Doug's Fish Fry

If money and distance were no object, I'd eat at Doug's more often. Doug's offers a positive atmosphere, a joie de vivre that you just can't ignore. The food is tasty, the folks are friendly, the tables are clean, and the condiments are comprehensive. You can't ignore the fact that everything (it seems) is fried. That adds to the flavor and texture but, well, there's an awful lot of bad press out there about the downside of fried food. I hate to say it, but it seems believable and it's the only thing that costs Doug's a 5-star-across-the-board rating. Well, one of two things. They ain't cheap. Money is an object, so you may not want to eat there /too/ frequently. Doug's in Skaneateles is one of a very few places I've visited that offers model railroading as part of the decor. Watching the train chug along the near-the-ceiling mounted tracks never seems to lose its charm. The ordering and serving area reminds me of one of those seafood shacks along the MA-NH-Maine coast. If you're a visitor to the area, don't miss it!

Came back here after quite some time after a nice autumn drive. We have had some nice experiences here in the past. Had the fish fry with onion rings and the gumbo. The gumbo was served hot which was a redeeming feature. However this flavoring was not something I have had of a gumbo before and wasn’t that pleasant to me either. Did see an odd okra piece and something else that might have been seafood. The breaded fish fry was vintage Doug’s the rolls seem stale and the onion rings were ok. Skaeneatlas has a lot more places to offer and will probably choose to sample those offerings.

Doug's is by far the BEST Fish Fry in the country! I currently live in Chicago but I am originally from upstate New York. Whenever I visit family, I drive the extra hour and a half to stop down and skaneateles and get my fish dinner that never disappoints. The service is outstanding and the food has never wavered in its consistency or incredible taste. I can't wait to get back there for another visit. Update: I went out of my way to swing by on New Year's Eve for lunch and it was the BEST meal I've ever had at Dougs! Really looking forward to more trips back to Dougs in 2026!!!

Wentt here for the first time for an early dinner with family from Florida. We ordered and found a table near the windows. The restroom was decorated with a bunch of photos and fun stuff on the walls, super cute. The service was friendly and quick. The food was fresh and super hot. I got the tender dinner with fries and Mac and cheese and the Mac was fantastic! The tenders and fries were good too. Hubby got the fish sandwich dinner and liked it but said the fish was kind of flavorless.. overall we'll be back and enjoyed it. It was a bit loud in there but it was also quite busy.

Doug’s Fish Fry was UNBELIEVABLE. Some of the best seafood I’ve ever had in my life. The workers were kind and service was prompt and superb. We got the scallops dinner and a fish plate and ho-ly-crap was it incredible. Some of the most tender scallops and fish I’ve ever had. They have several house made fresh sauces (including remarkable tartar and cocktail sauces) that perfectly compliment their food. The hand cut fries and freshly battered onion rings were to die for. And the view from the front window was so picturesque. If you are ANYWHERE within a one hour drive of this restaurant, please do yourself a favor and stop in. You won’t find better food, fresher fish, or more excellent service anywhere else.

Doug’s Fish and Chips was a delightful experience, with everything cooked to perfection and packed with flavor. The highlight was definitely the lobster roll rich, fresh, and buttery, it stood out as the star of the meal. The sauces were another standout, offering the perfect tangy and savory complement to the seafood. Both the crisps and onion rings were satisfyingly crunchy and flavorful, though just a bit on the oily side, which is expected and forgivable for this kind of hearty, indulgent comfort food.

A must visit if at Skaneateles. Everything on the menu was fresh and you can taste the quality. They make their own sauces, use local products and are very friendly. Large portion for the fish sandwich, the scallops were fried just right, shrimp was perfect. The coleslaw was the best I've ever had, it must have been just made.

Unbeatable seafood! We got the fish and scallops and they were cooked to perfection. We went on a busy summer Saturday and the small wait was worth it! Absolutely delicious!

I stopped in to Doug's after a wedding rehearsal and looking for a nostalgic bite. I grew up close by and going to Doug's is a fond memory. Came on Friday, and the line was out the door . Waited about 20 minutes for ordering and food, but well worth the wait. Staff run like a well oil machine and the inside is quite different than when I was a kid in the best way with lots of seating, I took my fish onion dinner, and singular snappy hotdog to go. The fish and onion rings for crisp and fresh fried, and the Hoffman hotdog is a staple for the community and taste. Not only is Doug a main stay in the community, but it is also a great bite to eat . Last shout out to the coleslaw, which was delicious as well.

