I went to Balch's for lunch with a group of ladies. There were 12 in our party. Service was outstanding and all of us enjoyed our lunch. I had the Banging Shrimp and a cup of cream of tomato soup. Both were good. Unfortunately, their liquor license is currently not active, but they hope to get it back soon. BYOB is also not allowed as it apparently takes a different license that they don't have. Anyway, I definitely recommend Balch's, particularly if you have a group. read more

Really disappointed after seeing 4 on Yelp and 4.4 on Google. Restaurant decor is very dated. Several chairs in room I lunched in were stained. Special Tuscan Vegetable Bean Soup was good. Ordered the soup/salad combo for $10.95 and Crab Cake for $13.95. Salad was decent size, but mostly red and romaine lettuce, 4 slices cucumber with skin on, lotsa large slices red onion and 4 halves of inedible underripe tomato. Good ranch dressing. Crab cake was flat as a pancake, awful, mushy, bready, greasy, no crab taste at all. Only flavor was red pepper. I left 3/4 of it. So $29.85 for lunch for 1 person before gratuity. Really expected a very good crab cake at a "fish" restaurant. Sorry, I really try and support small businesses, but cannot recommend Balch's. read more

Delicious fish and a ton of variations. Pretty large menu with very fair pricing. Super casual atmosphere but quality food. Lots of parking in the back. read more

Great food,service is outstanding,ambience above comfortable.Everything always as good as the time before! Very clean.Best soups I've ever had.won't break the bank either!!! read more

We came her for our anniversary, having just moved to the area. While it wasn't a long wait to be seated it took nearly 40m to have waitstaff bring us water and to take out orders. When we finally got our order, my husband loved his smoked pork chops with apple fritters. My dinner was over salted. Salt isn't a seasoning substitute. We havent been back since and won't return in the future. read more

Service is always great. Food always delicious. We have enjoyed many meals at Balch's.

I have come to this restaurant in the past and a bad experience with the quality of the food. I did give it another chance and my second time was really great. We had the fried oyster appetizer and they were fantastic!! Very little breading and the tasted so fresh and I was impressed. For a main I had the broiled scallops and they really were some of the tastiest and freshest! My wife and I were in the area again last night and decided to treat our selves. What a disappointing experience. I had a bowl of the clam chowder which was definitely par. We ordered the fried oyster appetizer again and the broiled scallop dinner. Omg what a disappointment. The oysters were all breading and hard as a rock. We each had two each and just pushed the rest away. The scallops came and they looked ok but they were watery and tasteless. The meal comes with two sides. We had the red bliss potatoes and coleslaw. The potatoes were boiled not broiled and seasoned like described by the waitress. The coleslaw was ok and maybe the best thing next to the soup. The salad was just lettuce with two grape tomatoes. We were both so disappointed, nauseous and still hungry that we vowed never again. Either the vendor or the chef changed or possibly buying cheaper seafood. It's to bad because this place was a home run about 7 months ago. The waitress seemed anxious about getting in our order so I put in the appetizers first to calm her. Usually the rule of thumb is when the menu closes we are ready to order. I don't like being rushed and having the server bring the dinner while I'm still enjoying my app. read more

Tried Balch's again yesterday thinking my original review was wrong. It was correct. Had the stuffed flounder. The fish was watery like it had been sitting in water for hours. I just can't get a taste for frozen fish. For the price it should be fresh NOT FROZEN. read more

This place is the best great atmosphere an food even the prices are fair love coming here with the family well worth the trip over the bridge lol read more

Really good seafood and the staff is friendly. I have always had a good meal there and it's clean.

Balch's Fish Fry is really one of our favorite restaurants in the area. Lately we have been doing a lot of takeout from here. All of their food has been fresh and impressive. Don't let the name of this restaurant miss lead you. They do offer great seafood but they also offer great burgers, chicken parmesan, ribs and on the weekends prime rib, plus more. When available I always get their queen cut slice of prime rib (rare). They offer a nice variety of sides to select from and their portions are generous Personally I love to start with their chips with cheese. They make their own tortilla chips and its seasoned so well that its addictive. It comes with their cheese dip which is just as delicious. For dessert we order their apple fritter with fresh cut chunks of apples dipped in batter sort of looks like a donut when done made only when ordered with ice cream, caramel sauce and nuts. Since we take it to go it's our science project to put all of this yummy goodness together after dinner. This place is not fancy at all it really just needs a bit of an update. Their staff is very friendly and they really know what they are doing. They are normally pretty busy but we do very large takeout I have to say that they do a fantastic job everytime. read more

