Boise Fry Company

Boise Fry Company does have three locations in Boise, plus locations in Nampa and Meridian, but there is only one location in Oregon, and that is in Portland, on Burnside just down from Providence Park.

Oregon and Idaho have always had pretty close ties anyway, but at least the way that this location decorates - with bike wheel light fixtures and state outline tables - makes the restaurant feel like a good Portland fit.

The line of Mr. Potato Head toys around the perimeter is an apt touch.

But what really matters is the food, and what matters most is the potatoes.

Our group got purple potatoes in curly fry form, and both yams and sweet potatoes in regular form. I chose the rarest, because I can get russet regular fries anywhere, but curly fries and purple potatoes are both hard to find.

The burgers are secondary. They're not bad; they're just not the main event. That being said, I chose "The Classic" for my burger and was disappointed, because the flavor on their house-made pickles is not good. This was a bigger disappointment for me than it would be for a lot of people, I know. If I were to get a burger again, and go with Classic, I would ask them to hold the pickle, and it would be sad.

But with that emphasis on fries also comes more ways of enjoying them. There is a good reason that the dishes have holes for the little cups.

I haven't been to Raccoon Lodge, so I can't compare, but I find this to be a most impressive array of salts and sauces. Notice that there is a variety of sweet, spicy, and savory options, but also that there is an emphasis on providing vegan and gluten-free options. Their history might lie in Boise, but they are clearly Portland-compatible.

http://www.boisefrycompany.com/