We have visited all of the restaurants listed below and are still trying to find time to enter our reviews. The list to the right is THE list for Friday night fish fries in the Madison area. Clearly we still have a lot to try! We would love new suggestions and your thoughts on the those we've listed.
Until then here are the best:
Fish Top 5 - Big Ten Pub; Esquire Club; Cannery Grill; Tornado Club; Prairie Inn Supper Club
Old Fashioned - Prairie Inn Supper Club
Clam Chowder - JP Adler's; Dexter's Pub
Potato Pancakes - Big Ten Pub (I can't find them anywhere!)
This week's review:
Prairie Inn Supper Club (10.3.2008) We happened upon this spot looking for the Homestead in the Town of Leeds. Since the Homestead was closed we ventured into the Prairie Inn and very glad we did. The atmosphere, while a little wild-west cheesy, had a lot of character - I loved it. My old fashioned was by far the best I have ever had - the perfect blend of brandy and sweetness with a stick of cinnamon (I had 2!). They offered a chicken and rice soup (no clam chowder) that Joe liked. I ordered Della's catch of the day - fried lake perch. Despite having a more traditional beer batter it was very light and crispy and probably one of the best perch dinners I have had. The fish itself was cooked well with no "fishy" flavors. I chose the cheesy baked potatos that tasted like they may have been from a box. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Overall we gave it 3 fish
Fish Fry Reviews (listed alphabetically):
1855 Saloon (1.18.08) Located in Cottage Grove this contemporary saloon offers a decent beer selection (Capital, Bell's, Ale Asylum and New Glarus) as well as bargain-priced martinis. I can' t think of any other bar or rstaurant where you can find $5 martinis made with quality vodka or gin. We enjoyed the ambiance, decor and wood-burning fire place. Our waitress was very friendly and efficient - though we didn't really care for the kitchen guy yelling out orders. Now to the food - 1855 offered many safood selections including salmon, trout, crabcakes, scallops and flounder. The Friday Night Fish Fry added halibut and a 2nd trout option. My old fashioned was a little on the diluted side and too fruity and I was sad they did not offer clam chowder. The cole slaw must have been great because I actually finished mine. Joe ordered the trout which was a little on the dry side but had great flavor. My halibut had good texture andmild peppery batter that complimented the fish well. While there were no potato pancakes to be found I did order sweet potato fries.. They were good - but not as good as Angelic's. 3 1/2 fish
Anchors Away at the Bridge Club (4.4.08) Classic supper club flare located in Lodi, WI. This place was packed, as most supper clubs are on a Friday night. My brandy old fashioned sweet was very tasty, but they served it with olives. Yuck! The bread choices were fantastic and included excellent corn bread fritters. I think I had 10! The clam chowder had shredded clam that was kind of funky texture-wise but the flavor and overall consistency were perfect. Side choies were plentiful and I went with the hashbrowns (with cheese and onions of course). They were a little too greasy for my liking but I think that's to be expected. As for the fish... they offered a combo platter including 2 pieces each of perch, haddock and bluegill. My dream catch!!! The perch and bluegil had little to no flavor, however, they had great texture and were cooked perfectly. The haddock was also cooked perfectly and no too dry. The tartar sauce had lots of mayo with little extras, but enhanced the flavors of all the fish. Joe ordered grilled mahi mahi with pineapple salsa - it was super yummy and again, cooked to perfection. 3 fish
The Argus (2.15.08) Under new ownership the argus has maintained it's name and character (did you know it's the oldest commercial building in Madison?). Their fish fry consisted of beer battered cod and was not very memorable. The fillets were thin and the batter had little flavor. A few fry options were available (eg. cajun, garlic and steak) but didn't make up for absent potato pancakes. I enjoyed the clam chowder. The clam pieces were cooked perfectly and not at all chewy. I would have liked the chowder to be a little creamier and spicier but I appreciated the overall composition and texture. 2 1/2 fish
Avenue Bar Definately not short on atmosphere or friendly wait staff. The last time we had fish there we sat next to two grandma's who were half in the bag! Thankfully they couldn't find their keys... The fish selection was good with perch, walleye and blue gill served in addition to the cod. Get there early as there is often a 45 wait. 3 fish.
