This is a Capital District classic it has wonderful fish hot dogs hamburgers Etc a wonderful place that brings you back in time the food is excellent the service is superb and it's a great atmosphere you said that a picnic table and you are just in a different world enjoying the air it's sad that it had an accident where a car ran into the building but thank God nobody was hurt their clothes for renovation and I'm looking forward for that reopening read more

We had two fish fries, order of fries, and coleslaw. Plus a chicken tender dinner. The tartar sauce was basically just mayo. The chicken tenders were so overly processed. The three of us were disappointed with our dinner that cost $45 and left us all dissatisfied. I understand times are tough, but put out a product you're proud of. I know it's a summer standard. I just don't understand how at this point. read more

5/14/26 I was so excited to hear Genes Fish Fry opened yesterday but had a terrible experience today which has never been the case! The woman taking orders excessively talked to the couple in front of me telling them how she had worked there 34 years etc. she was pleasant but clearly could care less about taking my order. The young staff in the back clearly looked like they could use some help. My order of two fish fry's and a small order of fries and onion rings to go came filed on top of the fish instead of separate containers and just stapled with wax paper on top instead of a take home box. They said they were not ready for take out. Even though they advised the shake machine was ready it was not so no chocolate shakes. Do better Genes Fish Fry!!! I'm a long time customer and not going back. The fish fry's are smaller unfortunately and the fry's and onion rings tasted terrible. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Terrible onion rings piled on top of my fish fry! - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Gene's - A Classic Spot for Top-Notch Fried Fish Gene's is a seasonal roadside restaurant that's been frying up seafood since 1961. It's earned a place on New York State's Historic Business Preservation Registry, and rightly so--there's real nostalgic charm here. No frills, just tradition and consistently good food. Getting into the Parking Lot Is a Hassle The entrance is tricky. It's right off Route 4, but tucked into a chaotic intersection where traffic comes at you from every direction. I usually drive past it once or twice before finding the driveway. Once you make it in, you loop around to the back where there's plenty of parking. Exiting is via a separate driveway--confusing, but manageable. No Indoor Dining or Bathrooms Everything at Gene's is outdoors. Definitely check the weather before you go to Gene's. Most picnic tables are covered, but there are a few uncovered ones out front. There's no indoor seating, no restrooms, and no place to wash up. That's a real downside, especially if you're coming from a distance. Ordering Process You go inside to order and pay--they do take credit cards. Then you step back outside to wait for your name to be called. There's no indoor waiting area, so it is a little inconvenient but not a dealbreaker. The Food - Simple and Excellent The menu is focused and limited, but Gene's shines where it matters: the fried fish. It's the best I've had in the Capital District--fresh, flaky, and perfectly breaded. I always stick to the fish. The clams, scallops, and shrimp are decent, but not standout. They also offer burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, and chicken fingers, though I haven't tried those. Fries are well above average. Coleslaw is in the KFC style, which I like. The macaroni salad is forgettable, so I skip it. Stick with the slaw. Prices That are Fantastic You can get a great seafood dinner for under $20, which is a steal. For the quality of fish you're getting, it's worth every penny. Bottom Line Gene's is my go-to for fried fish, even if it's a 30-minute drive. The entrance is a pain, there's no bathroom, and the sides aren't memorable--but the fish is outstanding, and that's what counts. If you're after authentic, old-school fried seafood, Gene's delivers. read more

We were happy to stumble upon this great local venue! Outside under Canape roof dining. Nice crispy fried haddock and fries. Tasty chili sauce. A very cool find in Rensselaer New York. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Seafood platter, haddock and chips. - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

A staple in the East Greenbush, Rensselaer and Troy area. Over the years there have been some small changes but one thing that has never changed is the quality of food. The fish fry is crispy and delicious! The French fries have good flavor. The process to order has become easier and easier over the years. The seating is outside over looking the Capitol of NY. There is lawn seating and an area under cover. There is also plenty of parking in back. The service is quick and friendly. This is a seasonal location, so when it does open, for the locals, it a must. They have more than FISH fries. They have Clam rolls, burgers and more. read more

