The Fish Keg

 

Fish shacks once dotted Chicago’s lake front as well as its neighborhoods. Far from the ocean’s shore, these small shops became the spot for a late night bag of piping hot fried shrimp or scallops. Or catfish.

 

Served in paper bags with sides of cocktail or tarter sauce, a half pound of fish from the fish shack made for a great dinner. Their Hush Puppies, by the way, have been dubbed the best in Chicago by chow hounds and publications alike.

 

Thankfully, a few of these fish houses remain and one of the best is The Fish Keg located on Chicago’s Howard Street. Founded more than 50 years ago by the Hansen’s—who still own the business—the Keg specializes in hand-breaded shrimp, mussels, calamari, fish, seafood and chicken served with homemade sauces.

 

Fresh potato and cole slaw are made daily.

 

A pound of fried Gulf Shrimp is $10.99; Mississippi Catfish Nuggets $7.99; Fish Chips, $7.99 and Hush Puppies, $4.99.

 

Fresh fish is flown in daily and is also sold at the Keg along with dinner entrees such as tilapia, salmon, lobster, snapper, mussels and skate.

 

Busiest during Lent, the Keg bustles with second and third generation  "The Fish Keg Cove” where you can grab a picnic table and watch traffic roll down Howard Street.

 

In addition to the fish, patrons love the ambiance of the Keg. It’s small, crowded and filled with fishy things like plastic crabs, nets, life savers and even a photo of Clydesdale horses. You get the picture.

 

The best thing, however, is an old screen door that brings the aroma of fried fish to the neighborhood and slams shut with each visitor.

 

- by Lori Rotenberk , Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Lori Rotenberk

Lori Rotenberk graduated from Drake University and is a Chicago-based journalist whose work has appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsweek and various magazines. She worked as a staff reporter on The Chicago Sun-Times, the suburban section of The Chicago Tribune and The Des Moines Register. In addition, she has studied fiction writing in adult education at the University of Chicago.