From poutine and crab to chickpea and truffle, the Valley has no shortage of French fry variations worth savoring. Check each of these off your bucket list this summer.
Fries at Bolete
1. Bolete
At Bolete, indulge in “fancy fries.” Housemade and cut daily from russet potatoes, the fries are tossed with an herb mixture of chives and parsley, Parmesan cheese and mushroom duxelles, served with a side of the restaurant’s truffle aioli.
1740 Seidersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.868.6505 | boleterestaurant.com
2. Levitt Pavilion
Available at Levitt Pavilion’s Mack Truck Café during the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series, as well as at select concerts in the Musikfest Café, SteelStacks’ funnel cake fries are a must-try. Dusted with a hint of powdered sugar and paired with decadent dipping sauces like hot fudge or warm caramel, they’re the perfect treat to share with family and friends.
789 E. 1st St., Bethlehem | 610.332.1300 | steelstacks.org
Market Fries from 3rd & Ferry Fish Market
3. 3rd & Ferry Fish Market
3rd & Ferry specializes in Market Fries, which are fresh cut and tossed in crab aioli.
56 S. 3rd St., Easton | 610.829.1404 | thirdandferry.com
Photo by Colin Coleman
"Crack Fries" from Tapas on Main
4. Tapas on Main
A dish so good, some customers have referred to them as “crack fries.” At this Bethlehem favorite, the skillet of fries is topped with Manchego cheese (a Spanish variety comparable to sharp cheddar) and truffle oil from Seasons, just a few doors down.
500 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.868.8903 | tapasonmain.com
5. The Brick
At The Brick, choose from classic, sweet potato, garlic Parmesan and loaded cheese fries.
1 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1141 | thebrickpa.com
Funnel Cake Fries at Alburtis Tavern
6. Alburtis Tavern
Indulge in a twist on this carnival classic at Alburtis Tavern. Deep-fried to perfection, the French fry-shaped funnel cake is drizzled with chocolate and caramel syrup and dusted with powdered sugar.
106 S. Main St., Alburtis | 610.928.0404 | alburtistavern.com
Chickpea Fries from The Mint
7. The Mint
Delight in a guilt-free French fry variation at The Mint in Bethlehem. Their chickpea fries are hugely popular with the vegan crowd, anyone looking to limit their gluten or starch intake and general health nuts alike. Chef/owner Domenico Lombardo accredits the dish to his father being born and raised in Sicily, where chickpea cake was a commonly enjoyed “peasant food.” He himself grew up eating it sliced between bread, so, when looking to put a gastropub spin on it, he decided to cut it into French fries. The shape is really where the French fry comparison ends, though. He says the consistency is more like mashed potato or falafel, but the skin does make it a chewy, crunchy bite. The dish is low on spice, with zero additives, and true to the chickpea flavor—all they add is salt, parsley, pepper and olive oil. Because Lombardo says the chickpeas don’t retain oil the same way potatoes do, he suggests pairing the appetizer with something bubbly, expertly recommending a glass of rosé champagne at dusk on their patio by the fire pit this summer.
1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.3810 | bethlehemmint.com
8. Corked Wine Bar & Steakhouse
The fries are truly loaded at Corked—expect creamy cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream and scallions. Add chili for $3, or splurge on their truffle fries.
515 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.625.9463 | corkedwinebar.com
Wert’s Famous Fries topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and homemade cheese sauce
9. Wert’s Café
Wert’s Famous Fries are fresh cut and seasoned with Cajun seasoning, and topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and homemade cheese sauce.
515 N. 18th St., Allentown | 610.439.0951 | wertscafe.com
10. The Bookstore Speakeasy
Indulge in black truffle fries, served with house-made spicy ketchup, at The Bookstore.
336 Adams St., Bethlehem | 610.867.1100 | bookstorespeakeasy.com
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Duck Fat Frites from Two Rivers Brewing Company
11. Two Rivers Brewing Company
At Two Rivers, upgrade your meal to include their Duck Fat Frites—hand-cut potatoes, Pecorino-Romano cheese, rosemary, sea salt and white truffle oil—or order them as an appetizer. Get even messier with their Short Rib or Pulled Pork poutine.
542 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1131 | tworiversbrewing.com
12. P.J. Whelihan’s
At P.J.’s, choose from original, sweet potato and their Famous Fries—Old Bay-seasoned, crinkle-cut fries with a side of melted American cheese sauce.
4595 Broadway, Allentown | 610.395.2532 | 3395 High Point Blvd., Bethlehem | 484.353.7200 | pjspub.com
The Flying V food truck French fries
13. The Flying V
The Flying V food truck specializes in all things poutine, which typically consists of French fries, cheese curds and gravy. Hand-cut daily, The Flying V uses only the freshest cheese curds, locally sourced from the region’s best dairy farms, and the beef gravy is made from scratch, using a secret recipe that took a year to perfect. Vegetarian? Ask for their homemade shiitake mushroom gravy. The sky is the limit when it comes to toppings, and seasonal specials include duck confit, Philly cheese steak, chicken bacon ranch and Mediterranean. Try their red wine-braised short ribs poutine—topped with slow-cooked short ribs in red wine with fresh thyme—or their buffalo chicken poutine—complete with shredded chicken, lathered in house-made Buffalo sauce, and topped with ranch and scallions. This summer, find The Flying V at local festivals and breweries.
484.695.8154 | theflyingvfoodtruck.com
14. Nazareth Diner
Because they go through 50 cases of fries a week at the Nazareth Diner, the restaurant decided to to get creative. Choose from disco fries, pizza fries, triple cheese, caliente, blue, vodka, chili cheddar, nacho, spicy chipotle, Euro and bacon ranchero.
581 S. Broad St., Nazareth | 610.759.8555 | nazdiner.com
Torre's Yuca Fries
15. Torre Restaurant
Torre’s fries celebrate a lesser-known root vegetable, yuca, which is very similar to potato in texture, and is a signature ingredient in Mexican cooking. The fries pack a punch of bold, savory flavor, thanks to the restaurant’s secret spice blend, which includes garlic, ancho chili and brown sugar, and a dipping sauce of smooth chipotle crema.
Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley | 610.841.9399 | torrerestaurant.com
Photo by Shelbie Pletz
Union and Finch's Loaded Fries
16. Union and Finch
Avoiding the cliché of loaded nachos, Union and Finch opted for poutine. The dish is hearty enough to be a full meal—loaded with fries, duck gravy, cheese curds from Lancaster and house-pickled jalapeños. Keep an eye out for the restaurant’s Poutine of the Month series, which will rotate a different flavor profile.
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
Copperhead potato wedges
17. Copperhead Grille
At Copperhead, it all starts with a seasoned Idaho potato wedge. The fries are topped with house-made yellow cheddar mustard, shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar and chopped center-cut bacon, served with their Cajun ranch dressing for dipping. The cheesy goodness is available as a large appetizer or small side dish, and has been a menu staple since the restaurant’s 2002 inception.
5737 Rte. 378, Bethlehem | 610.282.4600 | 1731 Airport Rd., Allentown | 610.403.4600 | copperheadgrille.com
The Broadway Social Fries
18. The Broadway Social
Fries are tossed with Pecorino Romano and black truffle oil at The Broadway Social in Bethlehem.
217 Broadway, Bethlehem | 610.868.2555 | thebroadwaysocial.com
