Spud-tacular: Monroe News staff agrees with Monroe County's best fries

MONROE — Friday was "Fry Day" at The Monroe News and our readers were right, Smokehouse 734’s fries are spud-tacular.

In honor of National French Fry Day on July 12, we asked our Facebook community who makes the best french fries in Monroe County. After collecting nominations and posting a list, people voted for their favorite.

Monroe News staff decided to check out the top three — Smokehouse 734, Public House and Sal’s Place Family Restaurant.

Gathering at the downtown office for a blind taste test, they sampled without knowing which restaurant’s fries they were trying. The blind tasting allowed testers to focus purely on the taste, smell and texture of the product in order to make an unbiased judgement.

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Here’s the results: Smokehouse 734 took first. Reporters liked the texture and crunch of the fries. They’re thick and crispy.

Second place went to Public House. The thick cut fries have a special house seasoning that offers a hint of salt. They are served with a choice of two sauces — garlic ailoi or cajun remoulade.

Sal’s Place Family Restaurant secured third with standard cut fries cooked to a golden brown.

For potato perfection, all three eateries use soybean oil.

“These are all really good and I don’t eat fries,” Tom Hawley, Monroe News photographer said. “I don’t like crunchy fries, but I like these. Anyone got salt?”

— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.