The following list is taken from a series in which Caleb Westphal—who hasn’t missed a Friday fish fry since 2013—seeks out the best fish frys in Milwaukee and beyond. These entries represent his “recommended” and “honorable mention” picks. UPDATED FEBRUARY 2023.
Bass Bay Brewhouse (Muskego)
S79W15851 Aud Mar Dr.
Muskego, WI 53150
414-377-9449
Website
“After the meal, there was one thing yet to be done. I walked out the doors and headed straight for the lake. Sure, going to a lakefront restaurant is probably best done on a bright summer day, not on a cold, dark night in January, but I was going to try to enjoy the surroundings anyway. I looked out over the frozen expanse and saw nothingness, except for the lights emanating from a few houses across the bay. But then I turned around and saw the most immaculate looking building, glowing in its full beauty, which no amount of cold or darkness could overtake. And did I mention the place serves a Friday night fish fry?”
Takeaways: Clam chowder is an appetizer, and no other appetizers are needed; the fish had a pretty mild flavor, but was of high quality all around; solid pancakes and rye bread, standard coleslaw; versatile ambiance; impressive building; always drive down dead end streets.
C & C’s Mosquito Inn (Caledonia)
3208 4 Mile Rd.
Caledonia, WI 53404
262-583-4378
Website
“The Mosquito Inn’s combo fish fry is well worth the $25 price tag, on account of both the amount and quality of the food that comes with it. Two pieces of cod, one piece of walleye, one piece of perch, and four shrimp, all of considerable sizes, were piled on top of all the sides—except for a homemade frosted brownie, which was on top of the fish—to the point that the sides could barely be noticed.”
Takeaways: Order at the bar and be prepared to eat at the bar if the tables are full; top notch Old Fashioned; sea of souplike and flavorful chowder; excavated rye bread; packed pancakes; large amount of fish with the combo; my friend had the cod, which was less than half the price and still plenty of food; savory and seasoned breading; excellent fillets of cod; distinct tasting perch and walleye; comes with a brownie but you might get a pickle too.
Café el Sol (Milwaukee)
1028 S. 9th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-384-3100
Website
“As I finished my third plate of food, I sat back and took in some of the live music. It’s not out of the ordinary to hear accordion playing and polka music at many Milwaukee fish frys, but at Café el Sol one hears Latin music with Spanish vocals. How great it is to know that people are enjoying fried fish and music of different flavors and varieties throughout the city. Here’s looking at you, Milwaukee.”
Takeaways: Fish fry buffet!; a darn good margarita; a little heat in the coleslaw; the tartar and fish seemed meant for each other; served from 5-8:30 p.m. with live Latin music beginning at 6:30 p.m.; you aren’t in the wrong place, the restaurant is in the basement; no need to wait until Cinco de Mayo, this fish fry is worth checking out any time of the year.
The Cellar Pub & Grill (Oak Creek)
812 W. Oakwood Rd.
Oak Creek, WI 53154
414-762-9844
Website
“As of late I’ve realized I’m usually a bigger fan of breaded fish than beer battered, but The Cellar has some excellent beer battered fish, of which I was given three loins of. Just as the coleslaw was reminiscent of an earlier time for my friend, the fish reminded me of some homemade fish I had as a child. The batter wasn’t too thin or too thick, or too soft or too crunchy, and had a great flavor on its own, even without the tartar.”
Takeaways: Homemade slaw and fish that elicits memories and tastes great; solid potato pancakes; chowderberg; a building that dates to the time of the Civil War; the place is known for its pizzas, and they are probably good on days of the week that don’t start with an “F,” while it’s no Clifford’s, Pat’s, or Randy’s, and there is no all-you-can-eat option, I still think I’ll recommend it.
Clifford’s Supper Club (Hales Corners)
10418 W. Forest Home Ave.
Hales Corners, WI 53130
414-425-6226
Website
“This won’t be the last time I eat Clifford’s fish. Some places have fish frys on Wednesdays and Fridays, and some places only expand to this during Lent. Clifford’s serves fish frys seven days a week. No matter where you are or when it is, you can always have a smile on your face, knowing that someone might be eating fish at Clifford’s right now. What a wonderful world.”
