By Ava Stryker-Robbins

Usually, burger joints and bars are commended for their cocktails and delicious fried foods. While Fred’s has all the chicken tenders and mac & cheese anyone could ask for, it also has a dish that tastes like it comes straight from a local farm.

Brussels sprouts are difficult to get right, but Fred’s achieve the perfect combination of crisp and softness. According to a phone interview with Jeremy Wladis — president of the restaurant group of which Fred’s is a part — the brussels sprouts are purchased from a local market a few times a week, and are double-cooked. They are covered in a sweet balsamic glaze, and hints of bacon and almonds add more depth and “crisp” to the flavor. Additionally, these brussels sprouts have a “few secret ingredients, including some extra love,” Wladis said. This dish is among Fred’s most popular.

Fred’s opened in 1997 and was named after a dog who was adopted by an Upper West Sider. As this is such a canine-loving community, the original owner thought dogs would be the perfect theme for a restaurant: “warm, kind, loving, playful.”

Fred’s did not start serving crispy brussels sprouts until 2020. They were created to add diversity to the menu, and because customers were requesting a vegetable dish. The recipe for this dish has been “tinkered with” over time.

Fred’s has both indoor and outdoor space; the indoor is underground and lively, while the outdoor is calmer. The crispy brussels sprouts cost $15.

The Dish: Crispy Brussels Sprouts
The Restaurant: Fred’s (476 Amsterdam Ave at West 83rd Street)

Read all our Here’s the Dish columns here.