If you know, you know. I've always loved coming here but had never been to the original location so we decided to try it out. It was a winner! The good. We ordered a lobster bisque and 3 fish sandwiches. The bisque was very good but really more of a gumbo. The fish was perfect...fresh, hot, flaky white meat on a bun. Best fish sandwich in town! The bad. I wish the plates were larger. The fish is so large it hangs of the plate on both sides and potentially on the tray or table (no thanks). I had to lay a few napkins down to prevent that. The ugly. Seriously, this is the best fish sandwich in town and for $10, is probably the best deal too. Go get one!

Grew up eating here and it's good to see the quality and taste is exactly as I remembered. Nothing here is bad, everything is exceptional, including the ice cream! (Get a sundae - for real). Counter service that's always quick, even when it's packed, great fountain choices and some beers as well! The shrimp po boy was a tasty special and loved that sauce! I went with the classic fried fish sandwich. It's a perfect execution, deliciously fried and flaky, and paired perfectly with tartar coleslaw and onions rings. I love looking at all of the old newspaper clippings about Doug's and history of the town keeps you company waiting for food! Absolutely a must go to when you're in the area.

We were informed that Doug's was a local favorite, so we popped in for lunch with our fam during our visit to Skaneatles. There were positives and negatives. On the plus side, I can't tell you how much I appreciated that they fried their shrimp without tails. It's a pet peeve of mine to have to remove the tails from shrimp myself at restaurants at which I am paying (usually a non-trivial amount of money) for food to be prepared. I also enjoyed the on-site ice cream (especially the grasshopper pie or whatever mint ice cream my daughter got) and the generally large servings. I was less impressed with the seafood chowder, which seemed thin and a bit watery. Also, the fried fish was a little bland (and could have benefited from a bit more seasoning; e.g., in the breading).

I've been coming up to the Skaneatles area for years and have never gone to Doug's. I knew it was there, but every time we went by there was a line. Now I know why. Just the best fish fry I've ever had! The fish dinner comes with giant pieces of flaky, hot fried fish, so crispy! Their coleslaw is just delicious. Hand cut fries, delicious! Their onion rings, the best! It was a fantastic meal! I had 3 girlfriends from Long Island with me and they loved every bite! And they were really impressed by the giant cup of wine they got when they ordered a large... Lol!. We will be taking visitors there from now on.

This place already has a ton of 5 star reviews based on the food all well earned. I had the clams with onion rings both were amazing. The service was quick and efficient. The beer and wine are well priced. Bit to me the highlight is the mural. So much detail and plenty of locals included. Look out for the original owner in the red truck and the current owner wearing a cap by the tree near by. The current manager is by the easel. We en Ifyou don't eat check out the mural it's an excellent work of art

I have only been to the actual sit-down location one time, but that one time got me hooked. When Doug's fish fry to-go started showing up around Broome county, I was so happy! I've ordered from the to-go truck too many times to count. It's always been excellent. If you've never eaten from Doug's before, you're seriously missing out.

If you're a seafood lover like me, this is the place to go! The line can often be out the door to order. You order at the counter and then they call out your name for pickup. There are plenty of tables to sit indoors or outdoors. I went with the classic fish dinner, which includes a large fried fish sandwich, fries or onion rings and cole slaw. I am a Cole slaw snob, but theirs had pretty good flavor. My only complaint is that it was a bit liquidy. Prices are reasonable considering they get all of their fish shipped from New England.

A local legend for a reason, it's hard to stop by the village of Skaneateles without eating at Doug's- you can smell it as soon as you get out of your car! Stopped in at 11:20 on a Sunday. Some patrons but no line. I ordered a fish dinner with a small soda. The fish is fried fresh so it took about 5 minutes to get my food. The fish was hot and perfectly breaded. A crispy golden brown with batter that stayed on the fish- always a plus. The fish itself is a whitefish and was flaky and delicious. The fries are not very good by my estimation. Soggy and not crispy at all. The dinner also came with a comically large portion of coleslaw which was tasty but entirely too much for me. The ambience is very casual and it's neat to see the 50+ newspaper clippings where Doug's was mentioned all over the walls. The total came to $18 and change for a large portion of fish (on a bun but good luck eating it like that), a side a fries, a veritable tub of coleslaw and a small drink. Very fair pricing for the amount of food you get and the high quality of the fish itself. It's not my absolute favorite fish joint in the 315 but it's a legend for a reason. No reinventing the wheel. Just good, simple food. You would be amiss to visit Skaneateles without trying out Doug's at least once.

