Ordered: Whiting Dinner (~$22): with steak fries & cole slaw Catfish Dinner (~$23): with mac & cheese and candied yams 6pc Jumbo Shrimp Tray (~$15) Aya's take: Crocket's Fish Fry is a no frills spot serving fresh fried seafood plates. There aren't many places in the area doing this so I'm glad Crockett's exists! We called in our order about 15 minutes in advance which I highly recommend doing. By the time we got there, it was almost ready and considering we were hungry, I'm glad we didn't have to wait much longer. The fish & shrimp were cooked fresh and it shows. To start, the 6pc Jumbo Shrimp for ~$15 is pretty crazy. That's $2.50/shrimp which is high. It tasted good, well-seasoned, and the batter wasn't too thick. The Whiting & Catfish were both super flaky and light. They were lacking salt & pepper and could've been fried harder for me personally. The Whiting had much better flavor but you can't go wrong with both once you add the tartar sauce or hot sauce. Each dinner comes with 2 sides and I particularly liked the steak fries and mac & cheese. They just hit the spot more in a meal like this. The candied yams were more of a dessert and they are definitely heavy-handed with the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and sugar. Good try, and this one meal kept us full all day! read more

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The title of this review is "Looks Can Be Deceiving" I've read tons of reviews on Crocketts and have passed it tons of times and today finally decided to stop in and grab a fish sandwich for lunch. The restaurant is exactly what people have said it is which is an old school fried fish joint! There's definitely a nostalgic feel to it from their cash only policy to the decor , to the counter where you order and to being able to look into the kitchen while you wait. You can also smell the fish frying from outside, which has always been a great sign in my experience. They have their menu on the wall and after I looked at it for a bit I decided to not to go with my fish sandwich but rather with a fried fish dinner because I really wanted to try their collard greens and baked macaroni and cheese in addition to the fried fish. The cost for the dinner was $21.99 which I found to be reasonable specifically because the fish is fried fresh and everyone said the portion sizes are pretty big. After placing my order, I knew I needed to go and feed the meter because in the true fashion of an old school soul food fish fry joint things were going to take a little while before they were ready. It took about 15 minutes for my order to be ready, and as I stated, everything was fresh. The reason that I titled this review "Looks Can Be Deceiving" is because the entire dinner overall looked amazing, however, I feel that the flavors of everything fell short. It's funny because I thought the collard greens looked like they were going to be slamming, and the mac & cheese looked like it was going to be the item that I disliked the most, but truth be told, the greens were what I dislike the most because there was no seasoning .... only vinegar. The mac & cheese had a bit more flavor, but it was dry and lacked on basic seasonings like salt and pepper. The fish while perfectly fried golden brown also was sadly pretty flavorless. And although the portion sizes were exactly what people said, and there was enough for two meals out of one dinner I am more than likely, not even going to want the second portion SMH. There were a lot of people ordering the potato salad though so perhaps that's the side I should've went with in addition to the candy yams ... but I will never know because unfortunately, I won't be back. I still have to thank Crocketts for taking me back with the old school vibe though .... Oh, one last thing, even though it did suffice because as I mentioned, I won't be eating the second portion of this dinner. I had to laugh because they only give you one small container of hot sauce, and one small container of tartar sauce for four large pieces of fish Lol. read more

The Catfish was excellent well cooked and tasty. Did not disappoint. The sides were also excellent the service was timely and pleasant.

