To be honest, it's pretty hard to mess up tater tots: you grate the potato, mold it into little ovoids, deep-fry those suckers up. And because their crisp shells hold up particularly well to all sorts of culinary enhancements, "loaded tots" are so common that it's the only way these spuds are served at some spots. That said, not everyone gets it right (ever been overcome with disappointment upon tucking into a mound of bland, soggy tots?), but after extensive research in the field over the past month or so I can tell you that the following 11 establishments have this particular type of fried potato nailed.
Daddy-O's tots (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Daddy-O This small, sometimes-raucous, sometimes-pleasantly-peaceful West Village tavern does a good job with most of its menu, but their straightforward side of Tater Tots might be the single best thing that comes from the kitchen. The Daddy-O tots are flawlessly fried to a deep-brown crackle on the outside (with no hint of burnt old oil), firm but airy within, simply adorned with salt and, at your pleasure, a dunk into a little crock of ketchup. Pure potato perfection.
Located at 44 Bedford Street between Carmine and Leroy Streets (212-414-8884; daddyonyc.com)
L.E.S. Kitchen. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
L.E.S. Kitchen has been through some ups and downs since it opened a couple of years ago, but a recent menu revamp, including a complete overhaul of their once-great Kitchen Sink, seemed like a good excuse to check out the place again. And I'm glad I did! The new Kitchen Sink is, obviously, now a tot-based dish, and the little devils are covered in what is admirably described as a "cheese blanket" (basically: two or three kinds of cheese are fried up flat and draped on top), with a couple of sauces (creamy, spicy) and, crucially, a mess of pickled peppers nestled throughout. Only scant traces of the promised bacon though, a burger joint staple they seem to often say they're "out of" here.
Located at 15 Essex Street between Hester and Canal Streets (646-952-2313; leskitchenyc.com)
Chuko's tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Chuko If you like your bowl of tater tots to be animated like some freaky sea anemone, popular ramen spot Chuko in Prospect Heights is the move for you. This delightful effect is caused by a sprinkling of bonito flakes, of course (which also add a bracing brininess to your fried potato), with generous drizzles of sweet okonomiyaki sauce and umami-rich kewpie mayo completing the Asian overhaul of the expertly cooked spuds.
Located at 565 Vanderbilt Avenue at the corner of Pacific Street (347-425-9570; chukobk.com)
Domo Taco tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Domo Taco The other best option for loaded-up Asian tots in the County of Kings comes via Domo Taco, with counter-service spots in Crown Heights and Downtown Brooklyn. As at Chuko, these Japanese Nacho Tots are covered in rich okonomiyaki sauce and kewpie mayo, but Domo ups the ante by pouring on thick, melted yellow cheese and a pickle-y, spicy salsa. It's a total tot party!
Located at 733 Franklin Avenue and 66 Willoughby Street (domotaco.com)
Fairfax tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Fairfax On a simpler note, this cozy bar/cafe in the West Village from Gabe Stulman's Happy Cooking team—where much of the seating involves cushioned arm chairs set around coffee tables within little nooks—serves a lovely bowl of Old Bay Tots, fried to a perfect crisp, loaded with pure potato flavor, the only accompaniment necessary being a quick dip in some ketchup. Pair it with Fairfax's first-rate burger if you like but really, these are just fine and filling on their own.
Located at 234 West 4th Street at the corner of West 10th (212-933-1824; fairfax.nyc)
Crif Dogs tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Crif Dogs For more than 13 years this East Village (and, since 2011, Williamsburg) stoner-food mainstay has been satisfying party people and tourists alike with some of the best hot dogs in town. And the Crif Dog tater tots are just as good! Maybe not as crunchy as some of the others on this list but sometimes all you need is something warm and soft (and potato-y). Plus, they're still totally up to carrying the weight of a mini-ocean of yellow cheese and/or a mountain of chili.
Located at 113 St. Marks Place and 555 Driggs Avenue (crifdogs.com)
Dan and John's tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Dan and John's Also in the East Village—and thanks to their spanking new dining room, now with tons more space in which to sit and scarf their signature Buffalo wings—Dan and John's does excellent things with spicy, saucy chicken parts... and, as it turns out, with tater tots as well. Get their loaded variation, covered with blue cheese "fondu," blue cheese crumbles, plenty of hot sauce and bits of celery, and make a complete meal out of a side.
Located at 135 First Avenue between 9th Street and St. Marks (917-456-8808; danandjohns.com)
Big Daddy tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Big Daddy's The vibe here is like eating inside some sort of Ritalin-addled 1980s MTV show, but Big Daddy's is also seriously sincere about its tots. Not only is there a whole section on the diner-esque menu devoted to these beauties (there are a half dozen different varieties; I had the one with big chunks of Buffalo chicken and loads of blue cheese sauce), but you can even buy a t-shirt proclaiming your love for the little spud nuggets. And the staffers are all much more friendly and professional than they probably need to be. Despite initial appearances, a class operation.
Located at 239 Park Avenue South and 2454 Broadway (bigdaddysnyc.com)
Melt Shop tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Melt Shop Now with four locations in Manhattan, the grilled-cheese specialists at Melt Shop also make a first-rate little boat of tater tots. I get the loaded version—as you may have guessed by now, I like spuds with stuff on them—which comes with bits of bacon, a not insubstantial number of jalapeño slices, plenty of their gloppy, homemade cheese sauce and a generous sprinkling of sharp parmesan. I would have eaten these at least twice a week had this Midtown branch been open in the 1990s.
Locations in Midtown, Fidi, Chelsea, and Hell's Kitchen (meltshop.com)
Rose's tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Rose's The ownership (and kitchen crew) has changed since we first dined, enthusiastically, at this neighborhood bar on Flatbush, but the food still earns our respect. Take chef Buzz Fraser's Tater Tachos, an oversized platter of ultra-crispy tots all mixed up with tender smoked chicken strips, melted pepperjack cheese, tons of vinegary vegetables, housemade hot sauce and lime crema, all of it prepared with care and all of it totally delicious.
Rose's is located at 295 Flatbush Avenue between Willoughby and Fleet Streets (718-230-0427; rosesbklyn.com)
Mayhem's tots. (Scott Lynch / Gothamist)
Mayhem Sandwiches This Urbanspace market and festival favorite puts most of their considerable energy and attitude into an extensive menu of sandwiches, but there's still plenty of love left over for these loaded tots, styled the classic potato-skin way with cheese sauce, chunks of bacon, scallion and a hefty dollop of sour cream. Heck, who even needs a sandwich when you've got this bowl of tot heaven on your table.
Located at Urbanspace Vanderbilt, 230 Park Avenue (mayhemandstout.com)
