Fitzgerald’s Genoa Junction

No doubt this place should be a Wisconsin staple. Just over the boarder, to holy cow, orgasmic home style fish boil.
Yes, fish boil. Ok it sounds a bit gross but when you think about it. Would you rather have fried or boiled food. It’s seems heather right. Well I’m sure it is, however this might not be the place to look for slimming down your waste line. The all you can eat fish, chicken or ribs is the first tell tale sign.
Up next would be the whole potatoes and onions served with ladles and ladles of melted butter. Yes. That’s right butter all over your fish, potatoes and onion pearls. Seconds anyone no problem, save the ticket you get when you purchase your meal with CASH, this old fashioned gem has not changed in the 20 years I have been going there.
Sure it’s unique, sure it’s old fashioned, it’s definitely an experience. My favorite part is, my goodness the fish is good. Nothing fancy just simple ingredients performing wonderfully. You be he judge, must be ware the service is not amazing nor is the experience in getting an alcoholic drink but come on go to a bar to get a drink and go here to get down right good eatins.

Amend that to Just– OK. I had the fish boil which was ample food but high priced unless you glut. My partner had the chicken which had some red sauce on it and was grocery store hot food case in quality. We hadn’t realized those were the only options along with ribs. We thought $ 14.00 was expensive for this meal until they charged $.75 cents for a very small glass of ice with ice tea. No refills, it cost another $.75 for another 10 sips. Water and coffee were included with the meal along with a 2″ square of apple something.
I can’t help but think they wrote most of the other reviews because it definitely isn’t that good although it seems popular with the older folks in town.
We will not return.

Wow amazing food. The style they have is kinda going to my grandma’s house. Disappointed that they didn’t have a credit card machine or even square to process payments. Overall a great experience even though it seemed like they were a little stingy with the food, I guess I can understand why they do it. Been here many times, I just prepare mentally for it and enjoy the food :)

Fitzgerald Genoa Junction is a different experience for me and I cannot say any negative comments about it. I expected cod fish boiled in water with onions and potatoes, BBQ chicken and ribs and so that’s what we got. These are the things that made me want to try this place. I wanted my kids to try something else as well so we drove to Genoa City, WI. The place looks like an old, freshly painted house. It is located in a residential area, in the middle of a quiet town with not a lot (or none at all) of establishments around.
They do not accept reservations so it is a good idea to get there as soon as it opens (5pm) because there was already a line at exactly 5pm when the doors opened. They charge $ 12, for AYCE fish…$ 14 for AYCE fish & chicken …$ 18 for AYCE fish, chicken & ribs. They only accept cash although there is an ATM machine right behind the lady at the cash register. There is a dining area at the ground floor as well as the second floor. Both floors have a buffet table set up. On warmer weather, they have a fairly big open yard space for dining as well. Customers basically line up at the buffet table and once you give your ticket stub to the server, he/​she will put good portion of fish (you have a choice to put melted butter on it), and pieces of chicken and rib (one of each), sides of potato, onion, and coleslaw. The fish is very satisfying, like what I’ve said, this is different for me because I usually eat fish cooked and seasoned differently, but the fish boil was very filling. The ribs had the crunch on the slightly charred ends and the chicken BBQ had great flavor as well. For dessert, they have the Apple Pie squares with sugar frosting on top, it tasted like Pop Tarts. Drinks are very cheap. For one bottle of beer, a glass of red wine, and a glass of soda. Total of $ 11.50. Score!
Service is efficient and friendly. The place is decorated like an old house with pretty wallpapers and floral curtains. The house has a warm, homey feeling about it and the diners are all happy eating away. Overall, it was a new and nice experience to try a place like Fitzgerald.

This is the absolutely the best fish boil around. And contrary to another reviewers location, It is in Wisconsin! It’s just north of the border in Genoa City Wisconsin!!! It’s cash only but they have an ATM. It’s a buffet line of all you can eat fish or you can add chicken or ribs. We’ve been going here now for 10 years and it’s still a great place! Drinks are extra but pop is only $ 1.00 and coffee is free!

Boiled Fish, Boiled Fish, and Boiled Fish! Yes the fish is that good. Boiled in a black cauldron over a fire in the back. This gem is a favorite of my entire family. Not much to choose from the menu though. BBQ chicken, Ribs, Coleslaw, boiled potatoes and onions. Folks that basically rounds off the menu. Served buffet style. Another cash only place with a convenient ATM located inside. I highly recommend getting the boiled fish with some melted butter poured over the top. A real pleasure not to miss. Defiantly worth the drive.

Food was really good bbq chicken and fish were delicious! I got all three but next time I would skip out on the ribs too messy and not my thing. It says online that beverages are included so we ordered pop but they charge for everything except water coffee and tea. It would have been nice for someone to tell us but now we know it was our first time. Service upstairs is very slow you are pretty much on your own after your first set of drinks are served. The atmosphere is great and very neat, a different dining experience. Definitely expected better customer service.

