Polenta fries at Shouk. (Photo by Rachel Sadon)

Dish of the week: Polenta fries
Where to get it: Shouk, Fare Well, Duplex Diner

What more can be said about French fries? Poutine (or disco fries, depending on your allegiances). Chili cheese fries. Belgian “frites.” Even loaded tot-chos. It seems like it’s all been done. Restaurants have taken the humble fried potato to all sorts of new heights. It seems like there’s nowhere else to go.

If you’re looking for a new twist on the dish, seek out an order of polenta fries. Polenta is an Italian cornmeal dish usually served as side. It’s like European grits, in a way. When baked or fried, polenta firms up and becomes snackable fries that are a lighter (and conveniently gluten-free) option than their potato cousins. They’re a welcome way to change things up while still getting your fried fix.

If these sound intriguing, you’ll be happy to know they’re popping up on menus around D.C., thanks in part to the recent boom in cafes featuring vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Take the variation at the fast-casual, 100 percent plant-based Shouk (655 K St. NW), where the fries ($4.50) are served along a creamy tomato tahina for dipping and make a great accompaniment to the hearty pitas. It’d be understandable to make a stop in for the fries alone, along with a glass of draft wine or beer.

Sticking with the vegetable theme, you’ll also find polenta fries ($8) at Fare Well (406 H St. NE) the new diner and cafe on the H Street NE corridor. Here, they’re herb-seasoned with a side of garlic aioli and tomato jam. Pair them with other creative meatless entrees like the mushroom-chickpea burger or eggplant Parmesan melt.

And don’t be limited to these locations only. Polenta fries have in the past been featured on seasonal menus at Taylor Goumet and made appearances at other Italian-focused restaurants around the city. Ambitious cooks might also be interested in trying their hand at home-cooked versions, as well.