NOTE: Now located in The Village At South Campus, 602 E. 600 North in Provo.

While New Year’s goals and January are behind us by now (and the gym crowds are finally letting up), our company just started a 10-week, health-driven weight-loss competition. For teams losing five or more percent of their body weight, some hefty prizes are awarded that are quite enticing. A few of us editors and reporters rallied together and for some unbeknown reason decided to enter the competition. 

For me, this means 10 weeks of a high-protein diet — we’ll just call it rabbit food. Gone are delicious sugar cookies, Sour Patch Kids fixes, my birthday cake and Chinese food. Taking their place is spinach and kale salads, chicken and protein smoothies.

I’m sure you’re wondering at this point, what’s the purpose of living? I know. Except, I’m hoping the fast from fast food and other American delicacies will prolong my living for a little longer yet — and really, kale undeservedly gets a bad rap.

So, what’s a person to do the weekend before clearing all shelves and lunch dates of sugary and delicious goodness? Binge a little, perhaps? In my quest to satiate my palate for the next two months, I settled in on a new little dive with only a few tables sandwiched among shops on University Avenue in Provo: Hot Potato. 

Those who had any fun waiting in after-school bus lines as a 7-year-old might be familiar with the old game “Hot potato, hot potato.” While the restaurant doesn’t throw balls or bean bags at customers (thank goodness), it is attempting to be a hot spot for downtown-goers or late-night music fans wandering the streets after concerts at Velour searching for some affordable grub. 

Hot Potato does serve up about every type of french fry known to Americans, though the fries aren’t French and they’re not fried either — does that make them healthier? 

Among the options were house cut, wedge, seasoned curly, hash tag, sweet potato and tots. With so many choices, it’s easy to please all kinds of fry-lovers, from those who value the traditional cut salted to perfection to the friends who love to gorge themselves on tots doused with chili. The evening we swung by, Hot Potato was fresh out of house cut but we made sure to include every other type in our order.

Sadly … or not, the fries weren’t the highlight; the sauces and shakes are truly the hot items at this restaurant. The nearly two dozen dipping sauces are tasty and unique, elevating the fry experience. There’s the standard fare of house ketchup and Utah’s favorite — fry sauce — while also a few other adventurous options like Buffalo Blue Cheese, Apple BBQ, Roasted Garlic Parmesan, Bangkok Peanut Sauce and our favorite: Jalapeño Ranch.

The restaurant also offers specials featuring fries with various toppings such as Baked Potato or Carne Asada Fries. While a more hearty helping of toppings for the Baked Potato would have satisfied this binge eater, the Carne Asada Fries were smothered in steak, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. 

Unique and unusual combos don’t stop with the fries; Hot Potato’s shakes marry ice cream and pudding — which makes pie or cupcake shakes seem less creative somehow — topping off a meal full of fries. Although initially a tad skeptical of the pudding, the taste will convert any diner. We recommend the Nutella Shake with Butterscotch Pudding; one always wins when choosing Nutella.

HOT POTATO

Where: 180 N. University Ave. #120, Provo

Hours: 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Prices: $1.50-$6.95

Info: (801) 210-1726, facebook.com/hotpotatoprovo