This is my favorite restaurant… EVER. I have been coming here since i was little with my family and friends. I continue to take more and more people here! Its all you can eat so you are sure to leave FULL!

Wow, what a find! Inconspicuously located, but only a short ten minute drive from the Bannon Lodge.
The fish boil is tastier than any fish fry in the area. You can add great ribs and chicken, but why bother? The specialty drink menu was extensive.
The historic octagon house is very interesting. I can’t wait to come back and sit outside in the warmer weather!

I would call this a whole in the wall restaurant but everyone seems to know about it in the area. If they don’t they need to go there pronto! This is an all you can eat fish boil for around $ 18. They boil the onions and potatoes in a cauldron then they boil the fish in the water they used to boil the potatoes. It tastes really good! In addition to the onions, potatoes, and fish they serve salted rye, coleslaw, and an apple dessert (its the same every night). This is what I usually order though you can get an addition to this meal by ordering «fish and chicken» or «fish, chicken and ribs».
They have a fully stocked bar as well

Love the fish boil here think it’s some of the best I’ve ever had. Whenever I’m in the area I stop in to eat and it’s always great. Good food good people and best fish boil I’ve ever had!

This place is AWESOME!!! I don’t even eat fish, and this place has me coming back for more!!! It’s all you can eat fish boil or chicken. I reccomend the fish! It is insanely good. I swear their butter comes from the Gods! It’s cute and better than a chain restaurant! People come from all over to have their amazing fish boil! Even if you don’t like fish, give it a try! I promise, you will not be disappointed!

This place is a gem. Stopped here on a referral from a friend whose taste we trust on a drive back from Beloit, WI to Mundelein, IL — which takes us though Southeastern Wisconsin. This restaurant is in a town with 1 stop light and quaint streets, near the WI/​IL state line just south of Lake Geneva. It doesn’t look like that much from the outside and there were lots of senior citizens going in when we got there at 5:30 PM on a Saturday (this demographic changed drastically later), so we thought OMG, we’ve mistakenly wandered into an early-​bird special kind-​of-​place. Nothing could be further from the truth and, believe you me — Grandma and Grandma know what’s good and what isn’t! They only take cash and you pay in the foyer area before you eat.
This was the absolute best fish boil I’ve ever eaten and its in Illinois, not Wisconsin (though it could be argued its so darn close it might as well be the Badger State:-). Yes, as a Wisconsinite, I know this is sacrilege, but the truth is the truth. I’ve always felt I needed to say that Washington Island fish boils were amazing, because all my fellow Cheeseheads do. But, truthfully, the presence of many bones in their fish boil plates and other things that, I feel, are not really that appetizing or great contributors to either flavor or mouth-​feels, gradually made me not partake in them too much. Fitzgeralds’ serves an «all-​you-​care-​to-​eat» fish boil meal, straight from a boiling kettle/​cauldron of fresh boned cod, potatoes, herbs, and onions — cooked over a wood fire and allowed to boil over in true fashion — and served heaping on the plate with a ladle (or 2) of warm melted butter. The fish is like lobster and the butter is fresh from wherever and makes you close your eyes when it goes down — my friends, that’s comfort food, largely unchanged since French Explorer Jean Nicolet and the Native Americans cooked it up 400+ years ago. Betcha olé Jean wished he could’ve had a plate of Fitzgerald’s.
The Picky Dining Companion also added all the smoked ribs and chicken to her meal. Though she proclaimed the fish wonderful, her plate was filled with rib bones at the end of the entrée dining. Did I mention they ONLY sell 3 items here; Cod Fish Boil, Bar-​B-​Que Chicken, and Bar0b-​Que Ribs. That’s it! But they got it down to a science. So there are 3 basic orders: 1) Fish Boil only, 2) Fish Boil and Chicken, and 3) Fish Boil, Chicken, and Ribs. I ordered #2 and did eat 1 chicken thigh, but I could’ve saved money ordering the fish boil alone. I ate three plates of cod, with cole slaw, boiled red potatoes, and onions! It was an absolute delight. The dessert (which is part of the meal) is a single small slice of sugar-​glazed apple pie square, served below a sign that read, no joke, «please, only one per guest meal». I cannot explain it, but this small glazed apple slice is exactly enough to end the meal. Its really, really good and another slice would be too much. Go figure. As we both only had water with our meal, we got out the door below $ 30 for a meal worth much much more. We felt so guilty about eating such a fine meal and not compensating the staff that we left the server a tip, though though the cod and other entrees are served modified-​buffet style. I know we’ve paid 3 – 5 times that amount and did not leave feeling as satisfied or happy. Worth the drive and, especially if you are in the Lake Geneva area, you’d be foolish not to stop at this place to eat. Its small-​town Americana, alive and well (thriving actually) at the Wisconsin/​Illinois border. Fitzgerald’s is not a «throw-​back», but a real life bargain — a restaurant run by folks who take pride in their food, limited the menu to what they do better than anyone else, and price it fairly. Service is great and, BTW, they also have a small gift shop and bar. Strongly recommend!