My meal was reasonably priced and tasty. The service was good, and the place is nice and simply decorated. I had a glass of Chardonnay and the stuffed flounder, which was very good. That's not what I would normally order, but the waitress suggested it as a lighter option. She was right. I eat too many fried and fatty foods, and most restaurants, including this one, have lots of that. My main complaint is that none of the food seems local. I was hoping for some local fish or wine, but that's surprisingly difficult to find in the area. read more

The food was good as always. Quite disappointed when we got there to discover they no longer had a liquor license. Staff was rude, although our waitress was good and did her job well. Make people feel at home when they walk In. Say hello or say goodnight have a nice night as we were walking out. We got no acknowledgement. read more

One of the few really good fish restaurants in the area, likely the best. Italian dishes are good. The servings are plentiful, the atmosphere real easy. Old fashioned inside decor but clean and welcoming. Service is good and the chef knows his stuff. We go for special occasions and are never disappointed. Also has an outside patio and the drinks are good. read more

I have came here more then once and I'll have to say the little chips and there homemade dip is amazing. The prices are little bit up there but it's all delicious food and definitely worth it. My favorite thing to get from here is the stuffed salmon it's very delicious. I would definitely come here and check it out. read more

Local spot along the road Interior is very old school and with a homey feel Clam chowder was rich and delicious Complimentary chips and cheese dip was provided Portions here are generous Beer of the day was $2, which is such a deal There is a bar on the premises Clams were okay, but worth getting a dozen to try Service is friendly Abundance of seating Parking available out front Clean bathrooms located downstairs read more

Balch's Fish Fry - Sandwiches Near Me - Milford, Pennsylvania

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Saw good reviews , new to the area so we went for dinner. Food was memorable but not in a good way. So disappointed. Seafood had no flavor , steak was over cooked , and the sides were meh. We do not plan to dine there again. Left almost 2 full entrées on our plates. read more

My family and I have been enjoying this restaurant for as long as it has been in business. Joe Balch is a true professional and the best chef I've ever known. His seafood dishes are above and beyond any others in our area. I've never had less than an excellent meal in his restaurant. His personal attention to every detail makes the experience special every time. Two of the many favorites are the Banging Shrimp with Asian green beans and the wings, which are absolutely the best we've ever had. We can't go there without ordering wings! I've had Banging Shrimp at restaurants in Manhattan and up and down the coast and nothing can compare. A family member has had clam sauce in San Francisco, Ontario and Florida at the best seafood restaurants and Balches is by far the best. And we've let them know that. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and has been recently updated, which was needed, but the food has always remained consistently the best. Love this place! read more

It's Oktoberfest time! Yes the fish is always outstanding especially for lunch or dinner on the deck. But Oktoberfest is so worth the wait! The soup was beef lentil. House salad - so fresh. I had the Sauerbraten with potato dumpling- I don't care for red cabbage so I swapped it for an extra dumpling . As always, it's was fabulous. Hubs had the wurst plate with noodles- spetzel We skipped any appetizers such as potato pancakes, German pretzel, homemade applesauce . Go and go early - an hour wait can be the norm but you won't be disappointed! read more

Mountains or Ocean? The one thing I miss about not going down the shore, besides the green-headed flies, is stopping off on the way home at one of the fish fries that line the bridges on the way back to the mainland. But do you know what I just discovered? The best of these fish fries is right in Milford. Talk about your long walk to the beach. Balch's is more than just fried fish. First of all, they do not use breaded, mass-produced, fish, which you could buy at Walmart and cook at home. Instead, Balch's bread fresh fish and seafood themselves. They serve this with garden-fresh vegetables -- how do I know it's garden fresh? I sat outside on the back deck that overlooks their dense gardens where they grow the food they serve you. You can't get more "Farm-to-Table" than that. When I can finally get my fill of their fried oysters and Fried Fish Fridays, I will try their many other dishes. Do you know how comedies, no matter how funny or well-made, never win the Academy Awards? The same goes for fish fries. Take away the context, stop eating the fried fish, and this is a five-star restaurant. The quality of the cooking is that good. Next time, come in blindfolded and pretend you are at the finest restaurant in Manhattan, not a fish fry in Milford. You won't be disappointed. read more

