Whether it’s bluegill, perch, or walleye on your plate, the fish fry is a hallowed and battered tradition in Wisconsin. In a recent survey by Madison Magazine, nearly half of respondents said they sit down to a fish fry at least once a month.
It feels like the fish fry has been around since forever – but will it be around forever? On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to Madison writer Jeff Oloizia about his cover story for Madison Magazine on how climate change and global economic trends may be threatening our beloved fish fry.
For now, at least, the fish fry is thriving in the Madison area. Here are some of our favorites around town. If we missed your Friday favorite, email us at madison@citycast.fm and let us know why your fish fry rules!
Oloizia spent time in the east side pub studying its wildly popular fish fry while reporting for his article, and with good reason. Honored as “Madison’s Best Fish Fry” by both Isthmus and Madison Magazine, Dexter’s serves up wild-caught North American fish in non-GMO sunflower oil, with Madison Sourdough rye bread on the side. If you just can’t wait until Friday, they have a limited fish fry on Wednesdays, too.
It’s like having fish fry out on the farm in this historic Fitchburg location. Not only can you get fish fry in the elegant Stone House restaurant or rustic Stable Grill, but on Friday nights they have an outdoor fish fry under the Paddock Tent.
Come out to this restored 19th-century farmhouse in Middleton and indulge in cod (battered or unbreaded), perch (beer-battered or breaded), or walleye (beer battered or hashbrown encrusted) on Friday nights, with a long list of “standard” and “premium” sides to choose from.
This favorite on East Washington Avenue offers fish fry on Tuesdays and Fridays. Drink specials include $8 sangria on Tuesdays and $8 Old Fashioneds on Fridays. Cheers!
Fish fry isn’t just for Friday at Oakcrest. This west side classic serves fried perch and cod dinners (including kids’ menu versions) Wednesday through Friday. The baked cod dinner, however, is just on Friday.
The food at this Regent Street institution is all really good, so it’s no surprise that the fish fry would punch above its weight too. The Milwaukee Record rhapsodized about the breaded bluegill, but there’s also walleye, perch, cod, and Cajun shrimp, and you can get a great fish sandwich too.
This north side dive bar (complimentary) is famous for its fish fry, serving up perfectly breaded and seasoned fish with potato or fries, cole slaw, and a dinner roll.
Why wouldn’t a high-end seafood restaurant get in on the fish fry game? Tempest serves mouth-watering walleye or yellow perch (or whatever is fresh) along with house-cut fries and homemade tartar sauce. A step up, but worth treating yourself.
