In Cleveland, fried fish carries a rhythm all its own, and Winking Lizard Tavern has become one of the best places to feel it.
On Friday nights the air is thick with the scent of the fryer, baskets of golden fillets landing fast at crowded tables. The coating shatters with each bite, giving way to flaky, steaming fish inside, while sides like slaw and pierogies round out the plate.
The tradition stretches back through Lent dinners and church halls, but here it feels both rooted and alive. I joined the line one evening, and the first basket explained everything, the comfort of the familiar, served with a touch of Cleveland history.
Core Menu Classic
The heartbeat of the tavern is its fish and chips, arriving at the table with an audible crunch. The batter coats the fish in a golden shield that breaks apart to reveal soft, flaky meat…