Since I didn’t get to eat fries at the Desert Edge Brewery on my last outing, the next day I went out to a local franchise called Crown Burger. A whole slew of Greek owned and operated —the franchise I visited was operated solely by whatever PC term you wish to use to describe those of Mexican descent— burger joints exist in the greater Salt Lake area. City Weekly once described the history behind the proliferation of restaurants such as Crown Burger, Apollo Burger and the like.
My first warning to you is to stay away from the French Dip. It is labeled on the menu as Beef Dip and I learned the hard way why the naming convention is different. French Dips are good. The sliced roast beef and the toasted bread and the piping hot au jus is usually tasty regardless of the restaurant. I like mine topped with Swiss cheese.
The Beef Dip at Crown Burger was a waste of my money. I think the beef had been cooking in liquid all day so that when I came around, the meat was dry and flavorless. This would normally be okay if the Au Jus had any flavor resembling what normally serves for the dipping sauce with a French Dip at other restaurants, but I think they just used beef bouillon for the dipping gravy. The toasted bread that it was served on was okay, as was the Swiss cheese. The way the meat came out on my sandwich was the antithesis of the true definition of Au Jus.
All that is besides the point. I originally dined at Crown Burger so I could eat their yummy fries. These fries are skinless and of the thick Julienne cut. I would say they are about as thick as my pinkie. Length can be anywhere from the length of my longest finger to the size of my thumb up to the knuckle. These fries are fluffy on the inside and just barely golden on the outside.
Everything at Crown Burger is served hot hot hot and the fries are no different. Everytime I order fries at one of these joints, I end up with a scalded tongue. I would advise waiting a few minutes before digging in.
I loaded up at the condiment bar with their original fry sauce and ketchup. Some fries taste better with ketchup and others taste better with fry sauce. Each type of fry sauce has a different ‘zing’ in it that makes it different. The zing at Crown Burger appears to be some form of pickled relish. Their fry sauce goes particularly well with their fries so I barely even touched my ketchup.
I wouldn’t let the nasty French Dip keep me away from these Greek Burger restaurants. That was one of the few bad experiences I have had. Many times when I am in the mood for local fries, the kind that don’t come frozen in bags like at chain restaurants, I think fondly of Crown Burger and their kin.
