Fraternal Fish Fry- Holy Spirit Parish, 4217 E. Main Street

K of C White Hall. 4217 E. Main, Holy Spirit Parish.

Deb and Fe are off this week on a Mother/Son spring break trip. They’re missing the next two crucial weeks of Lenten Fridays. Why crucial? I really don’t know. They may bless us with some Lenten traditions from Italy, but that will come later. In the meantime, we are low on taste buds and writing talent, but we press ahead with our reviews and explorations.

An interscholastic, school dance on the East side gave us an excuse to make a, to-date, rare foray to this side of town. First on the list from the Columbus Catholic Diocese Website-East section was Holy Spirit Church.

If you know where Holy Spirit Church is, DON’T go there. This Fry is at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 4217 E. Main Street. If you’re driving, watch for it carefully, because you may just miss it; tucked in amid mini-marts and tire stores. There is not a lot of signage, apart from a banner on the side of a building. Park alongside the building or across the street. There’s sign on the back door directing you to the cashier.

It was a lovely night for a drive. Sunroof open. Pop music priming the interscholastic school dancer for her dance. We found the neighborhood is not the friendliest. Driving down a side street, a dapper young man of about 10 flipped me off for no apparent reason.

The people inside, though were quite friendly. Pay at the back door and walk toward the front. They serve generous portions and the staff are chatty. The French fry guy was eating a bowl of something in between serving customers, which I’m pretty sure is some sort of health code violation, but he was wearing gloves, and the fries just came out of the fryer so I wasn’t too worried.

Prices are VERY reasonable. $6.00 for adults. Since I don’t have kids under 12, I didn’t catch the kid price. Sorry. But this is an All-U-Can eat affair!

First the fish, which is why we all do this. They cook up perch that seems to be hand battered, cooked in small batches so each piece is hot. I really liked the breading which was savoury and added to the flakes of fish that fell off like coins from a roll. Z didn’t so much like the fish as much and thought the batter was a little too salty.

The fries were standard and good with ketchup.

For the first time in three weeks we had some good coleslaw. Made like grandma’s which means minced so fine you wouldn’t need your dentures if you were so afflicted. Nicely dressed with a spicy kick at the end.

The Mac 'n' Cheese was deemed average, by our expert.

They did have a selection of homemade desserts including gluten-free which we've not noticed at other locations.

Drinks included in the price include the usual fountain soda’s, lemonade and water. However, this is a Knights of Columbus Hall, which means they have a bar. I asked them how I could get a beer and the soda man asked his 13 year-old to walk me back to the bar. “You know where it is, don’t you, Caroline?” We’ve established that the health code is skirted, apparently the liquor laws are a little more lax in private clubs, too. Like last week, you could have your choice of libation at the full bar, but at club prices which is a bonus! A bottle of Yeungling set me back just $2.00.

The set-up of this place is exactly what you’d think of when you think about a fraternal hall. Paneled walls, plaques noting past presidents and charitable events. Two long tables, run the length of the place with the fish at the front and money exchange at the back. We all ate family style. Everyone seemed to know everyone. We were pegged as strangers, but everyone was welcoming.

Bob was the guy 6 spots down. He was crooning to his entourage, making harmony with the din. As we were exiting he called me over and we chatted on just about everything you could imagine in about 10 minutes. Turns out he was an amateur barbershop quartet singer. He asked me where I sang, I told him “In the shower”. He invited me to join his singing group the Singing Buckeye’s Chorus and gave me his card. www.singingbuckeyes.org. They meet on Tuesdays at 7 and give free voice lessons to those interested. They also run a summer camp for kids.

Zee was rather enthralled by the conversation. Afterward she asked, “Are you really going to sing with him?”

“No, I think I’m too shy to do that.”

“Well, you sure are a good actor then. I thought you were going to join up.”

So, that’s the K of C Fish Fry in Reynoldsburg. Good fish at cheap prices and a full bar with a friendly atmosphere. I’d recommend some Friday this year.

Bob did recommend the Fish Fry at Seton Parish in Pickerington. That’s where you’ll find us next week. Until then…