The owners of Union House Bar & Restaurant in Parma know a good thing when they see one. When Michelle Bigadza and Kaz (David Kaszian) took ownership of the neighborhood bar at the beginning of 2019, the original owners, Debby and Doug Henderson, had been running its Friday night fish fries for nearly 17 years, inspiring them to keep up with the tradition.
“They didn’t want to just delegate it to Lent,” Bigadza says of the original owners. “We feel like a family here, and you serve your family comfort food.”The fish fry dinner ($11.95) has stayed true to its origins using a secret recipe passed down from the original owners, with a plate of hand-battered North Atlantic cod served with french fries and coleslaw. “The fish is so light — but there’s a lot food on that plate,” says Bigadza. Takeout and delivery are also available.
Just want the fish? Order a half-meal ($8), which still costs less than a single piece of fish ($9) — a decision that speaks to the establishment’s goal to leave its regulars fully satisfied. There’s shrimp and crabcakes too, alongside pierogies ($1 each), hand-rolled and stuffed with potatoes and cheese, sauerkraut, and sweet cheese by grandmotherly cooks who’ve all worked there for more than 10 years and are passing down the tradition to newer employees as well.
“We want to cater to people that want home-cooked meals,” says Bigadza. “It’s a really 'our house is your house' type of feeling.” Every Wednesday and Friday year-round 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 2713 Brookpark Road, Parma, 216-635-0809, unionhouseonline.com