Angelic Brewing Co Well, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with Angelic Brewing. I was concerned when the hostess sat our foursome at a table closest to the kitchen (there were ~20 other tables from which to choose). Hmm... not sure what the reasoning was behind that. My old fashioned was good but lacked the perfect amount of sweetness. The clam chowder tasted like it had just been poured from a can. The flavor was decent but lacked the thick, creamy goodness I enjoy in a good cup of chowder. Thankfully the fried cod (the only fish fry choice) was excellent. Coated with a light but spicy breading the fish was cooked perfectly. It was flaky, light and had no fishy aftertaste. Although they did not serve potato pancakes, Angelic did offer yummy sweet potato french fries. 2 1/2 fish.
Babes Grill and Bar
Babs' French Quarter Kitchen (10.12.07) I really wanted this to be a fantastic find for Friday night fish. Perhaps I set my exzpectations too high because I had heard so many good things about Babs. Perhaps they should avoid fusing a traditional fish fry with creole cooking. Babs' offered pan-fried catfish and deep-fried cod. I chose the catfish and think I should have tried the cod. The catfish was coated with flour, cornmeal and little to no seasoning. I thought it sat too long under the heat lamps or in the oven while Joe swore they heated it up in a microwave. They wouldn't do that would they? Either way the breading was soggy, flavorless and made it hard to appreciate the nice texture and flavor of the catfish. The creole sauce allowed the fish to be palatable. I enjoyed the potatos - thinly sliced reds with cheddar cheese and a touch of sour cream. The slaw was really good and flavored with a cider vinegar (I think). Joe drifted away from the fish and ordered cajun lasagna. By contrast the mixture of spices, cheese, cream sauce, chicken and sausage was quite good. To top things off we ordered bread pudding (did I mention I love, love, love bread pudding). The flavor was great. Unfortunately the pudding was definately overheated in the microwave as both the bowl and pudding were served way too hot. Bummer because it had lots of potential. 2 fish
Big 10 Pub Our favorite Madison fish fry, hands down, is at the Big 10 Pub on Regent Street. With a far better than average pub menu, the Big 10 offers a wide variety of fish selections and potato pancakes (the only in town, to my knowledge). Any drink you order at the Big 10 will be tasty and strong, and they have a fantastic beer selection. The clam chowder is not as creamy as I like and the clam strips are left nearly whole. For a person with texture issues (like me) this can be an issue but the fish and potato pancakes more than make up for the lackluster chowder. The dinner roll isn't quite what grandma used to make, but then again, I haven't found one that is. 3 1/2 fish
Blue Moon
The Brass Ring (3.7.08) I love this place but I was sad to hear there was no clam chowder or fish choices other than fried cod. Bummer... It's not looking good so far, but wait, it gets much better! The relatively heavy batter had great flavor and was balanced well by a perfectly prepared cod filet - definately no texture issues! I suppose if you only offer one fish choice it had better be good, and this one was. I have always enjoyed the fries at the Brass Ring and tonight they did not dissapoint. This one is difficult to rate given the absence of many of my favorites, however, because the cod exceeded my expectations I'll give it 2 1/2 fish!
Brewery Creek Located in Mineral Point, Brewery Creek offered interesting variations on the traditional Wisconsin fish fry (including mango, teriyaki and sesame ginger). We enjoyed a tasty raspberry bread pudding and a few homemade brews. 3 fish
Brocach (4.18.08) I love this place!!! We have been to the Brocach several times for brunch or drinks and finally made it for a fish fry. I was a little disappointed that the only fish offered was the haddock. Previous haddock attempts were dry with little flavor but this time the haddock had great texture, breading and flavor! Who knew haddock could be so good? Definitely the best haddock to date. The coleslaw was also one of my favorites. I'm not a huge fan of lots of mayo and this slaw had just a tad with a hint of curry. Yummy! The fries were you typical thick-cut fries with great texture. Finally, the clam chowder had the consistency of chicken noodle soup. It had great flavor but was not as creamy as I like. 3 fish
Brother's Three This is our favorite dive fish fry. Having been transofrmed from a gas station to a restaurant in the 70's, Brother's Three has maintained it's 70's charm and serves a fantastic fish fry. They have a wide selection of fish (cod, perch, blue gill, salmon, walleye, tuna, mahi mahi and grouper - depending on the night) and mix a yummy old fashioned. 3 1/2 fish
