Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry

Fresh hot seafood, generous portions.
The building itself could use a major renovation.

Don’t know what went wrong here but my fish fry dinner: fish fry, cole slaw, and french fries were not what I expected.
Fish fry– lightly battered, limp, very bland
Cole slaw– almost tasteless, watery, no crunch
French fries– «freezer flavor», ketchup and tartar sauce was it’s saving grace
Macaroni salad– tasted the same as the cole slaw and dry
Overall, not impressed. Seems like the quality has gone downhill. :-(One star for the ease of parking and ordering + one star for maintaining the old fashioned atmosphere.

It has fallen into disrepair. This place many years ago was always filled with people, sometimes so much so that there was a line to get in. Long passed are these days, the sign is peeling off and covered in rust and the interior is somewhat dirty and old. The parking lot is also not the prettiest sight to be seen. I haven’t been here for the past few years so I decided to do a check up.
Upon entering there was a beautiful blonde girl who looked like an angel. I placed my order totalling to about 15 bucks and took a seat. I was worried that the portion would be too small, boy was I wrong (thankfully) it was a good amount of fish and fries for the price. The fish could have used a bit more flavor in my opinion but overall it was good.
This place has been in Albany forever its almost a landmark, but they really need a renovation. Apparently they serve cusk and I was there when they were out. I will be back on a cusk day and really see how the fish is.

Among Albany, NY natives, there’s two types: Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry people, and Ted’s Fish Fry people. I’m of the Bob & Ron variety.
Have you noticed some people review it 5-​stars, and others 2-​stars? Have you read that some people have had the fabled, mythical «long and skinny» Cusk fish fry yet others claim to get the «off-​the-​shelf» Cod or Haddock fry? There’s a secret! They DO still have Cusk but not every day. It depends on their supply. They will always have and serve Haddock and serve Cod in place of Cusk if it’s not available. You have to go when they have Cusk!
Some tips for a better experience: (1) Avoid Fridays in general, especially Good Friday, and pretty much any day during Lent. (2) Come when they’ve got Cusk on the menu. (3) Their Cusk is supplied from Boston, so, if the weather out probably prevents a shipment of Cusk, then it’s likely not on the menu. You can call ahead, anyway.
Regarding tip #2, Cusk is their secret «ingredient» and the reason Bob & Ron’s has a cult following, myself included. As far as I know, Cusk is not served anywhere else in Albany or the Capital Region. And I believe their batter recipe is slightly different if they’re using Cusk over Cod (or it just reacts differently to the meat). The pieces of fish on the fish fry sandwich are enormous, and you can break off the ends for nuggets or enough to make an extra sandwich from it.
Their tartar sauce and cocktail sauce are pretty good. I get some of both every time.
Admittedly, Bob & Ron’s fish fry is pretty pretty average IF they’re serving Cod or Haddock instead of Cusk. It’s Cusk that makes them divine. It’s truly that much different. Give them a call and ask if they’re serving Cusk, and head over if they are.
I’m not a coleslaw guy but I’ve heard people seem to love their coleslaw. Same for the fried clams (I do not eat clams, but people say B&R have excellent clams). Their french fries used to be unique McDonalds-​esque style but they’ve changed the variety to off-​the-​shelf rigged fries. Though they at least provide malt vinegar.
If you’ve never been to Bob & Ron’s and you want an experience to match the raving reviews, rather than go home disappointed, go when they’re serving Cusk. Call ahead if you have to. But please do not judge the place if you didn’t get to eat Cusk.
5-​Stars if they’re serving Cusk (which is the only time I ever go there, and therefor the score they get for my Unilocal review), but admittedly, 3-​star if they’re not serving Cusk.
Though, even if they’re not serving Cusk, their Cod/​Haddock is still better than Ted’s!

Honestly, I’m giving an extra star out of a sense of nostalgia. This place was once something special. Delicious hot fish fries, tasty distinctive french fries, great cole slaw, and my favorite Manhattan clam chowder. It was a favorite since childhood. I understand times change, but the food has just been in a steady decline since the last change of owners. Bland, limp fish fries with dull breading. I completely understand that the old french fry machine had failed and couldn’t be repaired, but the «new» fries taste like the cheapest frozen fries from the supermarket. I still have a twinge of nostalgia when I pass by, but I seriously doubt I’ll ever stop in again.

