Houmann's Fish & Seafood
By Mark Czerniec
March 19, 2006 9:00 PM

Houmann's Fish & Seafood
1026 Liberty St
Racine, WI 53404
(262) 633-2477

Update: The Houmann's retail store described here CLOSED (at least for the time being) on October 7, 2006. See the Journal Times story for more information. Empire Fish in Milwaukee is one excellent alternative.

Houmann's Fish & Seafood is part of Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, a good-sized seafood distributor servicing restaurants, supermarkets, and so forth throughout four states and even beyond. This means they've got a steady flow of quality product.

Here at their retail store in Racine, they offer fresh and frozen fish and other seafood, as well as a hot carry-out menu of fish and side dishes.

The fish case is the main attraction for me. The selection varies, but you can always find a dozen or so varieties of filets, steaks, and whole fish. In addition to the usual salmon and catfish carried by most supermarkets, you will probably find whitefish and walleye, red snapper, tilapia, scrod, some high quality tuna, maybe even some grouper, turbot or flounder.

This is the kind of great little shop where you come to see what looks good, and then build a meal around it. The store is clean, the fish is always fresh-smelling, the people selling it are knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices are very reasonable.

There's also a good assortment of frozen seafood items, such as shrimp and lobster, as well as seafood sauces, breadings, and spices.

At the food service window opposite the fish case, you can order tasty breaded and deep-fried catfish, cod, lake perch, ocean perch, pike, scallops and other items -- plus sides like hushpuppies, fries, onion rings and cole slaw. In fact, if you want a takeout version of an authentic Wisconsin fish fry, they even have potato pancakes. The prepared fish is available by the pound, or as a dinner or sandwich.

The Houmann's Web site includes a coupon. Look under 'Menu Items' for their hours.