I use to live just around the corner from this establishment and had eaten there a couple of times before and both times I was less than impressed. Found myself back in the ole' neighborhood today and thought I'd try it again. It hasn't gotten any better! The fish appears to be coated in a cornmeal/flour dusting and was very crunchy...almost too crunchy. The fish inside was fresh and flakey, but, the coating was dull, hard and lifeless. The oysters were good, but, nothing to rave about. The fries and cole slaw were standard fare that are better at many other places. If your looking for impressive fish I'd try O'briens or Pass Times, both do a better job and offer way more for the money.
(2)
Hector G.
The ambiance of the place was very tasteful. It was clean, the staff was friendly and it seemed to be a nice location. It all ends there. The food was very bland and not very creative. You can tell that the fish was pre-breaded and frozen when the Fishery took ahold of it. When I received my order of the catfish sandwich, upon observing it closely, the breading came off in what can be described as one complete "sheet". The breading itself had no flavor and made the sandwich a sponge for their cooking oil. The sides were small (especially the mac-n-cheese). As far as the famous "scrod" sandwich, you can tell this was previously "breaded" and frozen. I was upset to learn that a local place like this would reach down to mega-fast-food fish standards. The price of the food was not worth the taste of the food. I don't mind paying good money if the food is good but this makes me want to get my money back. For two sandwich platters, an extra side for our child and two drinks, it came out ot $21. We will never be back to this place again.
(2)
Virginia L.
Good food for sure. I'd recommend take out as the place isn't super plush on the inside, but the fish is pretty tasty. They kinda screwed up my order once and made me wait quite a while... then they gave me $15 in gift certificates to make up for it, which more than made up for it in my book. I'll keep coming back when I can for sure.
(3)
Shal V.
While driving around St Matthews one afternoon, we chanced to espy this little local mom-and-pop place. We were craving seafood so we decided to pop in for lunch. We ordered the salmon which was served on pilaf and the Icelandic cod sandwich. The salmon was good but the cod sandwich was disappointing - it was greasy, lacked flavor, and was akin to something you'd get a church fish fry. As another reviewer pointed out, this restaurant is slightly pricey for the quality of food that is served. The service was very good. However, we were disappointed with the food. I doubt I'll go back there again.
(2)
Rebecca Z.
Decided to stop here on a whim because I was on my way to the grocery and it's not good to buy groceries on an empty stomach, ya know... I was kinda surprised to see chicken livers, and I LOVE chicken livers, but then this is a fish place.... I was torn, but since it was my first time there, I settled on the standard fish platter with green beans and mac and cheese. The fish was good, the green beans were REALLY good, the mac and cheese was OK. Kinda on the expensive side for lunch.
(2)
Kevin M.
Very good fish and the clam chowder is excellent. You can get a fish sandwich with two sides, upgrade to clam chowder and onion rings and have an unbelievably good meal for under $10. It is way more food than the normal person could eat.
(4)
Matthew S.
this is the fish sandwich i grew up on. we'd ride our bikes up here. crispy whole fish fillet in between two soft warm slices of rye bread with tangy tarter globbed in the middle. freaking HEAVEN!! i would kill to have one right now.
(5)
Nadia N.
Stumbled upon The Fishery as I was leaving the dentists office. Who knew this little gem was hidden away on Lexington Rd? ::Smiles:: Me loves seafood! They are a small, quaint little joint but they have the right options to sustain their clientele. You walk into the joint and order/pay at a small front desk. The huge menu situated right next to the cashier reels you in because of the low prices and plenty of fixin's. Once you order your food the kitchen window opens and calls your number for pickup - regardless of eat in or takeout. It's actually pretty cool! The outside patio is huge as well and the inside eat-in area. There are benches situated inside for waiting and at lunch time the place is pretty busy. Ordered the cod platter which comes with two sides. I chose the mac-n-cheese and the green beans. Also had a beer while I was waiting. Food came out fairly quickly and was still warm when I reached home in about 10 minutes. Opened up the bag and all I could think was - who the hell is gonna eat all that fish? The filets were huge and they weren't overly breaded - Thank Goodness! The fish was fresh and flaky. Mac-n-cheese was cooked properly, but lacked salt. Green beans were pretty good. If there was anything I wanted it would be a but more seasoning all around. They do, however, have a lighter fare menu. Another visit will determine if the 4th star was really warranted - but for now I'll give it to them because of the large portions.