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Went to genes for lunch. Ordered 2 sandwiches and a large O ring. Girl at the window read it back to me and I watched her write it down. When my wife picked up the order it had a large fri. She questioned this and the boy. Poking and serving food insisted the slip said fries no O rings. I went back in and checked with the girl taking orders and she remembered my ask for o rings. I asked to see the slip and after quite a bit if scurrying around it was no where to be found. Also the fish serving, although tasty, has downsized significantly. Genes used to be a good place for a quick, plentiful and tasty lunch. I would suggest folks avoid it. read more

I'm a union electrician and I worked with Gene on a few jobs . He was a lineman . I'll be stopping by for a fish fry soon . I live in north adams, MA. but that won't stop me visiting Gene's fish fry read more

This is a time honored family owned summer snack shack. People have looked forward to this summer treat for decades with the fish fry and milkshakes. During this pandemic safety precautions have been taken staff wear masks and hand Sani is available and signs with instructions are present. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. My sister was in town so we stopped for a bite. The fish fries are consistently good I had the clam roll which was plentiful. I would choose the onion rings over the french fries, and the coleslaw was decent. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - clam roll and Side of slaw - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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What happened, bro? This food used to be good. Taste buds were suffering. Haddock-bland.. fries... old.... Tarter... nasty blob of Mayo. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars the cole slaw and lemonade were okay. It's a shame because they deliver great customer service. Oh well... maybe get a better cook or revise your recipe. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Allegedly tarter sauce. You tell me. Mayo or tarter? Tasted like Mayo with a molecule of relish. - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

One of the best fish frys I've had in a long time. The fish is thin and very crisp. They use haddock rather than cod like most places which also makes a difference. I wanted to try a little of everything so I ordered the mixed seafood dinner which is your standard combo of shrimp, clams, scallops, fish, fries, and mac salad or cole slaw. Nothing else stood out as exceptional besides the fish. In fact, the scallops were the smallest I think I've ever seen. Prices are very reasonable but don't forget to bring cash since cards are not accepted. read more

It was OK, that batter wasn't greasy and seemed pretty light. I had the seafood platter but it was tough to figure out what was what (except for the fish), I'm guessing they were clam strips in there with shrimp and maybe scallops but I'm just guessing as it the scallops and shrimp were so small they seemed mostly batter and the clam strips could have been squid or rubber bands for all the taste they had. Overall it was unique, a nice place to have an outdoor meal, maybe some other option would be better next time, just OK. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Side entrance with outdoor seating - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Five stars for a seasonal inland roadside fish fry shack seems a little high, doesn't it? Perhaps. But this is my favorite of all the fish fry places in the region. However, one of the things I like most about the place is the same thing that drives a bunch of people away. And that's their non-traditional takes on the traditional sauces. At Gene's tartar sauce isn't a gloppy mess of mayonnaise mixed with relish. It's actually thinned down to more of a sauce consistency and is delightfully tangy. At some places chili sauce tastes like little more than relish stirred into ketchup. Not here. But I'm still team cocktail sauce all the way. Although this is the most tempting tartar I've ever tried. Whatever I order always gets a little dab of the stuff. Of course, you'll have to wait until May like the rest of us to get another taste from Gene's. They are closed for the season. And that's okay. The longing will just make it that much better. And it's good to support the place across the street during the winter months, because it's only at Gene's that deep fried fish in cheap hot dog buns is a warm weather affair. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - You'll have to wait until May for the better clam strips in East Greenbush. - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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This seasonal fish fry place is an East Greenbush institution for 48 years and has stood the test of time with all of the development going up around the area, at Route 4 and Third Ave Ext. Gene's Fish Fry was named after it's founder Gene Halsey. Gene's son Mark (now the current owner) was in my Scout Troop (Defreestville) back in the day. I can remember having Gene's BBQ chicken each year on family nights at the local Scout camp in Poestenkill, which was always very good and tasty, a very nice treat and many times better tasting than the slop served at the Dining Hall! The menu offers haddock fish frys, fried seafood (shrimp, clams, scallops, haddock), hot dogs, burgers, chicken, fries, rings, macaroni salad, cole slaw, shakes, & beverages (Coke cans & bottles, milk, coffee). The prices are reasonable with each item/dinner under $10. The Mixed Seafood Dinner is $8.75 plus tax (2008 price). You order your food at the inside takeout windows. The place has no indoor seating, but there's covered picnic table seating outside next to the DOT facility. I try and make out to Gene's each year! The fish frys are decent with the skin of the haddock left on and lightly breaded and fried. I also enjoy the fried scallops too! The one way access is kind of funky with the one way entrance next to Gene's to the parking lot in back. The exit driveway wraps around the back of Mobil On The Run. HOURS: Mondays-Saturdays 11AM-9PM, closed on Sundays read more

