On the hunt for crispy, fried potato goodness? Say no more. This trio of eateries offers scrumptious takes on America’s favorite side.
Perly’s Restaurant & Delicatessen—Originally opened in 1961 then rebooted in 2014, this downtown gem is nothing short of a Richmond institution. You’ll find its famed Schlubby Fries high on a menu filled with creative takes on Jewish staples like latkes, knishes, rugelach, and kugels.
Schlubby Fries, you ask? Don’t let the name fool you. This gastronomical treasure brings a heaping tray of perfectly crisped, natural cut taters slathered in creamy havarti and dill cheese, house-cured pastrami, Russian dressing, pickled jalapeños, chopped pickled peppers, and onions. Delish! PerlysRichmond.com

Perly’s Restaurant & Delicatessen Schlubby Fries. Photo by Fred + Elliott
Brickhouse Run—What may be the Commonwealth’s most authentic Old-World-style English pub sits in the heart of old town Petersburg off cobblestoned historic Cockade Alley in a brick building that dates to 1816. Co-owner Drew Phelan says every aspect of the tavern was designed to feel like an 18th-century European coaching inn “you’d find in Petersburg if Virginia were part of Britain.”
Grab a pint at an ornate bar handcrafted from salvaged local lumber while enjoying Brickhouse’s mouth-watering, hand-cut Steakhouse Chips with swiss cheese, steak Diane sauce, crispy shallots, and malt vinegar aioli, topped with fried eggs or house-smoked pork belly. BrickhouseRun.com

County Sunrise—Husband and wife chef duo Ken and Jess Hess—both Culinary Institute of America grads—launched smoker-focused County Smoak on the outskirts of Lynchburg in 2020 after decades of helming prestigious restaurants around the U.S. Their blend of classic New England cuisine, Southern comfort, and traditional Jewish flavors was a hit with locals and inspired them to launch sister breakfast, brunch, and lunch joint, County Sunrise, this past fall.
There you’ll find to-die-for pastrami fries on a menu studded with fun options like a latke benedict or potato knish. They’re natural cut, perfectly fried, topped with house-smoked pastrami cubes, then smothered in dill havarti cheese, Russian dressing, and a pinch of dill. CountySunrise.com
This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2024 issue.