Looking for a Good Fish Fry?

Check out these spots — declared the best by thousands of Patch readers — in the Milwaukee area.

Patch readers (and fish fry connoisseurs) throughout the Milwaukee area cast thousands of votes over the past five days, helping us determine some of the best fish fry spots in the area. This is the first in a series of stories where Patch will ask readers to give their takes on favorite local businesses and places.  The winners of the best fish fry contests were determined over the course of a week, from more than 20,000 votes cast, 145 comments left, 37 restaurant reviews and 100 Facebook Likes or Recommends.  Here's a roundup of the winners:

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When Does Lent Begin?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs up to Easter.

This year Lent commences with Ash Wednesday, February 13 and lasts until Holy Thursday evening, March 30.  Lent is marked by many Christians in the 40-day run-up to Easter. Often considered a time to practice sacrifice, many Catholics for years gave up eating meat on Fridays. Check out our Readers Choice list for Best Fish Fry in the Port Washington and Saukville area, as well as a list of churches in the area.  McDonald's also recently rolled out its new nugget-sized filet-o-fish just a week before Lent. What about you — are you planning to give anything up for Lent? Tell us in the comment section below.

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Good Friday Deserves a Good Fish Fry

Check in with this list of good local places to find a fish fry, or to find a new place to enjoy some good seafood in the Milwaukee area.

The lenten season may be ending, but that doesn't mean Friday night fish fry cravings are anywhere near long gone — and Patch would like to help you figure out where to go. In a "Best of" contest that asked readers weigh in on their favorite places to go for fish, The Patio Bar & Grill came out on top as the number one place to go in Port. The other top two contenders included: in second place, New Port Shores; in third place, Victor's Pier Street Shanty. Other places in the contest include: the American Legion (located across from Veterans Memorial Park in Port); J'Sports Bar & Grill in Saukville; and St. Peters in Port. And the Best of contest wasn't limited to just Port Washington and Saukville — here's a roundup of the best places to …

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Who's Got the Best Fish Fry in Town?

Let Patch know your favorite place to gobble up some fish on Friday nights.

Fish fries are always popular in Wisconsin, and everyone has a favorite. But there is no time for a fish fry like Lent, which began this week. Patch would like to know where your favorite spot is for a Friday night fish fry. Give us a suggestion in the comments section below, and we'll feature that spot in a poll on Monday. You'll be able to vote throughout the week, and we'll name the winner on March 2. Winners will be determined by Patch editors based on poll votes, comments, reviews and Facebook or Twitter feedback. Our search for the Best Fish Fry kicks off 12 weeks of local business competition, trying to narrow down the top spots in town for everything from pizza to mechanics to salons. So start thinking of your local favorites, and …

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Editor's Eye

Shanty Shakes Up Port with Great Fish, Fun Desserts

Victor's Pier Street Shanty near the Port Washington Harbor offers a tasty meal with an enjoyable view.

It took me until 25 years of age to find out that it is, in fact, possible for a fish fry to leave a lasting impression. I mean, a fish fry is just that — battered fish fried in oil, slathered in butter, gobbed with tartar sauce ... you get the idea. And, sure, some fish fries go well beyond the amount of grease required - making the dish slide from unhealthily tasty to just plain disgusting, and distinguishably so. But, I can honestly say that though I've dined on a number of recommendable fish fries, I haven't had a particular piece of fried fish impress me as much as the Haddock Fish Fry dinner at Victor's Pier Street Shanty — the restaurant that recently opened in the former Deano's in downtown Port, with harbor views. Business was …

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Home Port

Confession: I Survived Fish Day

Port Washington Fish Day wasn't all it could be, according to this Patch columnist and the several encounters he had with the event.

Well, I managed to attend Fish Day.  I had time to kill during the early morning, so I wandered down while final prep was underway on the various stages and food and beverage vendor areas. I checked out the menus at each.  There seemed to be a lot of variety on the stage line-ups, which is a good thing in my book. The catalog of American music is rich and deep. It looked as if every attendee could find at least one or two bands to suit their fancy. But the major food and beverage booths all sported the same dismal menu of food and drink choices. Fish 'n' Chips, Shrimp 'n' Chips and Miller Lite. The food concessions looked like a benefit for Miller Beer and Cisco. Plus, the fish likely came from somewhere in the northern Pacific Ocean, and …

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Fried Fish, Anyone? Fish Day Kicks Off Today

With both a fun and competitive run as well as walk, parade, live music and all the fish you can eat, Port Washington's Fish Day offers plenty of ways to enjoy this Saturday.

Looking beyond the fried fish, the festival food, the fireworks, the parade and more — area residents agree that Port Washington Fish Day gives back big to it's city. “It’s all for the community,” organizer Mary Monday said. "Fish Day is a great day for Port Washington," Ozaukee County Sheriff Maury Straub said. "It brings a lot of friends and neighbors to town." Coming up on the 47th annual event on Saturday, Monday looks forward to another year of food, fun and fish for the people of Port Washington. Monday promises something for everyone at this Saturday’s Fish Day: “We have total variety,” she said. This year, the world’s largest one-day fish fry boasts a slew of activities including a fun run, parade, classic car show, carnival and …

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Picture Perfect

Fish Day Getting Ready to Make its Splash

Festival organizers are under the wire with the annual festival now less than a week away.

Forty seven years of fried fish and fun activities continues on Saturday with the annual Port Washington Fish Day festival. Fish Day pins are already being sold at local businesses, and the music lineup was announced in early spring. Patch will be joining those kicking off the festival with some early morning activity, by participating in the 2-Mile Walk.

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