Saturday, July 14, 2012

Fish Fry Fridays


Two years ago, we started going out on Fridays for Fish Fries.  The number of places we dined grew and grew.  I took notes at many but not all.  Some have turned into our favorite place to go, others not so much.  This is just my opinion, and my notes were very vague when I started.  Did we like the place enough to come back or not?  Did they offer anything unusal?   Read my reviews and maybe you will find a new place to dine or a place to avoid...

Burke’s Landing    3728 Valley Road, Oconomowoc.  We ate here soon after it reopened.  It is located across from Silver Lake and is very pleasant inside with a lot of dark wood, and large booths.  The fish fry was well priced, and we received a small loaf of bread beforehand, which was good.  The fish was ok, batter a little heavy but overall good meal.

5 O’Clock Club  N28 W26658 Peterson Drive.  This restaurant is located above Pewaukee Lake, you can see the water but it’s not on the lake.  We have eaten here quite a few times, and we suggest you get there early for the Fish Fry, it’s a very popular place and it can be quite a wait if you show up around 6pm.  Coleslaw and bread is served as you are seated.  You get Fish and French frys, not AYCE (All You Can Eat).  Scott ordered seafood chowder but thought it was mostly cream soup without much in it. 

Historical Red Mill Inn, 1005 South Elm Grove Road.  This restaurant is located in a residential area, and looks like a home.  Crunchy Beer Battered Cod or Perch or Baked, A choice of Potatoe: sweet potatoe fries, Garlic tator tots, Potatoe pancakes (not always available).  Regular cole slaw, marbled bread.  Not AYCE.  Food was good, it isn’t very big but we came early so did not have to wait. 

Tess  East Side, 2499 N Bartlett Avenue, Milwaukee.  Small restaurant on the corner.  There are a few tables in the bar area already taken, and they had a wedding rehearsal party in the main dining room, so we were ok to eat at the bar. (14.95) Panko Lake Perch or Tempera Battered Talapia, sweet potatoe fries, crispy cole slaw.  Not AYCE but good size portions.  Bartender very friendly, it was good, different from most of the places we have eaten at.

Bluemound Gardens.  There was too long a wait at the new Crowne Restaurant so we (along with Heather and Scott) dined at the Bluemound Gardens on Bluemound road.  No atmosphere to speak of, and the booth we sat in had a rip in the cushion..but if you are looking for the most bang for your buck…this is the place to go.  For 8.95  you get: soup or salad, fries or potato pancakes, egg bread, fried cod or perch and a dessert (pie or cheesecake).  Everything was ok, and service was good.  I would think the perfect place for a family with kids.

Golden Mast  W349 N5293 Lacy’s Lane, Oconomowoc.  This is Scott’s favorite fish fry.  They only take walk ins on Fridays and if you come by 5:30 the cost is $12.95 ($15.95 after).  Potato salad and cole slaw are on the table as you are seated.  Fried (AYCE) or baked cod.  Very fast service and a fantastic view of Okauchee Lake.  

Michaels: 1400 south Grand Avenue, Waukesha.  Italian-American restaurant.  There were quite a few salad and fish options besides the basic Fish Fry and a large menu as well.  We have visited on other days besides Fridays, and their pizza has a nice thin crust.  We get Michael’s coupons in the mail with those discount packs, and are really a great value.  Overall very good.

Serb Hall  5101 W. Oklahoma avenue, Milwaukee.  Go early to avoid the crowd.  This place fills up fast and is a buffet style.  Fish, other seafood options, variety of potatoes, salad are all offered.  You end up with a lot on your plate.  There was also a dessert table.  Scott like the basic fish fry the best, since I liked the baked cod overall.

Sand Bar  W278 N2315 Prospect Avenue, on the south shore of Pewaukee Lake.  Outside dining with your feet in the sand.  Not fancy but very enjoyable.  I had a cod fish sandwich which was good, Scott had the basic fish fry Cod $10.00 (also Perch is $12) which was average.  Service a little slow but since you are sitting next to the marina, there is a lot of activity so it’s all good.  I have also eaten here on other nights, and their Burger on a pretzel bun  and sweet potato fries  is really good.

Foolery  N52 W35090 Lake Drive.  Just over the bridge from Golden Mast on Okauchee Lake.  Once again outdoor dining is available (but in early spring we stopped here for lunch on a Sunday and sat inside with a great view of the lake).  The Cod Fish Fry had crunchy batter which I really liked, with baked vegetables, and small potatoes.  The setting outside is so relaxing. 

Brookfield Suites  located inside the Brookfield Suites on Moreland.  The first time we ate here we were the only people which surprised us because the food was extremely good.  First you visit the soup and salad bar which was very good.  Baked or Fried Fish and fries or potato pancakes.  This was the first place that offered syrup for the pancakes rather than applesauce, and I loved it.  We have gone back a few times, and though never crowded, there usually is a fair amount of people dining.

Hoggs Alley 2008 N Venice Beach Road, Oconomowoc.  This place has a following.  We went early but not early enough and had a long wait.  Too long, over an hour and a half and the main reason is because the restaurant is very small.  We finally sit and are almost rubbing elbows with the table next to us.  They offer Cod $10.00, Walleye $12.00, Perch $11.00 and I tried the BlueGills $11.00 which had a heavy flavor to them and I did not like it.  Scott had the Cod and it was ok but the crowded noisy room just was not relaxing.  We would not go back.

