It's one of Milwaukee's most cherished and distinctive traditions: the Friday fish fry. Go to practically any other city, and they'll have no idea what you're talking about.

The Friday fish fry sprouted out of the city's Catholic community, which frowns upon eating meat on Fridays, particularly during Lent. Plus, it offered a Milwaukee family the chance to go out to dinner without blowing a lot of cash on steak.

Most places in town have fish fries, and this guide couldn't possibly cover them all; but after much searching, asking and eating, here are some of the best places in the city to catch a fish fry.

And, as always, if we've forgotten your favorite or if you're willing to share your hidden gem ... share it with others by posting a Talkback below.

South/Southwest Side

Beer Belly's
512 W. Layton Ave., (414) 481-5520
You can get fish here every day, but Friday's catch is only available, of course, on Fridays. Your choice of a cod fry, baked cod dinner, a codwich, beer battered baby walleye pike, smelt basket, clam strip basket or jumbo shrimp entree.

Cafe el Sol
1028 S. 9th St., (414) 384-3100
unitedcc.org
Hidden in the United Community Center, this is one of Milwaukee's best-kept fish fry secrets. It features cod freshly dunked in a Puerto Rican batter before being served buffet-style alongside salad, beans and rice and various side dishes del dia. The price also includes live entertainment from 6:30 t0 8:30 by Latin bands from Milwaukee or abroad.

Clifford's Supper Club
10418 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 425-6226
cliffordsfinefood.com
Clifford's famous Friday fish fry doesn't stop at just fish. The Hales Corners eatery also features steaks and chops alongside its seafood selection, plus a relish tray, rolls and a cracker basket. Dinners come with soup, salad and potato. The Fish Fry is served all day, every day and is always available to-go.

The Country Squire
S72 W16373 Janesville Road, (262) 422-0140
This is the place to go if you want a salad bar with your fish. You can add that to your battered cod. It's a scrumptious fish fry at a decent price.

Erv's Mug
130 W. Ryan Road, (414) 762-5010
ervsmug.com
Erv's is a popular Oak Creek restaurant -- with an unbeatable decor -- that fries some of the best fish in the southern suburbs. The portions are large. The place is busy and the patrons are happy.

Finn McGuire's Irish Pub & Grill
5171 S. 108th St., (414) 427-8900
finnmcguires.com
This newly-opened Irish pub offers perch fry ($10.95), sauteed salmon ($12.95), and walleye ($10.95). Rye bread, dill tartar sauce, and coleslaw along with a choice of potato (waffle fries or homemade potato chips) are served with the daily cod special for $10.95.

Fritz's Pub

3086 S. 20th St., (414) 643-6995
This is a casual, friendly South Side pub with three sizes of beer-battered cod, great coleslaw and potato wedges. Prices are reasonable.

Grainger's Pub & Grill
3400 W. Loomis Road, (414) 282-9917
graingersbar.com
Friday's catch includes beer-breaded cod, baked walleye and hand-breaded shrimp, among other dishes. All come with coleslaw, fries or potato pancakes and rye bread.

Meyer's Restaurant and Bar
4260 S. 71st Street., (414) 321-4400
meyersrestaurantandbar.com
This place serves a Frish Fry lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and prices range from $5.99 to $9.99. There's also a dinner served, featuring baked and friend fish dishes for $9.99 (second helpings included!). There are additional Friday specials, too, like the Cajun Catfish Skillet.

The Packing House
900 E. Layton Ave., (414) 483-5054
The Packing House offers a terrific fish fry, baked or fried, with all the sides. Like Serb Hall, it offers a drive-through service. Just look for the traffic spilling onto Layton Avenue.

Scotty's
3921 S. Clement Ave., (414) 481-6060
The weekly fry starts at 11 a.m. each Friday and goes until 10:30 p.m. You can choose from big helpings of beer-battered or breaded cod or perch. All come with homemade coleslaw, rye bread and your choice of potato pancakes, fries or seasoned baked potatoes.

Serb Hall
5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., (414) 545-6030
americanserbhall.com
Serb Hall often claimed to have the best fish fry in the city. It features fried and baked cod and perch; but expect a long wait before partaking in this local favorite. For service in your car, try the drive-through. But get there early; the line can snake along Oklahoma Avenue all the way down past 48th, 47th or even 46th Street on the busiest nights.

West Side

Albanese's Roadhouse
2301 W. Bluemound Road, Waukesha, (262) 785-1930
albanesesroadhouse.com
Waukesha natives rave about this place, with good reason. Conveniently located near shopping on Bluemound, and the Marcus Majestic movie theater complex.