Gene's Fish Fry - a view of the outside of the restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Along with the Off Short Pier fish restaurant across the street, Genes is a definite must if you have an urge for fried fish. I highly recommend the mixed seafood dinner. Some people have complained that the portions are too small. Well not this meal. You get fried clams, shrimp, scallops and haddock. Along with fries and coleslaw. I was definitely full after this meal and it was delicious. It hit the spot. Genes has been in business for a very long time. They are opened seasonally, and close labor day weekend. They do have burgers, chicken tenders etc. I never had those, but I noticed the burgers are sliders. If you are a hardy eater, just order a few. Genes also has shakes and ice cream. read more

Great food! My family and I enjoyed their platter with fish, shrimp, scallops, etc. Worth checking out.

Drove by yesterday and saw the open sign, which is a sign that summers almost here. Gene's opening, drive-in movie theatres opening, and soft serve ice cream stands - start-up the summer checklist. Will be popping in for fish fry and a rootbeer float. Been going to Gene's since I was a wee lad thanks to my dad who always brought us here. I was a picky kid too and mainly ate their chicken sandwiches and fries. The chicken sandwich was of my favorites as a kid. Their fish fries are my personal favorite in the area over Ted's, Offshore and the other competitors. The place really does stand the test of time, especially now that they're surrounded by big box stores and fast food chains. It's nice to see this place squeezed in the middle of all that nonsense keeping family-owned small businesses alive one tartar covered clam roll at a time. Simple menu from a fine dive where their either Open or Gone Fishin'. read more

Quick Look: Grew up in East Greenbush (EG) and summer means Gene's Fish Fry!! In Depth Review: No longer live in the area and reside in Las Vegas, NV. Believe it or not but we do not have one amazing fish-fry place like Gene's in this whole city. Fish Fry places are not big on the West Coast. I always try to go to Gene's when I visit family and friends in the Capital Region. It's one thing that never changes and holds up after all these years. It's the same fish-fry's and onion rings that I and so many grew up eating. May have a Rensselaer mailing address but Gene's sits in the town of East Greenbush, and us EG folks proudly claim it as our own! Great story, when I was a youngster I played Little League in East Greenbush and for many years I was fortunate enough to play on a team that was sponsored by Gene's Fish Fry. We always had a post game team party at Gene's on the weekends. We were the luckiest kids in town! Stopped by Gene's on a cold and damp evening this past Thursday, June 12th 2014. Despite the weather the place was full for dinner and we were able to sit outside and enjoy these amazing fish-fry's. They were delicious and still the best fish-fry's on the planet. Enjoyed watching other families indulge on Gene's. The kids still love it like my sister and I did growing up. Side note: Gene's still uses the more expensive / better tasting Haddock and has not switched to the cheaper Cod fish that many similar places in the area are using. Gene's Fish Fry on Route 4 in EG - Same building, same amazing food and same good vibes. Felt like I was that little kid celebrating with his team after a Little League game in the early 80's. Amazing how eating one fish fry made me feel like the luckiest kid in the whole town, again. DON'T CHANGE ONE THING GENE'S FISH FRY!!! read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Gene's Fish Fry's w/ Tarter Sauce, side of Onion Rings / Fries (tasted amazing) - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Gene's is an above average restaurant that serves fish fries, burgers, and much more. The fish fries are terrible, they have little coating and taste "fishy". The hamburgers are good, they are fresh and have good flavor. The French fries are solid. They are crispy and light. The fried clams are also good, but I have had better. The problem is this place is only open 2 months a year and it takes a long time to get your food. Overall, Gene's has solid food, expect the fish fries. read more

