Michigan’s Best Ultimate Fish Fry Guide 2021
9 min readCod, smelt, walleye, perch, whitefish, pike, salmon and bluegill are just some of the fish you might come across at one of Michigan’s Best Fish Frys. No matter how they prepare it, no matter what the sides are, and no matter if its available to take-out or eat in, our state sure does love a great fish fry.
Tom Convery, St. William Parish in Walled Lake Dad’s Club member and fish fry coordinator, captured pretty much every spot’s sentiments: “It’s all about the fish,” Convery said.
It’s been amazing to learn about all the different fish frys around Michigan, and meet some of the interesting people who are running these restaurants, clubs and organizations that put out great fish.
We were introduced to a guy who’s known as The Codfather, who makes a fish fry you just can’t refuse, and an owner who couldn’t believe he’d been named the best in his region. We learned about a fish fry that’s been going on for over 50 years, a wildlife club that serves over 1000 meals every week, and a tiny private club that will get a long line-up of cars every Friday. Great fish fry in Michigan can be found at a club known as The Casino, a Greek Orthodox Church, a truck stop, and at a Catholic parish where the Dad’s Club runs the show. Lots of bars and restaurants were nominated, and these are places that offer fish fry year-round. We also crowned the Lewiston Hotel & Bar with their second Michigan’s Best Fish Fry award for the Northern Lower Peninsula region.
While bars and restaurants might offer fried fish on their regular menu, year-round, for many places in Michigan fish fry is a seasonal specialty tied to Lent. These spots include schools, private clubs, churches, VFW’s, Knights of Columbus groups, and other organizations that rely on a bevy of volunteers to run what can essentially be an incredibly busy restaurant one night a week. “It’s an all-volunteer crew,” Lori Photiou said. She’s a member of Assumption Greek Orthodox, which hosts a fish fry weekly under the name Grand Blanc Fish Fry. ”All of us are parishioners of the church. We take pride in it.”
This year more than ever, bars, restaurants, clubs and halls appreciate the incredible support that they’ve gotten from their local communities. It’s why they continue to put out great fish fry every week, and there is no sign of them stopping, lucky for us. “The support of the area means a lot, not just for me, but for every bar owner,” Heck’s Bar owner Jeff Wenzell said. “Every bar owner is thankful that locals do that.”
Across the board, everyone is looking to the future. “We are looking forward to being normal again and seeing all our customers old and new,” Lewiston Hotel owner Mike Lietzke said. “We are anticipating a very busy summer.”
See all 11 Poll Winners for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry below.
All you can eat Pollock at Charlie’s Bar and Grille in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
Upper Peninsula
WINNER
Swallow Inn, Rapid River
READ: U.P. Best Fish Fry dates back 50 years
Upper Peninsula Final Results
1. The Swallow Inn, Rapid River
2. The Longbranch, Faithorn
3. Jack’s Restaurant, Rapid River
4. The Family Inn, Escanaba
5. R Place, Spalding
RELATED: Is Michigan’s Best Fish Fry so remote it’s in the Central Time Zone?
