The Friday night Fish Fry is a weekly event in most northern Michigan towns. There is always a lot of food and fun for the money. Grab some friends and go to a fish fry this weekend. Listed below are some we have enjoyed. If you have a fish fry to add to the list email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Fife Lake American Legion

On the first Friday of every month something wonderful happens in Fife Lake, Michigan. The local American Legion Post 219 hosts their Friday Night Fish Fry. It’s all you can eat so come hungry and bring family and friends. The cost is $8.50 per person. The monthly treat includes deep fried cod fillets, cold slaw, rolls, baked potato, french fries, salad bar, and a bottomless coffee cup. Soft drinks are available for purchase. The food is great and the atmosphere friendly. Cozy up with the locals at community tables and get to know someone new. The staff are all volunteers but well experienced. They usually sell out of fish so I suggest you get there as close to 5:00 PM as possible. Sometimes as many as 700 folks show up. Many come from as far away as the big city....Traverse City. Take U.S. Route 131 to Route 186 (by the BP station)and go West 1/4 mile and watch for the Legion on the North side of the road. You won’t want to miss this monthly event......It’s an Up North winner!

Gordy’s Place - Fife Lake

One of Fife Lake’s favorite spots is just called Gordy’s. Located in the heart of beautiful downtown Fife Lake at 109 E. State Street. If you are traveling along US Route 131 just go East at the BP Gas Station until you get in the business district. You can’t miss it on the right. Friday night is Fish Fry night at Gordy’s and it us usually followed by Karaoke. Gordy serves an all you can eat Cod special with the choice of potato and salad bar. If you don’t feel like fish, they have great burgers. In the winter it is a popular snowmobile stop and there is a big parking to the side of the building. In the summer, boaters and fisherman rub elbows with a biker or two and they all have a good time.

Whitetails Steak N Ale - Kalkaska

If you are heading North on U.S. Route 131 and going through Kalkaska, you need to give Whitetails a try. It is a good spot for that Friday night all you can eat fish. Located in downtown Kalkaska, its official address is 510 N. Cedar Street, which is the same thing as U.S. Route 131. It’s on the right as you are heading North. Whitetales is a bar and restaurant with that true north woods flavor. Every Friday they have a fish special which sometimes are perch and other times cod. Dinner includes a potato, soup and salad bar. We have never been disappointed. If someone in your group is not in the mood for fish, try their lasagna. The staff is friendly and the service good.

The Mother Lode - Kalkaska (Closed )

Located approximately 5 miles North of Kalkaska, at 7983 U.S. 131, is a good little place called The Mother Lode. Friday night is fish night and they always draw a good crowd. The fish special is usually deep fried cod with choice of potato and a good salad bar. There is a cozy bar area and the folks are friendly. This would be a great snowmobile stop this winter with plenty of parking space. It’s on the left side of the road when heading north from Kalkaska.

Fife Lake Inn – Fife Lake

The Fife Lake Inn is one of our favorite restaurants close to home. The building is of true log cabin construction both inside and out. There is plenty of seating and it has a warm and cozy feel to it. On Friday night they have an All You Can Eat Fish Dinner which includes either fries or the biggest baked potato you ever saw. They have a small but excellent salad bar. Located at 203 East State Street right in the heart of Fife Lake. Turn East off of US 131 at the BP station. If you are not into fish, give their Broasted Chicken a try. Everybody is friendly and the service is good plus you get a Fife Lake view.

Breakfast & Burger Express – Kalkaska

Located at 203 S. Cedar Street in downtown Kalkaska, the Breakfast & Burger Express is a great little restaurant. On Friday night the serve a all-you-can-eat fish special which is excellent. They begin serving at 4:00 PM and seating is limited so the earlier you get there, the better. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere cozy. No alcohol is served. This is also one of our favorite breakfast stops.

The Press Box – Mancelona

This little hide-away is located at 210 Calhoun Street in Mancelona. Watch for it off to the right as you are traveling through town on US 131 north. We had our best Walleye dinner here on the good recommendation of a local resident. It is a typical northwoods bar complete with pool table and friendly waitress. The dinner was not an all-you-can-eat but the portions were more than adequate. Give them a try.

Trout Town Country Cafe - Kalkaska

Here is a great little place located at 406 Elm Street in Kalkaska. It has a great Friday night fish fry featuring a lightly battered cod that isn't greasy. The all-you-care-to-eat special comes with a choice of potato and a nice cold slaw salad. There is a seperate smoking room. The main dining room is non-smoking. The staff is friendly and very attentive. We went there for breakfast last weekend and it was great and very reasonable. Give them a try.

The Loon's Nest - Fife Lake

Located right on the main street, next to the hardware store, The Loon's Nest is not a fish fry place but a great breakfast place. It's small and cozy and is completely non-smoking. This is a plus when trying to enjoy your eggs. It is under new ownership and all are friendly and keep the coffee pouring. They also make good pizza to eat in or carry out. Prices are very reasonable. All the bread is home made. Drop in and say hello.

The Food Factory & Pub - Lake City

Located at 118 Main Street, Lake City, Mi. 49651 - Telephone 231-839-3663 - The Food Factory is a warm and friendly up-North bar and resturant. The friday night fish fry is a little different in that you can get a variety of seafood items mixed or you can go with any combination you like. The food is hot and fresh and the wait staff friendly. Prices are reasonable and smoke doesn't seem to be a big problem. It's on the west side of street, right downtown. Give'em a try.

Taffletown - Fife Lake

Located at 12397 M-66 SE Fife Lake, which is just South of M-66 and Lund Road. Telephone 231-879-4500. Taffletown is a true Northwoods Bar located near Fife Lake but out in the middle of the boonies on scenic M-66. I's all log construction looks like one of the original hangouts. Some nites are busier than others but on Thursday nights the have their buy-one-get-one burger special and on Friday night they serve an all you can eat fish special that is good. The staff is friendly and the prices right. Come on in and enjoy some local flavor.

Lakeside Charlies - Cadillac Michigan

Located at 301 S. Lake Mitchell Drive over looking Lake Mitchell, you are going to enjoy both the atmosphere and the excellent fish fry on Saturday night. The dining rooms are smoke free.  Smoking is allowed in the bar area. The fish is pollack instead of the usual cod and it has a light bread crumb type breading rather than a batter. It's not greasy and has a very mild flavor.  Served with fries and slaw along with yummy baked rolls, hot from the oven. This is a must on a Friday night and the fish is ONLY served on Friday night. It is an all you can eat special. Telephone 775-5332.  Great sunset view of the lake.