Balch's Fish Fry - Side of garlic mashed potatoes and garden grown green beans - Sandwiches Near Me - Milford, Pennsylvania

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I had heard positive comments about Balch's Seafood Restaurant. My son came to the area on 5/21 and wanted to take us to dinner, we chose to try Balch's. We were seated about 6:00. The dining room and the deck were not crowded. A waitress took our drink order, it took another 20 minutes or so for the 3 iced teas to arrive, but without the extra lemon my wife requested. After another 10 minutes or so a new waitress took our order. The original server passed by our table several times muttering something about a credit card. There service was slow and as you will read, confused. Our appetizers were unremarkable, the best was probably the NE Clam Chowder. It was hot, very flavorful and chocked full with clams. My son had some type of crab mixture poured over French fries, he ate less than a third. My wife's steamed clams were okay just served rather bland, not even a piece of bread to soak up the clam juice. The entrees were a mixed bag at best. The deep fried scallops were very good, the Cole slaw was a cut above the average. At an extra charge I ordered onion rings. I couldn't eat them they were cold, really cold when they arrived. Actually even with the cold OR's my dinner was the best. My wife's baked haddock was so over done, hard and dry, she couldn't eat it. The red bliss potatoes served with it were undercooked. But the worst was my sons. He ordered from Sunday 5/21 specials. He got something completely different. He had no idea what it was and the waitress didn't know either. To make a long story short it turns he had received a rouge "special menu" from several weeks before. They did remove the charge from the bill. He didn't want to wait for another entree to eat there. So he asked for the broiled scallops to go. When we got home he had fried scallops, not broiled, and no sides. Just the scallops which unlike the order I had, were over cooked and tough. A restaurant, any restaurant should not ever overcook fish. It's especially egregious to get overcooked fish in a restaurant that specializes in seafood. Perhaps Sunday was an off night, but it will be a long time before any of us return. read more

OK but not wonderful fish; good range of appetizers. Skimpy (but inexpensive) wine pour. Really superior waitress, and good, friendly, service overall. Ordinary to poor decor. Easy to make a reservation & locate. Worth another visit especially in the absence of any other fish restaurants in the area that I'm aware of. read more

Unfortunately, it wasn't very good. Our waitress was a little grumpy also but we were with family so we had a nice time.

Well lit and Clean were my first impressions Waitress was on the spot attentive. The Bavarian lentil soup was excellent. Buffalo Brussel sprouts exceptional. Beet and goat cheese salad exceeded my expectations definitely a go to. Fred oysters were fresh and hot again excellent. Main dishes were sauerbraten,probably the best I've had in 20 years. My bride had surf and turf steak was done to perfection and the tail was fresh. Definitely worth coming here. read more

The food here is amazing!!!! One of the best fish restaurants I have ever been to. Hidden gem in pike county 5/5 stars!!!!

Love it. Grew up in Florida. Have a house between st. Pete and Clearwater too. This restaurant could teach restaurants down there a lesson!!!! I still miss the lobster buffet at best western matamoras. Maybe balchs could put one together and just control the people that sent the lobster buffet down the drain. 3 lobsters max.... I could only do 2. You people that ate buckets of lobsters ...shame on you! read more

I fully intended to take pictures of all the great food here to update my review, but those inexpensive pints of beer caught up with me and I was having too much fun! Balch's is still great with an excellent variety of food. We had the baked clams this time and they were some of the best we've ever had - they were juicy and flavorful with a nice baked topping on top. I tried the Seafood pie, which is my uncle's favorite and it was packed with delicious variety of seafood. A unique take on a chicken pot pie. My mom had the Sauerbraten again it is consistently good. She enjoyed it as much as last time. Great prime rib with a generous cut. My stepdad raved about the horse radish crusted salmon, which I tasted and it was tasty! The pints of beer is a good selection - Sam Adams, Lagunitas IPA, Amstel Light, etc.. all one price currently $3.50 each. It's like happy hour all day long here! I still love coming to this place. It's a very casual eatery with a great selection of food and service is on point! read more