Fresh fish from the fryer at Muskegon Catholic High School.John Gonzalez
Muskegon and the lakeshore
WINNER
Whitlow’s Forerunner Restaurant, Muskegon
READ: Grilled steelhead? You’ll find it, and more, at Muskgeon’s Best Fish Fry
Muskegon and the lakeshore Final Results
1. Whitlow’s Forerunner Restaurant, Muskegon
2. Tootsie’s Diner, Muskegon
3. Knights of Columbus Dan M. Kennedy Council 706, Norton Shores
4. Bob Hi Lanes/ Paddy’s Pub, Norton Shores
5. Muskegon Eagles #668, Muskegon
RELATED: 5 places to try in Muskegon for fantastic fish fry (2019)
The Friday night fish fry at the Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club is a pretty big deal. They were named the top fish fry in the Ann Arbor area by MLive readers.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan
WINNER
Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club, Whitmore Lake
READ: A wildlife club is serving up Ann Arbor’s Best Fish Fry
Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan Final Results
1. Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club, Whitmore Lake
2. Hamburg Pub, Hamburg
3. St. Mary Catholic Church, Manchester
4. St. Mary Catholic School and Parish, Pinckney
5. Monahan’s Seafood Market, Ann Arbor
RELATED: It’s a ‘Drive By Fish Fry’ this year at St. Mary’s in Pinckney
Owners Mike Lietzke and Meredith Larson of the Lewiston Hotel Bar and Grill in Lewiston, Michigan, offer perch every Friday night year round. They were the 2019 Northern Michigan poll winner for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry, won the poll again in 2021.John Gonzalez
Northern Lower Peninsula
WINNER
Lewiston Hotel Bar and Grill, Lewiston
READ: This classic hotel, bar takes back-to-back titles for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry
Northern Lower Peninsula FINAL RESULTS
1. Lewiston Hotel and Bar, Lewiston
2. Keyhole Bar, Mackinaw City
3. Sacred Heart Academy, Mount Pleasant
4. Cafe International, Prescott
5. Swamp II Bar, Frederic
RELATED: 3 places in the Northern Lower Peninsula for fantastic fish fry (2019)
Fish fry Fridays are a pretty big deal at St. William Catholic Church in Walled Lake. The St. William’s Dad’s Club puts on the dinners.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Detroit Metro Area and Southeast Michigan
WINNER
St. William Parish, Walled Lake
READ: This fish fry run by a Dad’s Club is the Detroit area’s best fish fry
Detroit Metro Area and Southeast Michigan FINAL RESULTS
1. St. William Parish, Walled Lake
2. Lyon Grill, South Lyon
3. Sullivan’s Public House, Oxford
4.Scotty Simpson’s Fish and Chips, Detroit
5. American-Polish Century Club, Sterling Heights
Wegner’s Lakeside Bar and Grill in Niles, Michigan, was the winner of Best Fish Fry in Kalamazoo/Southwestern Michigan. They serve all-you-can-eat pollock on Friday nights.Courtesy of Rachel Wegner
Kalamazoo and Southwestern Michigan
WINNER
Wegner’s Lakeside Bar and Grill, Niles
READ: Friday is ‘all-you-can-eat’ pollock at this Kalamazoo/Southwestern Fish Fry winner
Kalamazoo and Southwestern Michigan FINAL RESULTS
1. Wegner’s Lakeside Bar and Grill, Niles
2. Coloma FOP #147, Coloma
3. Sand Bar, Gun Lake
4. (tie) Captain Luey’s Calabash Seafood, Battle Creek
4. (tie) Knights of Columbus 1616/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kalamazoo
Deep fried battered cod is one of the Lenten fish specials that The Deck Down Under in Jerome.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Jackson Area
WINNER
The Deck Down Under, Jerome
READ: The Deck Down Under is home to Jackson’s Best Fish Fry
1. The Deck Down Under, Jerome
2. One North Kitchen and Bar, Jackson
3. St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Jackson
4. Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Michigan Center
5. Aggie’s Sports Bar, Napoleon
RELATED: A 2021 guide to Jackson-area fish frys
Smelt at Charlie’s Bar and Grille in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com
Grand Rapids
WINNER
The Casino Club, Grand Rapids
READ: The Casino Club is home to Grand Rapids Best Fish Fry
Grand Rapids Final Results
1. Casino Club of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids
2. Birch Lodge, Grand Rapids
3. Charlie’s Bar & Grille, Grand Rapids
4. Two Guys Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
5. West Catholic High School, Grand Rapids
