St Margaret of Cortona Church Bingo Hall

I have always loved this church and its parishioners. The Eucharistic adoration on Thursdays is incredible. My son and I decided to head to the fish fry this past week. We try to get to the fish fry once a year during Lent. This year we were surprisingly disappointed at the size of the fish. They look more like deep-​fried sardine fillets then anything else. Granted you can get seconds but the line is pretty long. I’m not sure what has happened or if we caught them on a off week because every year prior to this year it has been outstanding. The service is outstanding. Everyone seems to be having a good time from the people who initially take your money to the people that are back in the kitchen breading the fish. Sadly not the best fish fry in town anymore (not that it really ever was because we have so many really good ones in central Ohio)

I was a little confused on where I should add my review of their fish fry but this makes more sense than posting on their church page.
I have never been to a church fish fry, and from that you know I am not Catholic. I have wanting to try one just because I like the idea and I know the money at least goes to something positive instead of corporate greed. This is the last fish fry of the year and I finally made it to one. I had to choose between St. Brendan’s and this one. St. Brendan’s had better pictures but this one said it was the best so why not start at the one who markets themselves as the best.
I showed up around 5 and had to wait behind about 10 – 15 people to pay. If your are staying to eat then you pay and find a seat. A server (mostly youth of the church) will take your order and bring it to you. You need to pay extra for soda and beer. Yes, they have beer. The Knights of Columbus set up in the corner. I know it was $ 1 for soda but I never made it by the beer guy to see the price. I was ordering to go so I headed ove to the take out station where only one guy was in front of me. I like the fact that I got to see the fish and potatoes before I ordered. They are in hot pans served by people in gloves. I took half fried fish and half baked. You get your choice of baked potato, fries, or steak fries. Then you go to the room next door where they bag you up. Here you have a choice of applesauce or coleslaw and dessert. The dessert choices tonight were spice cake, brownie, and pineapple upside down cake. They have rolls, butter, vinegar, and tartar as well to tops in the bag. I grabbed the brownie which was homemade. It was small but the way I make them at home (from a Duncan Hines box). If you stay to eat then you can go up to tables and choose your dessert which looked to be of similar choices. I think these change depending on the Friday. They have a lot of room with tables set up everywhere and if you come before 5:30, then you won’t need to worry about seats. I am not sure if it packs out later or not. It was busy but not crazy.
The food: the baked fish was covered in a sauce then I really liked. Next time I may ask for only one piece of fried and have the other 4 – 6 pieces be baked. My fried fish sat in the oil for two minutes too long as the breading was a bit too crunchy. The baked was perfect and it left a little leftover sauce to sweep up with my roll. The coleslaw was very good as I like mine with lots of mayo. The steak fries were decent along with the roll. All in all I was pleased with the value for $ 9.50. I will be back next lent for another crack at this fish fry. The severs and church patrons were all friendly. There was a raffle and a few other games/​giveaways for those who stayed to eat.
I will be back next year.

It is the last of the lenten fish fries for this year. We decided to end at st margarets. Good thing too or we would have been here every week. The sign out front proclaims «BEST FISH FRY IN TOWN» and they are correct. I love the fried fish but their baked fish is the best I have ever had. It hurts to say that because I love to cook and am quite good but never came close to this. Looking forward to lent next year.