Takeaways: Building has two parts, so it’s like two fish fry restaurants in one; charming and nostalgic supper club vibes; great service; consistently delicious stream of all-you-can-eat-fish with a well-paired tartar; you can go here every day of the week for fish and you probably won’t get sick of it. It has the perfect blend of ambiance and food. This one is pure Wisconsin.
Coach’s Pub ‘N’ Grill (Milwaukee)
5356 South 13th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53221
414-281-8175
Website
“There are a handful of Friday night fish fry spots close to the airport. The Packing House usually ends up on every “best of” list for fish fry places in the Milwaukee, and Amelia’s and Final Approach are also nearby. Just a stone’s throw from there one can find Coach’s Pub ‘N’ Grill. It may be a little less refined than its counterparts, but make no mistake, this neighborhood bar is worthy of standing beside its neighbors, and is worth a try.”
Takeaways: Chowder included with meal; decent amount of fish options, including bluegill; buckets of fish!!!; cheap Old Fashioneds; my friend forgot his leftovers and a worker literally ran out the door of the place with them to catch us.
Crawfish Junction (Milford)
W6376 County Road A
Johnson Creek, WI 53038
920-648-3550
Website
“If you find yourself on I-94 somewhere between Milwaukee and Madison on a Friday, it’s worth it to weave through a few small towns on back country roads until you come upon Milford and Crawfish Junction. The restaurant’s website claims Milford is a ‘booming metropolis.’ That may be complete balderdash, but who needs a metropolis when you have perch and bluegill combo fish frys?”
Takeaways: A decent amount of fish options and you can make it a combo dinner; the hand breaded fish was pretty awesome, but the rest of the meal was pretty standard; fittingly, you can get crawfish; after 2 p.m. on Fridays there is a different, pared-down menu that focuses on fish, because they know how important fish is; the mailing address of the place is Johnson Creek—poor Milford, it has trouble even making it on an envelope.
Cue Club of Wisconsin (Waukesha)
2454 N. Grandview Blvd.
Waukesha, WI 53188
262-522-3615
Website
“As we walked in, my eyes shot straight to the pool tables. Surprisingly, they were largely empty; almost everyone was either seated at tables in the dining area or at the bar—presumably eating fish frys. I did notice some of the pool tables had chairs and tall two-top tables by them, which raised my hopes that my plan for the evening would be possible. I eagerly asked the hostess if we could eat by the pool tables, and she said yes, but that we would have to order our food at the bar in order to do so. She also told us that pool was free for anyone who was waiting for a table to eat at. I again enunciated that we weren’t planning on waiting for a table and that we just wanted to eat by the pool tables.”
Takeaways: Excellent fish and tartar sauce—the breading was flavorful, the morsels were of high quality, and the tartar was sweet and tangy; pretty solid waffle fries, but I did not get a mountain of them; relatively standard coleslaw and rye bread; well-made Old Fashioned; you can play a game of pool (or darts, bocce ball, cornhole, ping pong, foosball, or shuffleboard) while you are eating your fish fry.
The Depot Tavern (Caledonia)
11402 County Road G
Caledonia, WI 53108
262-835-2272
Website
“The breading on the fish was outstanding, mainly on account of its perfectly balanced texture. Being that the fish had been fried for just the right amount of time helped make the breading stand out as well. It was quite mild in flavor, however, which sometimes can feel bland, but that was not the case here. When it came to the fish itself, the cod consisted of thick and flaky white morsels, while the flavor of the perch was pretty mellow.”
Takeaways: A tavern next to some train tracks; the place is pretty small, but not quite small enough to imagine that you are eating in a boxcar that fell off the train tracks; the wait was longer than expected but the place was packed; hypnotizing rye; extra creamy slaw; commendable fries as long as you don’t spill beer on them; combo fish options; the handbreading on the fish was the standout part of the meal; high quality cod and mellow perch; the ghosts of the old pickle factory are putting extra pickles in the tartar; they have homemade pies and ice cream drinks and other desserts.
