By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Oct 28, 2007 at 5:30 AM

People who grew up in Milwaukee agree that winter used to include a lot more snow. And most locals would agree that there used to be more high-paying, blue-collar jobs in this city. But did Milwaukee once have more restaurants  with all-you-can-eat fish fries?

Sure, there are still some good all-you-can-eaters, like the bottomless buffet at Café El Sol, 1028 S. 9th St., and places like Painted Parrot, 8028 W. National Ave., and The Mineshaft, 22 N. Main St. (Hartford), that still serve up plate after plate of fried fish every Friday. (And in the case of The Mineshaft, on Wednesday nights, too!) But wasn't the all-you-can-eat fish fry more common at one time?

Yes, the all-you-can-eat fish fry was way more common back in the day! In the '70s and '80s, the all-you-can-eat fish fry was standard fare, but in recent years, many restaurants ditched it to cut back on costs. Bring it back!

No way, you're trippin'. Places without an all-you-can eat option have always been in the majority. The gorge-yourself-until-you-keel-over fry hasn't waned a bit.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.