TUCKER'S RESTAURANT: GIFT CARD FUNDRAISER

Tucker’s Restaurant opened on September 19, 1946. This Saturday, the iconic eatery reaches its 69th anniversary, but the doors will remain closed as the kitchen was destroyed in a fire in July.

Tucker's Restaurant bustling during weekend brunch in Spring 2015.

Owners Carla and Joe Tucker are hoping to re-open the restaurant within the next few months. Neighbors have come together to assist with manual labor or raise money for reconstruction, including customer Chris Heckman, who created a GoFundMe.com campaign for Tucker's. Within the first 48 hours, over $10,000 in donations poured in from around the community. To date, the campaign has raised almost $15,000 of the $65,000 needed to repair damages and reopen the establishment. So far, the Tuckers have used the funds to hire an architect, contractor, and begin the construction process.

Jean-François Flechet, a long-time Tucker's customer and owner of nearby restaurant, Taste of Belgium, helped setup an online store to increase fundraising through the sales of Tucker's gift cards. Flechet thought of it as paying for his next meal in advance, helping the Tuckers' cash flow and speeding up the renovation process. "I bet others would be willing to do the same thing," says Flechet. "You get a few hundred people buy a few meals each; Joe and Carla will have the funds they need to reopen the restaurant." Flechet reached out to Heckman, a designer by trade, who created the artwork for the gift cards. 

Join Carla and Joe Tucker in Washington Park this Saturday, September 19, as they celebrate Tucker's 69^th year during City Flea from 10:00am-4:00pm. Gift cards will be available for purchase at $25, $50 and $100.

FISH FRY #1: TUCKER'S AT BOCKFEST

#FFFCincy Rating:

3 of 5 Fishies

Kicking off our third year of touring Friday Fish Fries around the tri-state, Tucker's Bockfest Fish Fry was an easy decision: it was on site at Bockfest, where most of us planned to go later that night, plus all the food was cooked across the street at Tucker's Restaurant in Over-the-Rhine. Known for their breakfasts and burgers, anything and everything I've tasted at their restaurant has been delicious and I couldn't wait to try their fried fish.

Your blonde Codmistress is ready for a new year of fish fries!

Our fish fry group with Beer Baron Greg Hardman, owner of Christian Moerlein Brewery and host of Bockfest.

The fish fry benefited St. Francis Seraph School, which also neighbors Bockfest Hall. Set up in a tent, the menu options were simple: fish, fries, coleslaw and the option to add on mac n' cheese for $1. An added bonus were the 15 Bockfest beers being served inside the same tent for the festival. Only $5 to add one on to your meal.

Moerlein beer-battered cod, marble rye, fries, mac n' cheese, coleslaw, and a pint of Moerlein Emancipator Doppelbock

 A basket came with two thick pieces of well-seasoned, Moerlein beer-battered cod, a slice of marble rye bread, and Tucker's signature fries. The coleslaw was one of the best I've had at any fish fry, with chunky cabbage that packed a crunch. There was also something extra special about the mac n' cheese, an additional ingredient that made it creamier than usual.

While I could taste the love that comes made with any Tucker's meal, it was disappointing to find that all of the food was cold upon arrival. This was likely due to the fish fry being held outdoors in a tent. All of their subsequent fish fries will be held inside the Moerlein Tap Room since it's no longer being used for Bockfest.

I was also puzzled at why we only had one piece of bread. That's pretty standard if you're getting white bread to sop up the grease, but not fancy marble rye. Tucker's fish didn't need to have the gooeyness dabbed off though, which made the marble rye perfect for assembling a sandwich. One piece short, a friend gave me theirs so I could create my Fishwich. Combined with the coleslaw, this made for an incredible alternative to the rest of the meal.

Fried cod and coleslaw sandwiched between marble rye

Keep in mind, this is Tucker's very first time hosting a Bockfest Fish Fry. With some adjustments I am confident their next round of fish will be warm, and who knows, perhaps they'll put my Fishwich on the menu.




