Frisch’s founded National Tartar Sauce Day in 2017 in honor of the tangy sauce that has become more than just a topping for fried fish. Samuel Frisch opened the first Frisch’s cafe in 1905 in Cincinnati. In 1923, son Dave Frisch took over operations with two of his siblings after his father’s death. Then in 1946, Dave Frisch sampled the first Big Boy double-decker hamburger. What proved to be a momentous decision, Dave Frisch makes the Big Boy sandwich using his homemade tartar sauce to replace the original recipe that called for Thousand Island dressing. Dave’s signature tartar sauce becomes a staple on Frisch’s menu. It has been sold in pint jars for the take-home market since 1960. During Lent, Frisch’s tartar sauce is in high demand for its Frisch Fry menu, but its original claim to fame was on the Big Boy sandwich.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar® declared National Tartar Sauce Day to be Celebrated the Friday after Lent Begins annually.