Fried mushrooms have been all the rage for some time it seems. I like to see jalapeño poppers because the ones from the freezer section are depressing.
Fries are not cheap if you consider the time it takes to make good ones. Peel/cut/double fry/clean up oil all over your counter. I’ve never had frozen french fries anywhere near restaurant quality.
I think they're too much kitchen work to justify keeping them on a lot of menus. Lot's of places prefer something you can drop in the microwave, or toss in a fryer.
Not sure how other places make them, but when I worked at a restaurant the potato skins were day old baked potatoes hollowed out a bit. When ordered, they’d be “cooked” in the fryer (if my memory from 20 yrs ago is correct).
Cheese, onions, and bacon don't take long to prep at all. Plus, the odds are pretty good that they are used in many other dishes at any restaurant that serves them.
I just looked at [TGI Fridays menu in Chicago](https://locations.tgifridays.com/il/chicago/153-e-erie-st.html) and potato skins are front/center under apps. Like, the very first place I looked.
I was surprised by how many restaurant menus I had to search through to find them but then I started to see some. I also found a site of the best ones they have in chain stores.
[https://www.eatthis.com/restaurant-chains-best-potato-skins/](https://www.eatthis.com/restaurant-chains-best-potato-skins/)
Some places like TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesday's, and Texas Roadhouse are in there. And this isn't counting the smaller non-chain restaurants out there. Seems that some places still have them.
Let's pick a few random places nearby
[https://www.kelseys.ca/en/menu/food.html](https://www.kelseys.ca/en/menu/food.html) - Yup
[https://hurleysstittsville.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hurleys-Front-of-Menu-Mar2024-11X17.jpg](https://hurleysstittsville.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hurleys-Front-of-Menu-Mar2024-11X17.jpg) - Yup
[https://barleymow.com/barley-mow-dining-menu/](https://barleymow.com/barley-mow-dining-menu/) - Nope
[https://royaloakpubs.com/menu/main-menu/appetizers/?location=ottawa](https://royaloakpubs.com/menu/main-menu/appetizers/?location=ottawa) - Nope
So less than before but still fairly common
New Tato Skins have baked potato appeal, cuz they're made with potatoes and skins that are real! I just aged myself, terribly...
“…Tato Skins from Keebler — baked potato a-peel!” I salute you, fellow Gen Xer or older.
53, going on 93...
It does seem like appetizers go in and out of vogue. Like everyone seems to have some sort of Buffalo cauliflower bites now.
Fried mushrooms have been all the rage for some time it seems. I like to see jalapeño poppers because the ones from the freezer section are depressing.
& if they do have them they’re small as fuck 😩
You could probably make them at home super cheap!
You can a large amount of appetizers at home much cheaper. Nachos, Quesedillas, Fries, etc...
Fries are not cheap if you consider the time it takes to make good ones. Peel/cut/double fry/clean up oil all over your counter. I’ve never had frozen french fries anywhere near restaurant quality.
I think they're too much kitchen work to justify keeping them on a lot of menus. Lot's of places prefer something you can drop in the microwave, or toss in a fryer.
Not sure how other places make them, but when I worked at a restaurant the potato skins were day old baked potatoes hollowed out a bit. When ordered, they’d be “cooked” in the fryer (if my memory from 20 yrs ago is correct).
I think it's more about all the toppings that need to be prepped, and piled on. Lots of work for something w/ a low profit margin.
That’s fair. I can’t remember if we had anything extra with them. But I feel like they at least need cheese, right?
Cheese, onions, and bacon don't take long to prep at all. Plus, the odds are pretty good that they are used in many other dishes at any restaurant that serves them.
I just looked at [TGI Fridays menu in Chicago](https://locations.tgifridays.com/il/chicago/153-e-erie-st.html) and potato skins are front/center under apps. Like, the very first place I looked.
It's been a little while since I've eaten out but I still remember seeing them all sorts of places. Maybe they're just not as popular in your area.
[удалено]
Build back better 😡
I was surprised by how many restaurant menus I had to search through to find them but then I started to see some. I also found a site of the best ones they have in chain stores. [https://www.eatthis.com/restaurant-chains-best-potato-skins/](https://www.eatthis.com/restaurant-chains-best-potato-skins/) Some places like TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesday's, and Texas Roadhouse are in there. And this isn't counting the smaller non-chain restaurants out there. Seems that some places still have them.
Let's pick a few random places nearby [https://www.kelseys.ca/en/menu/food.html](https://www.kelseys.ca/en/menu/food.html) - Yup [https://hurleysstittsville.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hurleys-Front-of-Menu-Mar2024-11X17.jpg](https://hurleysstittsville.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hurleys-Front-of-Menu-Mar2024-11X17.jpg) - Yup [https://barleymow.com/barley-mow-dining-menu/](https://barleymow.com/barley-mow-dining-menu/) - Nope [https://royaloakpubs.com/menu/main-menu/appetizers/?location=ottawa](https://royaloakpubs.com/menu/main-menu/appetizers/?location=ottawa) - Nope So less than before but still fairly common
I saw these at a restaurant less than a month ago
Yeah, things come and go with trends over time. I remember when everything in a bar/pub for a while came slathered with chipotle mayo.
I don’t know, it may be because it’s more cost effective to use them to make into fries instead.