15 Ohio Seafood Shacks Serving Fresh Catch From The Great Lakes
The funniest thing about Ohio is how it can hand you a Great Lakes fish basket while you are still mentally picturing cornfields. I learned that lesson the first time I followed a “fresh perch” sign toward Lake Erie and ended up eating so happily that my phone stayed in my pocket on purpose.
If your ideal road trip includes crispy walleye, yellow perch, and harbor views that make you linger, this list is your cue.
Lake Erie towns know how to turn a simple meal into a small celebration, with docks nearby, gulls acting like unpaid security, and locals ordering like they are on a first-name basis with the fryer.
Some of these spots sit by beaches or ferry landings, and others hide in side-street corners that only regulars seem to navigate without GPS.
I love how the best places keep it uncomplicated, because the catch does the talking and the crunch handles the rest. So here are 15 Ohio seafood shacks and casual joints where the Great Lakes flavor shows up fast, hot, and very hard to share.
1. Jolly Roger Seafood House, Port Clinton
Some spots feel legendary before you even taste the food, and Jolly Roger Seafood House is one of those places for me.
You will find it at 1715 E Perry St, Port Clinton, OH 43452, just a short stroll from the Lake Erie shoreline.
I still remember watching trays of Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye pass by while I waited in line, every basket looking like the one I should have ordered.
The fish comes out in generous, crispy fillets with that just-from-the-lake flavor that makes you forget you promised yourself a light lunch.
Inside, the wood-paneled walls, fishing decor, and constant shuffle of locals picking up orders create the feeling that this place runs on batter and small-town gossip.
If I am anywhere near Port Clinton around mealtime, I start planning my route around Jolly Roger without even pretending I will skip the fries.
2. Dock’s Beach House Bar & Grille, Port Clinton
If my day includes sand between my toes and a plate of fish on a lakeside deck, there is a good chance I have ended up at Dock’s Beach House.
This colorful spot sits at 252 W Lakeshore Dr, Port Clinton, OH 43452, tucked beside a private beach with wide views over Lake Erie.
I like to grab a table overlooking the water and listen to the mix of waves, boat engines, and kids negotiating for one more swim while my perch basket sizzles its way out of the kitchen.
Their Lake Erie fish platters lean into the comfort side of things, with crunchy coating, simple sides, and portions that make sharing theoretically possible but emotionally difficult.
The whole place feels relaxed in that beach-day way, plastic cups on the tables and flip-flops everywhere, like nobody here has ever heard of formal dining.
Every time I leave Dock’s, I find myself brushing sand off my shoes and wondering if it is socially acceptable to call fried perch a wellness routine.
3. The Boardwalk Fish Shack, Put-in-Bay
There are plenty of reasons to ride the ferry to Put-in-Bay, but I will admit that a paper basket from the Boardwalk Fish Shack has been my strongest motivation more than once.
This casual counter is part of The Boardwalk complex at 341 Bayview Ave, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456, sitting right over the harbor with boats gliding past.
I usually join the line of sunburned boaters and day-trippers, all of us eyeing the menu that stars Lake Erie perch and walleye in sandwich, basket, and taco form.
When that fish hits the window, hot and flaky with just the right crunch, the world shrinks to your little corner of dock, paper tray, and plastic fork.
The seating is simple, the gulls are opportunistic, and the views look like someone’s screensaver decided to show off.
By the time I am licking the last crumbs of breading from my fingers, I am already planning which friend I can lure back here next time with promises of research.
4. The Village Pump, Kelleys Island
Every island has that one place locals treat like a living room with better food, and on Kelleys Island, that honor belongs to The Village Pump.
You will spot it at 103 W Lakeshore Dr, Kelleys Island, OH 43438, a quick walk from the ferry dock and close enough to hear Lake Erie when the wind picks up.
The room hums with regulars swapping stories while the kitchen turns out plates of Lake Erie perch that disappear from tables suspiciously fast.
My favorite move is to grab a bar-side seat, watch the staff juggle orders, and pretend I am just sampling the perch platter that somehow keeps vanishing from my plate.
It is the kind of place where the staff seems to know exactly who is on island time and who is racing to catch the last ferry.
Whenever I leave The Village Pump, I feel like I am sneaking away from a neighborhood party that somehow happens every day.
