Voting in the finals for the "NEO's Best: Fries" competition is complete. Multimedia specialists David Petkiewicz and Kristel Hartshorn and I have spent the past two weeks visiting the 8 finalists in the competition -- tasting, testing and sharing notes via posts, photos and video. We were joined by comedian Brian Kenny, a member of the Accidental Comedy Club and regular at Hilarities, who was our our on-air fry guy, interviewing people and offering his own commentary.
A People's Choice winner, determined by popular vote in our "NEO's Best: Fries" poll, will be announced Monday, Nov. 2. I will also select a Grand Prize winner, based on my own tastings. And Kenny will select his favorite, too.
We've collected links to our 8 tastings below. Petkiewicz has also created a special photo gallery above, with photos from the finalists.
No matter who the winners turn out to be, these 10 Northeast Ohio restaurants all make some mighty fine fries.
B Spot (locations in Woodmere, Strongsville, Westlake, Horseshoe Casino, FirstEnergy Stadium and The Q). We used to call it "meat and potatoes." Now it's become a burger and fries. And while Michael Symon's B Spot restaurants adds all kinds of embellishments to their burgers (anything from pickled onion, bacon and a sunny-side-up egg, to pulled pork, cole slaw and barbecue sauce) B Spot fries make the most of a few great ingredients.
- B Spot fries make the most of a few great ingredients
- Video
Deagan's Kitchen, 14810 Detroit Ave., Lakewood; 216-767-5775. The restaurant's "House Fries," drizzled with white truffle oil, strewn with shredded parmesan, pepper, sea salt and chopped scallions, were delicious. Served piping hot, they were crunchy and the flavor of Idaho potatoes managed to shine through.
- Deagan's Kitchen's 'House Fries' are a thing of beauty
- Video
Hot Dog Diner, 5494 Pearl Road, Parma; 440-886-3647. For years, Natalie and David Teare operated Pizzaroni's Restaurant on Brookpark Road, before shifting gears and switching to sausages and reopening as the Hot Dog Diner.
- At Hot Dog Diner in Parma, french fries are a family business
- Video
Hot Dog Heaven, 493 Cleveland Ave., Amherst; 440-988-7404. Burgers and cheeseburgers are big sellers at Hot Dog Heaven, but it's all-American franks -- hot dogs in various sizes and styles, and an endless mix-and-match of toppings -- that are the big draw.
- At Hot Dog Heaven in Amherst, fresh french fries are a 40-year tradition
- Video
Lola, 2058 East 4th St. (Downtown), Cleveland; 216-621-5652. Iron Chef Michael Symon created the unique marriage of seasonings that combine to produce the uniquely flavorful fries that have become a signature item on the menu of all Michael Symon restaurants - including the chef's flagship, Lola Bistro, 2058 East Fourth St., Cleveland. "I love french fries," says Symon. "Even when I'm being healthy, I order a salad with a side of fries!"
- Michael Symon's "Lola Fries" have become a unique category of french fries
- Video
Scooter's Dawg House, 9600 Blackbrook Road, Mentor; 440-354-8480. "I love hot dogs, and I've always wanted to have a hot dog shop," says Diane Hagara. Adds her husband, Scott Hagara, "we get to make up our own rules and our own menu. It's a labor of love - and we have fun doing it."
- Scooter's Dawg House owes success to customer loyalty, tradition and good fries
- Video
Tommy's, 1824 Coventry Road (Coventry Village), Cleveland Heights; 216-321-7757. When Tommy's first offered french fries, they were made in a little home-kitchen size fryer mostly used to cook falafel and taco shells.
- Tommy's serves fries so seductive, you don't feel guilty for polishing off the plate
- Video
Whitey's Booze N' Burgers, 3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield; 330-659-3600. "My father had a love-hate affair with potatoes," says Jon Bigadza of his father, Gregory Bigadza who opened Whitey's Booze 'n Burgers in 1953 in Richfield. "Potatoes were a staple during the Depression - and he used to say his mother could make potatoes 30 different ways. So when he got away from home, the first thing he bought was a steak and ground the trimmings into hamburger."
- Whitey's Booze 'n Burgers leans on traditions and techniques from back in the 1950s
- Video