Beer-battered haddock or cod, mac salad, coleslaw, and a roll, served every Friday at Rochester parish halls, breweries, and restaurants year-round. A Lenten tradition that outlasted the calendar and became a permanent local institution.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Rochester's Catholic community, rooted in the German and Italian-American parishes of the 19th and early 20th centuries, embedded the Friday fish fry so deeply in local culture that it now runs year-round at venues with no religious affiliation. The standard order has remained consistent for decades: haddock or cod, beer-battered and fried, with macaroni salad and coleslaw. Genesee Brew House, Three Heads Brewing, and dozens of neighborhood bars run Friday fish fry programs throughout the year.
Common allergens: Gluten, Fish
Tip from the editors. Cold beer and cold batter are key. A warm batter produces a thick, doughy crust instead of a crisp one.
Genesee Brew House on Cataract St is the pilot taproom for Genesee Brewing (est. 1878), America's oldest continuously operating brewery, with river views.
Tip: Second-floor dining room has the best river view. The pilot batch section of the tap list changes weekly. Museum space covers the brewery's history since 1878.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on Court St is open until midnight on weekends in the downtown railroad station, one of the few late full-kitchen options downtown.
Tip: Kitchen closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday. Live blues runs until 00:00 on weekends. The bar itself may stay open later than the kitchen; confirm on arrival.
Three Heads Brewing on Atlantic Ave in Rochester runs a Neighborhood of the Arts taproom with rotating IPAs, sours, and seasonal releases, plus a beer garden.
Tip: Beer garden is the best patio in the neighborhood. Friday and Saturday open until midnight. The IPA lineup rotates; check Untappd before going.
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