Okay, it was good, but I have a Peanut Allergy and I was extremely unwell after eating this because everything is fried in Peanut oil. Signs should be much more obvious and it should most definitely be mentioned on the menu. Service was fast. Ambiance was nice.

TL;DR Version: - Amazing Ice Cream - Delicious Fish & Chips - Delightful Customer Service - Overall, a great dining experience! Long Winded Version: Food: 5/5 The ice cream is so good! The only thing better is the serving size - it's extremely generous. The general allure of the restaurant peaked our interests and we dined-in a couple of days later. The fish sandwich was "mwah" - chef kiss. No need to travel to the UK or to Maine, this fish and chip sammy is amazing. The portions are once again generous and you'll definitely be filled. The chowder was solid too. Location: 5/5 Skaneateles is such a quaint, well-to-do town. It sits right on the shores of one of the many finger lakes. Taking in the views and having a relaxing stroll through the town is a must-do if you are anywhere nearby or driving through. Atmosphere / Ambiance: 5/5 Super casual. Like tank top casual. It's fun and welcoming and funny and delightful and down to earth - all rolled up in one. I love the model train working it's way through the restaurant's ceiling. Quality: 5/5 The food is served super fresh and pipping hot. It's delicious, filling and your orders are taken with a smile at the counter. That's a quality experience all around. I recommend this restaurant 1,000%.

Honestly, one of the more memorable casual dining spots of the last decade. Fresh fish, funny fellas working the register & fryer, and beyond reasonable. We hit it at a great time, like 2:30 pm with no real line. Fish sandwich is plentiful, steamed clams at 8 bucks a dozen is a steal & sliced clams ( we know them as strips) we're under 8 bucks for a hefty portion. Lots of dipping sauces, malt put out to help yourself. Folks offered dining suggestions on our stopover in Skaneateles, but there's only one place for me, and it's Doug's Fish Fry. We were last here in 2014, hope it's not another decade before we get to return.

Ice cream was delish! Fish looked great but had already eaten when we stumbled upon it.

This is always a solid, no frills establishment for a tasty fish sandwich and fries. My husband brought me here when we first started dating over a decade ago and it's still the same as it's always been! Nothing fancy but it works :) Service is always quick enough, even with how busy they can get. It's a chill little place to sit down and enjoy a meal. We go months without coming here and then randomly we will make the 25 minute or so drive to grab a tasty fish sangwich.

A great spot to visit in Skaneateles. Fast friendly service and very kid friendly dining room!

Go there if you're a fish lover. It's a wonderful local seafood place. Enjoy the fish sandwich and some homemade coleslaw to die for. Have a milkshake to wash it all down. Wonderful recommendation from the locals while you're in Skaneateles NY.

The food here as very good, I had the Fish Dinner that did not disappoint. The serving size is very large and I loved all the dipping sauces they give you to choose from. Food came out very quick. Service was very good as well. Great place to go if you are hungry and want some good food quick, and a good view to go with it.

Good very affordable seafood place. We had the seafood gumbo, lobster roll and grilled shrimp. We didn't care much for the gumbo but the others were fantastic. The lobster roll was huge. We went for a late lunch and easily found seating after ordering at the counter. Food came out fairly quick. We went back for apple fritters and hot apple sundae. Both were amazing. Highly recommend the fritters. The place was a bit loud.

So good ..... Better if you eat in house over carryout. Still super good. Fast and friendly service.

This is a must stop place if you are visiting Skaneateles. We drive into the village 2-3 times a month during our vacation to New York just to visit this restaurant. Awesome fish fry and ice cream!

Fish sandwich, seafood chowder and ice tea. The chowder is 4 different kinds of seafood in a creamy base. It is very light and it was full of fish. I did need some seasoning in the chowder, so a bit of pepper made it perfect for me. The fish on the sandwich was perfectly cooked, a thin crispy breading a nice thick filet glistening and very moist inside but completely cooked. The tarter sauce is creamy and full of pickles.

Doug's is such a gem! My husband's family is from the area and is a MUST visit anytime our family returns to visit. Service is always exceptional. Portions are great, prices are reasonable and food comes out quick and so fresh. We got a fish dinner, chicken dinner and a grilled shrimp skewer. The breading is absolute perfection - it holds up without overpowering whatever it's coating. The food alone is a knockout, but the sauces send it over the top! If I could have taken home a cup of the chicken sauce and curry sauce I would have thrown them in my suitcase.

