Wow! I can't believe this place is still around and looks exactly the same. Loved this place! It was a regular about 50 years ago on dates. Moved away to California and now I'm back and will definitely make it a regular again. read more

A quick stop for lunch at Fat Man's , always quick service. Perch and fries were on point, very good. As far as Ambiance, it is what it is. read more

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Food was pretty good We got smelt, perch, fries and onion rings. All was pretty good for the price. Will recommend. Nice service. Nothing special, but doesn't mean it doesn't have decent food. Will go back. read more

Great fish. Be nice if they cleaned the place up some. Doesn't feel totally safe location. read more

Jerry Springer Level Service Mr. Hat on backwards man at about 55 years old doesn't seem to understand how chronological order works. While my wife and I order at the register, he's leaving his work station to take and prepare orders from guests that entered the building after us. So many that it took us exactly 27 minutes from the point of payment to receiving the order. Check this out, my boy. I get that it hurts your ego that in several decades of being an adult, you managed to work your way up to deep dry cook on the Saturday shift. Trying to overcompensate for that by creating your own standard service won't improve your material conditions. You're not too old to develop a marketable skill, improve your place in society and bring that self esteem up a notch. But this??? This Ain't It, Chief. read more

Fat Man's Fish Fry - Overcooked thigh. - Seafood Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Love this place! My fav childhood place to eat and it still tastes just as good as it did back then!

I used to love coming here as a kid. When I moved back to the area, I had to get some! The quality and taste is not what it used to be. The place has not changed a bit! It looks exactly the same! Fish 'N Chip shop type feel. The service was fine. I felt the prices were high for the quality. I used to love their fried perch and would get an order of the crinkle fries, but it wasn't the same. My fish was kind of boney, and their tartar sauce tastes different as well. read more

Great selection of seafood, with different breadings depending on what type. Everything I got was fried perfectly!

Great food and efficient service. Make sure to stop by and grab a taste of Grand Rapids history. read more

Fat Man's Fish Fry - the front of the restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Not good like they use to be. Catfish nuggets look like chicken strips I wanted my money back but didn't feel like driving back

Delicious Fish Fry!!! Have ordered many times and it is always good!! Nice big crispy piece of fish!!

For 50 years since I was kid going there , the person taking orders on 5/28 was so rude for the first time I said I won't be back and to top it off I live in Detroit area and have been making trip just for Fat Man's for years read more

It is the worst fish I can imagine. I was shocked. I spent $30+ on catfish steaks and filets. It was garbage. Beware!

This is not fancy for anyone complaining about decor. But the food is pretty good, its made to order there was a selection of raw fish im assuming to buy? Not entirely sure. We ordered catfish nuggets and fries for the kiddos which they enjoyed. My husband ordered a pound of the mahi mahi which was good as well. Its your average fish fry. They do offer seasonings you may add to your food which is nice. Staff was friendly. We would come back of we were in search of fried fish. read more

Fat Man's Fish Fry - Catfish nuggets - Seafood Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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This is the second place I visited upon moving to Grand Rapids 20 years ago. It's just as good now as it's ever been. I'm still partial to the chicken livers. Simply the best. read more

I have been going to Fat Mans since the 70'S. So I know what to expect. However, With the Corona-19 virus going on I am a bit concerned about visiting the local restaurants. However, I strive to order from them to keep them going. This said, I went to Fat Man's on 5-23-20 to get some take out. The sign on their door stated the policy on occupancy: "Everyone must wear a mask" . . . "No more than 5 people can be in the building" . . . " Please protect your friends and our workers". OK... I may not have the wording exact, but it is very close. However, none of this was enforced. I wore a mask and attempted to keep a 6' distance from everyone else. This proved impossible. There were 8 customers in the building with only 5 wearing masks. There were 6 employees. Of the 6 Employees, I have to say that they were wearing masks, but not a single one of them wore them over their nose and mouth. Everyone of them, to a person, had the masks dangling from their ears or conveniently tucked under their chins. There wasn't any disinfectant or cleaning policies visible. The fish I ordered was up and ready for me rather quickly, which is to say it was very under cooked. The woman who had to collect my money, with her mask dangling from her ear, made some under the breathe comment when I asked for some "garlic vinegar" to go. I felt that I was annoying her with my simple request. I try to keep local restaurants going by visiting and spending money there. However, I am going to check this one off. If they do not want to try to keep their customers safe, I do not want to continue visiting them. read more

Ive been wanting to go hereNdor ages and tonight was the night. Very unimpressed. French fries were soggy. Clam strips overcooked, chicken wings were just not good. We got the tilapia and lake percent and nothing waaa labLed so we had no idea what was what. There were also no sauces, tarter, ketchup. Should have went to subway for a quarter of the price read more

Wings - full size - three parts. Delicious and a 1/2 lb of deep fried mushrooms. I have been back and will continue to go back.

