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!