Curly’s Waterfront Bar & Grill.  On Pewaukee Lake by the boat launch.  The Bar & Grill is located on the 2nd floor and we ate out on the patio that surrounds the whole bar & grill.   Cod $10 or AYCE $12.00.  I had the fish sandwich which was good and Scott liked the Cod.  Fries no other extras.  It’s not directly on the water but sitting in the shade watching the boat launch was relaxing.

Bubs Irish Pub   On Main Street in Germantown.  I liked this place more than Scott did.  There were five choices for potatoes: steak fries, buffalo fries, baked potate, seasoned fries, Potate pancakes.  You can choose from Batter Fried Haddock (I had), Seasoned Haddock or Baked Haddock (scott had) AYCE  all for $10.00.   We were there early, there were not a lot of people there yet but service was a little slow.   This place is very large inside and listed many specials on other days of the week.

Johnny Manhattan  3718 Hubertus Road, Hubertus.  We both liked this place a Lot!  We have been there a couple times and once with Joe and Julie.  There are a lot of rooms, so it seats more than it looks from the outside.  There are lots of old rat pack pictures, but I don’t know the history there.  After you are seated you get potato salad, cole slaw, and pasta salad to nibble on as you decide on what to order.  AYCE Fish fry, bake or fried or a combo of both.  I had the baked once and the combo both are very good.  I also had their French onion soup which was fantastic. 

Delafield Brewhaus   3832 Hillside Drive, Delafield  Their Wisconsin Fish Fry is amber battered cod, fries or potato salad or baked potato.  Other options breaded perch or broiled cod.  We had the battered cod and it was crunchy, the way I like it.   Heather and Scott had dined here before we did and did not have a good meal.  Their fish fry was not cooked thoroughly.  Ours was fine. 

7 Seas  1807 Nagawicka Road, Hartland  Similar menu to Golden Mast but without the early eating discount.  AYCE Cod, baked or Fried or Chicken.  Potato salad and cole slaw also similar for $15.95. Variety of rooms to dine in, we had a view of the lake.  Fish was not exactly the same, a little greasier maybe. 

Weissgerber’s Gasthaus and Beer Garden  2720 N Grandview Blvd.   Grouped with 7Seas and Golden Mast, Weissgerber’s has the same sides (cole slaw and potato salad) AYCE Fried Cod, and Baked Cod for $15.95 but like  7Seas, they don’t offer the early dining discount.  The German décor is very appealing, and puts you in the mood for a stein of beer.

Schwabenhof’s    Large hall, lots of people, 10.95 Fish Fry or Fried Chicken or combo.  It must be the price that brings in the people because the fish was just so-so. 

Waukesha’s Elks   2301 Springdale Road.  Everyone once in a while they put up a sign that says Fish Fry this coming Friday.  I saw the sign coming home and we tried it out.  It was very popular with Elk’s members.  You order as you walk in, go to the bar and buy yourself something to drink, then find a seat.  Definitely an older group of diners.  Fish was just so-so, would not go back.

American Legion  3245 N 124th street, Brookfield.  Similar to the two above, this place has a following, and the greeters are extremely proud of their members.  Here you find a seat and someone comes and takes your order, which is basic fish fry, fries, and rye bread.  Fish was just so-so (which if you haven’t figured out is my way of saying we didn’t really like it). 

There was another American Legion place we stopped at in Waukesha.  You order as you come in, and they lost our order.  There were only a hand full of people in the place, 45 minutes after arriving, someone came up to us and asked what we ordered.  DUH.  A half hour later we finally got some fish, which was bland.  We were happy to leave.

That’s it for this segment.  I apologize that I did not include prices for everything or even the specific fish offered, but when I started taking notes they were very general.  I would like to continue reviewing restaurants, but may do reviews of more than just for Fish Fries and will establish some kind of rating system.   Until then:   Eat, Drink, and Enjoy!





Sunday, July 1, 2012

For Suzie's bachelorette party we went to Hamburger Mary's.  Located at 2130 Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee, Hamburger Mary's is a "bar & grille for open minded people".

The first one opened in 1972 in San Francisco and though that particular one is no longer in operation, there are 12 Hamburger Mary's located across the US.  You can stop in for lunch or dinner or on Saturdays or Sundays they offer a brunch or come later in the evening and enjoy cocktails and one or two shows.  Cross Dressing or Drag shows are the theme of the evening and the "Mary" in the title is a slang descriptor used for gay men as far back at early
1900s. 
Hamburger Mary's is listed as the Bachelorette and Birthday Headquarters.  
If you are the birthday person, or bride to be, you get extra attention during the show by the performers.
The food was good, drinks arrived quickly and our waiter was very attentive.  I felt it took longer than usual to first get our appetizers, and then the food.  Our food arrived just before the show started, an hour after arriving there.  Our hamburger was good (I split one with Amy and it was nicely cut in half with fries divided evenly on both our plates, which was a nice touch).  
So, the show..hmmm, what can I say, when a picture can say it all:








 The shows were loud, with music blaring, people laughing and shouting, performers performing.  Harmony Breeze and Shannon DuPree are two names of performers this particular evening.

I can not post any pictures from the later show. It was more risque.  There were a few see through outfits, so use your imagination.

These shows are probably not for everyone but we laughed, drank, and watched a lot of body parts shaking.  Overall, it was a lot of fun!