Random review of #fishburgh adventures during Lent. Find a fish fry on this Google maps collection. You can also follow them on Facebook and find tons of reviews and suggestions.
Name: Most Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Parish
Date: Friday, March 28, 2014
Time We Ate: 5:30 PM
Location: Troy Hill (Northside) 3600 Mt Troy Rd
We selected this fish fry because of its proximity to our home on the Northside and the array of items on the menu as well as the hours. I was very pleased that the description on the Pittsburgh Fish Fry Map was detailed about the exact building in which to find the fish – this is helpful.
We wound our way up the hill and found plenty of street parking. We followed a group of people into the hall. First stop was the order table which was tucked into a nook. Fortunately we knew what we wanted because it was a little “tight” in the space. We ordered and I noticed that it did seem to fluster the woman when I said we were together. I don’t know if I just broke protocol or because we are two women? But then we were directed down the hall to pay and we received numbered paper plates on a stick with instructions to ‘wave it around’ when our number was called.
We made our way into a nice sized hall. Tables were laid out length wise with place settings. It took us a few minutes to find two empty seats (people do love to save seats in the Catholic Church don’t they?), but Ledcat managed and boy did it pay off. Beverages were included in the price – the selections were water in a pitcher, lemonade, iced tea and coffee.
Our meals were ready in about ten minutes. Ledcat has baked sole which was served with a lemon garnish. Her sides were mac and cheese along with applesauce. A roll came along, too. I ordered the shrimp – 7 largish batter fried pieces. I opted for fries which I have to admit I’m beginning to get sick of eating and applesauce. The fish was tasty as were the shrimp. The mac and cheese was again a disappointment – it was more cheesy (sort of orangish) but just had no real amazing flavor. Fries were fine – warm and crisp. We ordered one side of potato pieorgie – these were terrific. Definitely the best item we’ve had so far. They were served with gobs of butter and carmelized onions. Dessert was included in the price as well – so we both had a cupcake although we could not finish the meal.
The total was exactly $20 for two dinners and a side of pierogie – right in line with the other fish fries especially with the complimentary beverages. The hall was nice and pretty easy to navigate. The portions were very generous.
The absolute highlight of the evening was “Rose” – our 84 year old dining companion (not her real name.) Rose greeted us when we sat across from her and we had a lively discussion throughout the meal. Rose grew up along East Street in the 1930’s and 40’s. She moved to Ross to raise her family and now lives in Reserve Township (which I had never really heard of until that evening.) She belongs to the next parish over which shares priests with Most Holy Name.
She told us about her iPad lessons at the Bellevue Senior Center, her Corgi, her sister who was fond of apple pie. She talked about the churches and was very intrigued with our fish fry experiment – she grilled me quite a bit and kept insisting we need to try Assumption Parish in Bellevue (it is on our list.) She told us several stories about the history of Catholic churches on the Northside – St. Peter, St. Mary (now The Priory), the “ethnic churches” (her mother was Polish and fond of the Polish Catholic Church even though it was a different parish.) She regaled us with stories of the vibrant business community in that era – I had no idea the Buhl family owned a department store. Rose worked there and shared stories of how the “madames” from the “houses of ill-repute” down along Robinson Street would shop neck and neck with the creme de la creme of Pittsburgh society. She seemed most concerned that we believe that she was propositioned by the madames to take a job in their establishments – that required a delicate response, but what a great story.
The retired priest who lives in the nearby rectory came by (I forgot his name) and I loved that he was wearing a colorful cardigan sweater. He shook our hands and welcomed us – very nice.
Pro’s: generous quantity, price, complimentary beverage and dessert, parking and hours
Special Mention: friendliness/welcoming, pierogi were delicious
Con’s: a bit hard to find a seat (perhaps have a volunteer help with guests?), mac and cheese not good
Trivia: Most Holy Name is 143 years old, founded before Troy Hill was part of the City of Pittsburgh. The parish is also home to St. Anthony’s Chapel which houses 5,000 Catholic relics. They offer tours during the day. We could not take one because they were having Mass when we were there.
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What interest could a couple of “L”s possibly have in a Catholic Lenten fish fry? Your lifestyle is totally against Catholic teaching, and the Catholic Church is not an affirming place. Did you just go for the food?
Mr. Abromats, please do not refer to my partner and myself as “a couple of Ls” or use the term lifestyle if you want to have a constructive conversation. I have attended dozens of Catholic fish fries over the years (and meals at other denominations) and no one has ever been as rude as you have been in your three sentence comment.
The point of the fish fry reviews is to provide an outsider’s perspective on everything from food quality to hospitality and welcomeness. Surely you know that we are far from the only queer people in attendance at these fish fries – I’m confident that many LGBTQ people belong to each parish and are involved in the day to day activities.
But if you describe our identity as a lifestyle, perhaps they’ve not made themselves known to you? I’d much rather talk with Rose, the priest we met and the many other people who treated us with courtesy and respect than you.
Who is this Abromatz you’re talking about?
This is your last comment. I’m approving it to show how sad and pathetic anti-LGBTQ people can be – and to reinforce that reelecting Tom Corbett is harmful to queers and to poor people dependent on the Department of Public Welfare where you used to be a Deputy Secretary.
Also as a public service announcement that commenting software collect email and IP addresses. But you know that, Mr. Abromats, as you’ve been called out over 100 times for posting hate. You also know that information is public.I take screenshots of all comments with hate so even if/when they are erased, it is easy enough to prove they exist. We both know they are just a subpoena away at any time. So just go away and don’t beat the dead horse.
If this is how a member of the Corbett Administration Cabinet conducts himself, it says a great deal about his judgment.