French Fry Diary 678: Smashburger 2015

I must confess I have not been impressed with Smashburger the last few times I'd been there, and although several have opened in my area recently, I have not really checked them out.

As our usual Sunday night take out dinner has been disrupted by Casa Carollo's becoming the much inferior Marlton 73, so we're taking suggestions and shopping around. Smashburger just opened up within throwing distance right around the corner, so it was in the running. Since we could order online and pick it up, we gave it a shot.

What a surprise! First the order was perfect and on time. We'd always eaten in so I've never seen their packaging. The fries and haystack onions came in cup-like holders that actually stand up on a flat surface, something most fry containers can't do, so props for that. Now the shake and burger were terrific, and I of course sandwiched the onions and fries. Mmmm... good stuff.

Now I have to mention the Smashfries were different. Rather than the usual frozen shoestrings, these were natural cuts smaller than shoestrings but not quite as thin as matchsticks. Quite good. Recommended, will definitely be going back more. Looks like I got my wish.

French Fry Diary 672: Marlton 73 Pizzeria & Bar

For our usual Sunday take-out dinner, The Bride and I decided on Casa Carollo's because we enjoy their food and especially the portion sizes. We got a bit of a surprise when we called, and especially when delivery was made.

Casa Carollo's was no longer Casa Carollo's as they had new owners, a new menu, and new food. The new name is the Marlton 73 Pizzeria & Bar, featuring a new streamlined menu with steak and seafood eliminated. The place has always been pretty good to us, so we were willing to give the new version a chance.

The new food extends of course to the favorite fried food. Whereas lately we had been getting steak fries more often than the batter fries I talked about here, these batter-covered fries, much crunchier and less appetizing than usual, came with my steak sandwich.

The steak sandwich, it barely qualifies as a plain cheesesteak, because of the construction, was very different. The roll was different, with the ends cut off, and with considerably less meat. It was still very good, but nowhere near as good as it used to be. The Bride reported a similar difference in her chicken parm.

It's only one experience, and they're just starting up, but I have to say there's a marked difference. We may have to find a new Sunday night take out place.

French Fry Diary 598: Casa Carollo Bar & Grille

We haven't been to Casa Carollo Bar & Grille in quite some time outside of going to the Comedy Cabaret there. And I'm not sure if that counts because it includes a limited menu for those events. Looking for something different one night when we wanted something delivered, we checked them out.

There is definitely something to be said for portion size. They make 'em big at Casa Carollo. The Bride got chicken Parmesan that was at least three servings, maybe more. That would be lunch for a couple days that week, and the same for my steak sandwich. It was easily more full than any other local steak, and also easily at least two meals. Plus they gave us rolls and garlic knots. This was a haul at a very inexpensive price compared to other places locally for the same stuff.

And you guessed it, I also got fries, else I wouldn't be writing about it here, right? Casa Carollo offers something called Italian Fries. On the menu, these are described as crispy thin fries with Italian herbs. What we got were seasoned regular cuts. I recognized Old Bay, maybe rosemary, but there was definitely more. They were neither crispy nor thin, actually they were kinda soggy, but they were perfection when heated up a bit in the oven.

All in all, we were very pleased with what we got and ordered again the next week. This time I got the onion rings, big thick panko breaded rings, equally good reheated later. I think we've definitely found a new place to go in the area.

French Fry Diary 129: Casa Carollo

We returned to Casa Carollo Bar & Grill recently, once again for the Comedy Cabaret. We once again got to see Teri Valentine, enjoyed the stand-up of host Simply Dee, the very funny Jason Pollock and headliner Terry Gillespie. All in all, a fun night, but as always, that's not what you're here for, you're here for the favorite fried food.

This time we got the famous house Carollo Fries. These are the same deep-fried regular cuts we got last time -not great, but not bad either- with American cheese, cheddar cheese and barely cooked bacon on top. This might have actually been very good had the bacon been crisp or the fries hotter than just warm. Just a hint, hot fries equal melted cheese.

Onion rings were also ordered. While the menu itself says they are dusted with seasoned flour, these are actually breaded and deep-fried, not that there's anything wrong with that. These were actually quite good, and I'll order them next time as well. Big rings of onion, crunchy and tasty. Well done.

French Fry Diary 119: Casa Carollo’s Comedy Cabaret

The Bride and I have been going to the local Comedy Cabaret for literally decades, since we were dating. She of course still looks a hot twenty, and I look like, well, I look like I write a blog about French fries, if you get my drift. Regardless, we hadn’t gone in a while and decided to try the newest CC outlet as it’s right in our hometown. And while we were there, I thought I might also have some fries.

The area Casa Carollo’s has set aside for the Comedy Cabaret, combined with the bar area, really made me wonder how much was left of the actual restaurant based on the last time I had been there – but I didn’t really have a chance to explore and find out. There is after all a second floor.

The comedy show was actually pretty good. We especially enjoyed Marlton native Teri Valentine, emcee Jason Hazelwood and headliner Taylor Mason. We really didn’t like Frank Genzano who thought it was okay to make fun of the mentally handicapped, and we loved Jay Black who was a last minute substitution – he was great. And it was a nice trip down memory lane to hear "The Curly Shuffle" again.

But that’s not what you’re here for, is it? This is about the favorite fried food, not comedy. Casa Carollo Bar & Grille is a local Italian restaurant in Marlton NJ that has blossomed into a nightspot of sorts. The night we were there for comedy, they also had a singer in the front bar. The food is always excellent. I have always loved their steak sandwiches and especially the profiteroles.

For the comedy show they had a special 'comedy menu' so we ordered the fries from there. Just for the record, and to be fair, this isn’t accurately a review of Casa Carollo, as they also have special Carollo fries, Italian fries as well as onion rings, none of which we had this night, so we will have to come back. These fries were standard regular cuts, deep fried, not greasy and fun to snack on during a show. Not great, but not bad either. Either way, it’s a return trip for the comedy, the room, and the fries.