Michael and Naddya Mueckenhausen are ready to open their newest restaurant at 1616 Cape Coral Parkway W., Unit 101, in the Publix-anchored Camelot Isles Shopping Center in southwest Cape Coral. Anticipated to open at the end of January, it will be the main location for Mueckenhausen’s three Friesfactory restaurants. 

While the new restaurant’s marketing makes it feel like a chain, Friesfactory is a local family-owned business. The other two Friesfactory locations in south Fort Myers and East Naples operate within the Mueckenhausen’s original restaurant concept, Lobster Rolls No.1.  

Looking for a concept that wasn’t seasonal is how Michael Mueckenhausen said Friesfactory was born. “It will be a place to be,” Mueckenhausen said. “Our fries are very special fries. Very, very yummy fries. Of course, it has to be because when it is your main dish, it has to be good.” 

The new street-food concept focuses on all things french fries, specifically Canadian poutine. The Mueckenhausen’s spent time in Canada, trying several types of poutines before landing on the gravy they now use at Friesfactory. 

While the restaurant offers classic Quebec poutine, which is a large portion of fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy, a unique twist on the classic street food is seen throughout the rest of the menu.  

The crowd favorite has been the General Tso poutine, which is a large portion of fries with popcorn chicken tossed in General Tso sauce topped with sesame seeds, chopped scallions and cheese curds.  

Naddya Mueckenhausen’s favorite is the B-Mac poutine, a large portion of fries with ground beef, onions, melted cheese, pickles and B-Sauce.  

Other poutine options include the Montreal style poutine, which is a large portion of fries with mushroom cream sauce, mozzarella and radish slices. 

The menu then extends to different types of fries, including classic chili cheese fries, BBQ pulled pork fries and the chicken fajita fries.  

Michael Mueckenhausen said his favorite item on the menu is the Frank’s Special, a large portion of fries with Frank’s, roasted onions, mayo, curry sauce, curry powder and parsley. 

The Mueckenhausen’s also kept vegans and vegetarians in mind, offering the Pink Persia poutine, which is a large portion of fries with falafel balls, pink hummus, quinoa, arugula and guacamole. 

Salads also are offered, including the rainbow bowl, a mixed salad with avocado, pink hummus, falafel, quinoa, cucumber, tomato and agave mustard vinaigrette. 

Everything is made to order at Friesfactory, which is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

“It’s not only fries,” Mueckenhausen said. “It’s a whole meal.”