As the air turns crisp and leaves start to change, the fall season brings more than just pumpkin-spiced everything — it ushers in a prime opportunity to connect with diners seeking comfort food and shareable bites.
And with college students snacking around town, football fans huddling, and gatherings on the rise, now is the perfect time to celebrate the return of fall with timeless favorites like fried potato variations.
Restaurants near university towns have a golden opportunity to attract students looking for affordable, shareable meals. Whether paired with burgers, wings, or served as a snack during study sessions or game nights, fries are crowd-pleasing options that naturally connect with groups.
Proud Potatoes
Fall is synonymous with comfort food, and fries — whether thin and crispy, thick-cut, crinkle-cut, or in waffle form — evoke a sense of nostalgia that diners crave. A version of french fries, sure to conjure memories of autumn afternoons strolling along the boardwalk, are Lamb Weston® Seasoned Seashore Fries.
Lightly dusted with sea salt, black pepper, and garlic and coated with a crispy batter, they stay crispy and delicious for up to 30 minutes out of the fryer, making this a hit with restaurants of all kinds, from college cafes, to grab-and-go, to bar & grill, to chop houses. Served up in to-go packaging specifically designed to keep fried foods crispier longer, such as First Mark® Carryout Containers, seashore fries can help you spread your nostalgic creations even further.
Often, tapping into trending nostalgia can be as simple as plating fries with hearty dipping sauces such as rich gravies, zesty chilis, tangy aiolis, or classic cheese curds for a poutine-inspired twist. One of the better vehicles for getting these sauces into your guests’ mouths is the Lamb Weston Crinkle Cut Original Recipe French Fry. The crinkle-cut shape allows more surface area, increasing the amount of crispiness per bite. It also opens up a larger canvas for on-trend toppings, like Buffalo sauce, creamy queso, or pico de gallo.
Fried Frenzy
To fully capitalize on fall festivities, you can also get creative by offering limited-time seasonal specials. Infusing the flavors of fall will help you elevate this versatile side to something truly craveable. Imagine fries coated in a dusting of cinnamon sugar, drizzled with maple syrup-glazed bacon, or rosemary and garlic fries served with a pumpkin spice (yes, we said it) dipping sauce.
And when we talk about true flavor innovations, items like Lamb Weston Bacon Cheese Stuffed Spudz™ bring tons to the table as well. These are all-inclusive options that capture the taste of loaded tots, without preparation or mess. With a blend of diced potatoes, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and bacon — all in a crave-worthy, crispy bite — these sensational spudz offer a delicious snack or side for any daypart and can help drive incremental traffic and profit due to a higher perceived value.
Share Is in the Air
Whether served in new, innovative ways or simply as a comforting side dish, fried potato items are the perfect shareable symbol of the season — golden, warm, and universally loved — and they happen to resonate with generations of diners. While college students are looking for deals, and guests are seeking the coziness of comfort food, now is the time to let these favorites play a starring fall role, one crispy bite at a time.
*Study was done without packaging
**Content provided in collaboration with Lamb Weston.
