Frequent Fryer, T.
Yelp
Arby's is yet another American fast food service operating since 1964. You've probably seen the ten-gallon hat logo on your travels, but you probably didn't know that the name comes from the initials of the founding Raffel Brothers! Arby's has always tried to distinguish itself from the quick-service competition: from its beginnings as a quality (non-burger) deli meat sandwich seller, to its early 90's initiative to offer low-calorie lite menu items.
Today, Arby's is probably best known for its specific targeting of hungry audiences via extremely nerdy and entertaining social media banter and unexpected but bold ingredient choices for a fast food restaurant. In fact, they're always trying new items on the menu, and as of last year you can find venison- and elk-meat sandwiches nationwide! #NotAnAd #CouldBeAnAd #PleaseGiveMeMoney
But none of that matters. Let's get to the fries!
The name of the game here at Arby's is Curly Fries (or Curly-Q Fries if you want to stick with the Arby's barbecue theme), and despite the single style they offer, there is variety to be found. First off, if you're already thinking about lining up for a venison burger, you might enjoy the Loaded Curly Fries. Vegetarians, steer clear of this hefty dish of bacon, cheddar cheese, and ranch, but feel free to enjoy the BBQ fumes that waft your way.
If you don't want your Curly Fries covered, then The Frequent Fryer has you covered! Your first decision will be what fry size you want. You can go big with a Large for $2.69, or go home with a Snack for $1.69. Small packs will run you $1.99 and Normal is $2.29, but who wants to be normal anyway? Actually, the variety of side order sizes is a form of encouragement for the calorie-minded menu Arby's pioneered in the 90's. I ordered two Large sides, but if you need to be more careful with your carb intake, the smaller sizes are exactly what the doctor ordered! One large order is pretty filling, and two is quite ambitious (even for me), so don't be afraid of not filling up.
What you SHOULD be afraid of is how to finish all the curlicues in front of you. Each potato is cut into similar cyclones, but only some will last as in-tact tornadoes when they arrive on your plate. The debris varies in size, but the flavor and temperature remain constant despite the shape. The unfried potatoes are dipped in a seasoned flour of paprika, cayenne, onion powder, and other common fry seasonings before they hit the oil, and they are removed at just the right time to achieve maximum crispiness. The order will stay hot as long as it takes you to finish. So go ahead! Grab that extra long curl, dip it in your favorite sauce, and lower it into your mouth as it stretches and...
FALLS APART?! Fellow fry enthusiasts, I've been fooled! I may have first applauded the consistency in the frying of the 'cues, but if you examine your meal closely, you'll see that ONLY the flour is cooked, and a good amount of the potatoes are still raw! You might not notice anything if your fries don't separate from their coating, but if you experience adhesive adversity, you'll find the ugly truth buried underneath the spicy sweet seasoning.
Compared to other fast food curly fries, Arby's succeeds by sticking to what they know. You won't find any stray normal fries mixed in with the batch (like EVERY OTHER restaurant), and the mixture of spices is pleasant. The fries are warm, fulfilling, and crispy, no matter what batch they're taken from, but the cost of quickness is the uncooked and unpleasant surprise of raw tater.
Final rating for Arby's Curly Fries: 3.5/5 Spuds!