Aliota's Red Mill
1005 S. Elm Grove Road, Brookfield, (262) 641-8120
This fish fry is terrific; it's available in baked or fried versions of Icelandic cod, with the standard sides. Red Mill also offers perch, bluegill, crab legs and shrimp. And if you can't wait until Friday, they also serve their cod fish fry throughout the week.

Balistreri's Bluemound Inn
6501 W. Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa, (414) 258-9881
balistreris.com
Nothing fancy here. Just solid, beer-battered cod fried to a bright gold and served with tartar sauce, fries, rye bread and lemon.

Fattoni's Italian/American Deli
7212 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa, (414) 479-9840
fattonis.com
Chef Tony Mandella, formerly of Cafe Siciliano in Mequon, focuses on fresh ingredients and simple entrees. This carry-out deli offers their Friday Fish Fry from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Lent and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. after Lent. Available in just 15 minutes if you pre-order, you can get 8 oz of cod for $10.95 accompanied by redskin potatoes, coleslaw with red onions and red pepper, caper-dill tartar sauce and marble rye bread.

Kegel's Inn
5901 W. National Ave., (414) 257-9999
kegelsinn.com
The wait is long, but worth it. This old-style corner tavern offers fast service and incredible fish along with other German specialties. Try the potato pancakes. Featured in no less than Saveur magazine a few years back.

Kokopelli's Pub & Grub
6001 W. Madison St., West Allis, (414) 476-8788
kokopellispub.com
Served from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., this traditional-style fish fry offers carry-outs and an early bird special for seniors ($6.95 before 6 p.m. and $7.95 after). Regular menu selections include traditional cod, walleye, lake perch, baked cod loins, shrimp, blackened tilapia, or a combination of 2 or 3! Comes with a choice of soup or salad.

McBob's
4919 W. North Ave., (414) 871-5050
mcbobs.com
Served every Wednesday and Friday for lunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and dinner (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.), McBob's fish fry offers perch, walleye or grouper.

The Open Hearth Restaurant
2930 N. 117th St., Wauwatosa, (414) 475-0839
openhearthinwauwatosa.com
This warm, inviting spot has been a West Side staple for more than 38 years. Though it's known for outstanding roast duck and prime rib dinners, the restaurant also serves a great fish fry. Among the choices: fresh pike, lake perch and Icelandic haddock, all battered or broiled.

The Painted Parrot
8028 W. National Ave., West Allis, (414) 257-1012
This establishment across from State Fair Park takes an island twist on the traditional Wisconsin fish fry by serving it to you on a garbage can lid. The cod is served with rye bread, coleslaw and choice of fries, potato pancakes, smashed potatoes or homemade chips in a festive, Caribbean atmosphere.

Paulie's Pub & Eatery
8031 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, (414) 257-2854
pauliespubandeatery.com
Paulie's serves cod and fresh lake perch with fries, potatoes or homemade potato pancakes. The all-you-can eat option includes all-you-can-eat sides.

Saz's State House
5539 W. State St., (414) 453-2410
sazs.com
Entering its fourth decade of service, Saz's is known for its fish fry as well as the ribs. Cod or perch, baked or fried, are rounded out with onion rings, coleslaw and rye bread. Fantastic.

Tanner-Paull Restaurant
6922 W. Orchard St., West Allis, (414) 476-5701
This West Allis institution serves up an unusual side with its fry: half an ear of corn. Other good sides include soups, steak fries, coleslaw, rye bread and Irish mashed potatoes with cabbage.

Ted's
6204 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 258-5610
Ted's has been a Tosa staple since 1942. Also known for breakfasts and ice cream, they offers a basic fish fry of cod or pike, with potato pancakes, coleslaw and rye bread on the side.

Gasthaus
2720 N. Grandview Blvd., Waukesha, (262) 544-4460
weissbergers.com/gasthaus/
Set in the Weissgerber's Gasthaus on the corner of Highway T and Silvernail Road in Waukesha, this fish fry is full of old-world German charm. The meal begins with salty-crusted rye bread, homemade potato salad and cole slaw, then continues with homemade potato pancakes, apple sauce, french fries and your choice of batter-fried Icelandic Cod or Walleye. The fish is also available baked, which is equally delicious. Accompanied by the wide selection of German and local brews, Gasthaus offers up this Friday night tradition for dine in or carry out.

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