Fast-food sideshave come a long waysince the days of just fries in different forms.
Of course, Wendy’s shook things up with its unique inclusion of baked potatoes.
And, at many fried chicken joints,mashed potatoesare the star of the side menu.
Photo: New Africa/Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Nowadays, items likeonion ringsand mac and cheese show up quite often.
Another side that has become significantly more popular is friedmozzarella sticks.
The concept of mozzarella sticks is simple yet genius.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
I guess they did well because they have now become a full-blown menu item across the country.
I nabbed an 8-count for $3.79.
The look: Much longer and skinnier than your stereotypical cheese stick.
Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That
The breading is also quite dark, almost like they spent too much time in the fryer.
But, there are obvious flecks of green and other seasonings on the surface.
Unfortunately, though, the mozzarella iteration pales in comparison.
Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That
The cheese comes out stiff and dry.
With no juicy chicken to offset it, the outer layer reads more like Italian breadcrumbs.
And, if you thought dipping them into the provided marinara would solve these problems, think again.
Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That
I think BK may need to go back to the fried-food drawing board on this one.
I paid $4.19 for a 4-piece, although 6-counts are also available.
The look:Short and stubby in a light shade of golden brown.
Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That
The taste: Like something subpar you would eat at the county fair.
The breading is greasy and almost sweet but with no underlying seasonings or other flavors.
The cheese follows suit.
Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That
It’s just kind of…there.
Mild and not particularly warm or melty, it doesn’t make a significant impression.
And, subsequently, there are a plethora of locations scattered around in the surrounding boroughs.
However, despite this close proximity, I can’t say it’s a chain I frequent often.
So, I was surprised to learn that it makes the list of fast-food joints that serve mozzarella sticks.
I thought it was all just sacks of sliders and fries.
A 3-count order cost me $3.29.
The look:A very classic set of mozzarella sticks.
The marinara, on the other hand, could have passed for ketchup just in a darker shade.
The taste: Not bad, but not great.
The sticks are strangely wiggly rather than firm since the breading layer is razor-thin.
I mean, the drive-in chain offers Pickle Fries and Fritos Chili Pie, for crying out loud.
Comparatively speaking, its fast-food mozzarella sticks are a fairly standard option.
They come in small, medium, and large sizesor 4-, 6-, and 8-count options.
Don’t worry, Sonic didn’t leave me hanging.
The sauce is also a tad different here.
It’s a little lighter and with a texture closer to cocktail sauce than ketchup.
As such, the breading came out nice and crunchy with a touch of spice zest.
The cheese inside is thick but still ended up on the chewy side with no pull whatsoever.
Despite this small slip-up, I still think Sonic pulls through with one of the better mozzarella stick options.
Plus, its marinara sauce is a significant improvement compared to others, especially in terms of consistency.
The two were once separate entities that joined forces back in 1999.
Now, the pair is essentially the same restaurant operating under two different titles.
They’re loaded up with Rally’s Famous Seasoned Fries seasoning and come with a side of marinara sauce.
Four- and six-count sizes are available but I went the smaller of the two for $3.59.
The look: Based on the name, I was expecting considerably bigger sticks.
The fry seasoning is on display though, showing up as specks of black rather than green.
The taste: I’m unsure why, but I had low expectations going into this specific review.
However, these Monsterella Stix really came to play.
The breading stands out the most.
The marinara here isn’t anything show-stopping, but it’s better than no marinara at all.
There’s a whole production going on there.
I thought I would find various foods sitting out and spinning on rotator grills.
Instead, you actually order your food at a kiosk before it’s made fresh right before your eyes.
I kept things standard sans the seasoning at a cost of $4.69 for six.
The outer shell is crumby and covered in some kind of obvious seasoning.
Plus, I took the white cheese leaking out some of the ends as a good sign.
The taste: I will never underestimate gas station food againat least if it’s coming from Sheetz.
The breading provides a soft crunch and a pleasant flavor of garlic and salt working in unison.
I additionally have to give Sheetz props for being the only chain to serve its marinara sauce warm.
Overall, it’s a cheesy job well done.
