French Fry Diary 515: The Myth of Friar’s Nook

If you’re a regular reader of French Fry Diary, you know that I have attempted to review Friar’s Nook on two different occasions, only to be foiled both times by it being closed, once by rain, and once by the seasons.

This tiny quick service counter in the Magic Kingdom area of Walt Disney World has eluded me as if it knows I’m coming. It’s no Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill, but it has become a white whale for me in its own right.

Dom and Cindy and their family, who have traveled with The Bride and me before to the wilds of Disney visited again in the last few weeks, and this time, Dom found Friar’s Nook open, purchased their infamous homemade potato chips and even produced photographic proof that Friar’s Nook does actually open from time to time.

How were they? Cindy says: “They were good but not great. They were cut very thick. Most were very (very) hard and crisp, except for a few that were oily and chewier. They were slightly too salty.” Word is they should be open when we go for our vacation in less than two weeks, although I have been advised to try them around lunchtime. Hopefully they will not elude me again. Thanks, Dom and Cindy!

French Fry Diary 301: The Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza, Yes, Again

Three strikes and you’re out is the baseball metaphor. This is my third trip to the Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza, a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike in North Jersey. It has a Roy Rogers, a Nathan’s, an Arthur Treacher’s, and a Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill, among other shops and food stops. The last one in that list has never been open when I’ve been there.

This trip I arrived just after nine PM on a busy Saturday night. Like last time, there were employees in there at Dick Clark’s, but none would talk to me, let alone look at me. I think at this point, this must be some sort if scam, and the AB Grill is never open. It’s a mirage obviously.

The Arthur Treacher’s was open and doing a brisk business, but as noted on the last visit, I only could have gotten Nathan’s fries there. Do I have to visit Ohio to get real Arthur Treacher’s chips?

Oh well. Instead I got Roy Rogers fries, some milk and Cinnabon for the road, and made my way back home. Perhaps tonight I will dream of a day when the AB Grill will be open or I can get Arthur Treacher’s chips at an Arthur Treacher’s…

French Fry Diary 229: Return to the Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza

So here I am, on Memorial Day weekend, back at the Molly Pitcher rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike. The last time I was here, neither Arthur Treacher’s nor Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill nor even Nathan’s were open.

Surprisingly, tonight, Sunday of one of the busiest traffic weekends of the year at 10:45 PM – they were in the process of closing again. So it was Roy Rogers by default again. No complaints there, I love Roy Rogers, but I did want to try the others.

It should be noted that the real Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill is in Banson, Missouri, and that I could find no record of this one on the internet. Also, this Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips is one of those affiliated with Nathan’s, and not one of the ‘real’ ones from Ohio that has the ‘real’ Arthur Treacher’s chips. All I would have gotten here is Nathan’s fries anyway. Again, no complaints, but I want the real chips, you know?

Now I have to figure out if these closings are something deliberate against me or do these restaurants have weirder hours than those at Harrahs. You know, the casino, another place that is open twenty-four hours a day. I just find it funny. I mean, do 7-Eleven or 24/7 convenience stores close up parts of their store at inopportune times?

French Fry Diary 181: Molly Pitcher Plaza on the NJ Turnpike

On the way home from the Funplex in East Hanover NJ we had to stop to rest as it’s a long drive, so we took a break at the Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza on the NJ Turnpike. It was named for the heroine of the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. Legend has it she fetched water for the American soldiers during that decisive battle in the American Revolution. For her trouble, she got a rest stop, but as you’ll see, not just any rest stop.

We arrived just after midnight on a Saturday night, which is why it seemed strange half the place was closed up. I was especially crushed as three of the restaurants at the place were of considerable French fry interest. Nathan’s and Roy Rogers have some of the best fast food fries around, and Arthur Treacher’s used to as well, but I had not been to the latter since I began this blogging journey. There was also something extremely enticing called Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill.

Had they all been open, and our stomachs empty, I imagine I could have eaten lots of the favorite fried food, taken copious notes, and pulled at least three, maybe more, entries for the FFD out of this experience. As it turned out, we had Roy Rogers and Cinnabon. That’s not a complaint, by the way. It was a good snack and a good break, but it could have been much better.

Mrs. Pitcher, we’ll be back. Please be open!