On the eve of my birthday, hubby came home from North Jersey with a surprise in tow... a bag full of good eats from an old favorite spot we used to hit back when we lived in Essex County. It's been well over a decade since I last tasted Crockett's, and truth be told, they haven't changed a bit. Still a cash-only joint, still serving up the best fried fish fillets, and still giving generous portions on the sides. I was in my happy place, enjoying my pre-birthday delights. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Crockett's Fish Fry has been a Montclair staple for over 30 years, and it's easy to see why. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and cooked just right. The fried flounder is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and never greasy. I also love their sides, the mac and cheese and coleslaw, collards greens and candied yams are some of my favorites. The only downside is that it is CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM inside of the restaurant. Outside of that, everything is great!!! The staff is friendly and welcoming, and you can tell they really care about keeping that hometown feel alive. Whether you've been coming here for years or it's your first time, you'll instantly get why this spot has lasted so long. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Crockett's is a plain fish fry restaurant. While you can eat in, they do a robust take out business. The seating and furnishing is plain. If eating in, your meal is freshly made so you order your meal and they deliver it to your table. So onto the fish. I've had both the fried porgy platter and the fried flounder sandwich. Both were very good. The sandwich, as typical in Southern fish fry, was fish on the platter with two pieces of bread to the side. Sort of make your own. The fish is breaded and fried but it isn't greasy. It's crispy without the frying overpowering the taste. First rate. Another winner is the potato salad. The portion is large, but it's simply along the best I've ever eaten. All in all, a great place to get fish fry. And potato salad. read more

Crockett's has been a Montclair staple and a family favorite since I was a kid. On a weekend trip back home, my family was craving catfish. After all these years, they still haven't lost their touch. Our order was ready in the stated time (which can sometimes be hit or miss). The fish tasted just as I always remembered, and the mac and cheese was just as delicious to pair with. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I've driven past here many times and didn't really notice them but last week I stopped in. I got takeout and it was GREAT! The jumbo shrimp and potato salad were EXCELLENT. The greens were good but a little bland. I will definitely stop here again for takeout any time I am in Montclair. Next time I will call ahead and get the same thing + the mac & cheese + the sweet potato pie!! read more

The fish is always hot and delicious!! Can't wait for Hackensack location to open up. read more

Family owned old school fish Resturant. I've eaten here for over a decade. They offer good service. Small dining area but very popular for take out. It's the best fried fish and shrimp in the area. Well seasoned and fried golden brown. Nice size portions. My favorite side is the potato salad. I don't mind that the prices are higher but the cash only is a problem. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Whiting - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

ordered takeout love this place but they don't deliver but the people are nice. Staff is friendly and the food is very delicious. We ordered a tray of catfish to go. It was delicious. read more

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Fish was great and sides were awesome as well. Biggest pet peeve is cash only in 2025 - nobody walks around with cash like that!!! Adding merchant services would make a huge difference but overall the food was solid. read more

I love, and I mean I LOVE, Crockett's. I've been twice with my husband and every time we are near Montclair, we look at each other and go "Crockett's??" The gentlemen who work there are always so friendly and patient. The atmosphere is old-school and comforting. Last time, we got the flounder dinner and the shrimp dinner. We opted for a potato salad each (sorry, I was NOT sharing), Mac n cheese and Cole slaw. Dinners come with two sides and bread if you ask for it. They also come with tartar sauce and there's hot sauce on the table. The shrimp and fish you must realize by now is good - very good. Well-seasoned, crispy, done right, cooked well. Last time, we got the white fish -- in my opinion, the flounder was better, but that could be a preference. The sides just make me so happy, though. The potato salad is delicious. Cole slaw is often a bit boring at restaurants but from here was creamy and sweet and reminiscent of everyone's favorite fast-food Cole slaw. The Mac n cheese is not fancy but it did it for me! We also got a side of hush puppies which I loved. To be honest, I'm not sure how good they are compared to other hush puppies because I love all hush puppies. I liked them and I'd get them again! Also, the assortment of drinks is fun. They have everything from those glass-bottle sodas (cream soda, root beer, etc.), to all kinds of bottled soda including grape and orange, and last time they had a bunch of Mystics. read more

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I ordered multiple items and I must say very disappointed Fish mid at best. Scallops wet and soggy and I was told by the owners wife said thats how its supposed to be. Shrimp were no as soggy but definitely soft. This is definitely somewhere i will not be visiting again. $ 68.18 wasted read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - The scallops - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

