Go Fish Seafood

Go Fish Seafood is a seafood market and eatery located at 2934 N 5th Street Highway in Reading, Pennsylvania, serving Berks County and the surrounding communities of Muhlenberg Township, Temple, Laureldale and Leesport. The business combines three functions under one roof: a retail fish counter where customers buy raw seafood to cook at home, a kitchen turning out cooked seafood dishes and a sushi program. That combination is relatively uncommon in the region, where fish counters and sit down seafood restaurants usually operate as separate businesses.

The operation is owner run, and regular customers tend to know the staff by name. The dining space is set up to feel comfortable rather than formal, which suits a place where some guests arrive for a full meal and others stop in to pick up a pound of scallops on the way home from work.

The Retail Market

The market counter is the foundation of the business. Inventory rotates according to what is available from suppliers, so the case looks different from week to week, but the general range covers finfish, shellfish and shucked product. Typical categories include:

• White fish such as haddock, cod, flounder and basa
• Salmon, including farmed Atlantic varieties and premium imports when available
• Tuna and other fish suitable for raw preparation
• Oysters and clams by the piece or the count, sourced from various East Coast beds
• Live lobster, plus lobster tails and picked lobster meat
• Shrimp in a range of sizes, scallops, crab meat and crab legs
• Specialty and seasonal items that appear for limited periods

Two things distinguish the counter from a supermarket seafood department. The first is the depth of the selection: the market carries species that shoppers often cannot find locally, along with higher grade cuts of familiar fish. The second is that staff behind the counter can talk through the differences between species, suggest substitutions when a preferred fish is not in, and advise on cooking methods and portioning. Customers looking for a specific item for a recipe or a holiday meal are generally best served by calling ahead at 610-921-8862 to check availability or to request that an item be set aside.

Fish can be cut to order, and the staff will handle filleting, portioning and cleaning tasks that many home cooks prefer not to do themselves. Lobster is sold live, and shellfish is packed for transport.

Kitchen and Prepared Food

Alongside the market, Go Fish operates a kitchen serving cooked seafood for dine in and takeout. The menu draws on the same inventory that fills the retail case, which means daily specials often follow what came in that morning. Fried and broiled preparations of white fish are a staple, and sandwiches, platters and rolls built around crab, lobster and fried fish form the core of the casual side of the menu.

The kitchen also produces plated entrees with more involved sauces and accompaniments, appetizers such as raw bar selections, chowders and soups, and sides that pair with fish. Seasonal and rotating specials give the kitchen room to work with limited availability items that arrive in small quantities. Anyone with dietary restrictions or preferences about preparation (grilled instead of fried, sauce on the side, and similar requests) can usually be accommodated by asking at the time of ordering.

Sushi

Sushi is prepared on site and represents a significant part of the business. The menu covers the standard range of nigiri and sashimi along with maki rolls, including both traditional combinations and a list of house specialty rolls developed in house. Having a retail fish counter in the same building means the sushi program draws from the same supply chain as the market, and raw grade fish that arrives for the case can find its way into the sushi menu.

Sushi is available for dine in and takeout, and larger party trays can generally be arranged with advance notice. Customers ordering for a group are encouraged to call ahead, since assembling a large order takes time.

Catering and Special Orders

Go Fish provides catering for private and corporate events, including holiday parties, trade shows, receptions and family gatherings. Catering options can be built around raw bar service, cooked seafood platters, sushi trays or a combination, and menus are typically arranged in consultation with the client based on guest count, budget and venue. Because seafood availability fluctuates, catering menus are usually confirmed close to the event date with contingency options in place.

The market also handles large retail special orders, which matters around holidays. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Easter, Lent and summer holiday weekends all drive heavy demand for shellfish and whole fish, and placing an order in advance is the practical way to secure specific items during those periods.

Location, Hours and Access

The business sits along North 5th Street Highway (Route 222 Business) north of downtown Reading, a commercial corridor that is easy to reach from Route 222, Route 61 and Route 12. Parking is on site, and the property includes an accessible parking area and a wheelchair accessible entrance.

Services are provided at the location itself. Delivery is not offered directly, so orders are picked up in person or enjoyed on site. Hours vary by day and by season, and Fridays during Lent are among the busiest periods of the year, so calling before making a trip is worthwhile.

Practical Information

• Address: 2934 N 5th Street Hwy, Reading, PA 19605
• Phone: +1 610-921-8862
• Payment: credit cards and debit cards accepted
• Accessibility: wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot
• Service: on site market, dine in, takeout and catering

Customers planning a visit should consider whether they are coming to shop, to eat or both, since the two sides of the business operate on different rhythms. Shoppers seeking a particular species do best earlier in the day and earlier in the week, while diners should expect weekends and Fridays to draw the largest crowds. For groups, holiday orders, catering inquiries and specialty fish requests, a phone call in advance is the most reliable approach.