Fries on the Side - HWY 14 Brewing Company

Welcome back to Columbus' No. 1 french fry review — never mind that it's the only one. For this week's adventure, I visited HWY 14 Brewing Company, which offers two kinds of fries, beer battered and sweet potato waffle fries.

Taste — 9.5

These have a little zest to them that I really like. There's some peppery flavor, something very hearty and onion-y and a sweet-savory aftertaste that makes me want more.

Texture — 9

These came out crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, the way a fry should be. I really like batter on fries because it gives some crunchy valleys and mountains to the surface, which these have. After they cooled off they got a little bit less crisp, but that's a minor issue.

Freshness — 8.5

These were pretty fresh and held up their temperature and texture pretty well over time, too.

Standalone — 8

These are solid beer battered steak fries. I don't know if I would go to the restaurant just for fries, but if you asked me who has good fries, I'd say these absolutely fit the bill. They work just fine without a dipping sauce, but if you really want ketchup, they would be good with that, too.

Overall: 8.75

Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

Taste — 7.5

Sweet potato fries run the risk of being too sweet sometimes, but these hit the right balance. The cheese and parsley add a little savory element, but they're definitely still sweet.

Texture — 8

These were a little soft for me, but sweet potatoes sometimes just cook soft, so it's not a deal-breaker or anything.

Freshness — 7.5

These were pretty hot and fresh, but did get a little floppy after some time. With sweet potato fries, I can be a little more lenient since they are generally softer when they cook.

Standalone — 6

I personally wouldn't make a trip to HWY 14 specifically for the sweet potato fries, but they do go nicely alongside a sandwich and, I imagine, some of their beers.

Overall — 7.25

These are just my opinions, so please don't take them too seriously. I'm not like a Michelin chef or anything, just an enthusiast. In fact, I encourage you to try these for yourselves and, please, send any and all fry-related recommendations to me at .