Big meals come from small Monroeville fish-fry operation

The saying “good things come in small packages” is very applicable to the ladies cooking in the tiny kitchen at Monroeville Fire Department No. 3 social club.

Steward Marla Jordan and fellow social club volunteer Paula Fouser make magic for many customers in an estimated 200-square-foot space, less than a one-car garage.

“For just us two, we do good,” Jordan said. “Our first day, we went through 70 pounds (of fish). For a little place, we did good.”

They are assisted by her granddaughter, Ricki Jordan, who helps package the meals and serves dine-in patrons.

“It is really cool and I do love it,” Marla said about working with family. “She just got her working papers.”

That is not the only family connection to the department.

Marla’s grandfather, firefighter William Dahlstrom, help build the social hall years ago.

“We were raised around here,” she said.

Each piece of hand-breaded fish is temperature checked before it is served. Any plank that does not look right is discarded to help ensure product quality.

Mac’n cheese and haluski are homemade, and the latter is served with no onions and light butter.

“So far, I’ve heard nothing but good things,” Fouser said of the fish fry feedback.

The kitchen is open from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays, including Good Friday.

The ladies arrive around 7 a.m. to prep everything and usually stay until 9 p.m. to clean up. Other firefighters and their wives also put in some volunteer hours, Fouser said.

A fish dinner costs $16. It includes a baked or fried fish sandwich and two sides, either mac’n cheese, fries or haluski. Other sides such as pierogis, mushrooms and onion rings are available à la carte.

The club also offers fried shrimp, chicken tenders, cheese sticks and hot cheese balls.

This is the second year for the club members’ Lenten fish fry. They contracted with a third party in previous years to prepare fish and stopped operations during the pandemic.

Public demand had the social club relaunch its fish fry in-house last year.

Fouser said there were more food on the menu with the reboot, and they kept the most popular items this time around.

“We learned a lot from last year, and we’re still learning,” she said.

Proceeds benefit the social club. Call 412-824-1563 to place an order.

More information is available on the club’s Facebook page.