Tucker's will be hosting their fish fry from 5:00pm-8:00pm through March 21 at Moerlein Tap Room in Over-the-Rhine. 
Beer is available for purchase in the taproom
Cash or Credit
On-street parking
No desserts


Follow our Friday Fish Fry adventures on Twitter: #FFFCincy

MARDI GRAS MEALS: BIG 'N EASY

Cravin' some Cajun? Let the good times roll at these N'awleans-style restaurants, serving up Fat Tuesday fare all year round.


BrewRiver Gastropub
East Walnut Hills - 2062 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Complete with live Zydeco and jazz music, the menu features oyster po' boy sandwiches, muffaletta sandwiches, gumbo, and an assortment of well-seasoned fish dishes. BrewRiver cooks up my absolute favorite creole dish in the North. Pionono: a roll of spiced ground beef, plantains, tomatoes, and kidney beans served over rice make up this sweet and savory dish that is so good, you'll be sopping up every bit of sauce with cornbread.


Allyn's Cafe
Columbia-Tusculum - 3538 Columbia Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45226

Perfect for families with both foodies and unadventurous eaters, Allyn's Cafe offers a vast menu of both Cajun and traditional Mexican fare. For those wanting a taste of Louisiana, all the staples are here including Andouille Gumbo and Jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish étouffée, and even blackened alligator. For those playing it safe, the rest of menu includes for familiar options such as burritos, caesar salad, and cheesesteak sandwiches.


Tucker's Restaurant
Over-The-Rhine - 1637 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

It doesn't get any simpler than Shrimp n' Grits. Known for their breakfast and burgers, Tucker's Restaurant also brings the heat of the South with buttery grits topped with Sriracha grilled shrimp. Be sure to order a side of cornbread -- it comes fried in a pancake-sized patty and elevates the baked good to a new level.


New Orleans To Go
Blue Ash - 10921 Reed Hartman Hwy, Blue Ash, OH 45242

Oh boy, Po'Boys! Overflowing with bountiful seafood, the chef at New Orleans To Go brought her Louisiana recipes with her to Cincinnati with authenticity in every bite. In addition to seven varieties of gumbo and étouffée, you can load up on an assortment of Big Easy sides such as sweet slaw, okra, sweet potato pie, rum cake, and shrimp n' cheesy grits. My go-to is always the Shrimp Po'Boy Sandwich with Cajun potato salad; or try another po'boy variety such as the catfish, oyster, chicken buffalo BBQ, or roast and gravy.

Taste of Belgium
Findlay Market - 1801 Race St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

One of the most anticipated tastes of Mardi Gras is Taste of Belgium's Shrimp n' Grits Waffle. Cornmeal is added to their famous waffle then topped with wee shrimp and piles of cilantro. This special dish won't last long; its only around for the holiday at the Findlay Market location.


Alabama Fish Bar
Over-The-Rhine - 1601 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 452026

Quick service restaurant, Alabama Fish Bar, gives you a hefty inexpensive meal when you're in a hurry. Get a big basket of Whiting, Perch, or Cod with a side of fries and coleslaw. You will be asked if you want peppers and onions. The answer is always yes. Passed to you in a to-go bag in under 5 minutes, you can easily feed two people with one order of fish.


Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Springdale - 11975 Springdale Lake Dr, Springdale, OH 45246

For a more formal dinner, join Pappadeaux for white table cloths and giant tables for large parties. While meals are pricier, the quality of food is well worth it. Oysters, étouffée, alligator, massive seafood platters; this restaurant does it all. Amongst the six different kinds of fish served, the most memorable has been the Atlantic Salmon with shrimp, crawfish, mushrooms, spinach, and cheese grits. Be sure to follow up with a banana pudding for dessert -- it comes served in a keepsake mason jar.

FROTHY FRIDAY: TUCKER'S

My absolute favorite drink in the city right now is the hot chocolate at Tucker's Restaurant. Known for their made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch menu, Tucker's also makes a fabulous beverage. Served in a 20-ounce takeaway cup, their milk chocolate cocoa comes topped with whipped cream, chocolate fudge, and rainbow sprinkles. The drink is served just at the right temperature, with toppings so bountiful, they last until the cup is almost empty.