Dear FFC: Arby’s Cheddar Curly Fries
“Arby’s makes me angry. I’ve seen posters and advertisements for new cheddar curly fries everywhere in my town. I love the old curly fries but was pumped about a new flavor. It’s not a new flavor. They just give you a small cup of cheese to dip. The fries are the exact same curly fries. This is stupid. They make it sound like new fries but it’s nothing but a cup of cheese they already put on sandwiches, served on the side. This is false advertising. You should warn people about it. I’m mad at Arby’s and this really sucks.” – Matt S. from Garfield Heights, Ohio.
Matt, your message hits close to home because I encountered the same situation two years ago. This is not a new item, but it comes and goes from the Arby’s menu. Anyway, I went there expecting the fries themselves to be cheddar flavored. When I opened my bag to find the standard curly fries with a tiny container of warm cheese, it was a surprise. Indeed they simply added a plastic cup of melted cheddar and renamed the product. I don’t believe it’s false advertising, just a bit confusing.
Arby’s is great, but this particluar product campaign misses the mark in my opinion. Thanks for writing. Now FFC readers will be better informed.
Two quick warnings. First, they are not the type of fries that most people will eat regularly, because the same great seasoning which makes them so special, can also become a bit overpowering if consumed too often. Much like your favorite rich-chocolate cake or candy can loose it’s appeal when eaten frequently. Second, it’s important that you get them fresh from the deep fryer. I don’t know why, but they seem to lose their taste and crispness faster than regular french fries. Arby’s is usually pretty good about not pre-cooking too many at a time, so it’s seldom that you will get an order that’s been sitting around. During rush hour the odds of getting a flat batch does increase, but if you don’t mind being ‘that’ guy, they are always willing to cook you a fresh order while you wait. As I’ve said, it’s not necessary to use ketchup or dipping sauce, and it can actually be detrimental to the flavor. However I’ve had several friends tell me these are great with Arby’s horseradish sauce, so you might give that a try. I’m not a horsey fan (in general) myself so I cannot give an opinion on that.