WOW!!! What a decline in food quality!!! This is so disappointing after over 20 years of patronage to report that the food now sucks. The restaurant was clean and the service was good but the main dish was not. Still cash only... My goodness!!!...Tiny, OVERPRICED store bought frozen fish. The catfish tasted like disinfectant, like the fish was cleaned in a chemical. It even had a light pink tinge. The only thing good is the fish batter and potato salad. So sad This has become far too common with everything. I completely understand that prices have gone up but the quality took a deep deep dive...terrible. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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First visit to Crockett's after passing by in car countless times over the years. Always meant to eventually try them but never did until now. The gentleman at the counter/in kitchen was lovely, welcoming and helpful (I think he was the owner?). Had a really good meal. My husband and I ended up ordering the same thing, a catfish dinner, which came with two sides - we each got the mac and cheese, and the collards. We also ordered hush puppies (one order to share). Everything very fresh. Very generous portions (of everything, not only the fish). Each dinner had three large pieces of crispy fried catfish, perfectly fried, very tasty. I think the coating was cornmeal-based. The hush puppies were crave-worthy - crispy, well-seasoned, delicious. I had to force myself to stop and leave room for everything else. I really liked the mac and cheese. It was very tasty and I will definitely order it again but I would love it if it were made with a sharper cheese. The greens were perfectly cooked so they were very tender (not limp, mushy, and water-logged, the way some people cook them). My husband finished everything he ordered and didn't feel like he still needed to eat something additional afterwards. I had to take some of my food home. So glad to finally eat there. read more

Alright alright!!! Let me get straight to it. The business is Black ownedMy whiting dinner was just freaking great. Not greasy, seasoned well and the portions were enough to feed 2. The greens were on point and hit them with a little hot sauce, just perfect. The mac and cheese was gooey and cheese better than some other places I've had all summer. My folk loved their crab cakes, said it was light and good. They tore through that potato salad and did not share any of it. The Yams were freaking delicious!! The staff was super nice and friendly, establishment was full of ppl picking up platters of food for their Friday night dinners. I believe they cater too. Most importantly it CASH ONLY!!! The have peach cobbler and sweet potato pie (which is a nice large 1/4 piece from a whole pie). read more

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Omg. It's crazy how hard it is to find really good fried fish, but THIS RIGHT HERE?! Oh yes, ma'am! I ordered a tray of fried whiting (15 pieces for $37) and since I called ahead, it was ready when I got there. I couldn't wait to get home so I tried a piece when I got to my car. Lawd hammercy! It was perfect, so perfect that I went back the next day for another tray; I also ordered the fried scallops the next day which were tasty. I didn't try any of the sides, so I cannot comment on those. One suggestion is that they should have larger size options for fish trays-- you need more than 15 pieces of fish for a party! Keep in mind that this place is CASH ONLY. read more

Great service and delicious food--I'll definitely be back! Only downsize is parking other than that grt place.

Unfortunately, this review is about the increased prices, not the food. This past Friday, I called in an order for two fish dinners, a whitting and porgies. Went picked it up, and the gentleman said $44.00. I asked what the cost of each dinner was? He said $21.99. I said, "No wonder there's parking outside and no line for pick up orders on a FRIDAY evening at 6:45PM." Previously, these same dinners cost $16.99. Normally, this place would be PACKED!! People have gone elsewhere for fried fish, I know I will. What happened? TARIFFS? read more

Excellent fish!!! Very courteous also! Potato salad is also delicious. Everything is fresh!!!!

The food was absolutely overpriced and maybe because we ordered a little later on in the night, but everything was cold and little to no flavour. read more

Best potato salad by far, more fish please portions are small. Friendly and courteous service you can always rely on. Inviting atmosphere.

