The Burger Shack

Every so often, a cocky new fry kid comes to town. And they are usually at least semi-cautious with their fry bragging.  Not so with newcomers The Burger Shack on MLK in Fayetteville.  They are straight up smack talkin!  They mention their fries right on the sign!

 AND IN HUGE LETTERS ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING!

Oh it is SO on.

The inside looks like a beach bar.  Burger Shack.  Get it?

There's even a cabana-looking thing where the waiters make milkshakes.

What's with the thing where places are putting the potato boxes on display in the front of the restaurant these days?  5 Guys Burgers does this too.  Weird trend.

Whoa!  Free peanuts while you wait!  Sweet.  Unstrike one...

Their frying setup looked promising.  The baskets on the left were in some water (possibly brine), and it looked like there were two different fryers with two different temperatures of oil.

$2.49 for a "medium" paper boat of fries.  Too many to count, but definitely a strike for price vs. quantity.

The upside: GOOD!  Crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

There was a seasoning on them, but we couldn't make out what it was.

To be fair, their bold signage mentions that the fries are fresh cut.  That is true.  I'll give them that.  If their signs said "Fresh Cut GOOD Fries" I would agree.  If their signs said "Fresh Cut GREAT Fries" I would disagree.

8 out of 10.

P.S.    I put like 60 peanuts in my pockets while I was waiting.
P.P.S. Amy said their milkshakes are really good but I don't care about milkshakes.

Nomad's Natural Plate Food Truck

I have long since lost my ability to remain functionally appropriate after a few beers, and I like to avoid making a fool of myself in public.  For this reason, I rarely go out on Dickson Street (the main bar section of Fayetteville for those of you who don't know) any more unless it's a special occasion.  This past Saturday was a special occasion (a reunion show by the Paper Hearts), so I was down on Dickson with the Bandit.

On our way home, the Bandit demanded food from the Nomad's food truck.  I was in no condition to interact with strangers.

NOMAD's GUY: Hi, what can I get you?
GIBBY:  It's....it's..prime time penguins....snarlffffttt!
NOMAD's GUY: Whoa.

The Bandit quickly stepped in to interpret.
BANDIT:  He says he wants fries.  Do you have fries?
NOMAD's GUY:  Yes.  We have pita fries and regular fries.
BANDIT:  Which fries do you want, Gibby?
GIBBY: Yaaawwwr!  I saw something!  Review!  Review!
BANDIT:  Just give us an order of both.  And a falafel (I didn't agree to the falafel).

Both the pita fries and the regular fries were 3 bucks.  Kinda steep.  The kid put everything in one box, which depressed me since I knew the fry count would be low.

The pita fries were interesting.  Pita bread chopped into funny shapes and deep fried.  Kinda meh, but the tzatziki sauce made them okay (not great).

The regular fries were quite good.  They are basically the same fries you get at the local Greek joint.  Since they aren't technically potatoes I won't give them a score.  Good seasoning.  Outta the freezer bag, but hot and tasty.  Amount was bad for 3 bucks though.  7 out of 10.

The Bandit ate the falafel.  She said it was good, but she's a vegetarian so what does she know?