From the outside it looks like nothing special, very average. But once you step in the smell of fried fish is overpowering, in a good way. I never had fried scallops before but after the first bite I realized I need this in my life. Batter was light and flaky, not too heavy. Scallops were cooked just right and not sitting in oil. Clearly the oil is changed quite often to obtain such a light crispy crust. Worth the 1/2 hour drive and will be doing it again.

Doug's is pretty good for what it is. Not fine dining, but it's not trying to be. The portions are big. The quality is consistent. My big concern is with the cleanliness of the dinning area. Everything has that funky, sticky feeling on it. Kind of gross actually. I think they clean with the same cloth from morning to night. Honestly, the place needs a revamp after all the years of frying all that fish. I gave three stars for the food quantity and the friendly people that work there now and over the years.

They do not disappoint. I've eaten here several times with my family as well as solo lunches and they've always been spot on. Always fresh, always crispy/crunchy, always juicy/never dry and never soggy. I can honestly say that I've been eating at Doug's for almost 4 years now and I've never had a bag experience nor have any member of my family voiced and displeasure. The service is always spot on. Sure they get busy and sometimes the line out the door, but that's a pretty good indicator of their quality and the value. After all, you NEVER see a line of people waiting to eat bad food. Just saying. Over the course of time I've sample all their menu items and I've not found anything that I would not order again. Fish Shrimp Scallops Clam strips Steamed clams Lobster rolls All good!!! My only cautionary tale would be to be aware or tourist season as this is their busiest time and the line gets LONG. Total Friends & Family recommendation. Heck, they are so good, I'd recommend them even if I didn't like you. OH, I forgot their cream and milkshakes...yup also very good! Enjoy..

Fair pricing, quick and friendly service! Excellent fish! Not overly battered either.... Fresh and light. I've been a couple of times now, when visiting the area, and will be back again on the next trip too! :)

Yummy, fresh and crispy. Staff is busy and straight to the point. Nice big portions. Place is large with outside seating.

This place is located right in downtown Skaneateles. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating looks like it would be dog friendly. When you walk in the front door there is an ice cream stand and order counter for food. You place your order and they take your name. Once the order is ready they will call your name and you pick up your order and enjoy. They do have beer on tap as well as soft drinks and water. There is a station to get dipping sauces and tarter sauce. This place can get very busy because it's quite good. During my visit they had a special which was a fried shrimp dinner with fries and coleslaw which was very good. I got my husband the fish dinner to go and he liked it. I also got him a cup of Mac and cheese which he really liked. All in all, if you are looking to have seafood or ice cream and want a no thrills quick delicious meal then this is the spot. Of note, on certain days of the week they have specials like lobster bisque and for the non seafood eaters they have some chicken options.

Uggg here is another local landmark that had a line out the door, that I did not like. Ordered the lobster bisque as it was a known favorite, it was made with sherry perhaps, and it was not balanced. Ordered the fish, it was OK, but perhaps I was looking for beer battered and not bread crumbed. Overall I would try it, but ask questions before purchasing.

Came for the blueberry Sundae -loved it in the past. Asked for hard ice cream - got soft ice cream; way too much whip cream and too little blueberry topping. Disappointed.

Good solid fried fish and scallops! Nothing fancy. Nice people. Great location. Good food.

Located right off the Main Street in Skaneateles, this is a true gem of a place. Casual, cool vibes and delicious, ample servings! We ordered the fish dinner and the shrimp dinner, which both came with fries and coleslaw. You place your order at a main counter and then can take your meal to a table indoors or outdoors (out back there is a great outdoor seating area). Everything was fresh, delicious and the coleslaw was one of the best restaurant coleslaws I can remember (I am usually not a fan). Highly recommend!!

Fish always cooked well. Very nice people. Sides not so great. Same with the soup. Fries limp. Shrimp were really good. Will stick with fish sandwich and shrimp next time I'm in town. Really glad to see the place still doing great.

Ok! We are back a year later and I had a much improved experience. Kelly the manager is great and always has been. So service was 5 stars. I got one long piece of fish as god intended :) the scallops were great. The fish was still a little bland, I'm guessing they changed what oil they used. But it didn't taste bad. Fries were a little undercooked. But overall I was way happier with my meal than last year. Thank goodness! I love Doug's!