Dicken’s Grille & Spirits (West Allis)
9646 W. Greenfield Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
414-258-0888
Website
“Somewhat crunchy, and without any greasiness but full of character, the cod’s topographically rich breading was on the mark, while the fish beneath it wasn’t far off. The cod fell in line ably alongside a thick and zippy-sweet tartar, with the convergence of the flavor and texture of both pleasuring the palate.”
Takeaways: Friendly folks; hey, look, I can see my fish fry being made; meatless soup you can cover with meat; dill-heavy slaw in a dish; large bar but larger pancakes; topographically rich breading; thick and tasty tartar; This is Why West Allis.
Erv’s Mug (Oak Creek)
130 W. Ryan Rd.
Oak Creek, WI 53154
414-762-5010
Website
“From the moment you open the door to Erv’s Mug, you find beer signs, tap handles, and other beer-related memorabilia on the ceiling and walls. In the entryway, there are some signs so close to the front door that they look like they are trying to crawl outside and escape. One would be hard pressed to find a spot where something else could be added to the ceiling or walls in the bar area or in the two dining rooms. But besides being known for their full walls, Erv’s Mug is also known for their fish frys.”
Takeaways: There are beer-related things hanging everywhere; smooth Old Fashioned; high marks for chowder; chowder or soup comes with meal!; excellent rye bread but could use more than one piece; large cod with a fine batter; lots of beers on tap; the workers at Erv’s Mug that we came in contact with were exceptionally nice.
Fireside Theatre (Fort Atkinson)
1131 Janesville Ave.
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
800-477-9505
Website
“After finishing my meal off with a dinner-included coffee, my companions and I began wandering around The Fireside like children at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. We found a room which I will call the Forest Room, as well as a Fire Room, and a few rooms upstairs inside the original pyramid, where miniature, model hot-air balloons hung from the ceiling. Finally, we settled into the sunken-down lounge area and pulled up a seat at the bar. I saw a lady having a cocktail with a colorful fan in it, and asked the bartender to make me whatever she was having. So it was I ended my slightly psychedelic evening with a Mai Tai and a giant colorful fan. Who would have thought that journeying to Fort Atkinson would have been a trip in more ways than one?”
Takeaways: It used to be a cornfield, and it’s in a city with less than 13,000 people, but it showcases professional theater productions and people come from miles around; there is a room that looks like an ocean, and one that looks like a forest, and one that looks like a fire, and they are given boring names like “room G”; there were some crazy frequency lights by our table and I couldn’t tell if I was tripping or having a stroke—it turns out it was just the lights; Baby Bear’s chowder; super crispy pancakes; tastily greasy beer battered cod; cinnamon stick in the Old Fashioneds and multicolored fan in the Mai Tai; unlimited top-notch bread and coleslaw; bread and other fresh baked good available for purchase at bakery; multiple gift shops that I avoided, so you’ll just have check them out yourself.
Hacienda Beer Co. (Milwaukee)
2018 E. North Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-296-7200
Website
“The fish fry at Hacienda North Ave. Taproom is unique, flavorful, and spicy. They know what they are doing with their beer batter, and there’s an added bonus being that the fish is all you can eat. There are various elements of the sides that could be discussed, but they are all overshadowed by one thing: spiciness. Maybe this element stood out to me because I have a milder palate, and perhaps if the coleslaw and french fries were stacked against many other spicy foods they would pale in comparison, but I still think this was the most noteworthy thing about the meal. If you are a fan of spicy foods, I’d put this fish fry at the top of your list of ones to check out.”
Takeaways: This was the spiciest fish fry I’ve ever had in my life, but the fish and beer batter were not spicy, although everything else was; the slaw made me sweat, and so did the french fries; all-you can-eat at a reasonable price; Hacienda Beer Co. uses their own beer on the batter, and the batter is flavorful; they start serving fish frys at 11 a.m.—who wants to eat an all-day, all-you-can-eat fish fry with me from then until close and try all their beers at the same time?