Broux House (Stoughton) The restaurant and bar had great potential with regards to atmosphere and we had heard good things about the food. Unfortunately my fried cod had a soapy taste and slimy texture (I nearly gagged). 1 fish
Byrd's
The Cannery Grill (Sun Prairie) Joe enjoyed a very tasty old fashioned - the perfect blend of brandy and sweetness. I on the other hand choked down a chocolate martini cement mixer. I think the bartenders are still working on making consistent drinks because the woman sitting next to me had a chocolate martini that looked and tasted like a chocolate martini. Note to martini fans - avoid creme de cacao at all costs. It is cheap, aweful and curdles - yuck. Our house salads were yummy served with red peppers, standard baby greens and parmesan peppercorn dressing. The clam chowder had perfect thickness but was a little grainy (a little too much potato and not enough cream?). The Cannery offered fried perch and all you can eat fried cod. Sides included french fries, baked potato and rice pilaf. The perch was fantastic. Perhaps even deserving of a side-by-side taste test with the Big Ten! Yum yum! It was prepared with a light corn meal breading and the texture was perfect. Joe's fried cod was slightly chewy/fishy but we thought perhaps it had just been sitting out a little too long. I loved the dinner roll that was nice and crispy on the outside but super warn and doughy on the inside. We all shared the cheesecake and I have to admit it was one of the best cheesecakes I had. It was thick but maintained it's cheesy taste - mmm mmm. 3 1/2 fish
Claddagh Irish Pub 3 fish
Dexter's Pub (8.29.08) Formerly known as the Sandlot, Dexter's Pub offers lots of tasty brews (leave it to Nick to take care of us) and one of the best clam chowders in Madison. The fish choices were plentiful (walleye, perch, blue gill, cod and a po-boy sammie). The perch and cod were a little on the greasy side but I know Nick is working hard to improve the menu and add his own touch. I enjoyed the po-boy sammie and couldn't get enough of the clam chowder (all the soups are made fresh daily). During our most rcent visit I had the blue gill - they were huge! I would have preferred a little more breading to mask the skin but that's part of the texture issue I have. The brew fries were excellent and helped me to forget about my potato pancakes. I also tried the tomato bisque and it was fantastic. So far all the soups have been solid choices and the best in town. 3 1/2 fish
Eastside Businessmen's Association
The Esquire Club (7.11.2008) We loved this place! Total supper club atmosphere with every stool taken at the bar. We had to squeeze in to order our drinks but it was worth it. My old fashioned was the perfect blend of sweetness and the alcohol was not overpowering. I enjoyed the perch as much if not more than than the Big Ten or Cannery. Their chowder was better than average, however, their fries and bread were unremarkable. Outside the bar area the Esquire lacks character. The friendly waitstaff and patrons helped to make up for this. 3 1/2 fish
Famous Dave's 3 fish
Fitch's
Fitzgerald's
Green Lantern (2.22.08) When I was a kid we came to the Green Lantern several times a month (my aunt lived nearby and played softball at the local diamonds). I was not a huge fish fan back then but I wish I had been! Several fish choices were offered including walleye, perch, shrimp, lobster, scallops, cod and salmon. I of course ordered the perch. The beer batter was a little much for me but the texture was perfect. I loved the hint of dill in the tartar sauce that had great flavor. The clam chowder was one of the creamiest we have ever enjoyed and the texture of the vegetables and clam was phenomenal. It could have used a little more spice but that's what the salt and pepper are for I suppose. I might have found a new favorite Old Fashioned as this one was the perfect balance of brandy and sweet goodness. Finally, the wait staff was very nice attentive and we received our food in a very timely manner. 3 1/2 fish
Herreman's
Hubbard Avenue Diner I guess I didn't realize it's the same as Market Street Diner in Sun Prairie. Does everyone know that? Anyway, very open and bright diner style. Our waitress was great - very friendly and helpful. The clam chowder was a bit on the salty side but otherwise had good flavor with lots of clam and potato chunks. It was also a little less creamy than I prefer. The slaw was nothing to write home about as it had little flavor. I wasn't a huge fan of the dinner roll, but Joe seemed to like it. The potential was there but we're guessing it was made that morning or the previous morning and was short on flavor. Fish choices were limited: cod, cod or cod. My fried cod was decent with a nice ratio of Capitol Brewery beer batter to fish. It was slightly above average for fried cod with good texture but lacked flavor. Joe's baked cod had a nice buttery herb seasoning but was a little stale and rubbery. 2 1/2 fish
Irish Waters We loved the clam chowder and dinner rolls, however they had a limited fish selection and the fried cod was just average with too much fried batter. 3 fish
