Gills Mafia

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Gills Mafia This page is dedicated for our reviews of Fish Fries during Lent in Western New York.

Tonight we ventured back to Elma to Pizza Delizia Italian Classics. Thank you Cheryl for this recommendation! Started ou...
03/28/2026

Tonight we ventured back to Elma to Pizza Delizia Italian Classics. Thank you Cheryl for this recommendation!
Started out with a small parking lot with people coming and going constantly. Not a typical Dine-In restaurant, more of a take out place. We were sat right away and our dinners were in front of us within 10 minutes. We all ordered beer batter fish frys. They were served in a fish fry box and wait until you hear the assortment of sides! First, we were treated with a large portion of fish on top of a pile of seasoned fries, then there were homemade sides; potato and mac salad with coleslaw. The treat came when we noticed a house made crab rangoon (owner’s mom’s recipe), 2 hush puppies, 2 corn fritters, mushy peas, a wedge of cantaloupe, and a delicious garlic knot!
Everything was exceptional!
The staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive. We were treated to extra crab rangoons and then CANNOLIS for dessert! We were pleasantly surprised by our experience here.

Overall rating 4.71

Tonight, the Gills Mafia visited O’Daniels Gin Mill in Lackawanna, NY. A few of our crew decided to break from the wee...
03/21/2026

Tonight, the Gills Mafia visited O’Daniels Gin Mill in Lackawanna, NY. A few of our crew decided to break from the weekly fish fry routine. Highlights included two members enjoying the flavorful Thai sweet-and-spicy fish with grains and vegetables, a tasty shrimp dish, and highly recommended crisp, flavorful crab-and-shrimp beignets as an appetizer.
The group arrived at 4:45 and was seated immediately. We had a party of 7, and that was not an issue. The waitress was very attentive and circled back to our table more than once to be sure we didn’t need anything.
Everyone at the table complimented the macaroni salad, as they rarely get a tuna mac salad with a fish fry. The coleslaw was just ok nothing out of the ordinary. The fries were tasty, but the portion was very small.
As usual, the evening was filled with laughter and engaging conversation. Until next week, when we will venture into Elma, NY.

Last night, we visited 773 North, a prominent restaurant on the Island, for their fish fry. While I have always had exce...
03/15/2026

Last night, we visited 773 North, a prominent restaurant on the Island, for their fish fry. While I have always had exceptional dining experiences here, the fish fry fell slightly short of expectations. The fish was expertly prepared, being crispy, tender, and full of flavor, but the side dishes were limited to coleslaw and a choice of potato or macaroni salad. A few of us chose to upgrade to sweet potato fries for an additional $1.50. The beer was served chilled, but the service was slow, despite the restaurant not being excessively busy. I would still recommend this restaurant, although perhaps not specifically for their fish fry. Reservations: yes. Parking: spacious lot. Cost: $22.00.
Score: 3.79

Hello fish fry enthusiasts,This week we went to Doc Sullivans. Two of the judges ordered the broiled and reported it was...
03/07/2026

Hello fish fry enthusiasts,
This week we went to Doc Sullivans. Two of the judges ordered the broiled and reported it was the best they have had! The beer battered fish was crispy and tasty, but the sides didn't rank as well. The coleslaw was a bit runny; the mac salad was made with dill. It wasn't bad, just different, but some of the judges weren't a fan. The french fries, although not homemade, were crunchy with just enough salt!
We got there early around 4:30 and were seated promptly. The wait time for our food was about 50 minutes which we thought was a little long. The service was great by our waitressJordan. She was very attentive despite being the only server in the place!
And as usual it was a lovely night hanging with wonderful people!
Score: 4.28
Reservations: no
Parking: street
Cost: $21.00

This week “The Gills Mafia” took a trip to a Village of Hamburg classic, Buteras village Brewhouse. We were very excited...
03/01/2026

