Top Spots for French Fries in Southwest Illinois
The simple potato- satisfying, iconic, a pairing for entrees everywhere and- mashed, fried, or stewed- a staple on American menus nationwide. And what potato rests at the hallowed pinnacle of deliciousness? French fries of course!
Whether you’re into steak fries, shoestrings, curlies, waffle, crinkle-cuts, or tater tots, it’s a fair assumption you’ve picked up a preference. They come breaded, drenched in cheese, dipped, dolloped, put between a bun, and under chili. Fry enthusiasts argue: do we like fries for fries? Or are they simply a method of delivery for that sweet, sweet sauce?
Ask a Midwesterner and the topic is hot: what goes on fries? Ketchup? Ranch dressing? BBQ sauce or gravy? Do you like your fries dipped in ice-cream or bathed in queso? There are a thousand ways to enjoy French fries- here are the Top 10 Best French Fry Spots in southwestern Illinois:
#1 Old Herald Brewery & Distillery, Collinsville
Once home to the Collinsville Herald newspaper, Old Herald Brewery & Distillery now serves as a brewery, distillery, and restaurant. Order the Brewer's Loaded Fries which are drenched in beer cheese sauce, bourbon BBQ, sour cream and topped with your choice of pulled pork or IPA brisket. This appetizer can really qualify as a full meal and pairs well with any of the Old Herald beers on draft.
FRY FACT: According to surveys, classic ketchup is Illinois’ most popular dipping sauce!
2. Village Inn – Alton
Serving far more than just breakfast, Village Inn in Alton has great diner lunch and dinner and long cut, breaded fries that hit the spot! Like ranch to dip your fries in? Village Inn makes their own creamy ranch dressing that’s just right- dip a fry and get transported to Midwestern heaven!
3. Nick’s Pancake House- Jerseyville
Hash browns, American fries, and consistently delicious breaded French fries at Nick’s Pancake House are sure to satisfy your diner cravings. Pair with their homemade ranch dressing, dips, or a bowl of chili for a taste that feels like home.
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Mousallis-Prime.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2483ac8ea50f1452e7a12bc2680c495f 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Mousallis-Prime.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d1d8e80dc876478ceb3c6fbf04c1cee1 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Mousallis-Prime.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ae197290b46607d45eed665d9bc46e7a 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Mousallis-Prime.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=0968623c5c25e81291386ef811229571 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Mousallis-Prime.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e038df1f3544bae715eb6f47d54b2924 1080w)
4. Moussalli’s Prime- Edwardsville
Known for a host of unique fine dining options, Moussalli’s Prime doesn’t skimp out in the fry department. Try the garlic-parmesan French fries for a delightful twist on a humble potato classic that feels as upscale as the rest of Moussalli’s menu!
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Sgt.-Peppers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1c435e6f9a5926fcb3ee32ae3297ecf6 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Sgt.-Peppers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=467be14e8d84a15f0ef8a0261980f608 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Sgt.-Peppers.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9b7ae1b8ed77bdc5ba457c865f2de3a8 720w)
5. Sergeant Pepper’s Café - Edwardsville
Named after the famous 1967 Beatles record, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Sgt. Pepper's Cafe. Pepper's Cafe in Edwardsville has a nostalgic 1970’s vibe and offers several varieties of cheese fries, chili fries, and horseshoes. Never had a horseshoe? If you like burgers, fries, and especially cheese, you can’t go wrong!
6. Route 66 Creamery- Hamel
Jump into Route 66 nostalgia at this roadside creamery in Hamel, serving up classic American favorites like chili, cheese dogs, hand-pressed steak burgers and fries, and old-fashioned ice-cream. Route 66 Creamery also has creative concretes, cones, malts, shakes, and floats which go great with 50’s French fries- dip them in the icy treats to create the perfect amalgam of sweet and salty goodness!
FRY FACT: Americans love a variety of dipping sauces on French fries including: ketchup, cheese, ranch dressing, mayo, tartar sauce, bbq sauce, mustard, tabasco sauce, tomato sauce, relish, gravy, sriracha sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cocktail sauce, ice-cream or shakes, chili, Pico de Gallo, artichoke dip, hummus, and queso- the sauces vary greatly from state to state- which sauce do you enjoy most on yours?
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ede3db8df52a68d8e66ef4dc7e476258 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4a3ab931b17c2f4c712e3dea58532ed0 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bec831668f4baf8c3c91d641d41bd50d 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=d7db8c6225e53b10fdb8447ffea7f768 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e081b4ea251eb439742ae5021281eaa6 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=04a3fe519df72e2f32ba635c6a2c3f58 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=27e1c9d284f05143e253abfea0744384 1920w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=214041725d0b3ae5bb4f53685a3e8ff4 2560w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/Uptown-Tavern-Skinny-Fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=f198d3d11e70cc6ba91a93fc18b679b2 3840w)
7. The Uptown Tavern- Carlinville
Farm to table and a home-town vibe make every menu item at The Uptown Tavern special. Locally sourced and made with care, Uptown’s tavern fries are shoelace-cuts- crispy, coated, and paired with classic buffalo sauce, warm beer cheese, bacon bits, and freshly-chopped green onion.
8. Cleveland Heath- Edwardsville
Gourmet comfort foods prepared with upscale attention to detail by award-winning chefs make Cleveland Heath an always memorable dining experience. Cleveland Heath mixes Midwest and Californian cuisine and the French fries are a culmination of both shoestring fries and sweet potato fries. Try the Lomo Saltado breakfast fries comprised of steak, peppers, onions, tomatoes, soy sauce, on a bed of fries topped with over-easy eggs!
9. King- Louie’s Drive-In- Wood River
A local favorite and listed in the Top 50 American Drive-Ins, King Louie’s in Wood River serves up comfort food with nostalgia. Cheeseburgers, patty melts, and sandwiches pair deliciously with King Louie’s famous potato plank fries- cut with the skin still on- and topped with your choice of chili, cheese, sour cream, bacon, jalapenos, or BBQ. Get the Everything fries with all of the above for a truly Route 66 Drive-In dish!
FRY FACT: Thick-cut steak fries are Illinois’ top-rated French fry!
![](https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d3b7af00524c4aeb1a5a9e43f344059c 320w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ae5dd1eb9d75915ecf8f04fa080eeef4 540w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=cb408ba3df51d2b4db3bfea17570a337 768w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=0b198a6272b792b19c7cf64578e80a06 1024w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=843b513e7cd0e9c5dd107f821f792c9b 1200w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=d3a4b19211b70410cde863619dea0233 1440w, https://riversandroutes.imgix.net/images/old-herald-fries.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b940936902a31db37d828f251dda33a8 1536w)
10. George's Local Brew
It’s kind of a no-brainer to order the fries at George’s Local Brew in Jerseyville- with steak, sweet potato, and skinny cut, George’s fries come dreamily salted and seasoned. You can also get nacho cheese sauce for dipping or even dip a fry in George’s house-made-daily soup! Who says you can’t dip your fries in soup?
Honorable mentions:
Teri’s Route 66 Diner - Granite City
Village Drive-In - Bunker Hill
The Loading Dock - Grafton
Post Commons - Alton