Honeypie (Milwaukee)
2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-4897437
Website
“But this was no lousy fish fry. No, Honeypie knows how to put one together. The meal came with three fine pieces of haddock covered with a breading of character and purpose. The breading was full of texture—looking like low grit sandpaper or three-day-old stubble, but much more appetizing—and it held the fish together so that it could easily be eaten by hand. Although the fish and breading were moderate in flavor, the tartar was bursting with it. Besides relish, some seasonings were visible in it, but I couldn’t infer what they were.”
Takeaways: Honeypie offers haddock fish frys on Fridays for delivery and curbside pickup for $15; appetizing and memorable breading; flavorful tartar sauce; fresh and crunchy coleslaw; the french fries were not just filler; comes with cornbread and honey butter instead of rye bread.
Husher’s Pub & Grill (Caledonia)
9002 6 Mile Rd.
Caledonia, WI 53108
262-835-9795
Website
“Don’t go looking for frills at this roadside bar fish fry—just come hungry. Although there isn’t an all-you-can-eat option, with seven pieces of fish on a combo order, most people wouldn’t need it anyway. Tack on that mound of french fries and the thought of needing more food seems even more unnecessary. I wasn’t awed by this fish fry, but there was enough goodness to it to make me understand why some would place it as one of their favorites. If you make a wrong turn and end up at Husher’s Pub & Grill, you might as well step inside for an Old Fashioned and a fish fry.”
Takeaways: Corner country bar that dates to the 19th century; no all-you-can-eat option, but you get plenty of food anyway; combos are available; non-muddled Old Fashioned mixed with precision; get out there and make some wrong turns.
Jack Pandl’s Whitefish Bay Inn (Whitefish Bay)
1319 E. Henry Clay St.
Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
414-964-3800
Website
“The fish had a light flavorful breading, and the fish itself had a nice, flaky texture. To me, whitefish has a flavor not unlike catfish, which would not be my first choice. I’m more of a perch or cod kind of guy, but considering the circumstances of where I was, I felt I had to do it. It was paired with some great homemade tartar, which I asked about, and was told, ‘Well, there is some carrot…and pickle…and the rest is a secret.'”
Takeaways: Hearty chowder; delectable rye breadsticks; coleslaw made with care; solid potato pancakes; friendly service; the price is a few dollars more than many fish fry places, but besides a solid meal you get to dine in a refined, historic setting and get multiple forks; one of their specialties are German pancakes, which I may need to come back for at some point; the waitstaff wears matching white shirts; my waitress boxed up and let me take home all the extra bread chips; although I’m not particularly a fan of whitefish, this place has enough charm, history, and solid food that I feel it deserves a recommendation.
Juice’s Ghost Town (Grafton)
990 Ulao Rd.
Grafton, WI 53024
262-376-9003
Website
“My friends and I arrived at the restaurant around 6:30 p.m. to find it completely packed. We squeezed through a crowd of people to get to the far side of the bar to put a name in, and were told it would be about a 45-minute wait. After getting an Old Fashioned—which had the largest cinnamon and spice flavored mushrooms I’ve ever had for a garnish—the coziness of the place took over. It was almost as if we were insulated from the outside world, with the carpeted floors and wood-covered walls protecting us.”
Takeaways: The restaurant is located in a ghost town; the ambiance is hard to beat; decent fish and pancakes; so-so tartar; a fine creamy slaw; after your fish fry, you can drive by a house where a presidential assassin lived as a child.
Kam’s Thistle & Shamrock (Milwaukee)
3430 N. 84th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53222
414-871-3977
Website
“Kam’s Thistle & Shamrock has a few things going for it. For one, they have many fish options, giving diners plenty to choose from. Second, for a place that serves fried food, they are very health conscious. They avoid using high fructose corn syrup, they make their food from scratch, and they use monounsaturated-rich ‘100% high-oleic canola oil,’ ‘real butter—no margarine,’ and ‘Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt.’ There were even some microgreens scattered on top of my fish. The many fish options and freshness of the ingredients are probably two of the main reasons why the place was so packed when I was there. From the way it seemed, Kam’s may very well be the hub of their neighborhood. But if you don’t live in the neighborhood yourself, I doubt you’d regret making the drive.”