Hands down one of the worst fish frys I’ve ever had — the thin layer of batter wouldn’t stick to a slimy piece of «fish» and the bun was soggy as well. I ordered fries that looked like they had been left in the deep fryer for 3 minutes too long. Also their clam chowder was watery and only had some flavor to it after I added a handful of salt.
My dogs on the other hand enjoyed it!

A great place to enjoy some fried fish! I had the today’s special and it was off the hook!
I truly recommend this place for some lunch.
The fried fish was flaky and fresh. The owner was really cool. He explained to us everything on the menu. I love this place. When I get back to Albany I will surely visit this restaurant again! Two thumbs up! #SeñorFood

I can’t believe this place gets any good reviews! Truly the worst local fish fry place. Be prepared to have Pepto-​Bismol for dessert. If you accidentally find yourself here, pass on the onion rings or shrimp basket. Nasty, nasty, nasty. I’m not expecting gourmet but I do want non spoiled, reasonably fresh seafood. The Market Bistro at Price chopper blows it away.

I’m spoiled because I work next to Offshore and Gene’s, and I felt like their service is better.
The girl who took my order rolled her eyes about 20 times while I waited in line. I’ve never seen anything like it! Once I got to the front, she was nice enough, but I got the feeling she was annoyed with everybody in the room.
They had a sign that said lobster rolls on Friday only, but they were already out of them at 5 pm.
We still enjoyed our grilled Cajun haddock and clam roll though, but I agree they weren’t as flavorful as the places in East Greenbush.

So I was craving a fish fry again, so I decided to give this place a go again. My gf and I ordered a fish fry meal with fries. The fish was actually really good this time and the fish was not a frozen rectangle from my previous visit. The batter was good and overall this place satisfied my fish fry craving. Will be coming back again.
I honestly do not know what happened on my previous visit, but this time was different and satisfying.

Very good fish fry. What is fish fry? Long lengths of battered fried cod fish served on a hot dog bun. Tartar or cocktail dipping sauces offered. Staff is very friendly and they know how to work fast pace when busy. It has a vintage look. It still has the Vegas like sign and 70s like benches and stools. Local favorite! A definite must try.

Y’know…this is one of those places that you wish you could love. But alas, it was not to be. I remember coming here about eight years ago and having a great fish fry sandwich. And the place was buzzing with energy! It was busy as hell, the food was awesome, and there was just a very cool «old school» local vibe to this place. Today’s trip didn’t yield the same results. I mean don’t get me wrong… overall the fish sandwich was enjoyable. But, it just didn’t strike me the same way as it had years ago. And, the place is starting to look a little worse for the wear. I guess what they say is true…“you can’t go back”. And I guess you really just can’t.

My grandparents always loved this place, I wouldn’t go as far to say I love it but it does have good food. The place has amazing clam rolls, but anything else isn’t that spectacular. The entire place is disgustingly filthy though.

Not the Bob and Ron’s of my childhood. Returned as I was passing through Albany, first indication of a change was the fact that at 11:45 am on a Thursday there was only two cars in the lot. Memory of circling the lot for a space and lines out the door certainly gone. But Wishful thinking that it was due to the many other eatery options now available. Order placed for the classic fish fry and chocolate shake. Although it looked similar, sadly the fish did not hold up to the tradition. It was previously frozen and not thoroughly cooked, batter not bad, but certainly not as remembered.
Will not return next we are passing through.

Well it’s Good Friday and that means fish fry. I went to Bod & Ron’s. It was packed yet the efficient staff kept the line moving swiftly. What can I say, it’s fish in a hot dog roll. The taste was 1^st rate fiir fish, fries and coleslaw. I received a punch card good for a free fry after filling it up. The restaurant it self was kept clean by a young and energetic staff.