This week “The Gills Mafia” took a trip to a Village of Hamburg classic, Buteras village Brewhouse. We were very excited to try this staple, as there were many recommendations.
We were short a few members tonight, so Paul, Maria, and her boyfriend Vinnie, had to represent all of us.
The atmosphere at Butera’s was fun and enjoyable, and we’re able to make reservations which is always a plus. The beers were cold and the cocktails were very refreshing!
Our wait time was not very long, however after being seated, our food took about 45 minutes. The fish was on the smaller side (compared to others), and was not very crispy. The flavor of all our fish was good. The sides were all very good: fries or potato wedges, Mac salad, Cole slaw, and bread. We will be back to Buteras, but not for the fish fry.
Cost $17.29

Overall rating: 3.67

02/21/2026

Contenders from 2025:
Saint Gabriel’s RC Church
5271 Clinton St., Elma, NY 14059
Winner: score 4.96/5
Hamburg Moose Lodge, 992 Loyal
45 Church St., Hamburg, NY 14075
Score: 4.8/5
Elks Lodge number 436
7710 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14304
Score: 4.4/5
Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church
177 Weber Rd., Lackawanna, NY 14218
Score: 4.27/5
Matthew Glab Post
1965 Abbott Road, Lackawanna, NY 14218
Score: 3.9/5
Gratwick hose fire company #6
110 Ward Rd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Score: 3.3/5

02/21/2026

Lent season 2026 rating thus far:
Jack Rabbit
Score 4.52
1010 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Margie’s Bar and Grill
5044 Broadway, Depew, NY 14043
Score:4.5
Doc Sullivans
474 Abbott Road, Buffalo 14220
Score: 4.28
773 North
2749 Grand Island Blvd, Grand Island 14072
Score: 3.79
Buteras
32 Main Street, Hamburg
Score: 3.67

I'm not gonna lie. After having to walk two blocks in the blustery cold and then having to suck in my gut to fit inside ...
02/21/2026

I'm not gonna lie. After having to walk two blocks in the blustery cold and then having to suck in my gut to fit inside the small bar, I already had reservations about this place (pun intended). But it was crowded for a reason. The locals are well aware of this gem and its tasty fish fry! Mike, the bartender, was very accomodating and ended up pushing two tables together in the bar area for our party of 7. Our wait time to get seated was an hour and 15 minutes (understandable with Lent and the crowd) but from when we ordered our fish to its arrival on the table, it was about 15 to 20 minutes.
Mine was slightly overcooked but all the other judges were quite pleased, be it beer battered or broiled. They offered FOUR sides-macaroni salad, potato salad, coleslaw and fries-all delicious!
The fish comes in three sizes: small (size of a fish sandwich), medium (regular portion) or large (portion and a half). The staff was very friendly; the owner came over to say hello. So overall, despite the crowd and the long wait, it was well worth it. Just go early!
Score: 4.5
Cost: listed as market price but medium was $20; $23 for the large Reservations: not on Fridays during
Lent
Parking: very small lot; street parking

Fellow fish fry friends,We're back and ready to sacrifice our tastebuds for all our followers! Our fish fry kick off sta...
02/19/2026

Fellow fish fry friends,
We're back and ready to sacrifice our tastebuds for all our followers!
Our fish fry kick off started this evening at Jack Rabbit's and we were not disappointed! The fish and fries were well seasoned and crunchy. It came with a side of coleslaw and macaroni salad. Some judges preferred the traditional mayonnaise based delicacy where this had more a mustardy tang with a little spice. Parking was a bit of a challenge but alas, that applies to many establishments in Buffalo. The atmosphere was fun and the staff were friendly and attentive. The owner even came over to welcome us! He graciously asked for any constructive criticism and gave us recommendations for other places as well! Live music was an added treat.
We thoroughly enjoyed our night out and would highly recommend!
Cost: $23
Reservations: yes

02/05/2026

Hello, fellow fish fry enthusiasts. The Lenten season is rapidly approaching and soon we will be indulging in delectable cuisine. This year we invite you to share your recommendations on where to dine. Please let us know your preferred establishments so we can share them with the community. Our inaugural outing will take place on Ash Wednesday. If you respond first (and if we haven’t previously visited), we would be delighted to try your suggestion 😀🐟🐠

Address

2510 Bowen Road
Elma, NY
14059

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