Dog, Porker and Dirty Dog also served with a side of their favorite fries.
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports.Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.