NILES, MI - The secret to a good fish fry? It’s in the breading, and in the tarter sauce.
At Wegner’s Lakeside Bar & Grill in Niles, you get both.
They use Drake’s batter mix and “our own spices to season,” said co-owner Rachel Wegner, who with her husband Tom opened the bar/restaurant three years ago on Feb. 20.
And the tarter sauce is homemade.
“We use bright green Chicago-style relish, house spices and lemon juice,” Wegner said.
Wegner’s was the Kalamazoo/Southwestern Michigan Poll Winner in our search for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry. It had 28 percent of the vote, beating out Coloma FOP #147 in Coloma, which had 17 percent. (See the full poll results below.)
The Friday night fish fry at Wegner’s features all-you-can-eat pollock, and it has become one of their biggest nights of the week, selling more than 100 dinners, Wegner said.
It sells for $9.75, and it includes fish, French fries, hushpuppies, and coleslaw or baked beans.
In addition to the popular all-you-can-eat on Fridays, they also have perch, bluegill, grouper and smelt on the menu all the time. Everything gets the same light breading, except for the grouper.
The Bada Bing Shrimp is their top-selling appetizer. And the Prime Rib special on Wednesdays, which they have been doing for about a year, sells out almost every week. Newer items such as tender steak bites with roasted potatoes and fresh broccoli are also doing well.
“Anything steak and shrimp have always been our best sellers. We of course offer burgers, pizza, sliders, chicken, and more,” Wegner said.
If you visit, you will have a great time, she guaranteed. They like “keeping it reel” by the lake.
“We are a casual lake bar, family friendly, offer full bar service with many specialty drinks,” Wegner said. “Our goal was to bring back a place at the lake for everyone to enjoy and feel like family when you walk in.”
Wegner’s was also a top contender for Michigan’s Best Outdoor Dining, which was won locally by nearby The NODE - Niles Outdoor Dining Experience.
READ: The NODE gets the nod as Michigan’s Best Outdoor Dining in Kalamazoo and SW Michigan
Wegner’s is located on Barron Lake. Niles is on the St. Joseph River, just six miles from the Michigan-Indiana border.
Kalamazoo area & Southwestern Michigan Poll Results
1. Wegner’s Lakeside Bar & Grill, Niles - 28.45%
2. Coloma FOP #147, Coloma -17.44%
3. Sand Bar, Gun Lake - 10.51%
4. (tie) Captain Luey’s Calabash Seafood, Battle Creek - 5.57%
4. (tie) Knights of Columbus 1616/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kalamazoo - 5.57%
IF YOU GO
Wegner’s Lakeside Bar & Grill
2628 Lake Shore Drive, Niles, MI 49120
269-683-1558
Fish Fry: All-you-can-eat pollock on Fridays is $9.75, and includes the fish, French fries, hushpuppies, and coleslaw or baked beans.
Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays
More info: On Facebook at facebook.com/Wegners-Lakeside-Bar-Grill-1603027483108596/
If you have questions about our search for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry or you want to suggest a future search, feel free to email us.
Amy Sherman: asherma2@mlive.com
John Gonzalez: gonzo@mlive.com
Follow our Michigan’s Best adventures on social media:
@mlivemibest on Twitter
@mlivemibest on Instagram
Facebook at MLiveMIBest.
Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #BestFishFry for our current search for Michigan’s Best Fish Fry.
In addition:
Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
Fish Fry at Tootsie's in Muskegon.John Gonzalez
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