Moby Dick’s drive-through satisfies fishy crave

[Robin Garr]

Moby Dick’s drive-through satisfies fishy crave

Moby Dick's Whale sandwich and onion rings.


We had been getting along pretty well without dining out since the pandemic got real last month, but someone in this house has been feeling a serious crave for that Louisville tradition, fried fish on rye.

Sounds reasonable. Let’s get some fish! But where?

As it turns out, quite a few local favorites are offering this local fave for takeout or curb service: The Fish House, Chik’n & Mi, Four Pegs, Hooked on Frankfort, Royals Hot Chicken, Joellas. I’m sure there are plenty more, but I already had my mind set on a favorite: Moby Dick.

Moby Dick?

Yeah, Moby Dick. Are we going to have to have this discussion every time I go there? Look, people shun the place with the big white whale logo because it looks like a corporate chain. But it’s actually a local mini-chain that bills itself as The Codfather of Louisville, a favorite for more than 50 years, listing 15 properties in the metro area.

Moby Dick grew by doing fish right. Wild-caught Icelandic cod is cut up and flash-frozen on shipboard and never thawed and cut into serving-size fillets until the day you eat it. It’s bound-breaded with cracker meal, eggs, milk, and spices, and fried golden-brown in pure vegetable oil when you order it.

But wait! There’s more: This high quality fish is affordable. The one-piece First Mate sandwich (on white, wheat, or rye bread) will set you back just $5.57. Upgrade to the two-piece Whale sandwich for $8.99, or order combo plates with fries, a hush puppy, and a soft drink, from $7.99 (for a fried chicken or bratwurst combo) to $11.48 (for the Whale combo with onion rings). . ...

Read the full commentary on LouisvilleHotBytes,
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/moby-dick-fish-crave

[Robin Garr]

Moby Disk's Covid-19 notice to customers:
We are closely monitoring and complying with all state and local regulations and mandates regarding restaurant operations. Our highest priority continues to be the health and well-being of everyone who comes into our restaurants. As we navigate the evolving impact of coronavirus on our communities, we are temporarily closing our dining room seating to help limit person-to-person contact. Our restaurants will offer service through our drive-thrus and carry out orders. We thank you for your patronage and we’ll continue to do our best to serve you.

The onion rings in that picture have me salivating!

[Robin Garr]

They are really good. I don’t know what I was thinking to get a small order.

Nice review! I drove by the St. Matthews location at dinnertime last Friday, and the drive-thru line was around the building, spilling out onto Shelbyville Road and backed up nearly down to Trader Joe's.

[Robin Garr]

I figured going at 11 would be a good idea, Jeff. But I didn't realize it was that good an idea!

I gotta say, Robin, if Louisville has any truly local food tradition, it'd be that fried fish on rye. It was a total mystery to my Tennessee-bred wife. Glad to hear that Moby is as good as it's ever been. Those onion rings are a very specific food craving for me.

Good review, all these years (it started in 1967, just like me) and I didn't realize that it was a local chain. I'll have to visit... but not on a Friday.