Phil Schmidt's Alternative

Is there anywhere in the Chicago area to get sauteed frog legs and lake perch as good as it was at Phil Schmidt's? Oh how I miss that place!!!

Not being a fan of frog's legs I can't comment on comparability but Hugo's does both.

Teibel's in Schererville, Indiana is almost a clone to Phil Schmidts (or Vogels). Lots of Blue Hairs, cheese and breadsticks in the cellophane package, ridiculous amounts of food. Oh the frog leg perch combo, just like the old days. Go for the drive.

If you want to stay a little closer to home, a small tavern in Hodgkins that I usually refer to as the NASCAR bar has a nice rendition of sauteed frog legs and more than occasionally has yellow perch as a nightly fish special. The official name is Bucks Pit Stop. Nice people, cozy place decent food. worth a small trip.

Babaluch


Teibel’s Family Restaurant
1775 U.S. Highway 41
Schererville, IN 46375
(219) 865-2000
http://www.teibels.com

Buck's Pit Stop
6501 Kane Avenue
Hodgkins, Illinois 60525
Call:708-588-0095

TooHot wrote:Is there anywhere in the Chicago area to get sauteed frog legs and lake perch as good as it was at Phil Schmidt's? Oh how I miss that place!!!

babaluch wrote:Teibel's in Schererville, Indiana is almost a clone to Phil Schmidts (or Vogels). Lots of Blue Hairs, cheese and breadsticks in the cellophane package, ridiculous amounts of food. Oh the frog leg perch combo, just like the old days. Go for the drive.

Teibel's is clearly the Phil Smidt's replacement for a relish plate and perch or frog legs in "nicer" surroundings. Teibel's has updated the experience by several decades though, bringing it right into the 1970s. I always thought the entryway bears a disturbing resemblance to a funeral parlor lobby (perhaps making many of their customers feel right at home). Good food (much better than Smidt's toward the end). I like Teibel's.

Teibel's


Phil Smidt's


Teibel's
"The Ideal Family Restaurant Since 1929"
1775 Indianapolis Blvd (US-41 at US-30)
Schererville IN
219-865-2000

Phil Smidt & Son (closed)
"A Seafood Dining Tradition Since 1910"
1205 N Calumet Av
Hammond IN
800-FROGLEG

So glad I remembered to ask! Thanks.

I completely agree about Teibel's as a Phil Schmidt's replacement and while you're there you might want to also try their excellent fried chicken.

That pic does look like a funeral home!! Thanks for the pic's, I'll do a report soon.

I tried the frog legs at Buck's Pit Stop and sent them back to the kitchen. They smelled and tasted very, very fishy. The sauté color was a bit off, they were brownish grey. Garlic butter on the side. Canned green beans. Very disappointing, but the server was nice.

You are kidding right? I have tried sautéed perch all over trying to find anything that comes close to Phil Schmidts and I have not found it. Teibels says their perch is sautéed but not to me and no, it can not be Schmidts replacement. I am not saying Teibels is bad, its not. I will have to try Buck's but I am not going to hold my breath.

Boston Fish Market has perch and walleye that made me think of Phil Schmidt's. Haven't noticed frog legs though, but heard Nha Hang had a great Vietnamese version a couple wks ago.

I love the fried perch @ Boston Fish--the whole great lakes platter probably my favorite item there (among a lot fav items), but that perch is nothing, if memory serves me, like Phil Schmidt's. Boston's are breaded and deep fried. Schmidt's were breaded too, but pan sauteed in butter. It's a different texture. The Schmidt's approach really brought out the sweetness too, in the fish.

Vital Information wrote:I love the fried perch @ Boston Fish--the whole great lakes platter probably my favorite item there (among a lot fav items), but that perch is nothing, if memory serves me, like Phil Schmidt's. Boston's are breaded and deep fried. Schmidt's were breaded too, but pan sauteed in butter. It's a different texture. The Schmidt's approach really brought out the sweetness too, in the fish.

There's a good chance that you can get sautéed perch at Boston Fish on request. They sautéed other fish, and there's no reason to think they wouldn't do lake perch as well.

Correct, they'll prepare as ordered, and their quality is pretty much unparalleled as they wholesale more freshwater/lake fish than just about anyone.

Sauteed lake perch (swimming in butter with a minimal coating of seasoned breadcrumbs) remains pretty common once you get past Michigan City. Clementine's and Clementine's Too in South Haven and St. Joseph MI feature it, as does Heston Supper Club in La Porte IN, for example.

I think I have finally found a replacement for Phil Schmidt's. Its Schererville lounge. If you put a little salt on their perch, it's very , very close to Schmidt's. It all ends there , nothing else in the meal is like Schmidt's. Schererville lounge 48 e. Joliet St.

Teibel's in Schererville is running a 2 for $30 special. It includes one appetizer, 2 entrees (including perch or frog legs) and Valpo Velvet ice cream. http://teibels.com/specials.php (Not available on Fridays)