(4)
Lorna B.
The counter help was eating and coughing in front of us as we ordered. A white towel lying on floor as we entered the door. Dirty. Fly In counter with cookies. And the bathroom was just disgusting.
(1)
Ric W.
What to say about the Fishery... It's a solid fish joint. Although I must say I wanted to see what they were doing behind the sliding window where your order came from, Just me being curious ;). Seating is limited it will hold about 15-20 people and that would be a tight fit. The service was good and the food was worth yelping about. Had a combo with a bowl of clam chowder. Let's start with; it was hot, fresh and moist. Easy I was just talking about the fish, it was also seasoned well and the breading was nice and crunchy. The onion rings were your basic rings noting more nothing less. But the clam chowder was just like my mom made it back in New England, well like she would have made it if she wasn't born and raised in KY. Nice and creamy and tasty with decent size chucks of clam and potatoes that left me feeling full. I don't eat fish sandwiches that often, but when I do I prefer The Fishery!
(4)
Colby H.
After getting the "what we're known for" fried fish sandwich on my first visit and returning months later to try a seasonal special out of some misguided notion of pity, I can honestly say that, based on the quality and price of the food, the cleanliness of the establishment, and the my-day-sucks-so-yours-should-too attitude of the staff, I would rather eat at Long John Silvers.
(1)
Ian P.
I was hoping for more when I came here. The signs outside boasting crab cakes and other seafood really sparked my interest. The small building and well made sign made me think it was a real mom and pop operation with some good seafood. The menu wall was fun to look at the choices were plenty to choose from. I was a little confused when I saw, however, that everything was mainly fried. I was also hoping for a raw bar, but I guess that is just hard to find here in Louisville. The decor was reminiscent of a old shack with it's wood paneling, a place that you would expect to find sea captians before they were to lift anchor and ship out to see. I enjoyed the nitty gritty of the place very much. We ordered our food and anxiously awaited as we watched others chomp away at their fried goodness. Well I food was definetly fried, greasy and a bit too much salt for my liking. The portions were too large and the fish did not scream fresh to me off the boat. It was apparent that the food could have been frozen. The sides were decent but nothing to go crazy over. If I were to come back here, I would order differently and share what ever entree I had chosen with whomever I was with. I would almost come here for more of a snack than a full meal as I would not want that food sitting in my stomach until bed time. However, if I ever am craving fried clams, I think it was, I know where to go. They were actually good, but way too much oil to go around in this place.
(2)
Romel A.
Finish My Review Great food in a little place! If you are driving along Lexington Rd near the intersection of Shelbyville Rd, don't blink or you'll be missing out on some great food! This little restaurant has a menu packed full of great seafood items. I always get the white fish platter which comes with 2 sides, add a drink for less than $12. Portions are large. Outside seating during the summer. Hope to see you there!
(4)
Rachael C.
Have driven by a hundred times and finally stopped in. I'm glad I did. Fish is great. The lady behind the counter made the lunch special recommendation and I'm glad she did!! Delicious! Will definitely be back.
(4)
Linda S.
The Fishery and I have been pals for the last 25 years since I moved in their 'hood. I heard that changes have been made in ownership and management over the years, but I will always return. On occasion, one side item wasn't great, or they forgot the tartar sauce, but we are talking 25 years! While raising my two daughters, I knew I could always get them to order from here and include some healthy sides. They have, of course, delicious fried food, but have evolved and also include broiled dishes. The sides are amazing! Fresh baked potatoes, well seasoned homemade green beans, homemade cole slaw and delicious potato salad. However, the BEST are the soups! They have the best vegetable soup in Louisville, bar none. The bean and chowder rock as well. Carry out is always on time and hot when you get it. The Fishery has a tiny dining room, no atmosphere and a nice outside area. They don't pretend to be something they are not. What you get is solid, good food and great service. They are always busy, because they do what they do absolutely splendidly!