Just ok. Ted's fish fry is much better. The food was much better in the past. Could've missed this one. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - a cash machine and menus - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Can I use this space to gush? It's taken me well over a year to write this review. Consider it a necessity, since I only had Gene's once in 2010 before they closed for the season. That's the tragedy of it all. GENE'S IS CLOSED FOR MOST OF THE YEAR. Maybe that makes it better, and considering my love for Bob & Ron's, I can certainly deal with a time of year set aside for Gene's. Gene's was my go to fish fry establishment before leaving the area. The fish fry was always (really, I mean ALWAYS) cooked properly. No rubbery fish. No greasy exterior. I've had lackluster fish from Bob & Ron's and from Ted's. Gene's flakey fish and cornmeal based crust never disappoints. As for toppings, leave the chili sauce alone and slather on some of their homemade tartar sauce. It's, you know, tart, which is a surprisingly rare quality found in tarter sauce these days. So yeah, East Greenbush sucks, but Gene's is an institution worth the visit. read more

Divey place for really great seafood. Very fresh and family friendly. Absolutely awesome! Only problem is that it is a cash only place, but there is an ATM on premises. read more

Oh, how we love this place. The fish is yummy, the burgers are yummy, the ice cream is yummy... and it's solar powered! How cool is that? Plus you get to throw french fry crumbs to the little birdies, who by the end of the season aren't so little anymore. read more

I was in from out of town. I tried Gene's based on Yelp reviews. Thanks for the recommendation, locals. The food was great! Next time I'm in town, hopefully it's in season -- I will definitely be back! read more

My family and neighbors in East Greenbush look forward each spring to the opening of Gene's. It is usually the cause for texting "Gene's is open!!!" First and most importantly, the food is fun and great. I have never had a bad fish fry at Gene's. The french fries are good. The cole slaw is great. The condiments are terrific. The quality is consistently high. Next, the atmosphere is fun. It feels like a place at the beach right here in town. One of the best places to see a beautiful sunset in the Capital district. Often we run into friends and neighbors. The staff is friendly and you feel like you are helping some kids get through college. We probably eat at Gene's at least once a week. When you are too tired to cook it is a no brainer to head to Gene's George Kash read more

Another day...Another wrong diet choice. I have this weakness for fried foods. Just the smell alone is enough to drive me off my diet. I always go by this place on my trip home after work, and have been good and driving by it. Yesterday, I stopped here based on the great smell and the great reviews. I don't have a lot of experience with fish frys, but I'll give it a shot based on my limited experience. I got fish fry, clam boat and onion rings. First, the fish fry itself. I like fish. When you fry it? Even better. This fish wasn't as big as I expected. I have experience with another local place who's fish frys are typically twice the size of the bun. I subtract a bit for this, but the price was linear with the size. It was fresh and tender, and it was fried to perfection. The breading was extremely good. Cannot subtract for any of this. It was good! The clams. Pretty easy to mess these up if you don't do it right. Again, they were fried just right. The breading was good. Clams were fresh and typical strips. I enjoyed these also. Nothing over the top spectacular. But good. The onion rings. VERY good. Fresh onions slices thick. Breaded very well. Again, fried perfectly. These I will go back for again. They were that good. Best part about all this is you can tell the oil was fresh. I didn't get any of the cross favors and dark frying of the breading from old oil. It's always been a turn off when I can taste fish when I am eating onion rings, for example. You get none of that here. Bottom line? I'll go here for my fish frys from now on. Best I have had in the area thus far. read more