i bought a
gift certificate to Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry — one of those $ 10 for $ 25 deals where you have to spend at least $ 37.50 for the coupon to be valid. I was pretty disappointed with what I got.
We ordered the Fisherman’s platter, a lobster roll, 2 shakes, and got an earl grey tea cookie. The fisherman’s platter came with clams, scallops, shrimp, and 1 strip of fish with a side of fries. The seafood seemed to relatively fresh. The lobster roll came with a few huge scoops of lobster salad. I was excited to see just the sheer amount of lobster overflowing from the hot dog bun it was served in. I was hoping for a bit more celery in the lobster salad, but I guess you can’t really complain when you’ve mostly got lobster on your plate. The lobster tasted quite fishy, though, and the hot dog bun wasn’t toasted, so I wasn’t 100% happy with this dish.
The breading on the Fisherman’s platter was very plain. It seemed like there was more breading on the clam strips than there was clam, and nothing was seasoned. The fish was tasty, although, again, I wish that there was some seasoning (maybe even just some salt to give it taste!) I enjoyed the fish and the shrimp more than the clams and the scallops. The scallops were also unseasoned and had very little taste. I guess you’re supposed to dip everything in the sauces, but as someone who doesn’t like to use condiments heavily, I wasn’t sold on this place. Great thing about this was that the fried fish didn’t taste all that greasy.
The shakes were good. They were served in the standard Coca-​Cola to-​go cups that you see in a cafeteria, and were deliciously thick. And the Earl Grey tea cookie was delicious– something you should probably eat with tea or coffee, not fish fry. It was a very cake-​y cookie that had the distinct taste of earl grey tea.
Overall, the experience was a bit disappointing, but the prices were definitely reasonable. The service was great and the girl who took our orders was extremely helpful. Still, even with the great service and desserts, I don’t think that I’ll be coming back here any time soon.

«Friday Fish Fry»
by Josh K.
It shouldn’t have to be said that Bob and Ron’s Fish Fry is a locally beloved, long running institution in Albany. This is THE place the Albany old timers always recommend. And during the lunch hour, most of the patrons seem to be senior citizens, regulars of this establishment, going to Bob and Ron’s every Friday for the last 50 years.
Take long, thin filet of cod (or cusk a few years back), bread it, fry it. Then serve dangling over a Freihoffer’s hot dog bun.
Lather said fish with sweet chili and tartar sauce. Serve with fries and Cole slaw.
This is our regional specialty, and love it, tolerate it, or hate it, it is ours.
Personally, I think it’s awesome. But I was also born here.
Bob and Ron’s may not be the best of its kind in the area — I happen to think Gene’s (great cornmeal breading) and Offshore (very fresh fish) across the river do it better.
However this is no slight to Bob and Ron, they serve a solid fish fry. I also really dig the simplistic 1950’s take-​out restaurant décor with booths and swivel chairs facing the window.
Side note: The fried clams are huge! A small portion is plenty, but even better when served on a hot dog bun.
Also, whole belly clams were available this week.
I can’t think of a better place for a Friday lunch.

This is a basic fish fry place and that’s its charm. The fish was very tender and not at all greasy, though it wasn’t as flavorful as I hoped. The french fries were also cooked well and those had some better flavor (helped out by some nice dipping sauces they have). It’s pretty cheap too, so if you’re in the Albany area and are in the mood for some deep-​fried fish, I’d recommend stopping by and trying it out.

This past friday I was craving a fish fry, bad! After a grueling week at the office I wanted to get fried food and sit pants-​less on the couch and gorge myself with take out. Now, I am not local to the Albany area but my boyfriend is and insisted on taking me to B&R.
For the copious amount of people who say «now, I don’t really like fish fries so this place gets 3 stars» you should quit yer bitchin’. This place is old school, catholic church auditorium style fish fry. The good stuff. The fish fry dinner was clean and fresh, juicy and the breading with thick and crunchy. My boyfriend got the clam dinner and it was bit too much «bread» for me after you included the french fries and the roll. Even though everything was fried nothing was greasy in the slightest.
We walked in, decided, ordered and our food was hot and ready in less than 5 minutes. Now, where else can you get that sort of service? Blew away my expectations especially for 6pm on a Friday night. The woman behind the counter was SO FRIENDLY. I wanted to stay and hang out with her that’s how nice she was. She hooked us up with extra sauce (which was so worth it because the tasty tartar and spicy cocktail sauces were really really good).
Mac salad was typically and the french fries got a little soggy on the ride home.
Over all, I would go there again and again for all my fish fry needs.

Meh. I’ve experienced better is the perfect description for this previously favored choice.
I’ve gone here for years and always enjoyed the fish fries. After the original owners retired I didn’t notice much of a change in the fish fries. But now I have to say the taste has changed, and IMO, for the worse. The breading is different and it seems the fish may change based upon availability or possibly cost. A small sign was posted on the counter indicating that the fish being served that day was haddock. In the «olde» days the fish was typically cusk.
I’ll be passing this place up in the future for the other establishments that now have one less competitor.