Downtown French Fry fight promises shareable fun, new offerings

Pulled pork, crushed peanuts, birria and caramel sauce are among the avalanche of toppings available during this year’s Downtown French Fry Fight, a competition between Macon restaurants to celebrate downtown’s different flavors.

This year’s contest boasts an expanded list of restaurants, 23 of them, and an extended three-day window from July 9 to July 11 for diners to sample all the different creations. Previous iterations of the competition were one day only.

Diners can vote on their favorite french fry fabrication online on NewTown Macon’s website.

Last year saw Cashman’s Pub win the contest with their “Asian Sesame Fries,” dressed with yaki sauce, short rib and scallions. 

The event began back in 2022 as a way for NewTown to attract people downtown and drive sales, specifically during the summer when there is a bit of a lull in activity, said Emily Hopkins, main street manager for NewTown Macon.

Hopkins said most of the dishes, which range from $10 to $20 in price, are main dishes meant to be shared with your “french fry friends.” 

“I think people see downtown as a place to eat, but it’s important for people to really recognize downtown as a dining destination,” she said.

NewTown will put on its Fair Food Frenzy in October. Macon Burger Week celebrated the french fry’s counterpart in similar fashion last November.

The stacked list of the loaded fries includes:

1. Biddy’s: “GarParm Fries”- Fries topped with marinara, hand breaded garlic parmesan tenders and parmesan cheese
2. Braddock’s Cask and Table: “I like porkbutts when they come with fries” – Waffle fries, pulled pork, guacamole, salsa, queso fresco, cilantro
3. Cashman’s Pub: “Chicken Pot Fry” – Crispy shoestring fries layered with tender rotisserie chicken, garden vegetables and a rich, creamy white sauce, all topped with golden, buttery pastry crumbles.
4. Daisy Tequila Bar – Hot honey chicken, bacon and homemade ranch over hand cut fries.
5. Fall Line Brewing Co.: “In & Out Fries” – Hand-cut fries piled high with seasoned ground beef, grilled white onions, melted cheddar cheese and drizzled with house-made special sauce.
6. Fatty’s Pizza: “Pizza Fries” – Spicy Italian seasoned potato wedges topped with marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni.
7. Francar’s: “Triple Play Fries” – Three different fries, three dipping sauces and three seasonings.
8. Just Tap’d: “Cali Burrito Pizza” – Hand-tossed pizza dough with a Mexican crema sauce base, topped with seasoned carnitas, mozzarella cheese and crinkle cut fries. Finished with cotija cheese, diced jalapeños and a sprinkle of Tajín.
9. Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails: “Cheesy Chicken and Bacon Fries” – Pulled chicken in a mild curry spiced broth with melted smoked cheddar and crumbled bacon over fries, garnished with green onion and sesame seeds.
10. Kudzu Seafood Company: “Jam Fries”
11. La Bella Morelia: “Birria Fries” – Bed of battered fries topped with Birria meat, cilantro, onions queso and birria broth. Optional crema.
12. Longleaf Distilling Co.:  “Stir ‘Fry’” – Sweet and spicy beef stirfry with fries tossed in sesame oil and sprinkled with furikake.
13. Loom at Hotel Forty Five: “Sticky Southern Stack” – Smoked sticky rib, Kennebec’s, fry spice, cheddar cheese fondue, pickle Chow Chow.
14. Macon Water Ice: “Buffalo Mac Fries” – Seasoned fries, mac and cheese, buffalo chicken, homemade ranch dressing & buffalo sauce.
15. Ocmulgee Brewpub: “Sriracha Street Fries” – Hand cut fries, sriracha, hoisin, lime mayo, fresh cut cilantro, crushed peanuts, shaved jalapeño and lime wedges.
16. Oliver’s: “Steak au Poivre Fries” – Queso, steak, mushrooms, au poivre, scallions
17. Parish on Cherry: “Voodoo Fries” – Cajun melted cheese, caramelized onions, andouille sausage, tomatoes, green onions and cajun aioli
18. Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen: “PBK Pickle Mac & Pork Belly Fries” – Crispy waffle fries, housemade dill pickle and beer cheese mac, crispy pork belly bites, fresh dill, green onions and a honey sriracha drizzle. 
19. Rookery: “Smokehouse Fries” – Battered fries, chopped smoked ribs, queso cheese, tomatoes and scallions.
20. Satterfield’s: “Pulled Pork Loaded Fries” – Pork, cheese sauce, sweet sauce, pickled jalapeños, pickled red onions.
21. Sweet Eleanor’s: “Churro Fries” – Bavarian cream filled churros with cinnamon sugar cream and caramel sauce.
22. Social Duck: “The Gouda Pig” – BBQ seasoned fries topped with melted gouda, pulled pork, BBQ sauce and picked red onions
23. Vintage Restaurant at Marriott City Center: “Bonvoy Pub Fries” – seasoned fries, BBQ brisket, beer cheese, sour cream, BBQ sauce and banana peppers.