Is it technically a Lenten Fish Fry if it's held at a nonreligious institution? En route to the Rep, I stopped by VFW Post 3500 on Big Bend in Richmond Heights. It's a folksy place, reminding me of similar spots where I grew up in outstate Missouri. The bar is smoky, but the food is served in the banquet hall – enter by the door closest to Big Bend, and the smoke doesn't seem to drift in. (Although that's where beverages, both alcoholic and non-, come from.)
Only two kinds of fish, catfish and cod, but plenty of sides on offer. Both kinds of fish were rather tough in their breading, but on offer were tater tots as well as french fries, hush puppies, broccoli-rice casserole, baked spaghetti, and cole slaw. The broccoli casserole was a nice change, and the hush puppies were quite spicy, another well-received alteration to the commonplace – although they were perhaps a tad underdone in the middle. Coleslaw had a nice note of horseradish, not too much, but, like Baby Bear, just right. Baked spaghetti was pretty unremarkable, but at least the pasta didn't fall apart on the fork as some I've come across. Dessert by the time we arrived was mass-produced cupcakes. Have another beer instead.
They start serving at noon and go until 8 p.m., considerably longer hours than about any of the competition in town.
VFW Post 3500
1717 Big Bend Blvd, Richmond Heights
314-781-3781
https://www.facebook.com/vfwpost3500