Takeaways: Around a million or so fish options; fresh food made from scratch; a place to get a fish fry if you want to pretend fish frys are healthy; excellent seafood chowder complemented with a top-notch roll; high-quality, mild flavored fish; there’s a “combo” and a “premium combo” but no explanation on the menu on how to order a mid-grade combo, but you can do it; there’s a bar in the same building as a bar; the menu says that when you order smelt you get “approximately 17-20” of them, and I can just imagine that one dude who gets 16 and complains.
Kegel’s Inn (West Allis)
5901 W. National Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
414-257-9999
Website
“Almost all of the food was noticeably better than what you’d find at a typical fish fry, mainly on account of its flavor and texture. The chowder had an average amount of carrots and clams, and its consistency was comparable to many chowders, but what hit me was its flavor. It was some of the best tasting chowder I’ve had in recent memory, and it kept me longing for more. Two pieces of dark German rye were brought out right after the chowder was set down. The edges were dusted with flour, and the caraway seeds were loaded with flavor. This was some high quality bread—not just a loaf casually yanked from a store shelf.”
Takeaways: Originally a speakeasy; family-owned in its fourth generation; they get packed on a Friday night, so it’s probably a good idea to make a reservation—check their website for some pointers; beautiful murals; flavorful chowder; real bread; excellent fish; the pancakes had some rad texture; I feel I have to mention this—my friend really liked the fish, except for one piece, which he thought tasted like “the industrial cleaning product used in Hobart washing machines.” He threw that piece off his plate.
Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee)
1872 N. Commerce St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-372-8800
Website
“Part of the fun was being able to share the experience with people that usually don’t eat fish. One of my friends, who hasn’t had a fish fry in about five years or so, yelled to me, ‘Damn, that was a damn good fish fry!’ I think he is right. Lakefront does have a damn good fish fry. When lists come out of the top fish fries in the city, Lakefront almost always makes the cut. The fry is solid. Is it markedly better than most fish fries in the area? That’s debatable. It is really good, but there are a lot of places under the radar that have fries of the same caliber. What pushes Lakefront above a lot of the pack is the atmosphere. The loud jubilant environment might not be for everyone, but I think it is fitting, and an excellent representation of what beer, fish, and polka music means to our city. In short, eating a fish fry at Lakefront is a Milwaukee rite of passage.”
Takeaways: Seven seafood meal options; live polka music; large table dining; some of Milwaukee’s best beer on tap; you can go on a brewery tour after eating, and then if you really want, you can get another fish fry after finishing your brewery tour.
Landmark Inn (Mequon)
10634 W. Freistadt Rd.
Mequon, WI 53097
262-242-9907
Website
“The place is small, but cozy. A shingled roof accents the inside perimeter of the barroom along the ceiling and above the dark wood walls, while carpeting covers the floors. Red lamps hang over the bar. The room was dimly lit, and many people were casually standing around holding drinks, waiting for their table to be called. No one seemed to be in any type of hurry. The clientele trended older, mainly being folks around retirement age, although this was not exclusively the case. The familial nature of the business seemed to extend to those who were dining. Many of the waitstaff and customers knew each other’s names; customers were in conversation with other customers they had never met.”
Takeaways: Familial atmosphere and friendly staff; you are probably going to have to wait awhile, so grab a cocktail and make some some talk; reasonably priced; the clam chowder comes in a coffee mug and is topped with croutons; homemade pancakes and German potato salad; excellent breading on perch; you get a piece of pineapple for dessert; it’s really close to another inn; don’t confuse it with the Landmark 1850 Inn.
