Fish fry is a Friday tradition. And it’s not one you need to sacrifice. There are a variety of bars and restaurants across the city who’ve continued to fire up their fryers to support their employees and bring you delicious carry-out versions of all of your favorite items.
We've curated a list of spots around the city and beyond, which are offering fish fry for carry-out (including two vegan options).
And whether you choose to support one of them – or another restaurant – for dinner tonight, know that your order is making a difference for someone else.
Remember: Be safe. Be kind. And tip generously.
1. Bass Bay Brewhouse
S79W15851 Aud Mar Dr., Muskego, (414) 377-9449
bassbaybrewhouse.com
The entire menu is available for carry-out, including their popular Friday night fish fry. View the menu on their web site and call the restaurant to place your order.
2. Celesta Restaurant
1978 N Farwell Ave., (414) 231-30
Celesta.restaurant
Celesta will offer their fishless fish fry for carry-out or delivery through Eat Street from 11:30 a.m. through 8:30 p.m. (with last pick-up by 9 p.m.). Their fishless fry features crispy battered Simple Soyman tofu, cajun home fries, housemade tartar sauce and lemon for $14.
3. the cheel
105 S Main St, Thiensville, (262) 236-9463
thecheel.com
The cheel will offer fish fry for carry-out or curbside pick-up on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Their naturally gluten-free fish fry includes fresh meagre lightly fried in a chickpea and rice flour batter served with golden raisin slaw, saffron rice and a side of house-made tartar sauce. Call ahead to place your order.
4. Hue Vietnamese Restaurant
2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Bay View, (414) 294- 0483
6519 W. North Ave., Wauwautosa (414) 585-0577
huerestaurants.com
Hue will have their Friday fish fry available for carry-out or curbside pick-up for both lunch and dinner. Fish fry features turmeric marinated, beer-battered swai served with garlic fried rice, cabbage slaw and Thai basil aioli ($14.95).
5. Kam's Thistle & Shamrock
3430 N. 84th St.
(414) 871-3977
thethistleandshamrock.com
Kam's will offer carry-out fish fry from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., including options like pollock, cod, smelt, shrimp, catfish and pike with all the fixin's. Order two fish fries to go and they will throw in a free bottle of wine. See full menu.
6. Kegel's Inn
5901 W. National Ave., (414) 257-9999
kegelsinn.com
Kegel’s Inn will be offering fish fry for carry-out on Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Offerings include hand battered cod, blue gill, perch, walleye, baked cod loin and a seafood platter featuring deep-fried cod, perch, breaded scallops, and shrimp. A vegan fish fry is also available. See the menu for details. Call ahead to place your order.
7. Liquid Johnny's
540 S. 76th St., (414) 476-8668
liquidjohnnysmke.com
Liquid Johnny’s will offer their fish fry (cod, perch or walleye with all the fixin’s) on Friday for carry-out or curbside pick-up. All customers who spend $40 or more will get a free Liquid Johnny’s t-shirt. Go online to view their menu and call ahead to place your order.
8. North Avenue Grill
7225 W. North Ave., (414) 453-7225
Northavegrill.com
North Avenue Grill will offer their fish fry for carry-out between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.. Fish fry options include the guest's choice of beer battered cod ($12); battered or pan-fried lake perch* ($13); beer battered, pan fried or blackened walleye ($14); battered bluegill ($14) or The Platter featuring walleye, lake perch* and bluegill ($16). Each fish fry is served with the guest's choice of potato (French fries, potato pancake, baked potato), coleslaw, tartar sauce and lemon.
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9. O'Lydia's Bar & Grill
338 S. 1st St., (414) 271-7546
Olydias.com
O’Lydia’s will be offering fish fry for carry-out on Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Options include broiled or breaded cod, fried perch, panko-crusted blue gill, a cod sandwich or fried shrimp.
10. Polonez
4016 S Packard Ave, St Francis, (414) 482-0080
polonezrestaurant.com
Polonez will offer fish fry for carry-out between 11:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. Options include deep-fried hand-breaded cod loin ($14.50); fish and chips ($15.50); baked cod in veggie tomato or cream-dill sauce ($16) or hand-breaded deep-fried perch ($17.75). View the full menu.
11. Ricardo's Pizza
5627 Broad St., (414) 421-1980
ricardosgreendale.com
Ricardo's offers online ordering for carry-out, plus curbside pickup during normal business hours.
That includes their Friday fish fry, which includes breaded perch ($14.99), breaded cod ($10.99), baked cod ($11.99) and a shrimp dinner featuring butterflied panko-breaded shrimp served with cocktail sauce ($11.95). Each meal comes with a choice of potato (French fries, homemade potato pancakes, seasoned wedges or sweet potato fries; the latter will cost an additional $1.29), applesauce, coleslaw and salted rye bread.
12. Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery
3216 S. Howell Ave., (312) 834-1929
Sabrosa.cafe
Sabrosa’s entire menu is available for carry-out or curbside pick-up. They are also offering free delivery within a five mile radius of the cafe.
Fish fry offerings include beer battered cod ($12.95); baked cod with white wine, lemon and caper sauce ($13.95); breaded bluegill ($13.95) or cornmeal breaded perch ($13.95) served with lime slaw, toasted marble rye and guests' choice of shoestring fries, potato pancake with apple compote, or charred street corn. You can also add a cup of clam chowder, salad, an extra side or a piece of fish for $2more. View their menu for more options.
13. Steny’s Tavern
800 S. 2nd St., (414) 672-7139
stenystavern.com
Steny’s is offering their famous fish fry for carry-out until 10 p.m. Three pieces of cod with fries or potato pancakes and all the fixin’s ($15). While you’re there, grab a growler of beer or Bloody Marys to go.
But there's more – and this is big: Half of the proceeds from each fish fry ($7.50) will go directly to laid-off Steny’s employees.
Important: DO NOT CALL ahead to place an order for fish fry. Just pull up in Steny’s makeshift "drive-thru" on National Avenue (and around the corner on 2nd Street) for curbside service.
14. The Stillery
W204 N14025 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., Richfield, (262) 674-2033
thestillerywi.com
The Stillery will be serving fish fry for carry-out and curbside pick-up from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Options include baked or lightly Hofbrau Original beer battered cod served with cole slaw, tartar sauce, lemon, a salted rye bread stick and the guest's choice of Stillery fries or potato pancakes ($14.95/$13.95). You can also order up a cod sandwich, shrimp dinner or cod tacos.
Old Fashioned kits are also available starting at 11 a.m. Each kit comes with ingredients and instructions to make your very own Stillery Wisconsin Old Fashioned! A kit to make 2 Old Fashioneds is $10 and a kit to make 6 of them is $25.
Even better, The Stillery will also be donating $4 from each of the $10 kits and $12 from each of the $25 kits to our staff to help them through this tough time.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
