LEO/LHB: Something fishy this way comes

[Robin Garr]

LEO's Eats with Louisville HotBytes
Something fishy this way comes
(Moby Dick, Cunningham's, the Fish House, Uptown Café)

Last week in this space we celebrated Carnival, wrapping up the season of winter revelry with a gumbo party, tasty libations and all manner of Mardi Gras beads.

Today it's Ash Wednesday, the music has stopped, and the repentant Lenten season is here. Even in this secular era when only the most devout observe Lent with fasting and abstinence, one religious ritual remains mighty easy to follow: fish sandwiches on rye!

To hail the season, we checked out four local spots known for fish sandwiches: the fast-food Moby Dick, historic Cunningham's, the friendly Fish House and, for an upscale touch, Uptown Café.

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Read the complete reviews in LEO and on LouisvilleHotBytes.

I realize that Robin can't address every fish sandwich in the county.
Nonetheless, I have to give my vote for the fish and chips at The Irish Rover. And of course nothing beats a spring-time drive to Mike Linings.

[Robin Garr]

I realize that Robin can't address every fish sandwich in the county.
Nonetheless, I have to give my vote for the fish and chips at The Irish Rover. And of course nothing beats a spring-time drive to Mike Linings.

No, this was of course just a random sample that I picked on the basis of diversity in price and style. I agree that the Rover's fish and chips are very good. I love the atmosphere at Linnig's in the summer time, although to be honest, I do think their food has slipped a little in the past few years. I'll still make a couple of ritual trips out there this summer.

Unless they have changed the recipe - their breading is a mixture of cracker meal. A year or so of my teens was spent taste tasting breading options for Moby Dick.

[Robin Garr]

Unless they have changed the recipe - their breading is a mixture of cracker meal. A year or so of my teens was spent taste tasting breading options for Moby Dick.

I was going with my eyeballs and taste buds, Amy, ably assisted by my dear super-taster spouse. But chances are we missed it, maybe due to that golden-brown and delicious color.

In any case, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the overall high quality of Moby's chow, so much so that I had to visit three different locations to persuade myself that it really is right up there with the best fish sandwiches in town. I figured there would be more incoming flak about this.

I've always enjoyed the fish and onion rings from Moby Dick...but I grew up on it. My dad started Moby Dick with the first location being at Poplar Level and Indian Trail.

I've never had Cunningham's, but every friend I have that's from Louisville swears by it...

Apparently Robin doesn't agree, even putting Moby Dick well above it?

I've never had Cunningham's, but every friend I have that's from Louisville swears by it...

Apparently Robin doesn't agree, even putting Moby Dick well above it?

Adrian .. Question .. have you ever had Moby Dick? You are implying that Moby Dick is inferior. Why?

Moby Dick uses quality products. They cut and bread their own fish and onion rings. The okra and other fried vegetables are purchased already breaded.

The only weakness that I have seen with Moby Dick is that different stores cut their own fish. A very few cut the fish so thin the breading overpowers.

[Robin Garr]

I've never had Cunningham's, but every friend I have that's from Louisville swears by it...

I understand that, and if you had asked me two weeks ago, I would have agreed based on past experience.

For this review, however, I went to both Cunningham's and had similar experiences at both. The fish sandwich was okay, but consistently below the standard of many other local competitors. Fish not hot. Breading not securely affixed to fish. Cheapest grade of rye bread. Once could be a bad night. Twice concerns me.

I've never had Cunningham's, but every friend I have that's from Louisville swears by it...

Apparently Robin doesn't agree, even putting Moby Dick well above it?

Adrian .. Question .. have you ever had Moby Dick? You are implying that Moby Dick is inferior. Why?

Moby Dick uses quality products. They cut and bread their own fish and onion rings. The okra and other fried vegetables are purchased already breaded.

The only weakness that I have seen with Moby Dick is that different stores cut their own fish. A very few cut the fish so thin the breading overpowers.

I've eaten Moby Dick many times, and I like it just fine.

I was just poking at Robin a little. Even he acknowledged he had to triple-check before putting a "chain" well above a local institution (Cunningham's), thus the use of the "shocked" smiley.

So, which Moby Dick do you work at? I

The Cunnigham's Creekside fish sandwich is hit and miss. One day spot on and the next oddly dry, like freeze dried food in MRE textured. I have had 4 fish sandwiches there and have split 50/50 on tast and texture.

The Fish House is very close to where I work and we hit it alot. Hands down the nicest people and the best fish.

Depending on which Moby Dick you frequent they are neck and neck with The Fish House. The one at 3rd & Winkler has excellent 'shrooms and onion rings to go with the fish plus some really nice folks behind the counter.

The Suburban Lodge at 3rd & Southern Parkway also does some great Green River style fried fish. It doesn't open until March 1st this year. It is only open on Saturday and get there early as they do run out later in the day.

So, which Moby Dick do you work at? I

I don't work for any Moby Dick. The employees of Moby Dick work a lot harder than I am willing to do. However, I did sharpen knives for a lot of the Moby Dicks until I retired about five years ago.

I'm less than sold on The Fish House...maybe we need to try it again. It was ok but I didn't think it worth the drive from the East End.

On the other hand I like The Fishery in St. Matthews for my basic fried fish fix. Their fish on rye with fries is great and the food is always hot. Another mark of a good fish place is the slaw....has to be real good IMO or I'll likely go somewhere else. I need to give Moby Dick's a try...I have not had their fish in a number of years.

[Robin Garr]

I'm less than sold on The Fish House...maybe we need to try it again. It was ok but I didn't think it worth the drive from the East End.

The Fish House setting and service are extremely spartan. Stan's or The Fishery (also excellent choices not covered in this report) might be more comfortable in terms of the setting.

For purposes of this article, though, I was focused 100 percent on the fish sandwich, not on peripheral issues. On that basis, I'll hold up the Fish House sandwich (on rye) as very close to the city's best.