Around the World in an Hour: The Local Fry Debuts in Federal Hill

I took a tour around the world yesterday from Buffalo, New York to Canada and then to Ireland, Greece, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Hawaii before heading back to the heartland. However, I actually never left South Baltimore, I was just sampling many of the dishes offered at The Local Fry in Federal Hill.

Members of the media were invited for a tasting yesterday at the new Federal Hill restaurant owned by Elizabeth and Kevin Irish, who are looking to take french fries to the next level. “Fries are oftentimes overlooked as just a side dish and our goal is to make it the star, a meal in itself. Think poutine times 10,” they said in a release. “The concept was born on our first visit back to Ireland after moving stateside. There were dishes we craved from Europe that we couldn’t find in the states. Our menu will have many dishes inspired by our different cultures and our travels around the world. It is a reflection of us as a team/couple – Irish chip meets American fry.”

The approximately 2,000 sq. ft. restaurant space at 21 E. Cross St. was formerly a part of the former M&T Bank which relocated to 1111 Light Street. The other portion of the property was Stuggy’s before it recently closed making way for a soon-to-be-announced restaurant. The Local Fry features old wood from a barn in North Baltimore County, as well as white subway tile and fry basket designs on the walls.

Customers order at the counter where they can get more than 10 fry dishes as well as more than 10 flavors of wings. Sodas are available and customers can also bring in their favorite bottles of beer and wine. The owners are also hoping to add sliders and salads to the menu in the near future.

At yesterday’s sampling, I tried the Honey Lemon Wings, the Irish Fish & Chips, as well as the Poutine, Greek Fries, Kimchi Pork Fries, Bahn Mi Fries, Hawaiian Fries, and the Bacon Chicken Ranch Fries. Everything was fresh, delicious, and bursting with flavor. The fries were light and crisp and a great base for the toppings. And, the wings were cooked just right. Everything on the menu was $10 or less other than the larger quantities of wings which start at five for $5 and 10 for $9.

The Local Fry will be open Tuesday through Friday from 4pm to 12am, Saturday from 12pm to 12am, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. It is hoping to add late night weekend hours in the future.

The Local Fry is a tasty and very unique addition to the Federal Hill dining scene and definitely a place worth checking out.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.