Well, we had a pretty poor customer service experience on Sunday 10/20 about 3pm. We encountered a young man that clearly lacks customer service skills. I am not going to dramatize the details because several other employees overheard this unacceptable confrontation, and I would hope one of them will correct this young man. I would have normally walked out, but this was our farewell lunch with our granddaughters before we leave for the winter. As always, the food was good with the exception of the chicken tenders. Only one of the pieces was identifiable as a chicken tender, the rest were mostly quarter sized pieces of mostly breading, not what is typical from our previous visits. We will return, because everyone has a bad day.

Stopped through Skaneateles on the way home from a road trip. Was walking through downtown on a chilly fall day and came across this place. Ended up getting a bunch of things to try - cider, hot and cold. Fish sandwich was good - crispy on the outside. Apple fritters were probably my favorite! They also have an array of dipping sauces which I enjoyed. Would recommend stopping by for a quick bite. Lots of seating.

I bring a team to Doug's about every 2 months for lunch, and I always order a fish dinner. This time, the other dinners at the table came with the typical order size of fiush, which looks to be between 8-10 oz. The piece sitting between my buns, I was lucky if it was 4-oz, possibly less. I brought my plate back up to ask if the other half had fallen off of the plate and the three people looked at me as if I was being annoying and bothering them. Then someone grabbed a piece that was about 1-2 oz and sent me on my way. Mind you, I picked up the $90 bill, and I always pick up the bill. Congratulations, Doug's, I spent 20 bucks on my lunch, 90 bucks total and I left annoyed and hungry. The good news for you is that your business will do just fine without my several hundred dollars a year.

This is a review of the ice cream window portion of Doug's. The servers are always great. It's a convenient and quick place to grab ice cream in downtown Skaneateles. Their ice cream products are affordable and less than most other places. The window is tiny and sometimes lines form... but the ice cream is worth the wait and their sundaes are delicious!

I have a sensitive stomach so I try to stay away from dairy and fried foods. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of options I had to choose from at a fish fry spot. I opted for the grilled shrimp poboy which was good but I couldn't help but be amazed at the fish sandwich. Apparently it's one of the best!

We always seem to make a point of stopping by for a shrimp Po boy and fish sandwich whenever we are going through the area. Doug's is the absolute best for all things either menu! My wife and daughter each had a shrimp Po boy and I had the fish dinner. Extra onion rings on the side!

We got fish sandwhiches and lobster rolls, fish was nice and crispy served on a plain burger bun, lobster was tasty, fries were soggy and not good, long wait both to order and get food but the ambience is nice, good for kids with train set and fish tank, small "oner" bathrooms not ideal for how busy the place was.

Fantastic food, and ice cream next door - no trip to skanteatas (cant spell it) is complete without it.

Been going to Doug's since 1988 and it never disappoints. One bit of advice is to go off hours on the weekends because it gets really really crowded. We consider Doug's the benchmark of New York State fish fry's! My wife is a onion ring snob and considers Doug's onion rings the best she has had had. I have to agree. Lastly if you don't like cole slaw, you have to try Doug's. Service is great and prices are very fair.

Such a great place for a quick, quality meal! Everything tastes so fresh- I got a grilled shrimp skewer with cole slaw and Mac and cheese and everything was great. The portion sizes are good and prices are fair. It's in a great location with plenty of seating inside or a half block walk to the water where you can enjoy your food with a view. It was very busy when we went but the service was still quick and efficient - I don't think we waited more than 5-10 minutes even with the line out the door. Cool, laid back place with good seafood. Highly recommend if you are in the area!

It's been a long time since I've been here but I remember how good it was so I was craving fried fish so I had to go. Nothing has changed much but the entrance is different but the food the same, delicious!!! The fish was crispy and fresh, the onion rings didn't have excess coating, were crispy and seasoned perfectly. The coleslaw was just as I remembered my favorite combination of flavors. Doug's is a legend and you must go if you haven't already.

Just what you want from a fried seafood place. Fast, fresh, and fried just right. Homey, not fancy. Super efficient counter service.

Great fish fry and so many other choices. Fast, friendly service and those blueberry sundaes in August....

The few times I had been there, we never had the time to try it or the line was too long. Happy that we finally had the time to do it. Everyone who worked there were very nice. I really loved the shrimp and fries. They were so good. We live in Pennsylvania so it's hard to get good seafood. There were so many good things on the menu. I wanted to try them all. My husband tried the chicken and he didn't think it had a lot of flavor. He did like the fries. I'd definitely like to come back and try some more items.

Doug's fish fry is the coolest place!! The food has always tasted amazing and consistent every time. The service is great and the food is quick. The ambiance is cozy.