I voted for mashed. They’re the most consistently good.
However, roasted potatoes, fresh from the oven, beat everything. Unfortunately, at many restaurants the roasted potatoes can sit out for a while, and they’re not very good once they’re soggy.
My mother has a great recipe where she cuts the potato in to medallions, but leaves them all attached by the skin on the bottom, then puts olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary on the whole deal and roasts it.
From favorite to least favorite:
Roasted
Boiled in a stew
Formerly mashed potatoes fried into pancakes
Boiled with a roast (what? I’m a New Englander)
French Fried
Mashed or Baked
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Au Gratin or Hash Browned or Tot’d
I voted for Au Gratin, because then I get to have potatoes *and *cheese…but I like them every which way. I’ll even eat a slice or two raw if I’m cutting them up for one reason or another.
There is no way to serve potatoes that is not my favorite way.
I love roasted potatoes. These are a real treat for me.
Mmmm… Salt potatoes with lots of butter.
Home fries. Cooked with bacon fat.
I prefer to think of it as “creamy.” Hmmm, microwaved potatoes might make fabulous mashed. Better than boiling, which does a spud no favors.
I love all ways of potato prep but I vastly prefer one type of potato - red potatoes. Huge fan of them in a potato salad with a buttload of dill and hardboiled eggs.
My favorite way is odd. Mashed, with lots of butter and salt, make a big mound on the plate. Hollow out the top of it with a spoon, fill with peas (in a “nest”). Then douse with a homemade salad dressing like my grandmother used to make. Cider vinegar based, with some oil, oregano and bits of parsley, paprika, and sugar… It’s a sweet dressing.
Goes back to when I was a kid, I always wanted the peas in the potato, and we always ate the salad on the plate with everything else rather than a separate bowl. Dressing invaded my potatoes and I was hooked.
ETA, the obligatory Brak tune.
I like potatoes in pretty much any way except undercooked. I’m looking for an occasion to be able to makecrash hot potatoes from the Pioneer Woman. They sound fabulous!
Actually, they aren’t. Scalloped have a milk based sauce, and au gratin has a cheese based sauce. I love them both! Actually, I love potatoes any which way at all 
ETA: My favorite way is mashed with cream corn and cottage cheese on top!
This. I don’t suppose my being half Irish with the other half being 2 generations removed from Slovenian/Austrian potato farmers has anything to do with it…
oh. mein. gott.
http://www.germandeli.com/gd7.html
This is HAPPENING this weekend, at my house. I have now so decreed. I am drooling already.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned twice-baked potatoes yet. There’s a rib place in Bangkok that serves them. Just had one last night (Saturday night). Very good.
I’m not quite sure where I fall on your scale of philistineness… I have a combination convection/microwave oven. I preheat it to 400 degrees F. Then use the combo feature for 10-15 minutes (depending on how many) and I get the perfect crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside baked potatoes. I do everything else like you said, but you left out one major ingredient after you split them open… BUTTER!!!
my favorite is fried but not french fries. Skillet fried with sliced onions until the potqos are slightly browned and crunch and the onion is caramelised. OMG I could eat my weight in those. I keep thinking I will try it with sweet potatoes and onions but haven’t tried it yet.
I also loved boiled red potaotes where you peel them hot and mash them up on your plate with some butter. Yum.
Why yes i DO live in the south.
Skillet fried.
Yummy.
Roasted got my vote as well, mainly because of this recipe.
It has been a huge hit for every group I have served. If you love potatoes, check it out!