Everybody has their favorite fish fry, and I respect that. Just in case you were thinking of branching out at all, here’s a few fish fries that go beyond the usual, and an assortment of wild cards.
At Yankee BBQ, Brian Nagy smokes haddock filets before battering and frying in beef tallow. In case you’re avoiding tallow, Yankee BBQ also has a fryer with normal vegetable oil – just specify when you order. (Photo: Yankee BBQ)
4572 Clark St., Hamburg NY, yankeebbq716.com, 716-768-4991
Hours: noon-10:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Fresh Catch Poke Co.’s Nashville fish fry starts with a panko-crumbed filet fried to golden brown, then dunked in smoky-spicy-sweet Nashville sauce. (Photo: Fresh Catch Poke Co.)
5933 Main St., Williamsville, freshcatchpoke.co, 716-271-7653
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
305 Franklin St., in 500 Pearl, Buffalo, 716-697-7653
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.
In Lockport, The Shamus’ Guinness-battered fish and chips will put a bit of English on your fish.
98 West Ave., Lockport NY, shamuslockport.com, 716-433-9809
Hours: noon-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Hilltop Restaurant offers the lenten holy trinity: battered, crumbed, and broiled fish options. (Photo: Hilltop Restaurant)
4206 Lake Ave., Lockport NY, thehilltoprestaurant.com, 716-433-7060
Hours: 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Fieldstone Country Inn offers generously portioned fish and sides, with a choice of beer-battered, but crumbed is the default fish fry. Lemon butter Florentine is one of the baked options. Notably, it comes with an old-school and increasingly rare unlimited soup and salad bar. (Photo: Contributed)
5986 S. Transit Road, Lockport, fieldstonecountryinn.com, 716-625-6193
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday. Closed Sunday
Dominican mainstay La Casa De Sabores does a whole seafood lineup, with fried tilapia, plancha-seared salmon, garlic tilapia in shrimp scampi, and bacalo, braised salt cod with bell peppers and onions. (Photo: La Casa De Sabores)
1 Letchworth St., Buffalo NY, see menu, 716-370-1484
Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Closed Wednesday.
When the usual places have lines out the door, Royal Family Restaurant is my sleeper fish fry spot.
1320 Sheridan Drive, Tonawanda NY, theroyalfamilyrestaurant.com, 716-873-0056
Hours: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
You can find straight outta Sloan values at Kiebzak’s, thanks to Dave Lyman’s WNY Fish Fry Reviews. Send Dave suggestions for new places to check out this lent. (Photo: Dave Lyman)
Kiebzak’s, 38 Crocker St., Sloan, kiebzaks.com, 716-896-3044
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-7 p.m. Sunday
REVIEW: Swan Street Diner reminds you of the way diners were way back when, starting with the restaurant itself, a fully restored mahogany-trimmed diner built in 1937. The menu is as cozy as the space, but it hits the right notes. From arrays of mini-doughnuts to housemade corned beef hash and its housemade biscuit with sausage gravy, this Larkinville draw will have you eating like the good old days. (Later this week, for patrons.)
SOUP STROLL: Soup’s on in Williamsville Saturday Feb. 28, with the ninth Williamsville Soup Stroll.
Businesses along Main Street will offer $2 samples of signature potages from neighboring restaurants. It’s cash only, so bring some folding money.
Vote for your favorites along the way, and a champion will be crowned by sundown.
The full list of offerings is here, but highlights include:
Crab bisque by Glen Park Tavern, at Excuria Salon & Spa, 5877 Main St.
Buffalo chicken wing soup by The French Pub, at Meeting House, 5658 Main St.
Braised onion with asiago cheese crisp, at Britesmith Brewing, 5611 Main St.
Maple butternut squash soup, at The Eagle House, 5578 Main St.
Chicken pot pie soup at Glen Park Tavern, 5507 Main St.
Beans and greens, Di Camillo Bakery, 5329 Main St.
ASK THE CRITIC
Q: Does anyone offer a not-gross eggplant parm?
A: I’d head to The Dove in Orchard Park, where Chef Dana Matiello swaddles eggplant in oodles of tomato and cheese – as in this photo of eggplant rollatini appetizer – but the eggplant flavor still comes through.
More reading from Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Mr. Galarneau told us how you can eat the hits of Asia without leaving town at Bamboo Ridge Lancaster [Four Bites]
- Andrew also told us about the diversity you can find at Sunday Brunch around WNY at places like Mira, Southern Junction and more [Four Bites]
- Francesca wrote about Tonawanda’s Haruko Craft Ramen [Buffalo News]
- Graylynn will transition to a new concept under new ownership [Buffalo Rising]
- Andrew will be hosting a tasting event at International House on 3/5 [Four Bites]
- More coverage of Graylynn’s transition [Buffalo Rising]
- Brett wrote about the new collaboration between Community Beer Works, Thin Man Brewery and Smoldered Society Beer Co. – Chandler Street Breweries [Step Out Buffalo]
- You can now find some of the best Columbian food in WNY in a former Denny’s – Dulce Hogar Bakery in North Tonawanda [Step Out Buffalo]
- Sarah wrote about a great winter hangout spot in Cheektowaga – Pocketeer Billiards and Sports Bar [Step Out Buffalo]
- Brett also put together a list of eight iconic fish fry spots around WNY including Wiechec’s Lounge, Curry’s and more [Step Out Buffalo]
- The Spree has published its 2026 Fish Fry List [Buffalo Spree]
- The Buffalo Sabres and Labatt have joined forces to create the sabrehood Bar Network [Buffalo Scoop]
- The seventh annual Brewer’s Invitational will take place at the NYBP Beer Lodge on 2/28 [Buffalo Beer League]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the Kenan Wine & Beer Bash, a collaboration between First Line Brewing and the Summit Center and more [Buffalo Beer League]
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