RELATED: The food at a Grand Rapids bar that is a finalist for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry is a ‘happy surprise’
The Fieldhouse Sports Bar & Kitchen in Marysville is in the running for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Flint and The Thumb
WINNER
Assumption Greek Orthodox, Grand Blanc
READ: Take a trip to Greece at this poll winner for Flint’s Best Fish Fry
1. Assumption Greek Orthodox, Grand Blanc
2. Chef D’s Sandwich Emporium, Vassar
3. Beeter’s Brew Pub, Sebewaing
4. Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus, Montrose
5. Whitey’s Restaurant, Davison
READ: Get a ‘fieldhouse’ of hand-battered fish at this Michigan’s Best Fish Fry contender
READ: Don’t overlook this tiny contender for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry
The fish fry at Heck’s Bar in Saginaw was voted the best in the area by MLive readers.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Bay City/Saginaw/Midland
WINNER
Heck’s Bar, Carrollton
READ: Heck’s Bar in Carrollton is Saginaw area’s Best Fish Fry, even if the owner can’t believe it
Final Results
1. Heck’s Bar, Carrollton
2. Oasis Lounge, Bay City
3. Log Cabin Bar and Grill, Freeland
4. Corpus Christi Parish, Bay City
5. Linwood Corners Cafe, Linwood Corners
RELATED: Where you can get a “Man Eating Catfish” in Michigan
RELATED: Bay City Fish Fry roundup, these stops are a great catch
Owner Jordan Nieto of Bear’s 105 Diner in Perry, Michigan, says they sell about 100 pounds of cod on a busy Friday. Bear’s was voted as Michigan’s Best Fish Fry in the Lansing area.Courtesy of Jordan Nieto
Lansing and Central Michigan
WINNER
Bear’s 105 Diner, Perry
READ: The winner of Lansing’s Best Fish Fry is located at a truck stop off I-69
Lansing and Central Michigan FINAL RESULTS
1. Bear’s 105 Diner, Perry
2. Hard Knocks Food Truck, Grand Ledge
3. The Tipsy Cow, Elsie
4. Harry’s Place Bar & Grill, Lansing
5. Crossroads Bar and Grill, Leslie
RELATED: Meet the Codfather: he’s got a Michigan’s Best fish fry you just can’t refuse
RELATED: Another reason to love Lansing: 3 must-try fish frys
Lee and Abbie Burmeister of The Hard Knocks Food Truck in Grand Ledge.John Gonzalez
More Michigan’s Best
U.P.’s Best Fish Fry dates back 50 years and features an all-you-can-eat salad bar
A wildlife club is serving up Ann Arbor’s best fish fry with 1,000 dinners a week
Grilled steelhead? You will find it, and more, at Muskegon’s Best Fish Fry
This fish fry run by a Dad’s Club is named Michigan’s Best in Metro Detroit
Fish Fry Friday: 11 of Michigan’s Best to visit today
This classic hotel, bar takes back-to-back titles as Best Fish Fry in Northern Lower Michigan
Heck’s Bar is Saginaw area’s Best Fish Fry, even the owner can’t believe it
The winner of Lansing area’s Best Fish Fry is located at a truck stop off I-69
Take a trip to Greece at this poll winner for Michigan’s Best fish fry
Friday is ‘all-you-can-eat’ pollock at this Kalamazoo/Southwestern Fish Fry winner
The Deck Down Under is home to Jackson’s best fish fry
Don’t overlook this tiny contender for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry
Is Michigan’s Best Fish Fry at this Grand Rapids ‘Casino’?
Where you can get ‘Man-Eating Catfish’ in Michigan
Is Michigan’s Best Fish Fry at this tucked-away bar that serves steamed mussels?
Get a ‘fieldhouse’ of hand-battered fish at this Michigan’s Best contender
Is Michigan’s Best Fish Fry so remote that it’s in the Central Time Zone?
It’s a ‘Drive By Fish Fry’ this year at St. Mary’s in Pinckney
A 2021 guide to Jackson-area Friday Lenten fish fries
Grand Rapids area 2021 fish fry guide for Lent
We named Bone Daddy’s BBQ our top pick for Michigan’s Best BBQ in 2018. Owner Bill Wall, center, celebrates the announcement with Michigan’s Best team of Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez.
If you have questions about our search for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry or you want to suggest a future search, feel free to email us.
Amy Sherman: [email protected]
John Gonzalez: [email protected]
Follow our Michigan’s Best adventures on social media:
@mlivemibest on Twitter
@mlivemibest on Instagram
Facebook at MLiveMIBest.
Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #BestFishFry for our current search for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry.
In addition:
Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