5. Brennan’s Fish House, Grand River
Some restaurants feel like they grew up alongside the lake itself, and Brennan’s Fish House is firmly in that category for me.
This long-running seafood hub sits at 102 River St, Grand River, OH 44045, a short hop from the Grand River and Lake Erie.
Inside, the nautical decor, wood beams, and framed photos tell you that fishermen and families have been trading stories here for decades.
The menu leans proudly into Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch, fried or broiled, with portions big enough to make you consider skipping dessert even if you never actually do.
I once sat near a table of charter captains comparing the day’s catch, and it felt like I had accidentally scored a front-row seat to local folklore.
Brennan’s is the sort of place where you walk out smelling faintly of seafood and completely certain that this is what North Coast comfort food should mean.
6. Berardi’s Family Restaurant, Huron
When I want Great Lakes comfort with a hometown diner feel, I find myself steering straight toward Berardi’s in Huron.
You will find Berardi’s Family Restaurant at 218 Cleveland Rd E, Huron, OH 44839, right along the main drag through town.
This fourth-generation, family-run spot is famous for those hand-cut fries, but their Lake Erie fish dinners are the quiet overachievers that keep me coming back.
I like to grab a booth, watch families slide into their usual seats, and listen to staff greet regulars by name while plates of perch and walleye head out of the kitchen.
There is nothing fussy about the presentation, just golden fillets, simple sides, and that warm sense that you are eating in a place that has already seen several chapters of local history.
By the time I leave, I always feel like I have just sat in on a town meeting disguised as dinner.
7. Demore’s Offshore Bar and Grill, Sandusky
If I am anywhere near Sandusky and craving Lake Erie fish with a low-key local atmosphere, Demore’s Offshore is already in my mental GPS.
It is tucked at 302 W Perkins Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870, a bit off the tourist path, which is exactly why the locals love it.
Inside, the vibe is pure neighborhood hangout, with friendly staff, sports on the TVs, and a menu that gives star billing to Lake Erie perch and walleye dinners.
I still remember my first basket here, the fish hot and crisp with just enough seasoning to keep me distracted from my good intentions about portion control.
Demore’s is the sort of place where nobody blinks if you linger over your plate while plotting your next day on the water.
Walking out into the Sandusky evening, I usually catch myself thinking that this might secretly be one of the city’s best reasons to detour off the causeway.
8. Dockside Cafe, Sandusky
There are meals and then there are moments when you realize your table might be closer to the water than some boats, and Dockside Cafe specializes in the second.
This seasonal walk-up sits at 611 W Shoreline Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870, right along the waterfront near the marina.
Ordering here feels like joining a lakeside ritual, with locals in sandals, boat crews in coverups, and road-trippers all lining up for baskets and sandwiches.
Their Lake Erie perch and fish tacos taste even better when you are seated at one of the outdoor tables watching the harbor traffic drift by.
I once planned to just grab a quick bite and ended up staying through sunset because the combination of water views and crunchy fish completely erased my schedule.
Dockside is the place I picture whenever someone asks what a Great Lakes seafood shack should feel like on a perfect summer afternoon.
9. Lake Fish Co, Sandusky
Sometimes I want a place where I can both buy fresh fillets and let someone else do the frying, and Lake Fish Co checks both boxes.
You will find it near the working waterfront at 1014 W Water St, Sandusky, OH 44870, tucked among docks and industrial buildings that remind you that fish is serious business here.
Inside, it is part fish market, part casual eatery, with cases of Lake Erie perch and walleye on ice and a menu that turns those fillets into simple, satisfying plates.
I love grabbing a takeaway dinner, then standing there too long debating whether I should also bring home a pound of perch for later.
Locals treat it like a pantry, tourists treat it like a discovery, and I treat it like an excuse to pretend I know what I am doing in the kitchen.
If your idea of a perfect stop includes both dinner now and tomorrow’s dinner in a cooler, this is your spot.
10. Tackle Box 2, Fremont
If you have ever wanted your fish shack to feel like part bait shop, part neighborhood clubhouse, Tackle Box 2 will make you very happy.
It is perched at 420 Sandusky Ave, Fremont, OH 43420, right along the river that eventually feeds Lake Erie.
Inside, the decor leans heavily into fishing life, and the regulars talk about walleye runs the way other people talk about office meetings.