(4)
Andrea U.
This is random, but I'm a little obsessed with their baked potato and green beans! It's in our neighborhood and I've been grabbing it a lot lately, along with baked fish (not as good as fried but the kiddo loves it). The creamed peas aren't too shabby, and I haven't tried much else! If you want a quick and simple fish sandwich, this is a good spot. The atmosphere isn't great - but it's a fishery! They have beer, too, which is always nice with fried fish.
(4)
Margaret R.
Excellent as always. Love the new healthy menu! But the good old fried fish sandwich and hush puppies are the best
(5)
Eddie M.
Great fish. Little place but about 12 tables with 9 tables outside. Right in the corner good for a small family.
(4)
The N.
The place has been here for years. There's a reason. Great good. The fish is probably 2nd best in town. Onion rings are great as our most of the homemade sides. My knock is the small size. Normally not a lot of people working there. Wait time even when slow can take too long.
(4)
Donna H.
I have lived in St. Matthews all my life, and have walked there from my home to eat, MANY times over the years, but over the " last couple" of years it has declined and is rather disappointing.They seem to have cut WAY back on portions, yet the prices continue to increase, and in my mind are already a bit pricey for what you get. My husband ordered the potato wedges which were cold and tasted like leftovers that were quickly "reheated". The Gazpacho Soup was painfully BLAND,and you sure don't get many Oysters. I left a bit hungry last time I ordered them. It is such a shame, because it was my one and only "in walking distance" Seafood place to go to since Stan's closed, down the street. How I miss Stan's!
(2)
KeiKei B.
The clam chowder is quite homemade & the best on the menu. Many fish houses feel that breading is seasoning--it's not. Unfortunately the Fishery subscribes to this edict. The breading is very subpar & not something to brag about. Barring that the service is great & staff is friendly! Money well spent.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Kerry H.
I use to live just around the corner from this establishment and had eaten there a couple of times before and both times I was less than impressed. Found myself back in the ole' neighborhood today and thought I'd try it again. It hasn't gotten any better! The fish appears to be coated in a cornmeal/flour dusting and was very crunchy...almost too crunchy. The fish inside was fresh and flakey, but, the coating was dull, hard and lifeless. The oysters were good, but, nothing to rave about. The fries and cole slaw were standard fare that are better at many other places. If your looking for impressive fish I'd try O'briens or Pass Times, both do a better job and offer way more for the money.
(2)Hector G.
The ambiance of the place was very tasteful. It was clean, the staff was friendly and it seemed to be a nice location. It all ends there. The food was very bland and not very creative. You can tell that the fish was pre-breaded and frozen when the Fishery took ahold of it. When I received my order of the catfish sandwich, upon observing it closely, the breading came off in what can be described as one complete "sheet". The breading itself had no flavor and made the sandwich a sponge for their cooking oil. The sides were small (especially the mac-n-cheese). As far as the famous "scrod" sandwich, you can tell this was previously "breaded" and frozen. I was upset to learn that a local place like this would reach down to mega-fast-food fish standards. The price of the food was not worth the taste of the food. I don't mind paying good money if the food is good but this makes me want to get my money back. For two sandwich platters, an extra side for our child and two drinks, it came out ot $21. We will never be back to this place again.
(2)Virginia L.
Good food for sure. I'd recommend take out as the place isn't super plush on the inside, but the fish is pretty tasty. They kinda screwed up my order once and made me wait quite a while... then they gave me $15 in gift certificates to make up for it, which more than made up for it in my book. I'll keep coming back when I can for sure.
(3)Shal V.
While driving around St Matthews one afternoon, we chanced to espy this little local mom-and-pop place. We were craving seafood so we decided to pop in for lunch. We ordered the salmon which was served on pilaf and the Icelandic cod sandwich. The salmon was good but the cod sandwich was disappointing - it was greasy, lacked flavor, and was akin to something you'd get a church fish fry. As another reviewer pointed out, this restaurant is slightly pricey for the quality of food that is served. The service was very good. However, we were disappointed with the food. I doubt I'll go back there again.
