Daily News readers vote Kennedy's Restaurant french fries as best in MetroWest

MARLBOROUGH — The best french fries in MetroWest are made at Kennedy's Restaurant & Market, according to an informal Daily News poll of readers.

Kennedy's managers say each batch of fries is meticulously cut to ensure that every one is of optimal length and thickness — while the fries are carefully cooked and monitored to make sure each batch is crisp but not burnt, and delivered rapidly to each table.

"They are made with love and passion, you can just tell whenever you eat them," said Worcester resident Michele Hanigan, as she enjoyed fries during a June 26 visit to the Maple Street (Route 85) establishment.

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Kennedy's co-owner says fries are 'properly greased, properly maintained'

Dennis and Carolyn Kennedy opened Kennedy's in 1981, and have since passed the business on to their children, David, Michael and Julie. David Kennedy, one of the restaurant's head chefs, said the reason the fries are so good is because the restaurant does the little things consistently that not every restaurant bothers with.

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"We always buy western fries, coming from Idaho, fancy-cut to our specifics, extra long, not broken pieces," he said. "So you have quality potato, and then you have a fryolator — everyone has a fryolator — but we make sure ours is properly greased and properly maintained at all times. And we train our staff how to fry it and that's all it is.

"Those are the simple techniques that we do that make a difference."

Kennedy's also offers what it calls "Supreme Fries" — those topped with cheese and bacon and served with a side of Chicken Supreme Cream sauce.

"Everyone seems to think they invented it, but I think I invented Supreme Fries," David Kennedy said. "My father used to work at the Coach Lite Restaurant as a chef, and as a kid I would help out by turning the potatoes over and doing little stuff around the kitchen. I'd always get Chicken Supreme for lunch, and I'd dip my fries in them, and so that was how I started doing it."

Julie Doherty (née Kennedy) said that being recognized as the top fry maker in MetroWest is a byproduct of Kennedy's dedicated staff and the support ofr loyal customers.

"I have some of the best kitchen crew back there and they make it with love and that really comes through in the product," Doherty said. "It makes my heart sing. I'm so proud to be able to have great food that people enjoy."