# A burger NEEDS fries! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539 "2015-07-08T01:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/41 "2015-07-08T20:18:20Z")
It’s worse when someone does remember the fries, but then baggles\* all of them on the way home. Baggle - Verb Meaning - To steal fast food out of the bag. Ex. “Mom, Jimmy baggled all of my fries!” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/42 "2015-07-08T21:51:52Z")
If it was more than a couple of minutes from there to your home, she was absolutely correct. Fries must be eaten fresh. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/43 "2015-07-09T00:25:17Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > It could be worse. She could be like my wife. “I don’t want my own fries, I’ll just have some of yours.” Oy! Two ex-girlfriends used to do that! That kind of thing drives me absolutely institutionalizably nuts! (Which is why they’re ex-girlfriends.) –G! Always one more You’re never satisfied. 'stead of “one for all” With you it’s only “one for me” Aww, why draw the line To meet you half-way When you don’t know What that means …–Sammy Hagar (Van Halen) …5150 …5150 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/44 "2015-07-09T00:32:25Z")
2.8 miles… 5 minutes in current traffic. I agree with McDonald’s fries… I start on them before I am out of the parking lot. Five Guys Cajun Fries… I also start on the way out of the parking lot… continue on the way home… and they are still pretty good even if they have been sitting out and are at just somewhat warm. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/45 "2015-07-09T00:49:49Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I fully agree with this. Fries can sometimes be a nice bonus, and cheese too, but a good burger requires neither. Yes. If I have a side, I prefer onion rings, but that’s hardly mandatory either. A truly good burger (which by definition excludes most fast food options) can stand up on its own. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/46 "2015-07-09T00:56:23Z")
Burger is necessary. Fries are irrelevant. 5 Guys fries are offensive. Onion rings forever! ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/47 "2015-07-09T00:56:47Z")
I won’t eat meat unless it’s been smoked. Fries are usually bland things but depends. I can make do with chips or other. Now if we’re talking specifically about fast food junk, they usually have enough seasonings, MSG and salt to taste fine. But most restaurants that serve burgers or made at home I can’t eat unless it’s been smoked on charcoal and wood. My fries have to be brown and crispy and seasoned but typically no, I think they taste bland. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/48 "2015-07-09T01:50:29Z")
I don’t hardly ever get fries (for myself), but I do if it’s McDonald’s. And the first person who tries to grab one of my McDonald’s fries will end up pulling back a bloody stump. 🙂 If I’m picking something up on the spur of the moment, I always get the husband and son fries. They’d have a meltdown if I didn’t. Unless there’s onion rings or potato cakes - then I get those for husband. Kid is always fries. ETA - we are a house divided on the burger/cheese thing. Me - cheese - lots. Him - no cheese. I don’t know what this means, but I’m sure it’s highly indicative of SOMETHING relationship-wise. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/49 "2015-07-09T02:29:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The best burger place in this town _automatically_ includes fries, cheese, and bacon with every single burger they make. It’s like one of the gods directly downloaded nirvana into my neighborhood. Then they are compensating for a shitty burger that can not stand on its own. I kid, I kid. No, seriously they are just covering something up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/50 "2015-07-09T02:33:52Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Then they are compensating for a shitty burger that can not stand on its own. > > I kid, I kid. No, seriously they are just covering something up. Nope. The burgers are terrific, with or without the extras. Locally grown beef, two patties. But they’re also $8.95, so I’ll take the cheese and bacon and fries that they come with and shunt aside anything I don’t want. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/51 "2015-07-09T03:15:00Z")
I wouldn’t go that far, but Five Guys is one of the few fast food places with anything resembling edible fries. So, I would get them there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/52 "2015-07-09T03:28:58Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I wouldn’t go that far, but Five Guys is one of the few fast food places with anything resembling edible fries. So, I would get them there. I must admit, Five Guys are probably the best fries out there. An In N Out burger with Five Guys fries is my perfect fast food meal (if I were to allow myself to indulge.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/53 "2015-07-09T03:35:43Z")
She’s beautiful, funny, and has given you three wonderful children, but she can’t remember The Fries? It appears you are dismayed and not completely satisfied in this marriage, so sorry to say pal, but time to walk. Anyone can pump out 3 kids, but forgetting The Fries? This omission was obviously intentional. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/54 "2015-07-09T03:43:06Z")
Had it to do over I would have written my own vows… For Richer and For Poorer, In Sickness and in Health… you get fries with you burger damnit! ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/55 "2015-07-09T10:39:29Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Whatever it takes to improve on their crappy, crappy fries. Fries are one of those things that are deceptively simple - everyone does them but few places do them well (it’s like pulling teeth to get a hot order of fries from the local McDonalds). Most of the time, I don’t bother with them and just have potato chips (Ruffles). ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/56 "2015-07-09T15:15:31Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Most of the time, I don’t bother with them and just have potato chips (Ruffles). Are you really saying that the remains of a stale bag of greasy chips is in the same ballpark (or even the same zip code) as a bag of hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, covered in the nirvana of Cajun spices, sticks of heavenly fried potatoes? I’m taking notes in this thread on who’s advise I will take or ignore in the next foodie thread. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/57 "2015-07-11T05:55:44Z")
For me, it’s just a matter of how weird it is to eat just one thing at a meal. I think pizza is about the only thing where I sometimes do that. Everything else needs a side. Otherwise, you’re eating a snack, not a meal. Sure, if you’re worried about your weight, eat half a burger and half the fries. That’s better than eating just the burger. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/58 "2015-07-11T13:25:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Burger is necessary. Fries are irrelevant. 5 Guys fries are offensive. Onion rings forever! Again, I agree with my friend silenus. We don’t really like fast food burgers. When Five Guys opened their first store here we went based partially on reading about them here on the SDMB. The burgers weren’t awful. They were about at a halfway point between Burger King and what we usually get at Sports Bars and Brew Pubs. The fries are a greasy mess. My other issue withe Five Guys are that they, at least our local franchises, are incredibly loud. The kitchen staff seem to be made up of people who are all hard of hearing but left their hearing aids at home. A burger, fries and a fountain drink for each of us seems to run to about twenty dollars. A couple of blocks away is our usual Old Chicago location, where we can get much better burgers and fries with imported beer for about twenty seven bucks. Even with a tip added it is a better deal. At our last visit, the manager came over to our table to see how our meal was. I discussed the idea of onion rings with him. He agreed that they would be a great addition to the menu. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/59 "2015-07-11T15:34:25Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Are you really saying that the remains of a stale bag of greasy chips is in the same ballpark (or even the same zip code) as a bag of hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, covered in the nirvana of Cajun spices, sticks of heavenly fried potatoes? I’m not saying potato chips are better than what you described - I’m saying I prefer them to what you typically get with a burger. 🙂 Since poorly-done fries make me cranky, I’m better off avoiding them at places that don’t take them seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Curid1992](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Curid1992](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curid1992)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539/60 "2015-07-11T20:53:21Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > She’s probably just doing that WIFE THING where she’s trying to help you “Eat Healthier.” Honestly, where do they get this shit? 🙂 > > Plus, she’ll start on your children next. You have a duty, here! Eating healthier doesn’t matter if you only have treats like burgers once in a while, and not every day. 🙂 In my opinion: If I want a burger, 99% of the time I also have fries (or chips in the UK). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-burger-needs-fries/724539.md?page=4)