(2)Rebecca Z.
Decided to stop here on a whim because I was on my way to the grocery and it's not good to buy groceries on an empty stomach, ya know... I was kinda surprised to see chicken livers, and I LOVE chicken livers, but then this is a fish place.... I was torn, but since it was my first time there, I settled on the standard fish platter with green beans and mac and cheese. The fish was good, the green beans were REALLY good, the mac and cheese was OK. Kinda on the expensive side for lunch.
(2)Kevin M.
Very good fish and the clam chowder is excellent. You can get a fish sandwich with two sides, upgrade to clam chowder and onion rings and have an unbelievably good meal for under $10. It is way more food than the normal person could eat.
(4)Matthew S.
this is the fish sandwich i grew up on. we'd ride our bikes up here. crispy whole fish fillet in between two soft warm slices of rye bread with tangy tarter globbed in the middle. freaking HEAVEN!! i would kill to have one right now.
(5)Nadia N.
Stumbled upon The Fishery as I was leaving the dentists office. Who knew this little gem was hidden away on Lexington Rd? ::Smiles:: Me loves seafood! They are a small, quaint little joint but they have the right options to sustain their clientele. You walk into the joint and order/pay at a small front desk. The huge menu situated right next to the cashier reels you in because of the low prices and plenty of fixin's. Once you order your food the kitchen window opens and calls your number for pickup - regardless of eat in or takeout. It's actually pretty cool! The outside patio is huge as well and the inside eat-in area. There are benches situated inside for waiting and at lunch time the place is pretty busy. Ordered the cod platter which comes with two sides. I chose the mac-n-cheese and the green beans. Also had a beer while I was waiting. Food came out fairly quickly and was still warm when I reached home in about 10 minutes. Opened up the bag and all I could think was - who the hell is gonna eat all that fish? The filets were huge and they weren't overly breaded - Thank Goodness! The fish was fresh and flaky. Mac-n-cheese was cooked properly, but lacked salt. Green beans were pretty good. If there was anything I wanted it would be a but more seasoning all around. They do, however, have a lighter fare menu. Another visit will determine if the 4th star was really warranted - but for now I'll give it to them because of the large portions.
(4)Lorna B.
The counter help was eating and coughing in front of us as we ordered. A white towel lying on floor as we entered the door. Dirty. Fly In counter with cookies. And the bathroom was just disgusting.
(1)Ric W.
What to say about the Fishery... It's a solid fish joint. Although I must say I wanted to see what they were doing behind the sliding window where your order came from, Just me being curious ;). Seating is limited it will hold about 15-20 people and that would be a tight fit. The service was good and the food was worth yelping about. Had a combo with a bowl of clam chowder. Let's start with; it was hot, fresh and moist. Easy I was just talking about the fish, it was also seasoned well and the breading was nice and crunchy. The onion rings were your basic rings noting more nothing less. But the clam chowder was just like my mom made it back in New England, well like she would have made it if she wasn't born and raised in KY. Nice and creamy and tasty with decent size chucks of clam and potatoes that left me feeling full. I don't eat fish sandwiches that often, but when I do I prefer The Fishery!
(4)Colby H.
After getting the "what we're known for" fried fish sandwich on my first visit and returning months later to try a seasonal special out of some misguided notion of pity, I can honestly say that, based on the quality and price of the food, the cleanliness of the establishment, and the my-day-sucks-so-yours-should-too attitude of the staff, I would rather eat at Long John Silvers.
(1)Ian P.