Little Red Inn (St. Lawrence/Hartford)
4900 WI-175
Hartford, WI 53027
262-644-8181
Website
“I had gone to the crossroads as a dejected man, but walked away from them cleansed by beer batter and fish. I even had a few pieces of fish to take with me in case the blues returned. If you find yourself on the road and feeling down, get off the main road and look for the crossroads of a small town. You won’t have to give up your soul to get yourself right—you’ll only have to hand over a little bit of cash.”
Takeaways: I went to the crossroads and had a fish fry; historic building in an unincorporated community; welcoming supper club vibe, although the the wine theme was a little over the top; great deal for what you get with the AYCE; it’s family style but if you don’t bring a family you just get seated quicker and can eat the sweet and peppery coleslaw right out of the family-style bowl; almost everything is homemade; you can get fries and pancakes at the same time; fish and pancakes were both above average; good service; Jim Widmer got a fish fry here in 1998. Not familiar with Widmer’s story? Get ready to be inspired.
Mibb’s & Viv’s (Lannon)
7300 N. Lannon Rd.
Lannon, WI 53046
262-251-4122
Website
“And then there was the fish and other seafood. There was so much going on it was hard to keep it all straight. The three of us started by inspecting the pieces on our plate, saying things like ‘These are the scallops and these are the shrimp,’ and ‘Oh, and this is the haddock and here is the cod.’ There were three scallops, three pieces of regular shrimp, one shrimp stuffed with cheese and crab, a butterfly of breaded perch, a piece of breaded haddock, and a piece of beer battered cod.”
Takeaways: Fourth-generation owned; old-school vibe; non-muddled Old Fashioned; put your order in before you are seated; lots of seafood options; thick and fully-filled chowder; quality french fries but no homemade potato pancakes; crunchy slaw; can you spot which of the shrimp is stuffed?; perch as sweet as candy; hefty cod and haddock; cash only but they have an ATM; get there super early or get there late, otherwise you’ll have to wait; their Wifi password is fishfry1.
Milwaukee Elks Lodge #46 (Milwaukee)
5555 Good Hope Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53223
414-353-2900
Website
“‘There it is!’ I exclaimed, as Milwaukee Elks Lodge #46 came into view. But it wasn’t really the lodge that caught my attention. I was instead mesmerized by a glowing elk statue. With minimal lighting outside of the lodge, and the few other nearby signs being lackluster, it was up to the giant zinc elk—which had ‘Fish Fry Friday’ on the marquee underneath it—to guide the car into the parking lot.”
Takeaways: There is a giant 117 year old elk statue outside of the place and it has its own Wikipedia page; great prices; high quality fish; solid homemade chowder; okay fries, slaw, and bread; they had ice cream sundaes for $3.50 but I did not have one; playing bingo seems to be a big deal here.
Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant (Milwaukee)
2001 W. Atkinson Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53209
414-447-6660
Website
“I had been given some tartar sauce packets, but was having trouble opening them on account of my greasy hands, and eventually gave up. I moved on to some hot sauce packets that also had come with the meal. Have I ever had hot sauce on fried fish before? No. Was this fish good enough that it didn’t need any sauce? Yes. Did adding hot sauce still manage to make it even better? You betcha!”
Takeaways: Mr. Perkins has been in business for 51 years; Soul Food Sundays and Friday Fish Frys on the first Sunday and Friday of the month; robust and seasoned breading on a healthy helping of catfish; four other Friday dinner options and a wide variety of sides; warm cornbread muffin; you might see Charles Barkley on one of your visits.
Nite Cap Inn (Palmyra)
227 S. 3rd St.
Palmyra, WI 53156
262-495-2659
Website
“All of the food together had an understated magnificence to it—a certain balance. Each part seemed to complement the other, and the setting seemed to perfectly match the food as well. In total I had seven pieces of fish and five potato pancakes. I was offered a dessert on the house, and although I was appreciative of the offer, I didn’t want any special treatment, and I turned it down. In hindsight I should have seen if I could have just gotten some more fish and pancakes to take home as my dessert. I could sure go for some right about now.”