One of my favorite places to go to. It's simple and a classic. The guys are super nice and helpful and the fish is good and a great price. Highly recommend. read more

Tried this place for the first time in years. It was terrible. The steak fries were good but the fish was garbage. Don't know if the the oil was too old or the fish was too old but it was gross. This place hadn't been good in years, but it had been years since I tried it and it was still junk. Only gave it one star because that was the lowest score. Threw it in the trash and wasn't gonna give them another chance to get it right because there is no way they should've tried to sell the crap they gave me. read more

Do you like fried Lake Perch made to order that melts in your mouth? Fat Man's Fish Fry is worth the road trip. It's take-out only and they sell beer and cheap wine. It looks kind of like 1/2 convenient store, 1/2 bakery because they have the breaded fish in a cooler like you'd see pasteries at a bakery. The fish selection is unprecidented and it's been there for 50 years. So that's saying something! Alligator, Halibut, Grouper, Walleye, Salmon, you name it! Google it and click on the "campusfood" link for a menu. read more

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I wanted to love this place with all my heart; the retro vibe, the local history, delicious fried food - perfection, right? It was pretty good, but I made the mistake of saying "yes" to salt and pepper on my chicken; it was way, way too salty. The chicken breasts were decent and were even pretty juicy inside, but the wings were so salty (they have less inside chicken to balance it out I suppose). my wife couldn't even finish hers. We also got the beer battered shrimp, which were totally delicious and maybe a touch overcooked, and mushrooms, which were also great. Maybe the sea food is the way to go here, since that's their name and claim to fame? Also worth noting: nothing here comes with sauces, so if you want ranch for your shrooms or cocktail sauce for your shrimp, specify that. All in all, I would say this place is worth trying again; I'd just ask them to hold the salt. read more

Not what is used to be. The food sucks now and the service is horrible I remember when this place was good and it had competent workers and a competent owner. #not my fat mans read more

We were SO disappointed in our fish order today. We ordered Mahi-Mahi and Halibut. Both were so over cooked it was hardly edible. They weren't very busy...what a waste of money. read more

This is our restaurant of choice when it comes to eating fried food. I personally am a chicken person but my boyfriend loves their fish and gets it with everything on it. I have tasted it and it's quite delicious, I'm just not a fish person. I am giving them 4 stars because I am channeling him for this review and I believe he would give it 5 stars, I would give it 3 so 4 is the average. I would give it 4 if I liked fish, I just don't. If you like fish, you can't go wrong here. read more

This place has been around forever which usually means they have something going on. Not in this case. I had not been in for over 20 years and was feeling retro. Ordered a fried chicken meal. Very dark chicken and fries obviously from old fat. WAY overcooked as well. But the good news was the high price. Bypass this place fast. read more

Was there recently. Found the prices too high for me. Place was not clean. Service was not good. I walked out without ordering. I had better experience at The Fishery on Byron Center Rd. They need to lower their prices, clean the place up and not ignore people. read more

I was so looking forward to this place - had really hoped for some amazing fried fish which seems hard to find in Grand Rapids. The fish was just okay. But the fries were super delish! read more

Fat Man's Fish Fry - Idk why these were so good, but they were!! - Seafood Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Gizzards asked cooked hard but very chewy. Fish was great. Future I would try something else but fried perch is a something I will try again. read more

All I can say is .... OH MY GOD!!!!! Absolute perfection is what comes from this tiny little restaurant! I found them on Groupon and am thrilled! We tried a lot of different stuff. Crab cakes... yummmmm! Cat fish ... ohhhh yeah! Clams...deliciously huge! Next time... probably tomorrow.... scallops and blue gill ... maybe WHITING and perch! read more

This place is great! It was super busy being a Friday during lent. We got the scrod meal with fries and potato salad and a pop for under 10.00! Lots of options and good size portions...I had leftovers. Also had the califlower and tried the hush puppies and both were great. The flow from ordering to getting food was slightly disorganized but it was so busy! The food was delicious and the staff so nice! There were 2 issues with orders while we were there but they were quickly resolved. We will be back! read more

Everything from perch to alligator (in season) and guess what ??? Not from China Thankyou fatman Been going here 30 years!! Great mascot tshirt too! read more

As mentioned on other reviews, something has changed. I used to love this place and ate there tonight for first time in many years. Never again, food not that good and very expensive. read more

Fatman's is the best place in the Grand Rapids area for fried fish. The owner is a hoot too so make sure you strike up a converstion with him while you wait for your order. read more

I grew up on this place so I might be somewhat biased but the fish here is great, fried well and fresh. If you call and order to pick up you can ask them to put whatever you want on the fish, like vinegar, hot sauce, garlic, etc. which is nice. The fries are just ok to me. read more

The worst Fish Fry Restaurant in Michigan. There restaurant fish is fried in old grease saved for one month. The restaurant freezer where the fish is located is nasty looking. The restaurant smells so smokey and greasy. You will see the smoke coming out the same door when you walk in. When you order and take your fish home the fish has soaked all the grease. So you eating greasy fish. Plus they don't scale the scales off the perch fish. Catfish not clean they frie it with the guts still stuck to it they cover it with coating and fry. My advise is not support them unless you just like eating from garbage. read more

The food was expensive. And for $20.00 I could have had so much more at Long John Silvers. The quality was ok, but I just had cod and shrimp. read more

The food is poor quality. Service is poor. Prices are high for what you get. Dirty place. Poor value. Not going back.

Great fish, good cauliflower and fair prices. The staff was friendly and the order was cooked fast.

Serviceable take out sea food. In it's heyday Fat Man's was THE place to go for fried fish on the south side of town. The past few years there had been a slide downhill until recently. Fat Man's is back! Delicious fried fish with daily specials and a small eat-in area. Open late on weekends. I usually order ocean perch and deep fried cauliflower. The breading on the perch is perfect, light and tasty. Seasonings available on request. The only thing I didn't care for was the cod. Frozen filets from the freezer section instead if fresh fish. read more