My GF's friend recommended Crockett's and I'm glad she did. I got the 8-piece shrimp dinner platter (with fries and potato salad) and my GF got the flounder (3 giant pieces). Both were excellent. Had leftover fries and 1 piece of fish, and got an additional order of potato salad to go. We'll definitely be back for more. read more

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Sugar DOES NOT go in potato salad! Please stop adding it to your potato salad, use SWEET RELISH instead! I was there with one other customer and service was still SLOW! read more

Came here for dinner. Upon walking in we noticed a cash only sign on the door** . Luckily I had cash. My husband ordered the whiting fish with hush puppies and peach cobbler. The portion of fish was great for the value. My husband really enjoyed the taste but there was still some skin left on the fish. The hush puppies and peach cobbler were delish. Overall can't complain. Quick service and great value! read more

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Crockett's used to be my family's Friday night fried fish about 14 -16 years ago (probably longer than that). For whatever reason, we stopped. This past Sunday I had a hankering for fried catfish, but did not want to go through the trouble of making it myself. I was ecstatic when the idea popped in. I ordered a catfish, flounder and porgy sandwich. Each "sandwich" comes with 3 pieces of fish and the softest wheat bread. To round out my order, I added candied yams and collard greens. The smell, the taste and quality of each item I ordered stood the test of time. It will not be long before I come back. read more

So lets get into it. Ive eaten here on and off for 20 years. Its black owned which I love. Same faces , awesome. Now here is where it gets sticky. Their SERVICE is the same as 20 years ago. They have no online ordering system, no POS system in house to accurately tell u the cost of your meal. Its ridiculous because they are a cash business so you'd think they would want to tell u what you are about to spend. They don't even have multiple phone lines, its not uncommon to call and get a busy signal . Lets the discuss the almost non existent parking. Its totally normal to have to double park. No ma'am they are not on Ubereats, grubhub or any other service. Its as if they don't or cant GROW. The food is a depends on the item kinda deal. The fish is solid, no cornbread. Potato salad outstanding. The mac needs a full revamp, period. The crabcakes are horrible (cheap, claw meat, greasy) . Fried shrimp is tender sometimes and hard others. Also could you please offer new sauces . Real tartar sauce? A chili sauce maybe? Visit Jacks up the hill if u need inspiration. Its sad because seafood has so many possibilities. Hey crockets alot of folks like calamari these days, could you offer a fresh salad, would it kill you to offer combination plates (fish, shrimp, cornbread and a side)? Could we get some baked or grilled fish options? Word on the curb is ya'll live pretty well so you in essence are exposed to good food. Yet your business you don't invest in THE NEW . Its sad, hopefully someone will step in and help them out of 1998 culinary . I imagine both of the owners are close to retirement age though they don't look it. Maybe they JUST DO NOT CARE ‍ read more

Good. Pillar of the community. Bring cash. Feels like home. Good fried seafood and sides. Not as crowded as used to be precovid.

I haven't been to Crocketts since the pandemic and I have to say they didn't disappoint.. They fish is still delicious and fries to perfection.. Prices did go up but it's worth it bcuz it's always fresh not like some places the fish taste like it been sitting there.. I definitely recommend this place.. I pre-order to pick up because it might be a wait.. Service and ambiance is good.. no complaints on my end.. read more

First time at Crockett's! Heard great things about their fried fish and shrimp so my friend and I decided to check this spot out for dinner. The fish: spot on! The sides: not so great. I ordered the fried whiting dinner which came with two sides. I chose the candied yams and Mac and cheese while my friend chose the yams and collard greens. For each dinner, the prices were VERY reasonable, especially for the large portion sizes. The whiting was seasoned very well, had a nice crunch, and the fish itself wasn't dried out. The Mac and cheese was subpar. For me, I felt like it lacked flavor and tasted like cheese and noodles. I spiced it up with some salt, pepper, and hot sauce, but it still tasted a bit average. The collard greens was a miss for both of us. Definitely under seasoned. I believe it's important for collards to have a good amount of flavor, whether it's from cooking with your choice of meat or soaking in your choice of seasoning. As for the yams, they were okay. The portion sizes were great! The fried fish was top notch! Just wasn't a big fan of the sides. Next time, I will just order a fish sandwich. Rate: 3.5/5 Note: CASH only. read more

Crockett's Fish Fry - Fried fish dinner. Sides: yams, mac and cheese. - Seafood Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I have been going to Crockett's prior to the current owners taking over and that is over 30 years ago. The fried fish has been consistently good. Parking has been a challenge and take cash with you. Service is friendly and attentive but there will be a wait, especially on the weekends. Call in your order to minimize the wait time. read more

I've been going to Crockett's for years. As far as I'm concerned, they have the best fried fish that I've ever had. Crispy and light it can't be beat! I also enjoy the fried shrimp dinner. The greens are good and so is the mac & cheese, but the fish is where it's at! read more

Best catfish ever, served FAST... made my belly happy! I'm so lucky to live near this piece of heaven. Thank you!