Joey's Seafood and Grill Perhaps our expectations were too high considering Joey's specializes in seafood. Joe and I were disappointed in the fish fry selections (fried haddock) but our greatest disappointment was the house drink special - the mojito. Yuck. We each paid 8.75 for a 16 oz glass with 1 oz of rum and 15 oz of seltzer water. The fresh mint and lime juice smelled great but couldn't help the overpowering seltzer flavor. The beer selection was below average with only three tap choices and limited bottle choices. As for the fried haddock - it was quite good with light breading, great texture and good flavor. Unfortunately Joe's meal (grilled salmon and sea scallops) left a litte to be desired. The salmon was overcooked and a little dry while the sea scallops were a little on the slimy side (again, bad for a person with texture issues). Fried Haddock 3 fish ; Overall dining experience **
Joseph Megaan's Located in Lake Mills, Megaan's has perch that rivals the Big 10. They also serve potato pancakes but were all out when we visited - I was very sad. Though small, the bar was nice and offered decent beer selections. 3 1/2 fish
JT Whitney's Neither Joe nor I had high expectations for JT Whitney's. In the past the food I've had has been mediocre and the service had been exceptionally SLOW. I have to admit we enjoyed surprisingly good cod with a light but tasty breading and the service was great! 3 1/2 fish
Lucky's Bar and Grill Located on Regent Street just a few blocks east of Camp Randal, Lucky's is probably best known for it's football Saturday crowds - good times - and good since they will not be remembered for their fish fry (though I must admit my parents and soon to be sister-in-law all enjoyed their perch and baked cod). The wait staff was super friendly and attentive while the bar itself had lots of sports memorabilia. The clam chowder had really good flavor and consistency though it was not quite as thick as I like. Fish choices were abundant with baked/fried cod, walleye, perch and bluegill. I ordered the bluegill. The little filets had nice texture but were too greasy (as were the perch filets). I was hugely disappointed to find bones in 2 of my 5 filets and nearly gagged - yuck. The baked cod was much better with good texture, flavor and moisture. I have to admit I was pretty excited when I saw potato pancakes on the menu and perhaps set my expectations too high. What came out served on my plate were 5 silver dollar-sized over-fried hashbrowns :( I asked for a side of either applesauce or syrup but Lucky's had neither. Huge disappointment. Finally, the coleslaw was tangy and mom really enjoyed it, and the bread had great texture. Unfortunately it was was rye - not my favorite. My brother joined us to celebrate mom's birthday. He never orders fish and instead ordered beef quesadillas that apparently "sucked". He was unable to go into details. 2 1/2 fsh
Mad City Crab House (3.21.2008) We were pretty excited about the prospects at this contemproray caribbean-style restaurant. The menu and specials all sounded terrific! The only problem was getting service. We were seated immediately but fell through the service cracks until we asked for someone. Once they figured out who our waiter was things definitely picked up. The cam chowder had perfect texture and consistency but could have used a bit more spice. I absolutely loved the sweet potato fries. Mmm... The cod was prepared in a tomato-based red stripe beer batter - what? I know it sounds like there would be a lot of flavors going on but the tomato was barely noticeable. I really liked the tartar that was more like a remoulade. The cod had decent texture but was a ittle on the dry side. I much prefer it being a little too dry to being a little too undercooked and slimy - that gives me the creeps. 2 1/2 fish
The Maple Tree Restaurant
Northside VFW
The Old Fashioned Hmm... The dinner was average but what I liked most about the Old Fashioned was the atmosphere, service and traditional Wisconsin selecions scattered throughout the menu. 3 fish
The Old Feed Mill (Mazomanie) Just as the name implies, this cozy restaurant is located in an old feed mill with rustic stone and exposed wood rafters. The all-you-can-eat battered cod was unremarkable but the character and charm of the restaurant helped to make up for the average fish. The selection of home-made desserts included many Wisconsin favorites and the bread pudding was one of the best we've had. 2 1/2 fish
Orpheum Lobby Restaurant The Orpheum doors opened to the public in 1927 offering movies and vaudeville. Legends including Bob Hope, George Burns, Benny Goodman, Ray Charles, Bette Davis, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra all played here. In the mid 80's and early 90's the Orpheum's future was endangered as developers propsed turning it into a shopping mall or exhibition hall. In 1999 Henry Doane became a co-owner of the Orpheum - opening the Lobby Restaurant and returning movies and live performances to the theatre. On Fridays they serve a tasty fish fry including perch, trout, walleye and cod (I think there might be more). WIth the lobby restored to it's original design I felt like I was transported to the 20's and wouldn't have been surprised to see George Bruns float down the grand staircase. 3 fish
