A Friday fish platter.

Text and Photos
By Shari Benyousky
Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: This is the ninth column in the Diners and Dives series in which a small group of Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club members and their guests road trip to explore the diners and dives of Kosciusko County and the surrounding area. 

May 1 is Silver Star Veteran Day. You didn’t know that? You don’t know what it is either? Join the crowd. May 1 is a day set aside per congressional resolution to be an “official day to honor wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” We’re a little early, but we decided to take Diners and Dives to American Legion Post #49 to pay our respects. We stopped in at 11 a.m. on a Friday, when the place opens to the public for lunch. 

To eat lunch here, you’ll enter at the door on the south side of the building at 301 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw, and take the stairs down into the basement. If you’re here on a Friday, just follow your nose for the fried fish and french fries special.

Commander John Mort greeted us and pointed out a good table as we arrived. Mort is a veteran himself, having enlisted in the Navy in 1974. He was the Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month in December 2020. After retiring for the third time, he became very involved in our local Legion Post #49. As commander, he keeps an eye out for local veterans and ensures that the Honor Guard is ready whenever needed.

He also serves as greeter, bartender, banquet room renter (there’s a huge room upstairs that can be rented for $200 for an entire day), and a hundred other jobs, including trying to find and decorate every veteran’s grave with a flag on Memorial Day. The Legion also properly disposes of worn U.S. flags – you can deposit yours into the red, white, and blue mailbox outside to the west of the building. 

We met several veterans and interesting characters at the Legion. Most weren’t interested in having their pictures taken, but you might not need pictures to enjoy their stories. We learned that you could order a “screw-me driver” at the bar – that’s vodka and orange juice, heavy on the vodka. We learned that the Legion is a fascinating place to hear about local politics too. As 24/7 Car Guy Chris Plack described it, “It’s the place to meet the man behind the man behind the man.”

We ordered from the menu. “I’ll take the 49er burger. Don’t tell me what’s on it. Just everything,” RE/MAX Realtor Jeff Owens requested. 

“He’s made waitresses cry before with that request,” Social Worker Vicky Owens told us. “Really. He’ll tell them to just bring him something. Anything. Surprise him. They’ll try to ask questions to get a feel for what he likes, and he’ll just say, ‘Nope, surprise me.’ Twice it’s made waitresses literally cry!” 

“I don’t mean to,” RE/MAX Jeff defended himself. “I just like surprises.” The 49er burger is for Post #49 by the way. It has everything on it.

“Speaking of surprises, I’ll take the Tony Burger on Texas toast,” ordered 1^st Source Banker Paul Finley. “It’s some sort of grilled cheeseburger combo thing.”

“And I’ll try the shrimp and corn chowder,” I said. The Legion has several good-looking soups to choose from. “And, of course, the fried fish special.”

Local Liberal Agitator Travis McConnell arrived. He stopped at the bar to order. “Mich-Ultra with only 45 calories, please. Watching my carbs.” He settled into our table where we admired his rarely worn blue suit. McConnell is famous for wearing flip-flops and T-shirts to work. “Had to be in court and talk at the Board of Works meeting.” He shrugged. “They approved the new outdoor furniture for Courthouse Coffee.”

Commander Mort tapped on McConnell’s shoulder, startling him. “Now, we have that Michelob Ultra you want, but you do know that it has 95 calories, not 45. That still work?”

Seeing McConnell jump-tickled RE/MAX Jeff. “That’s why you choose your seat so you face the door. No one can sneak up on you that way.”

“The outlaw Jesse James was shot in the back by the coward Robert Ford!” 24/7 Plack exclaimed. “It’s a quote. You’ve seen the movie, haven’t you? Oldie but goodie. Yep. Always sit facing the door so you don’t get shot in the back.” 

“Guns are one way to get hurt, forks are another.” I held mine up. “Danger everywhere.”

RE/MAX Jeff looked for his silverware. “Honey, where’s my fork?” he asked his wife, Social Worker Vicky, who shrugged. He held his fork up. “These tiny things won’t work as weapons.”

Finley rolled his eyes and got us onto safer ground. “So, we’re here at the Legion to honor veterans. How many of us have family who served?” Hands went up around the entire table. Everyone present had at least one military person in the family. Coffeehouse McConnell had multiple. He started naming cousins and second cousins in all branches of the military.

But 24/7 Car Guy Plack beat us all. Both his mother and father served. He was actually born on a base in Frankfurt, Germany, where they served, and he’s a Son of the American Revolution, and a Son of the Union too. 

This brought us to the contemplation of the Legion’s Missing Man Table. “Looking at it always makes me choke up a bit,” RE/MAX Jeff admitted. We all agreed. If you agree, climb a few stairs down to the American Legion. Not only will you get a chance to thank a veteran for their service, but the food is also cheap and plentiful.

The fries are crunchy and come with those awesome yellow and red squirt bottles for condiments. The fried fish is excellent. And drinks are seriously the cheapest in town. Last, you really don’t have to worry about sitting with your back to the door.

Event Tips:

• The Legion hosts lots of cool events. For example, they just finished Blacklight Bingo, and they host trivia and movie nights often. Also, 6 p.m. Saturday is always Euchre Night at the Legion. 
• The Legion does allow smoking.