JEROME, MI-We first visited The Deck Down Under in Jerome on our search for Michigan’s Best Pizza in 2016, and loved their unique signature pizza that comes topped with a seafood fondue. It seems that The Deck knows its way around fish, as the restaurant was voted as the best fish fry in our Jackson/Central Southern Michigan regional poll.
Owned by business partners Janine Serafin and Scott Burns for ten years, The Deck Down Under draws not just locals from Jerome, but also guests from a pretty wide area. Serafin said “We get a lot of people from Ann Arbor, Lansing, a huge pull from Ohio. A lot of people come up from Ohio, I think thats because we are a lake community, so there’s a lot of summer homes. And when Covid first hit, we saw a lot of people from the cities come out.”
The restaurant stayed open throughout the entirety of last year. They began offering take-out right away during the first shut down, added a take-out window, and then began offering contactless delivery. “We survived,” said Serafin. “The turnout with our guests has been absolutely amazing. I can’t believe the support.” Being able to deliver beer, wine and cocktails has also helped the restaurant keep themselves afloat. “We were able to stay open and pay the bills with take-out and delivery, which was a huge change for us..”
The restaurant offers three different fish dinner specials that are on the menu every day year round, including perch, cod, and catfish. They also offer walleye on the weekends, and it is by far the most popular fish they offer. “We probably go through 60 pounds of walleye over the weekend,” Serafin said. Typically, french fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies come with your fish meal, but if you’d like to substitute something, just ask. Also, any of the fish can be prepared grilled or blackened if you’d like.
Serafin thinks that one of the things that sets their fish fry apart is that they recently switched up the fish fry mix that they are using, to one that is locally made in Michigan. Skeeter’s Batter It Up was founded by professional fisherman and founder of the National Bass Anglers Association and Competition Tournament Circuit Keith “Skeeter” Warner. The fry mix is light, never greasy, and gets hand delivered to The Deck Down Under every week.
“We had huge positive feedback,” Serafin said when they switched over to Skeeter’s. “To be able to go to somebody local, and to be able to use them, I think it just goes with our whole model, of keeping it local, and keeping it small.”
The Deck Down Under is looking forward to summer, and maybe getting somewhat back to normal. “Just seeing everybody back, it’s so nice to be open again,” Serafin said. “Even though it’s only 50% capacity, it’s so nice to see people out and about again. Everyone is having so much fun, and we’re glad to be back, and glad to be open.”
Jackson and Central Southern Michigan Poll Results:
1. The Deck Down Under, Jerome
2. One North Kitchen and Bar, Jackson
3. St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Jackson
4. Our Lady Fatima Catholic Church, Michigan Center
5. Aggie’s Sports Bar, Napolean
Deep fried battered cod is on the menu at year round at The Deck Down Under in Jerome.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
Fresh fried walleye is a favorite at The Deck Down Under in Jerome during the Lenten season.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
If you go:
The Deck Down Under
11303 E Chicago Rd, Jerome, MI 49249
For more info: https://www.thedeckdownunder.com/menus or https://www.facebook.com/TheDeckDownUnder/
The catfish dinner from The Deck Down Under in Jerome.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.
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The Link LonkMarch 10, 2021 at 03:49AM
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The Deck Down Under is home to Jackson’s best fish fry - MLive.com
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