If you love fish boil, you have to make it here at some point. In addition to the fish they have chicken and ribs.

simply amazing food! very unique house, awesome kettles where they cook your food! Fish tasted better then any lobster i have ever had! The fish boil is unmatched!

Fantastic food with limited menu (all-​you-​can-​eat fish boil, grilled chicken and ribs only) which just means they do what they do EXTREMELY well. Everything was fresh and delicious, the house was beautiful, and the prices extremely fair for the quality and service. I know we’ll be back, often.
And yes, (as others have warned) it is cash only.

What a cute little place! Complete with a history lesson from the hostess, this gem
is a great place to enjoy excellent cod that REALLY does taste like lobster. Come early because this place was packed, parking was a challenge. Felt like home when we walked in. The price is a steal for the amount of food. Bring cash because it’s definitely old school. Will definitely be making this a regular eatery and recommending to all my friends and family

Popped my fish boil cherry.
Took an impromptu road trip to Lake Geneva during Memorial Day weekend, hoping to have fun in the sun. Instead, it felt like the Midwest’s «Spring/​Summer» was LOLing at me. We ended up bundled up and biking in 50 degree weather.
Looking for somewhere to go other than fast food and chain restaurants, I found Fitzgerald’s. My first thoughts were «fish boil? Wtf is that?» Of course my caucasian fiancée knew, and before I could finish my sentence, he told me what to expect. I’m always up for a food adventure so we headed out.
Right when you park, you see the gorgeous octagon building and feel like you’re in a prairie estate. We walk in and it totally feels like you’re having dinner at a friend’s house. Everything is very antique, charming and whimsical. A lot of lace, lights and old pictures everywhere. I do the fish boil and hubby does bbq chicken and fish. We get seated upstairs in a smaller dining room with a lot of windows and funky wallpaper. A server approaches us quickly and when I see the drinks are $ 4, I have to refrain from shouting «WOO HOO!» Compared to $ 10+ back in Chicago, they’re almost giving it away. We get vodka sodas and jack/​diet.
When we paid at the entrance for our food options, we were given a ticket. After we placed the drink orders, we’re told to walk up to the nearest food station and get crackin’. Basically, it’s a long table with trays of all the goodies you’re able to get. There’s the scrumptious, buttery boiled cod, the AMAZING cole slaw, red potatoes with onions, rye bread and the most delicious apple square ever. You can go up and shove your face with everything on the table over and over til you pop EXCEPT the dessert :(((. I knew this ahead of time but was trying to see if I could pay more $ or give someone a hug for an extra square. The thing is out of this freaking world! No dice. I just ordered more vodka sodas to ease my heartbreak. Service was great and the drinks came out really fast, even though the bar was on the first floor.
I had such a great time, I insisted on checking out the rest of the place and you should too. The building is almost 200 years old and maintained so well, you’d think you’re chillin’ in the Victorian era. We checked out the actual boiling area which was so cool. You can check out dudes chopping piles of logs and boiling pots with their signature cod.
Coming here definitely set the bar high for all mom & pop places and opened my eyes to a new experience. Thanks to Fitzgerald’s, my cold «Summer» (ha!) trip turned out to be a success!

Until you have a fish boil, it’s really hard to fathom. Ever since my friend mentioned it I’ve been fascinated and also a little apprehensive. I mean, it looks like a plate of soggy, pale, blandness drowning in greasiness. But somehow, despite the appearance, you dive in… the lure of the butter perhaps? Whatever it is, this strange meal really hits the spot.
I got the «fish only» Fish boil dinner which was Cod (instead of the traditional Whitefish), boiled with potatoes and onions then doused in drawn butter and served with coleslaw.
I wasn’t paying but I was still delighted that the mixed drinks were just $ 4…not $ 10+ like back home.

It would be difficult to add additional praise that hasn’t been already given by other reviewers other than to say again how enjoyable it is interacting with the obviously well trained staff at Fitzgerald’s.
Reminder– cash is king, no credit cards accepted!
I particularly appreciate that they use boneless and skinless North Atlantic cod unlike some places that use whitefish (which is usually bony).
Here’s a tip for those interested in trying the Fish Boil but not wanting to deal with crowds; December is their slowest month and if you show up a little after the dinner hour (say around 7 PM) you will likely have a great and relaxing experience with plenty of «elbow room». :)
Another reviewer mentioned the wallet-​friendly drink prices– the bar also has a menu of wonderful specialty martinis… $ 6. Very tasty and well mixed also.
The gift shop is fun too– give it a look.