1251 Williston Rd, South Burlington, VT 05403
Burlington is the largest city in the state of Vermont. All character and uniqueness of Vermont can be found in this little New England City that sits like a jewel, perched above the glittering crystal clear cool waters of Lake Champlain. For most of its history, Vermont was considered a solidly conservative state, but as Burlington goes, so did Vermont. In 1981, Burlington, Vermont elected a Socialist Brooklyn transplant named Bernie Sanders to be its mayor. The progressive wave began and, today, both Burlington and Vermont are considered to be some of the most politically progressive cities/states in the United States.
Burlington is a lively, youthful city, perhaps owing to the proximity of three prominent colleges: Burlington College, Champlain College and the school that casts the largest shadow over the city, The University of Vermont. It seems to the casual visitor that this city is the very definition of a “college town.” Elegant Victorian homes line College Street and, as you drive down it toward the stunning Lake Champlain, you can see these stately old ladies have been preserved and occupied by mostly businesses and fraternities associated with the various colleges and universities. Burlington is home to unique culture including such varied interest as the Emily Post Institute and Ben and Jerry’s.[1]
If you turn around from the lake and head up College Street, past the Victorian Buildings and past the University of Vermont, you find yourself headed toward South Burlington and one of the local cherished institutions: Al’s French Fries.
As you might imagine, Al’s is known for it’s French fries and, admittedly, they are the best feature of their menus. To merely cast Al’s as a French fry joint would do it a disservice. To the locals, Al’s has been a fixture since the late 1940s when the titular Al Rusterholtz and his wife Genevieve opened up their first snack bar. The first building had an open counter and no inside seating. They expanded over the years to accommodate their growing fans and patrons. Al’s is very popular with the various college students and, over the years, many a tired, frazzled, or bored student has made his/her way for a late night snack to satisfy “the munchies” or just to hang out. Al’s French Fries is also a staple of the Champlain Valley Fair, which brings the hand cut potatoes to the whole state to enjoy year after year.
The interior of Al’s French Fries looks like a typical diner, minus the counter stand. Clean, well lit, with ample seating inside, with an outside overlooking a play area for kids to enjoy while parents relax and eat their meals in peace. As stated previously, the French fries are the stars at Al’s, and deservedly so. There is a full menu from which you can place your order and wait patiently in line for it to be made and picked up (no table service). Fries can be had with cheese, chili, and even gravy. You can ask them to mix the cheese and gravy together for a poor man’s Poutine,[2] if you like. Burgers, wraps, and salads are all made to order and, of course, onion rings.
Al’s onion rings are not hand cut or battered. This is evident by the uniformity of the rings. They are cooked well and are light, but largely not anything exceptional. Don’t let this deter you from coming to Al’s and, if you do, the French fries are a must. Afterwards, go outside and order a creemee, then sit back and relax.
RING RATING: Two out of Five stars (but four out of five for everything else!)
[1]More New York transplants, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield started their first ice cream store out of an old gas station on the corner of St. Paul and College Street in Burlington. The shop was demolished to make way for a parking lot. There is still a plaque there today commemorating the origin of their ice cream empire.
[2] A popular dish originating in Canada in Quebec. Poutine is French fries topped with gravy and cheese curds.
