The Greensburg Times Fish Fry Scoring Rubric

This is how we’re thinking about it when we go out and taste. You don’t have to use this — but if you want to, go for it. We’d love to hear your scores.

For the full breakdown of why we’re thinking about fish fries this way, read: How We’re Thinking About Scoring Fish Fries

Rate each category from 1 to 10. A 5 is average — perfectly fine, nothing wrong with it. A 10 is the best you’ve ever had.

Scorecard

The Fish

Taste — ___ / 10

Breading / Batter — ___ / 10

Portion Size — ___ / 10

Overall Fish Quality — ___ / 10

The Supporting Cast

Bun & Condiments — ___ / 10

Sides — ___ / 10

Atmosphere & Community

Vibe & Community — ___ / 10

Service & People — ___ / 10

Value & Overall

Value — ___ / 10

Overall Impression — ___ / 10

Bonus

Anything stand out? — ___

TOTAL — ___ / 100

What Each Category Means

The Fish (40 points max)

This is the main event. It carries the most weight.

Taste (1–10): How does the fish itself taste? Is it fresh? Flavorful? Does the seasoning work? Would you order it again just for the fish?

Breading / Batter (1–10): Is it crispy? Too thick? Too thin? Does it complement the fish or overpower it? Baked option — is it done well?

Portion Size (1–10): How’s the size? Are you satisfied, or wishing there was more? Does it hang off the bun? Is it comically large? (We’re not mad about that.)

Overall Fish Quality (1–10): Your gut feeling on the fish as a whole. If someone asked “how was the fish?” — what do you say?

The Supporting Cast (20 points max)

An excellent piece of fish on a forgettable piece of bread is a letdown. These things matter more than people think.

The Bun & Condiments (1–10): Does the bun hold up? Is the tartar sauce homemade or straight from a jar? Coleslaw — is it something you actually want to eat? Do the condiments and bread elevate the sandwich or just hold it together?

The Sides (1–10): What sides do they offer and how are they? Homemade pierogies, haluski, mac and cheese — these can take a fish fry from solid to special. Soggy fries and a sad cup of applesauce? That gets noticed too.

The Atmosphere & Community (20 points max)

This is the thing that makes fish fry culture in Westmoreland County unique, and it’s the hardest to score but maybe the most important.

Vibe & Community (1–10): What’s the energy? Is it a packed fire hall with families everywhere? A quiet church basement with regulars? Does it feel like you’re part of something, or just picking up food?

Service & People (1–10): How were the volunteers or staff? Were they welcoming? Did they seem like they were having fun? Did someone tell you about the history of the place without you even asking?

Value & Overall (20 points max)

Value (1–10): What did you pay and what did you get? A massive sandwich with two sides and a drink for $10 is a different story than $15 for something underwhelming. Bang for your buck matters.

Overall Impression (1–10): The big one. After everything — the food, the place, the people, the experience — would you go back? Would you bring a friend? Would you drive 20 minutes out of your way for this? That’s a 10.

Bonus: Some places do things that make you go “wait, really?” Lobster bisque at a fire hall. All-you-can-eat fish. A specialty item nobody else has. A dessert table that stops you in your tracks. Homemade bread. A drive-through line that wraps around the building because they’ve been doing this for 40 years and the whole town shows up. Give it whatever you think it deserves — there’s no cap. These are the kinds of things we’re going to be talking about.

How to Share Your Score

Went to a fish fry and want to share your review? Post it on Facebook, tag The Greensburg Times, and use the hashtag. We’ll be reading all of them. A photo of the sandwich is basically required at this point.

You don’t need to use this rubric to share your opinion — just telling people “this place is incredible, go try it” is great too. But if you want to get into it, this is the framework. We’re using it. You’re welcome to use it too.

We’ll be posting our own scores and reviews throughout the season. At the end, we’ll share our personal picks alongside the People’s Choice Bracket champion. We think both stories are worth telling.