VFW or American Legion Fish Fry's

Well it's Fall and I always start thinking about going to a good Friday fish fry in the fall and winter. We are just so busy in the summer and just want to be outside. The past few years we been hitting the local bars and restaurants for fish frys. I think it's time to support our American Legion and VFW . Lets hear about your favorite local VFW, A.L. fish fry's .

[Repost]

VFW Friday Fish Fry

Thursday night Katsu, Friday night, VFW Post 3854, quite the Chowhound change-up. I was going to lead off with From the sublime to the ridiculous, but that would be, mostly, untrue. Post 3854 is located in Lincolnwood, but you are immediately transported to anytown USA, actually, anytown USA that has a population under 15,000.

The VFW Friday fish fry has everything going for it, cute as all get-out, but grouchy enough to give a Jewish deli counterman pause, 90-lb great grandmother type taking the money and passing out order tickets, an all volunteer core scurrying, or at least as fast as 70-80 year old legs would let them scurry, with trays of fish, passing out coffee, busing tables in a large gymnasium type hall and hundreds of hungry Social Security recipients happily eating damn good walleye pike with little cups of slaw, baked potato and slightly long in the tooth rolls.

My wife and I went with her mother, doesn't Good Friday seem like the perfect day for a VFW fish fry, and the three of us tried four of the offerings. Deep fried Walleye, which was the best of the bunch by far, fried shrimp, fried chicken and mixed seafood plate. The VFW gets the Walleye filets in frozen, but batters them in house with, as our 'waiter' candidly informed us, flour and their secret ingredient, beer, Walleye is clearly the winner.

The shrimp seem to be a food service product and the scallops in the mixed seafood plate had a suspiciously uniform 'cod plug' appearance, but hey, for 6-7 bucks, all of which goes to support the VFW, you really can't complain. I will say that the fried Sole filet on the seafood plate was quite good, as was the chicken, or at least the thigh of the chicken, the rest was a bit dried out. They also offer Italian beef, Cat fish and Halibut, used to offer Lake Perch, but that got too expensive and the VFW consensus is Ocean Perch like brown shoes, just doesn't make the grade.

Ok, enough about the food, on to the circuses. The coffee lady, Vita, is a cute as pie octogenarian who dresses in different costumes, as the mood strikes her. Friday was, obviously, Bunny Suit night, that's right, Vita was in a full-on bunny suit , replete with big floppy ears, bushy tail and a pillow or two stuffed in for good measure. She was the cutest thing I have seen in ages and me without my camera.

The VFW has a full bar, which was bustling, and from 8-? on Fridays, after the fish fry ends, the Blue Vel-Vet lounge in the VFW basement rocks with a band, full bar and dancing.

I had a full day of fish fry's on Friday as I was in Port Washington, Wisconsin for lunch, where David Hammond is going next weekend for the smelt fry, and had very good Lake Perch at Smith Brother's, a Port Washington institution.

Enjoy,
Gary

VFW Post 3854
7401 N Lincoln Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL
847-673-9781
Fish fry 5:30- 8 only on Friday.
Blue Vel-Vet Lounge 8-?, Friday only.

Smith Brother's
100 N Franklin St
Port Washington, WI 53074
262-377-2800

For a west suburban option try this VFW fish fry. $5.95 at lunch and $6.95 at dinner. Its one of the best I have had recently.



VFW Post 9284
400 E Devon
Elk Grove Vill

847-439-9284

LTH,

Was out in the wilds of Naperville last Saturday to hear my brother in-laws band play at the VFW and noticed they were holding Friday night fish fry through lent. (5PM - 8 PM)

It is getting harder and harder to find the elusive VFW Friday night fish fry, I plan on attending in the next couple of weeks.

Enjoy,
Gary

Veterans of Foreign Wars: Judd Kendall Post 3873
908 West Jackson Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
630-420-9820

G Wiv wrote:LTH,

Was out in the wilds of Naperville last Saturday to hear my brother in-laws band play at the VFW and noticed they were holding Friday night fish fry through lent. (5PM - 8 PM)

It is getting harder and harder to find the elusive VFW Friday night fish fry, I plan on attending in the next couple of weeks.

Enjoy,
Gary

Veterans of Foreign Wars: Judd Kendall Post 3873
908 West Jackson Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
630-420-9820

It's been at least 8 years since I went to an American Legion or VFW fish fry. Last one I went to was at the Argo-Summit VFW. Argo-Summit VFW holds their fish fry every Friday, not just during the Lenten season. They also run their own catering service there (DesPlaines Valley Catering) which is very popular with the residents in their surrounding area. I know the Argo-Summit VFW fish fry is still going strong.

I'll have to try the Naperville VFW one since it's about a 15 minute drive for me. More info about the VFW Post 3873 Fish Fry including a menu link can be found here:

http://www.napervfw3873.org/content.php?id=100


Argo-Summit VFW Post 6863
7256 W 63rd St [NW corner of South 63rd St. & Harlem Ave.]
Summit Argo, IL 60501
(708) 458-7844

I was at the Argo- Summit on this week and it's still going strong. Pick up several fish and chip dinners that were very good. They are also willing for you to phone your order in advance if you just want to do a pick up. It can get especially busy during lent.

Anyone know of any good south suburb VFW or other joints doing some sweet fry day fish fries?

Cbot wrote:Anyone know of any good south suburb VFW or other joints doing some sweet fry day fish fries?

I haven't been there in a couple years, but the VFW in Midlothian has a Friday night fish fry. It's on Pulaslki just south of 147th street, not far at all from Palos.

In Lansing, the Serbian Social Center and the Knights of Columbus both have Friday fish frys.

The Steger VFW used to have regular a regular fish fry, but I have no idea if they still do.

Suzy

VFW SUMMIT,IL.

four of us went last night .
we had 2 combo platters
cat fish,pearch,jumbo shrinp,fries(or baked buck more)cole slaw or salad

1 fried chicken platter
1potato pancake platter.
&drinks for under 40 bucks.
it may have not been the best,but i enjoyed it all .

great stop,i will be back

Seen in NewsSunOnline.com

Winthrop Harbor VFW Post 7447
112 Sheridan Road
Winthrop Harbor, IL
847/872-7676

Fridays through April 15th (late Easter this year) from 5 to 7 pm.

Cost is $7. Fish fry includes choice of beer-battered cod or catfish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, bread slice, french fries, coffee, tea, water and dessert.

When I read this, I put this high on my list of places to go, "Marion Beddow, 87, is still in charge of the post kitchen, overseeing the fish fry each week. Accompaniments include hush puppies made from a secret recipe only Beddow knows, and all the other fixings. The ladies auxillary at the post make a variety of cakes which are included."

***

Wauconda American Legion, Post 911
515 S. Main St.
Wauconda, IL
847/526-9718

Fish fry is served from 5 pm to 8 pm during Lent.

All you can each breaded ocean perch dinner with all the trimmings: cole slaw, dinner roll, choice of potato (fries or baked). "If the cook feels like it, he'll make a big pot of soup that day, which is also included," said Adjutant Bill Geary.

They have tacos and Tuesday and hamburgers on Thursday.