Frjtz

(415)864-7654
579 Hayes St.
(between Laguna & Octavia)
San Francisco, CA
(Hayes Valley district)
   and
(415)928-3886
900 North Point St.
(at Larkin)
San Francisco, CA
(Ghiradelli Square)

Price: $
Rating: 7 (Rating & price key)
Last visit: 05/06/06

This casual and inexpensive eatery in Hayes Valley (and another location in Ghiradelli Square) serves up basic sandwichery, and, of course, fries.

The Hayes Valley location (the only one I've been to) is narrow and deep, with a back patio in good weather. Decor is funky and music is sometimes DJ'd. On our visit, a group of women were in the front window seat (more lounge-style than actual seating) playing Scrabble. A single solitary sidewalk table is also available.

This is an order-at-the-register type place, with a good selection of belgian beers, a few sandwiches and salads, as well as sweet & savory crepes. The Ghiradelli location serves brunch as well.

Sarah, Julian and I split two large orders of fries between us ($4.50/order, including two sauces each) and I had the rivera salad with chicken ($7.75, "Chopped cabagge, bbq chicken or bbq tofu, jicama, black beans, yellow corn, avocado, tomatoes, onions, fried tortilla strips. Tossed with a lemon-goat cheese dressing"). Julian and I each also had an excellent Leffe belgian beer.

As one would hope for a place called frites, the fries were first-rate - perfectly golden brown, crispy and hot, served in a paper cone perched in a tall glass. These were fries as they should be, for sure! My salad didn't fare as well, with a gooey, overly sweet barbeque sauce, which I'd just as soon have omitted entirely. It was otherwise fresh and healthy, though.

Frites has myriad dipping sauces to choose from; we tried the curry ketchup (fabulous!), chipotle remoulade (good, but could have been spicier), and peanut sauce (tasty, but better for chicken sate than for fries). I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for a full meal here, but I'd definitely drop in for fries and a beer when in the area - the combo of potatoes, lots of dips, and good belgian beer is a winner!