Brandon Kretzler’s late father sent his son a message in his sleep.
“My dad woke me up,” Kretzler said. “I heard him say he wanted me to make the fish sandwich again. I never realized how much people loved that fish sandwich.”
That fish sandwich is the one that was served at Kretzler’s Tavern in Ross for more than 70 years. The restaurant closed in 2022 because of the challenges of the pandemic.
Kretzler, a North Hills High School graduate who lives in Ross with his wife Danielle, owns two locations of Pine Creek Public House, both in Hampton.
One is located in the former Thirsty’s Bar on Ferguson Road. The other one is in the former Stack’d restaurant on Route 8, where the sandwich is now on the menu. This location is larger and can accommodate multiple fryers.
The 10-12 ounce piece of cod is beer-battered and deep fried to a golden brown, and served on a sesame seed bun with house-cut fries and Kretzler’s famous homemade tartar or cocktail sauce for $16.
It is Kretzler’s dad’s recipe. The son wanted to make sure it was the same, so he searched out the supplier and found it at Aldo’s Food Service in Aliquippa.
“Customers love it,” Kretzler said.
He is having T-shirts made with the saying “The new home of the Kretzler’s famous fish sandwich.”
He is considering offering a special of all-you-can-eat fish on Fridays. Check Facebook for updates.
They also serve his father’s recipe of homemade potato and seafood soup on Fridays.
Other offerings include smoked brisket and pulled pork, flatbreads and hot roast beef – the beef is slow-roasted for 36 hours — and French dip, stuffed banana peppers and pretzels.
Kretzler said he strives to keep the same high standard of quality food of his father Roy “Butch” Kretzler, uncle Denny and grandfather Howard, who started the business in 1951.
Brandon Kretzler and his cousin Jason ran the restaurant at one time. Roy “Butch” Kretzler died in 2018.
“I wanted to make sure that if we serve the famous Kretzler’s fish sandwich it was the same one we served at Kretzler’s,” Brandon Kretzler said. “We found it and customers love it so it’s here to stay, and with Lent coming up (Feb. 14), we will be ready.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne by email at jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .