Big catch at Bogey’s

By ROSS MORRONE

Food@vindy.com

Being that we are in the middle of the Lenten season, I decided I would take my Signature Dishes challenge to Bogey’s Bar and Grill in Lowellville to try one of the many great foods they are known for: fresh fish.

Executive Chef Melvin McKee took me on a coastal journey with his fish platter.

A platter of fish can go one of two ways: The wrong way would be a hodgepodge of fried fish with no taste difference from one to the next. Your mouth would hate every minute of chewing that you forced on it.

The right way would be a breaded, deep-fried blend of seafood such as red ocean perch, clam strips, butterflied shrimp, hush puppies, beer-battered fries and a side of coleslaw.

It’s otherwise known as Bogey’s Fishermen’s Platter.

The challenge for this dish wasn’t deciding if the ingredients were fresh. The flavor of every bite reassured me they were.

It wasn’t figuring out what set this apart from other platters. The popcorn-style breaded clam strips literally could have been the only seafood in the basket and I would have been happy. They were seriously amazing.

The real challenge for me was the embarrassment of not being able to finish.

I quickly realized when I got a shutdown notice from my stomach, the name of this dish wasn’t because of how many fishermen caught it. It was because the plate could feed two them — four if it was an appetizer.

This Lenten season, you need to do your taste buds a favor and head over to Bogey’s, where they are serving this giant platter every Wednesday and Friday.

Owner Bobby DeVicchio assured me that every week, Chef Melvin picks a different mix of fresh seafood to keep the selection interesting for us foodies. I’m sad to say that although I tried my best, this Sig Dishes challenge got the best of me.

Ross Morrone is a freelance writer and social media guru, especially in the world of food. He writes for The Vindicator about Valley dishes and restaurants. Email him at rossmorrone@gmail.com. Email The Vindicator at food@vindy.com.

Bogey’s Bar and Grill

Location: 3535 Upland Road, Lowellville

Phone: 330-750-6062

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Menu item: Bogey’s Fishermen’s Platter; $15.99