From a beloved old windmill on a roadside in Mundelein to a place with Szechuan flair in Barrington, there are plenty of ways to put a fresh spin on the traditional fish fry for Lent. Here are five must-try fish fries.
Village Tavern of Long Grove
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135 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, www.VillageTavernOfLongGrove.com
The Village Tavern of Long Grove has been family run since opening in 1847. These days, the historic spot is operated by the Ullrich family. On Fridays, they make an all-you-can-eat fish fry for lunch and dinner. Owner Mary Ann Ullrich estimates that during Lent their fish fry business more than doubles, regularly seating 400 to 500 guests just for dinner. “We bread each piece with batter made from a very long-standing old family recipe,” Ullrich said. The Alaska pollock is served with lightly salted French fries, a creamy coleslaw and a loaf of the tavern’s fresh-baked bread.
Irish Mill Inn
26592 N. IL Route 83, Mundelein, www.Facebook.com/IrishMillOfficial/
Put a fun spin on the traditional fish fry — in a historic windmill. From Wednesday through Saturday during Lent, the 1922 Irish Mill Inn in Mundelein serves up an Icelandic cod fish fry. “We get super busy on Fridays for the fish fry,” Hillary Belmore said. And for the past 35 years, storied Irish crooner Whitey O’Day has been among the musicians who regularly perform at the mill for guests.
PL8 in Barrington
736 W. Northwest Highway, Barrington, www.PL8SimplyAsian.com
Hard core fish fry traditionalists will say fish and chips don’t count as a fish fry. But the Asian fish and chips served daily at PL8 in Barrington are worth a stretch from the usual Lenten routine. The fish, Atlantic cod, gets dipped in Sapporo batter before being fried, tempura style. Even the tartar sauce has Asian flair. It’s made with Japanese mayo and relish made from PL8’s house-made sweet gherkin pickles. A touch of wasabi adds some spice. “The wasabi tartar sauce kind of cuts right up your nose,” Manager Patrick Rowan said. The fish is served with Asian slaw and sweet potato fries.
Village Tavern & Grill
901 W. Wise Road, Schaumburg, www.Village-Tavern-Grill.com
A cod fish fry is available at Village Tavern & Grill in Schaumburg on Wednesdays and Fridays. During Lent, owner J.R. Hutson estimates the kitchen team makes no less than about 4,000 fish fries. What’s special here is the freshness of the hand-battered fillets. “It is battered and fried to order, it’s not pre-battered or frozen,” Hutson said. The fish fry comes with soup or salad and sides of French fries and hush puppies.
Chessie’s Restaurant in Barrington
200 Applebee St., Barrington, www.Chessies-Restaurant.com
At the Ice House Mall in Barrington, an all-you-can-eat Icelandic cod fish fry is on the menu every Friday at Chessie’s Restaurant. During Lent, fresh lake smelt takes center stage in an all-you-can-eat fish fry offered for lunch and dinner on Wednesdays. The smelt is fried in a Fat Tire Ale beer batter. “We use a very light batter, almost tempura style,” Chef Paco Trejo said. He also offers baked or broiled preparations on request. The fish fry comes with coleslaw, choice of soup or salad and choice of chips, French fries, sweet potato fries or homemade potato pancakes.