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 Mil to catch a fish fry.

South/Southwest Side

Armeli's Restaurant & Pizzeria
16201 W. National Ave., (262) 786-6699
Armeli's serves great cod or perch, either baked or fried, and it comes with fries, coleslaw and Italian bread.

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 cody 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 by Latin bands from Milwaukee or abroad.

The Country Squire
S72 W16373 Janesville Rd., (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 Rd., (414) 762-5010
Erv's is a popular Oak Creek restaurant that fries some of the best fish in the southern suburbs. The portions are large. The place is busy and the patrons are happy.

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 Rd., (414) 282-9917
grangerspub.com
Friday's catch includes cod loin for $7.25, walleye fillets for 9.75 and jumbo beer-battered shrimp for $10.75. All come with coleslaw and fries.

Meyer Family Restaurant and Banquet Hall
6015 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 321-4400
meyersrestaurantandbar.com
This place has cod or perch, baked or fried, that's served with great potato pancakes. There are Friday specials, too.

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 cod ($8), baked cod ($7.25) or fried breaded perch ($7.50). 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
serbhall.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 gather along Oklahoma Avenue all the way down past 48th, 47th or even 46th Street on the busiest nights.

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