By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Dec 21, 2011 at 2:06 PM

Everybody knows that you shouldn't make a steady diet of french fries. No matter how you cut them, they aren't all that good for you.

But, every now and then, a good order of fries is just the thing you need, as a side with a great burger or grilled cheese, or a snack all by themselves.

The search for great fries seems never-ending and there are a lot of candidates in the Milwaukee area.

Two of them are drive-thru places, Culver's and Church's Fried Chicken. Both have fries that are crisp on the outside and soft potato on the inside, my recipe for a perfect fry. If you want them extra crispy, Culver's will respond.

Another thing I've noticed is that places with great burgers also seem to feature great fries, with a couple of exceptions. Kopp's, for example, as a great burger but wilted and limp fries.

Mazo's on 27th street has outstanding fries as does Replay on North Avenue which is my candidate for unknown great burger of the year. The original Sobelman's also makes the list.

But for my money, the best fries in town are from Solly's Grille on Port Washington Road. Long famous beyond our borders as the best burger in town Solly's understands that greatness can be had with a combination. By far, the most common order at Solly's is a cheeseburger with slice of raw onion, fries and a chocolate malt.

Solly's will make your fries however you want and while you may have a wait a bit, it's well worth the extra time to get fries this good.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.