Just plain fun awaits
WESTMONT – Tucked inside a tidy little building on Cass Avenue just north of the railroad tracks, the Knights of Columbus, St. John Council 3738, has been going strong since its chartering in 1953.
As part of a national Catholic fraternal order that began in 1882, our local chapter is part of an organization that is 2 million members strong. The Knights are committed to church and community involvement, especially in their work with people who are intellectually disabled – following the principles of charity, fraternity and patriotism.
One of their many community interactions takes place during Lent, the approximate 40-day period before Easter. During that time, the Knights host a Friday night fish fry to which all are invited. Taking place all six Fridays of Lent, this year’s meals begin March 8.
The event is set in a building that began life as the Westmont Bakery nearly 100 years ago, and has been home to many businesses including a cleaners and boarding house.
It was purchased by the local Council in 1974, with renovation and repairs continuing for many years. The bar was resurrected from the basement of St. Joan of Arc Church, and the fish fry dates to the early 1980s.
The side-yard entrance is through a lovely patio space, home to summertime Cruisin' Night barbecues every Thursday evening from June to August.
One's first choice will be left or right? Left leads immediately into the historic and well-preserved bar area. If seats are available, you are welcome to enjoy your fish fry right here. Drinks are generously poured and served at pricing befitting the retro setting. There is an unquestionable warmth and comforting feeling in this room.
Choose to turn right and you will enter the main hall. Awaiting is a Suburban Life Reader’s Choice award winner for Best Fish Fry in DuPage County. You’re likely to be joined by several of your friends, both current and future. Seating is tight on either side of the center aisle, which only contributes to the ambiance. Table talking is strongly encouraged, creating a pleasant vibe and buzz.
The center aisle forms a short line. Use your time to not only make new friends but to review the options on the menus strategically located on each table. Seafood is sourced from the highly regarded Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company in Villa Park, with deliveries each week.
Arrive at the head of the line and you may get to meet Joe Moffa, cashier extraordinaire. Cash or credit nets you a hand stamp for the all-you-can-eat selections. With everything priced at $12, it’s a straightforward operation. Drinks are available separately at the bar or you can grab a bottled water from Joe or his counterpart. A nice feature is that food refills allow you to try all the options because they are priced the same.
Step to the left and your food comes out of the kitchen hot and freshly made within minutes. You may even have an opportunity to meet Rick Vath, the chairman of the fish fry board. Donating countless hours to inventory, ordering, cooking, serving, cleaning and coordinating, Rick is one of the reasons this fish fry is so well run. Serving 300 diners along with another 150 to 200 re-orders every Friday night, Rick keeps things running smoothly.
All-you-can-eat selections include broiled whitefish, deep-fried crab cakes or beer-battered Atlantic cod, my favorite. Use round two to try another of the options or split the plate to try them all. The whitefish is broiled and lightly dusted with seasonings, while the crab cakes are served with a homemade remoulade sauce. My second plate is often a crab cake and piece of whitefish, but I always begin with the beer-battered cod. Flavorful, lightly battered and grease-free, this is the item that put them on the map.
Hot sides will always feature Uncle Bub’s mac 'n cheese, the perfect, creamy blend. It's typically seen on every plate. French fries are kept in a half tray and replenished every few minutes, ensuring a hot and crisp serving. Green bean casserole rotates weekly with stewed tomatoes, glazed carrots and others.
Soup choices run the gamut and include lobster bisque, New England clam chowder, broccoli cheddar, minestrone and tomato bisque. If you want to try them all, you will need to visit all six Fridays.
Next stop, the sides bar. Originally containing olives, pickles and stewed tomatoes, this area sets the Knights fish fry apart from many rivals. There will always be cole slaw (Uncle Bub’s), beets and kidney bean salad. The fourth tray may hold ambrosia salad (marshmallows, pineapple, pistachio Jell-O, mandarin oranges and Cool Whip), peaches or pears. It changes weekly.
The jumbo shrimp entree is the only non-all-you-can-eat selection. Six are included with the platter or they are available as an add-on individually or by three for $5. They are the same Supreme Lobster product in the retail freezer case, ensuring a quality dish. Fried to order, they easily fall in the two- to three-bite-size range.
Kid’s meals are available in either fish stick or chicken nugget options. Both include the side bar and cost $7. Lots of families make this a regular Friday night destination.
Desserts are an eclectic mix of store-bought goods ranging from pie and cake slices to brownie squares and cookies. The sign, perhaps left over from the bakery in 1920, says $1 each. Nobody goes home hungry.
Typically arriving early are fish fry veterans Chuck and Susie Sahs. Married for 62 years, they often are joined by their two children and four grandchildren. I refer to them as The First in Line Chairpersons and they are a pleasure to visit with.
The fish fry isn’t fine dining. It’s not gluten-free, low-calorie, paleo or any of the other dining descriptors prevalent today. The food is fresh, hot and good; the company is great and you’ll be helping a charitable organization that gives back to the community in so many ways. Some things are just plain fun and this is one of them. Mark your calendars for the Lenten Fridays beginning March 8.
If you go
WHAT: Knights of Columbus Friday Fish Fry
WHERE: 25 N. Cass Ave., Westmont
HOURS: 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays in Lent from March 8 through April 19
DRESS CODE: Casual
INFO: 630-969-3738, www.facebook.com/kofc3738
RESERVATIONS: N/A
PARKING: Easy
WIFI: Available
NOISE FACTOR: Comfortable
PRICING: $$
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