Locally owned and they have the best damn fish fries, period! The fish is always fresh, cooked perfectly, and never greasy. The fish fried are much, much tastier than across the street at Off Shore Pier. They also have pretty good fries, macaroni salad and coleslaw, and their fried dinners are pretty good too. They also have hamburgers for those who don't care for the seafood. They now serve ice cream and shakes as well. They are only open in the summer and I am always happy when they are back in business! read more

I try to take advantage of this place a lot while it's open between Memorial Day and sometime around Labor Day. That is a seriously limited window. That and it's lack of credit card acceptance are the reasons I won't give it five stars. I like everything else about it though. Great, inexpensive little burgers, fish fry, clam rolls, and daily specials, plus tons of covered outdoor seating, plus picnic tables in the sun.. it has something for everyone (unless you're vegan). read more

I stumbled upon this place by accident and experienced an amazing Haddock Dinner.! The haddock was nice and fresh the fries where nice and crisp and the coleslaw was very refreshing. Now this place is not for the fancy its a place for a true foodie who appreciates good flavors. read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Haddock Fish Dinner - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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As someone who grew up in Arizona, the idea of seasonal, summer-only businesses is novel to me. I love the idea of having to get in all my visits in a limited time span. It makes each trip more urgent and special, in my mind. Sitting outside on the Gene's patio is a perfect example of this. It's a fun atmosphere, and the fish fry was good. I love all the condiment options, especially the relish and the hard to describe chili sauce. The clams in my clam roll were pretty chewy - I think they are clam strips, not clam bellies. I am eager to go back and try the scallop roll! read more

Gene's Fish Fry - Fish fry and Clam Roll on a beautiful summer day! - Seafood Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Usually a highly rated place to get fish & etc.... Yesterday was a huge disappointment...seafood platter was terrible..over fried in the oil...scallops were cut up into a half size of a bay scallop...the popcorn shrimp were over fried too..clams were terrible...haddock was lousy... read more

"Should have went to Off Shore Pier instead." I decided to give Gene's a try instead of Off Shore Pier (it's right across the street). The selection at Gene's is far smaller. They only have shrimp, scallops, haddock, and clam strips. I got the mixed seafood dinner so that I could try a little bit of everything. The shrimp and the scallops were the worst part of the meal. The shrimp was that tiny, pre-frozen, popcorn shrimp that anyone can buy from a grocery store. Terrible. The scallops were very small, overly breaded, and way too over-cooked. Each scallop was about 20% scallop and 80% breading. These tasted like nothing but the breading they were fried in. The clam strips and fries were standard. Pretty much the same clams or fries you could order from anywhere. They were good, but nothing special. The fish (haddock) was the only really good part of the meal. It was nice and thick with good flavor. I saw a lot of other customers getting simple fish sandwiches made of that same fish. That is probably a safe bet. Last thing I have to mention is the price. Mixed Seafood Dinner, Chicken Strips, and two (really really small) chocolate shakes was $30. That's a little steep. Head to Off Shore Pier across the street instead for a way bigger selection and bigger portion sizes. read more

A trip to the Albany area isn't complete without a trip to Gene's Fish Fry. I'm from Rhode Island but I love the hot sauce and tartar sauce combo for the fish fry. The milkshakes are also so tasty. read more

We drove by Gene's the other day and both said "we have to go there for a fish fry sometime this summer". Well, "sometime this summer" came pretty quickly...on a beautiful Saturday evening. The outdoor seating was easy and ample, however I assume it gets pretty crowded earlier in the evening. There were three of us so we ordered a bunch of stuff and shared. We had the clam basket, the shrimp basket, and chicken fingers along with fries and onion rings. After a brief wait, we were served piping hot food on a cafeteria tray. The shrimp was good, the clams (my favorite as a kid) were really good...not rubbery or chewy at all. I didn't have the chicken, but my dinner companions agreed that they were tasty. I'm a BIG fan of onion rings, and these did not disappoint. They were lightly breaded, fried perfectly, and delicious. The onion wasn't mushy or hard...but cooked very well. The crowd was steady while we were there and it appeared to be mostly locals. If you find yourself on Rte 4 in Rensselaer and are looking for a good fish fry, you must stop by Gene's. Beware...they are only open in the summer.(I think they opened a week or two ago.) so don't wait too long. They don't take credit/debit cards but do have an ATM on site it you forget to bring some cash with you. read more