RP Adler's Joe and I were pleasantly surprised by the fish selection and service. The fried perch was not as good as the big ten but it was a close second. The clam chowder was one of the best in the city and we loved the fresh baked pretzel sticks. I skipped the old fashioned, choosing the "Pick-me-up" mocha martini instead. It was delish. 3 fish
Reverend Jim's (2.8.08) The Old Mc Donald's appears to have transformed into a "biker" bar just down the road from Harley Davidson. Once inside it was hard to imagine it as a Mc Donald's. They did a nice job transforming the space into a functional bar an had lots of plasma tv's for almost any sporting event. Their Friday Night Fish Fry consisted of fried cod, a dinner role, cloe slaw and fries. The cod was decent with a light, favorful beer batter andgood texture. The fries left a little to be desired as they had little flavor and were dry (can french fries be dry?). 2 fish
Rex's Innkeeper
Rodeside Grill (De Forest) We liked the clam chowder but the fish left something to be desired. Our choices were limited to Cod - fried or baked - and we didn't care foe either. The fried cod was more fried than cod with little flavor. The restaurant itself had little character and was too loud. 1 fish
Rossario's Known for it's popular Spaghetti-on-a-board and Italian dishes, Rossario's offers a fabulous Friday fish fry. They use a light, herby breading that tastes great. 3 fish
Shelton's Bar and Restaurant (Cross Plains) Wow - this was a huge dissapointment. We had heard from numerous people that the fish here was worth the trip and then some. I'm hoping we had a fluke experience. The smoky supper club atmosphere was about what we expected and that was the best part. Our waitress was horrible, never smiled and messed up my order twice (perhaps she was having a bad day?). The baked walleye didn't have much flavor and my fried walleye had thick, chewy skin and about 15 bones (that was the first half of the filet). I couldn't finish my filet and was feeling a little gaggy. A friend ordered the fried cod and thought it was average (again, more fried than cod with little flavor). I have to admit the desserts were better with several home-baked selections (though I am not sure what the difference is between chocolate-vanilla cream pie and vanilla-chocolate cream pie; our waitress didn't know either). 1 fish
Silver Eagle *
Tallards Station ** 1/2
Toby's Supperclub *** 1/2
Tornado Room (9.28.07) Mmm... I have always loved the Tornado Room and while I have enjoyed their salmon and chicken in the past I have never tried their Friday night fish. They offered pan fried lake perch with a white wine reduction and glazed red onions. Yummy!!! Definately not your traditional Friday fish fry but oh so tasty. The clam chowder was a little gritty from the potatos but had lots of homemade flavor. The perfectly prepared hashbrowns made up for their lack of potato pancakes. No salt or pepper were needed and my plate was not dripping with grease. 4 fish
Wando's (10.5.07) I typically do not have a significant opinion on french fries but the frites at Wando's were fantastic - salted and fried to perfection. Who knew! I ordered the lake perch that apparently was not memorable - either for being very good or very bad. The breading, spice and texture were average. What more can I say. On their menu they claim to have the best fish fry in Madison, but I can't say I agree. 2 1/2 fish
The West Side Club A classic Wisconsin supperclub, the West Side Club offered up a vintage dose of loungy piano music and potent old fashions. Several fish selections were available including smelt, cod (baked or fried), salmon, catfish and pike. Alternatives such as shrimp and cod au gratin were also on the menu. Unfortunately neither blue gill nor perch were available so I ordered the acclaimed smelt (per menu description). Have you ever had smelt? I never had and most likely never will again. It's for people who like the "fry" in the "Friday night fish fry". Enough said. Joe ordered the cod au gratin - baked cod served over hashbrowns and smothered with cheese. Mmm... cheesy goodness. The clam chowder was fantastic with superb texture and great flavor. Definately one of the best I have had. I heard somewhere that the West Side Club had potato pancakes. This is a rumor, however, I did enjoy perfectly cooked hashbrowns. We were also given slaw, baked beans and bread so don't worry about leaving with an empty stomach. I think for now I will hold off on rating the West Side Club until I have the cod or catfish.
Windsor Country Club