I was hoping for more when I came here. The signs outside boasting crab cakes and other seafood really sparked my interest. The small building and well made sign made me think it was a real mom and pop operation with some good seafood. The menu wall was fun to look at the choices were plenty to choose from. I was a little confused when I saw, however, that everything was mainly fried. I was also hoping for a raw bar, but I guess that is just hard to find here in Louisville. The decor was reminiscent of a old shack with it's wood paneling, a place that you would expect to find sea captians before they were to lift anchor and ship out to see. I enjoyed the nitty gritty of the place very much. We ordered our food and anxiously awaited as we watched others chomp away at their fried goodness. Well I food was definetly fried, greasy and a bit too much salt for my liking. The portions were too large and the fish did not scream fresh to me off the boat. It was apparent that the food could have been frozen. The sides were decent but nothing to go crazy over. If I were to come back here, I would order differently and share what ever entree I had chosen with whomever I was with. I would almost come here for more of a snack than a full meal as I would not want that food sitting in my stomach until bed time. However, if I ever am craving fried clams, I think it was, I know where to go. They were actually good, but way too much oil to go around in this place.
(2)Romel A.
Finish My Review Great food in a little place! If you are driving along Lexington Rd near the intersection of Shelbyville Rd, don't blink or you'll be missing out on some great food! This little restaurant has a menu packed full of great seafood items. I always get the white fish platter which comes with 2 sides, add a drink for less than $12. Portions are large. Outside seating during the summer. Hope to see you there!
(4)Rachael C.
Have driven by a hundred times and finally stopped in. I'm glad I did. Fish is great. The lady behind the counter made the lunch special recommendation and I'm glad she did!! Delicious! Will definitely be back.
(4)Linda S.
The Fishery and I have been pals for the last 25 years since I moved in their 'hood. I heard that changes have been made in ownership and management over the years, but I will always return. On occasion, one side item wasn't great, or they forgot the tartar sauce, but we are talking 25 years! While raising my two daughters, I knew I could always get them to order from here and include some healthy sides. They have, of course, delicious fried food, but have evolved and also include broiled dishes. The sides are amazing! Fresh baked potatoes, well seasoned homemade green beans, homemade cole slaw and delicious potato salad. However, the BEST are the soups! They have the best vegetable soup in Louisville, bar none. The bean and chowder rock as well. Carry out is always on time and hot when you get it. The Fishery has a tiny dining room, no atmosphere and a nice outside area. They don't pretend to be something they are not. What you get is solid, good food and great service. They are always busy, because they do what they do absolutely splendidly!
(4)Andrea U.
This is random, but I'm a little obsessed with their baked potato and green beans! It's in our neighborhood and I've been grabbing it a lot lately, along with baked fish (not as good as fried but the kiddo loves it). The creamed peas aren't too shabby, and I haven't tried much else! If you want a quick and simple fish sandwich, this is a good spot. The atmosphere isn't great - but it's a fishery! They have beer, too, which is always nice with fried fish.
(4)Margaret R.
Excellent as always. Love the new healthy menu! But the good old fried fish sandwich and hush puppies are the best
(5)Eddie M.
Great fish. Little place but about 12 tables with 9 tables outside. Right in the corner good for a small family.
(4)The N.
The place has been here for years. There's a reason. Great good. The fish is probably 2nd best in town. Onion rings are great as our most of the homemade sides. My knock is the small size. Normally not a lot of people working there. Wait time even when slow can take too long.
(4)Donna H.
I have lived in St. Matthews all my life, and have walked there from my home to eat, MANY times over the years, but over the " last couple" of years it has declined and is rather disappointing.They seem to have cut WAY back on portions, yet the prices continue to increase, and in my mind are already a bit pricey for what you get. My husband ordered the potato wedges which were cold and tasted like leftovers that were quickly "reheated". The Gazpacho Soup was painfully BLAND,and you sure don't get many Oysters. I left a bit hungry last time I ordered them. It is such a shame, because it was my one and only "in walking distance" Seafood place to go to since Stan's closed, down the street. How I miss Stan's!
(2)KeiKei B.
The clam chowder is quite homemade & the best on the menu. Many fish houses feel that breading is seasoning--it's not. Unfortunately the Fishery subscribes to this edict. The breading is very subpar & not something to brag about. Barring that the service is great & staff is friendly! Money well spent.
(3)