Friday fish fry season is upon us. Hurrah.
At Glockenspiel, Friday is all about all-you-can eat beer-battered Atlantic cod (with plenty of house-made tartar sauce), hand-cut fries and coleslaw. Cost is $12.95 per person from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $14.95 per person from 4 to 9 p.m. The bar suggests pairing your feast with a crisp Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a robust lager imported from Munich's famous Hacker-Pschorr brewery. The historic setting — the building dates to 1887 — is an added bonus. Reservations suggested.
605 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-292-9421, www.glockenspielrestaurant.com
During Lent, the Lake Elmo Inn does the all-you-can-eat thing as a Friday lunch deal. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the kitchen sends out crispy fried cod with waffle-cut fries and coleslaw for $12.95 per person. The format changes considerably at night. For the next three Friday evenings, diners can dive into a seafood buffet loaded with shrimp, smoked salmon, oysters, crab and more. Cost is $50 per person; add a lobster tail for $10. Reservations suggested.
3442 Lake Elmo Av. N., Lake Elmo, 651-777-8495, www.lakeelmoinn.com
The Twin Cities' most varied Friday night fried-fish ritual is at the Red Stag Supperclub, where chef Christopher Gerster skips the all-you-can-consume routine in favor of a trio of basket-style options: bluegill ($13 single, $18 double), cod ($12 single, $16 double) and walleye ($11 single, $15 double), all served with coleslaw, potato chips and a terrific tartar sauce bursting with sweet onions. Don't miss the fabulous smelt fries ($8).
509 1st Av. NE., Mpls., 612-767-7766, www.redstagsupperclub.com
