When I started my blog back in 2019, I got straight to the important stuff:  French fries, of course!  I shared my Top 5 Places to get French fries in San Francisco, and I’m happy to report that 4 of them still deliver my favorite local French fry experiences. (I miss you dearly, Cafe Claude!)

Since my French fry research extends beyond San Francisco, I consider it my responsibility to share the wealth.  So here we go with another top 5!

1) Bonnie Bar in Paris – This experience gets the number 1 spot because of the serendipitous way that my son and I stumbled upon this rooftop lounge.  Read more about that in the New and Old in Paris post.  As for the French fries, they were outstanding, but what doesn’t taste amazing with a sweeping view of Paris?  Extra bonus for fans of Emily in Paris:  catch a glimpse of the Bonnie Lounge in episode 3, season 4.  

2) McMenamins North Bank in Eugene, Oregon – McMenamins serves handcrafted beer and pub food throughout the Pacific Northwest.  I’ve been to many of the locations, and the fries are dependably delicious.  They serve a classic fry, with some skins left on, medium size, and perfectly fried.  The location on the North Bank of the Willamette River has a special place in my heart from my days living in Eugene as a grad student, and now my son is an Architecture student at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!).  If you rent a bike in town, you can ride your bike along the river trail, and North Bank will be a delightful place to refuel!

3) Punky’s, off the beaten path in Twin Lakes, Colorado – On a back country road, driving from Aspen to Colorado Springs, we saw a lone trailer with a big sign that read “Ribbon Fries.”  Obviously, it was a sign (literally and in the cosmic sense) that travel is about the journey, not the destination.  The only thing to do was to turn the car around and find out what exactly are ribbon fries.  It turns out they are delicious!  More like chips than classic fries.  Crunchy, salty, and curly – the perfect back country snack.

4) Amy’s Drive-Thru in Rohnert Park – The green roof on Amy’s Drive-Thru is the first clue that this is not your typical drive-thru.  With extensive organic and vegan options on the menu, it’s always a welcome stop when we are heading north on Highway 101.  Their Sweet Potato Fries are my favorite, and if you get them with the Rachel Salad, it’s super healthy! 
[Editor’s Note:  Amy’s Drive-Thru announced they are closing their doors in early March 2026, so get there while you can!]

5) Boon Eat + Drink in Guerneville and The Birds Cafe in Bodega Bay – I’m sort of cheating by putting two places in the number 5 spot, but I included both of these in an earlier post about Adventures in the Russian River Valley, and I just couldn’t choose!

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Also – don’t be shy about sharing your favorite place for French fries – near or far – in the comments section!