I absolutely love this place. I'd give it a 5 star, but I'll admit that the only thing I really get is the fish fry and onion rings...and the rings are so-so, but the fry is tops. It's a no frills establishment. Order at the window, apply your own condiments, eat at a picnic table outside. Just a laid-back, fun, delicious little meal. One more half-point against them is that the traffic right out front can get noisy as you are right on top of Route 4, but that's not their fault since they've been there since Route 4 was far far less crowded. Still, I love the place and I've been coming here since I was a little kid with my family and friends. It's not summer without Gene's. read more

This is by far my favorite restaurant to eat. The service is amazing, the food is spectacular, and when I told my family that we're going there, they scream with joy. I cannot say enough great things about this place. If you're looking for a good fish fry, grilled cheese, burger, etc. you need to go here. read more

Fish fry, large onion rings and a chocolate shake. $14 on a Saturday evening. Two orders ahead of me and waited 10 minutes for it to come up, should have been 3-5 at best. Appears to be all teenagers running the show, from what I saw. Small cramped order area, I cant imagine the hell it must be in here when this place is busy. You do get a number for your order and maybe there is some sort of line that gets eatablished when its busy, but I dont see it. Fish was Haddock, fresh, average size, short but thick. Fried to a perfect golden brown. Bun it was on was sized correctly, not your usual freihoffer roll you see around, steamed perfectly from the fish, not a drop of oil on it. Chili sauce is out of a can but seems there is something added to it. Had a nice spice to it. Onion rings were a disappointment. Seemed to be nothing more than sysco quality at best. I was expecting hand dipped from a place like this, more along the lines of Bob n rons or teds. Shake was just a typical sort serve shake. Menu is pricey but seems to have something on it for everyone for those who pass on the fish but it is definitely their strong suit. read more

I would give more stars for just the fish and slaw that I ate! Unfortunately I didn't count the cash I was handed back from the girl. I ordered an 8 dollar meal, I gave her a 20 and I was given two 1 dollar bills and some change! So a 17 dollar dinner for a fish fry and slaw. Kind of dissatisfied but it is my own fault! They can have the nine dollars as an extra tip and I will never return. They only take cash, so if you eat here make sure you count your money before leaving the order window. Food was good though, service is sub par.... read more

A-maz-ing!! The fish is moist and perfect and is not "fishy" or mushy at all! Even my kids love it. The portions are huge. Heads up- they only take cash, but they do have an ATM. read more

Ha! This place is a riot. I was killing time waiting for a train to roll in to the nearby station. I was just looking for a quick bite, nothing too substantial. I take a look at the menu, it's pretty cheap. I'm surprised. I go with a hot dog, fries and a soda. I sit at one of the many open picnic tables waiting for my number to be called, a coupl'a gals in their mid sixties talking about retirement and the teacher they had in 5th grade, pretty funny stuff. The only other couple there is finishing up. I watch as he chucks the rest of his fries to feed the plethora of finches and chickadees dancing around the tables. My number gets called. The skinniest fried hot dog I've ever seen, the fries half in the boat, half strewn around the tray. I head over to the condiment station and who knows what's landed in the bins and what eggs they've laid in there. I forgo the condiments and take the dog and fries unadorned. What can you say about a pencil thin fried hot dog? It was just that. The fries? Piping hot but typical for a road side establishment. The coke? Ice cold and refreshing. I find it difficult to choke down the rest of the fries and follow suit with dude that just left. Fill your bellies chickadees, I'm out! $7.00 for some crappy food, but the ladies provided me with some good stories via eves dropping, and I got to feed the wildlife. I kinda liked the experience but won't be back. read more