FISH FRY #3: NATIVITY SCHOOL

#FFFCincy Rating:

5 of 5 Fishies

Our third Friday Fish Fry was one everyone had been anticipating since last year: Nativity School in Pleasant Ridge. With two terrific reviews from fellow #FFFCincy members and Instagrams of the meals, we knew something special was in store.

Located just one block from Montgomery Road and Losantiville Avenue, a major intersection in the neighborhood, some of our group decided to take the METRO*Plus bus to the fry instead of battling rush hour traffic. We met up at Government Square after work and enjoyed a leisurely and scenic ride along the new route, which features limited stops for a faster journey. The best part: we were dropped off just steps from the front door of Nativity School.

 

Once inside, we were welcomed with some of the shortest queues in the history of fish fries. We walked right up to order and pay, and had a brief 10 minute wait to get our food.What did end up being gigantic were the portions, the taste, and the value for the meal.

Hand-breaded Haddock

 

Bountiful condiment table with all the fixins, including fresh lemons!

Claiming to have the best hand-breaded haddock in town, Nativity lived up to the hype. Perfectly crisp, evenly seasoned, and stuffed with moist, fluffy fish, the sandwich had me considering getting one more for the road. Be sure to jazz it up at the condiment table: fresh lemon and generous tartar sauce complimented the taste. 

Each of the side dishes looked outstanding, so of course, we had to try them all. Praises shall be sung to the mac n’ cheese, a homemade recipe baked full of cheddar goodness and topped with crunchy bread crumbs. The green beans also tasted from scratch like they had been simmering in the slowcooker all day. The sweet potato fries were a welcome change from regular fries, as was the coleslaw recipe, which had a tangy sauce garnished with horseradish.  

Nativity served up $3.00 local brews from MadTree Brewing, located around the corner off of Ridge Road. All three canned beverages were a hit around our table: Happy Amber-- an amber ale, Lift—a kolsch ale, and Sprye—a seasonal pale ale.   

 

Bourbon pecan pie bar

The evening was made complete by a bourbon pecan pie bar purchased from the eighth grade bake sale and a tableside serenade by a parishioner who played accordion. Ranking among my favorites, Nativity School is a must-visit fry during Lent.

Nativity School
5936 Ridge Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45213
513-458-6767
Fish Fry from 5:30pm-7:30pm Fridays through Lent
Cash only.



Follow our Friday Fish Fry adventures on Twitter: #FFFCincy

JACK IN THE BOX

Curiousity got the best of my car, which led me to the drive-thru of Jack In The Box in Pleasant Ridge. Having never been to this restaurant before, I've had friends rave about all the different choices and creative menu options that are served here. Unique food? I was drawn in.

I browsed the menu: hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, egg rolls, five different styles of french fries and a few salads. It looked pretty similar to a Wendy's menu with the exception of a few items which I'd loosely call "cultural food." I ordered a Chicken Monte Cristo sandwich, Mess Fries, one eggroll, and a Red Hots milkshake.

I pulled up to the window, and noticed a man shouting at me from the rear of the building. Apparently I missed the first drive thru pay window, which was non-descript unlike the second "pick-up" window.  I reversed, paid, and pulled forward again. Then, the woman behind me (who witnessed my embarrassing scenario) did the exact same thing! Perhaps Jack In The Box needs more signage.

After a good ten minute wait at the pick-up window, the employee asked, "What did you order?" Then some scrambling happened to put my food together. Finally, my meal arrived.

The Verdict: the eggroll might have been the best thing about the whole meal. The Mess Fries were topped with soggy, hotter-than-usual jalapenos and queso. I liked that they were steak fries and the seasoning tasted good...the "mess," not so much. The Red Hot milkshake started off tasty with creamy cake batter flavored ice cream mixed with cinnamon. Unlike the Red Hot candies, the milkshake left a burning in my throat rather than the tongue. The chicken sandwich was nothing special, comparable to Wendy's. I ate half before throwing it away.

I was surprised at the lackluster service of Jack In The Box after having been open for four months. No worries though. It may have bountiful genres of food, but it's just another chain that left my stomach in knots, like McDonalds, Rally's, or the like.