Balch's Fish Fry - Complimentary chips with a cheese dip! - Sandwiches Near Me - Milford, Pennsylvania

The food was fine. The service and treatment we received was inexcusable. They "forgot" to offer us the complemtentary shrimp cocktail. Their resolution was a dessert for free to split 3 ways. Not nice! I would only recommend this restaurant to those who don't mind paying a premium and being treated like dirt! Obviously once I post this Balch's will refute it! read more

Consistent quality of food and service! Joe and his crew are top notch! We have been going here for over 20 years and it's our favorite restaurant!! read more

During my anniversary dinner I was given a Salad while waiting for my dinner. I swallowed a piece of tomato only to feel hair in my mouth. Well the hair was stuck to the tomato that was in my stomach and it was LONG!!! I was gagging and trying not to vomit as I'm pulling the hair in my mouth and feel it in my stomach!! I ran outside until I calmed down and broke the hair in my mouth. I went back in and told the waitress what happened She said the manager said sorry. That was it. Sorry. It was the most disgusting thing I've gone through. Sorry don't cut it. read more

Unfussy, delicious seafood. We got the seafood pie (basically a chicken pot pie but with scallops and shrimps) and the Portuguese seafood stew; both were excellent. Impressed with the number of scallops, shrimps, and clams. Prices were a bit high, but the portions are generous. read more

Balch's Fish Fry - Portuguese seafood stew - Sandwiches Near Me - Milford, Pennsylvania

I want to begin by saying that this area of PA/ NY/ NJ is not on the shore and a good 1.5 hours from Newark airport where fish could be flown into. Fish in the supermarkets are often labeled as previously frozen with maybe 2 or 3 as being not frozen. Clams, mussels and sometimes oysters are available fresh. So I went to Balchi's today for lunch. They present diners with 3 menus - one is early dinner for $15.85, one is a dinner menu and one is their regular menu. Now, I love plump succulent oysters having them many times when I lived in south Texas. So, when I saw on the menu fresh fried oysters, I was tempted. But, upon asking the waitress, I found out they were frozen. Shame on management for advertising fresh! I wonder how many folks have ordered them, thinking the were fresh. I could even accept it if they were previously shucked and sent in small containers. But frozen???? read more

Great place to eat in Milford A+ the Clam Chowder is so good so is the prime rib. Always a pleasure

Give it a try! How did I not know about this place for so long? What a gem! Dinner for two on Saturday aug 27 at 5:30 on the deck. Service was great no complaints, I think reviewers have forgotten how to be kind cause they are somewhat anonymous. We had the calamari which was light and crispy with rings and numerous tentacles. Burrata with the best garden tomatoes it was so good I could have had that for the main meal. Hubby had the seafood pie, he was in heaven and I had the broiled combo. I brought half of it home. The scallops were so meaty and sweet, shrimp cooked perfectly and citrus crumble on the filet was delicious. Please go! read more

We enjoyed everything about our dining experience! Tortilla chips were served with tasty dip when we sat down. Homemade onion rings were a treat! My baked haddock special with citrus crumb topping was big enough that I enjoyed leftover for lunch the next day. Last but not least, all servers were friendly and attentive. What a nice way to enjoy Sunday lunch. read more

This restaurant's owner has a great garden behind the restaurant and the salads are the absolute best. From their garden to your plate! It doesn't get any better! A must go to restaurant if you're in Milford. They would do themselves a great service from updating the decor. But, once you get past that, it's real good food!!! read more

So we had a lovely lunch today The waitress was very efficient. We ordered the haddock it was the only fish on the menu not fried. And the bang bang shrimp were fried but delicious with string beans We were very full or I would have tried the homemade desserts Next time I will try the clam chowder Will try dinner next time read more

great food ! staff are fantastic ! prices are fair and reasonable! A must stop. will not be disappointed

Nice place for lunch. Excellent French Onion soup and cheese steak. The chef salad has many nice touches. Staff very friendly. Wings not spicy at all but there is hot sauce on the table to fix them. read more

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Simply the best! Fresh and delicious food at a great price. The Caesar salads are fantastic and my favorite is the calamari. One time I splurged and got the fried Captains Combo with grilled scallops and it was just perfect. I actually bought my parents a gift card for their anniversary because I knew they would be safe to go here and eat. read more