Two for $20: Ocean Beach Fries Bar and Grill

The stuffed baked potato with sour cream and chives and french fries with O.B. Sauce at Ocean Beach Fries. (Credit: Eric Rowley/Metromix)

Experience:
Ocean Beach Fries Bar and Grill opened its second location (the first is in the food court at Merle Hay Mall) in the former home of Kahunaville. Decor is bright and beachy, with colorful seat cushions and tabletops. The overall feel is laid-back with large-screen TVs that emphasize a sports bar feel.

On the menu:
There's a decent selection of appetizers, including wings, potato skins and Ocean Beach fries in four bucket sizes. There's also a handful of salads, classics like burgers and hot dogs, and steak, shrimp and surf-and-turf entrees. The menu strangely lacks descriptions of the food so you'll have to make a decision based on the name of the dish (or ask for details).

What we ordered:
I decided to stick with a classic cheeseburger, which came with Ocean Beach's signature fries. The hand-pattied cheeseburger was loaded with toppings: mustard, onion, pickles, mayo, tomato and lettuce with a standard slice of American cheese. I'm not a huge fan of onions and mustard on my burger, but it was good regardless.

My dining partner ordered the stuffed baked potato with sour cream and chives. Hers came with a choice of two sides so she got cottage cheese and fries. It was a lot of potato, but tasty enough.

The highlight of the meal was definitely the fries. Hand-cut fresh daily and fried three times at three different temps in 100-percent peanut oil, they satisfy the fried food craving without the usual grease. The restaurant offers 15 different sauces and a variety of spices. While the sauces and spices aren't especially unique, they do offer a chance to do something different with your fries.

Good if you want:
Fries. If you're hungry for fries, this is the place to go, even if you just want to dip them in ketchup. It's an inexpensive place to grab lunch or dinner during a busy day of shopping at Valley West.