The menu highlights generous plates of fried Lake Erie walleye and perch, the kind that arrive so hot they demand a little patience before the first bite.
I once shared a table with a retired charter captain who critiqued my choice of side like he was coaching me through a very mild life crisis.
Tackle Box 2 feels less like a restaurant and more like a gathering place where fish and stories are equally important parts of the meal.
11. Marblehead Galley Restaurant & Freighters Lounge, Lakeside Marblehead
There is something special about eating Lake Erie fish in a town that practically lives on postcards, and Marblehead Galley nails that mood.
You will find it at 113 W Main St, Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440, a short drive from the Marblehead Lighthouse and the rocky shoreline.
Inside, the space feels relaxed and neighborly, with families, boaters, and lighthouse seekers all working their way through baskets and platters.
Their Lake Erie yellow perch dinners are the main draw for me, especially when paired with a window seat so I can keep an eye on the sky over the lake.
I once stopped in just because it was on the way and left wondering how many people secretly plan entire Marblehead trips around this menu.
If you like your seafood with a side of small-town charm and road-trip energy, this is an easy addition to any Lakeside itinerary.
12. Eadie’s Fish House, North Canton
Even though North Canton sits far from the shoreline, Eadie’s Fish House proves that Lake Erie can travel surprisingly well.
The restaurant is located at 128 S Main St, North Canton, OH 44720, and it looks every bit the classic fish joint from the outside.
Inside, it is cozy and unfussy, with regulars who have clearly staked out their favorite booths years ago.
The stars here are plates of wild-caught Lake Erie yellow perch and walleye, fried to that sweet spot where the coating crackles but the fish stays tender.
I once sat near a family giving a first-timer a full lecture on the correct order, and I found myself nodding along like a student in a very tasty class.
If you are craving Great Lakes flavor in the middle of Ohio, Eadie’s is proof that you do not have to see the water to taste it.
13. Crow’s Nest Restaurant, Ashtabula
Harbor towns and fish dinners belong together, and the Crow’s Nest in Ashtabula takes that pairing seriously.
You will find it at 1257 Harmon Rd, Ashtabula, OH 44004, close to the water and not far from the historic lift bridge area.
The space feels like a cross between a neighborhood bar and a lakefront hangout, with a menu that leans comfortably into hearty plates and local seafood.
Pan-fried or breaded Lake Erie walleye and perch show up often on the specials board, and I have learned the hard way that letting those pass by is a mistake.
I like to time my visits so I can wander the harbor before dinner, then end the day with a plate of fish that tastes like it barely detoured through the kitchen.
Crow’s Nest is not fancy, but it is exactly the kind of place where Great Lakes flavor feels right at home.
14. Driftwood Point Beach Bar and Grill, Geneva
There are few better combinations in my book than toes in the sand, lake breeze in the air, and a plate of perch within easy reach.
Driftwood Point Beach Bar and Grill delivers all three at 6827 Lake Rd W, Geneva, OH 44041, with its patio looking straight out over Lake Erie.
The vibe is pure lakeside escape, with picnic tables, live music, and that casual energy that makes it very easy to forget other plans.
The menu leans proudly into Lake Erie walleye bites, perch dinners, and even tacos, all of which taste especially good with a sunset doing its thing over the water.
I once watched an entire patio pause mid-conversation just to admire the sky while working through baskets of fish, like the lake had called a brief meeting.
If you are building a Great Lakes seafood crawl, Driftwood feels like the stop where you promise yourself you will stay for just one more song.
15. Clay Street Grill at the Beach, Ashtabula
If my day in Ashtabula ends anywhere near Walnut Beach, chances are good it ends with fish at Clay Street Grill at the Beach.
This laid-back spot is located at 1645 Walnut Blvd, Ashtabula, OH 44004, within easy walking distance of the Lake Erie shoreline.
The place looks exactly like the kind of casual beach hangout where sandy flip-flops are practically part of the dress code.
On the menu, crisp fish and chips anchor the seafood side, and while nobody hands out certificates, I have heard more than one local brag about how often they order it.
I like to grab a seat where I can glimpse the lake between buildings, letting the sound of passing beach traffic mix with the kitchen noise.
Clay Street Grill at the Beach feels like the natural last stop after a day of chasing waves, sun, and every excuse to stay by the water a little longer.