Food Service and Ambiance Crockett's been around for the longest time and their longevity speaks for itself. Great food and great customer service keeps its loyal guests and customers happy and satisfied. Next time you are craving some fish delights check out Crockett's menu or website. Get a delicious delivery or pickup today. Why don't you. read more

This is my go to spot for good fried seafood. When in the area I typically stop by and get whiting, scallops and shrimp its so good.

They've got really good seafood. Nice size shrimp and perfectly battered fish, not overly battered but just right to get a nice crunch without the batter falling off and still being able to enjoy the fish. read more

I have been a LONG time supporter of Crockett's since they opened in the 90s. As a child my mother would take my brother and I there almost every weekend. Service was always exceptional, food was good and the mellow jazz music is the topper. Unfortunately, the last time I went was the complete opposite experience. Not knowing there was a change in prices I called in my order for myself and my family. Upon arrival the total I was given was completely unexpected. (Keep in mind I looked up the menu online prior to placing the order). I was embarrassed because she initially started to raise her voice higher to speak over me when I was attempting to show her the menu posted online. Now she's raising her voice and yelling to her son to bring up the menu on his phone (which he didn't). Now everyone in the restaurant is aware of the situation and her son is walking by nudging her to stop talking to me about the prices while she's laughing. Visiting Crockett's was always a nostalgic time for me especially given the fact that my brother passed. I was able to relive amazing memories by visiting. That experience has me thinking twice about ever going back. I have been a supporter of Crockett's through the generations (I remember when they're now adult children were babies) and it's sad that the owner knowing that could treat a long time customer is such a manner. Still don't know what was amusing to her about the situation, but it's extremely disheartening!!! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER EXPERIENCED!!! read more

I've driven passed this place to dine at foofier places but I'm glad Boo Boo agreed to try this place. We ordered the whiting and catfish dinner with potato salad, Mac and cheese, collard greens, and fries to share. Each dinner comes with 2 sides. We also shared the sweet potato pie. I thought everything came in to-go containers either you wanted to dine or take away but they actually bring the food out to if you decide to stay. The fish is great with hawt sauce and tawtaw sauce. Hahaha. I liked the sides. I liked that the potato salad had a lot of relish to cut the Mayo. The collard gave use something green to eat. The Mac and cheese was great. Way better than expected but boo boo didn't like like any of sides except for the fries. Street parking is plenty. It's not near the white part of Montclair. There's a unisex bathroom because Yelp keeps asking for that info. It's right across the freezer. Hahahah Food is great and very affordable. For all the food eat got we would have easily have to pay 3 times if it was served on white plates and parsley garnish 10 blocks down. But, we paid less than $40 for our 2 dinners, drinks, a dessert, and enough food for another meal. I'd give them 5 stars if they would add old Bay to the batter next time. And if they accept cc. ATM inside. read more

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I looked them up online, called and ordered the catfish dinner and a peach cobbler. I was quoted $21.99 for my meal although it says $18.99 online. I brought it to their attention and the gentleman worked with me since I was short by $2.00 as a result of the online pricing. I am a cashless person and this is a strictly cash business. I reminded him that their online pricing needs to be updated, so other people will come prepared. Now the food was ok. Let's get into it, the catfish was small but pretty good, they give 3 pcs, the yams were good but the lac and cheese was not good, kind of like Kraft Mac & cheese. Not a fan and the coloring is way off for real m&c. Oh lest I forget the peach cobbler came straight from the refrigerator. read more

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