Takeaways: Everything is homemade; top notch potato pancakes with fish that is not too far behind; AYCE for a reasonable price ($12.95); family owned and operated for 30 years, and has been the Nite Cap Inn for even longer; timeless ambiance; get there early and plan on a somewhat long wait (I left my house in Milwaukee at 3:45 and got home around 7:45); they found out I was a “food critic” and I was startled enough to forget to order clam chowder or take better pictures of the food; besides fish and pancakes they are known for German cuisine; I saw a horse walk by outside while I was eating; this place is the real deal, folks—it’s totally worth the drive.
Oak Creek American Legion Post 434 (Oak Creek)
9327 S. Shepard Ave.
Oak Creek, WI 53154
414-762-9660
Website
“A seductive lip-licking saltiness pervaded the cod’s coating. Not greasy, and neither thick nor thin, it appeared to be a batter with the character of a breading. No matter what it was, it was very on point. The fish beneath it wasn’t far beneath it in class either, being thick, meaty, and uniform. The tartar was tangy and sweet and met the cod perfectly.”
Takeaways: Fish fry prepared by American Legion Auxiliary; they don’t have a “large” fish fry, but actually, yeah, they do; they also have a fish fry hotline phone number; peppery symmetrical chowder; fresh and thick rye bread; juicy, flavorful slaw; very satisfying fish and tartar; mini cream puff for dessert; fish fry season is from September through April.
The Packing House (Milwaukee)
900 E. Layton Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-483-5054
Website
“When I finished eating I blurted to myself, ‘All that for ten minutes of pleasure!’ Was the drive and wait worth it for something that so quickly was gone? Absolutely. The Packing House has memorable fish and potato pancakes, and the drive-thru itself is part of the whole experience. On top of all that, they’ve been doing positive things with their fish frys during the pandemic, whether it be giving them out to healthcare workers or helping to get them into the hands of shut-in senior citizens. This is how we do it, Milwaukee. The Packing House Forever.”
Takeaways: Drive-thru open for fish from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 3 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays; cash only but you can pay with a card if you call ahead and order for curbside pickup; there are “no parking” signs because of fish frys; you can get an Old Fashioned kit at a drive-thru; meaty fish with a soft breading; flavorful pancakes.
Pat’s Oak Manor (South Milwaukee)
1804 15th Ave.
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
414-762-4660
Website
“Pat’s Oak Manor is an excellent all-around fish fry experience that I highly recommend. The cod is great, you can eat as much of it as you want, and it is reasonably priced. An old hall that once housed a bowling alley, a guy playing a keyboard—these things are pure Wisconsin, and there is a certain warmth and familiarity that you feel when you are dining there. The only downside is that it takes a little while to get moving again after eating so much good food.”
Takeaways: Top-notch all-you-can-eat fish; creamy and crunchy slaw; the clam chowder had a lot of clam; Tony plays the keys, make sure to tip him; excellent for families, just don’t let your kids eat pizza on Fridays; there is a chapel in the basement for weddings, and if anyone wants to marry me we can have this fish fry for our rehearsal dinner; I sat in a chair for an hour and a half without moving when I got home, but then I forced myself to walk up and down Kinnickinnic Avenue for a full hour to try to burn off some calories; the overall experience of Pat’s Oak Manor is what you want for a Wisconsin Friday night fish fry.
Pitch’s Lounge and Restaurant (Milwaukee)
1801 N. Humboldt Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-9313
Website
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Pitch’s. Besides the great atmosphere and food, I had great service. My waitress offered to wrap up the leftover bread, including the raisin bread, so I could take it home. My Saturday started off right with the raisin bread complimenting my coffee. There’s a good chance I’ll be back to Pitch’s again down the road, maybe to try their ribs.”
Takeaways: Intriguing Milwaukee backstory, excellent service, tasty crispy fish, 11 fry options, homemade raisin bread, supper club-like ambiance.
Range Line Inn (Mequon)
2635 W. Mequon Rd.
Mequon, WI 53092
262-242-0530
Website
“If you are looking for a quiet evening in a cozy atmosphere, The Range Line Inn will meet your needs. The food was good enough to warrant a drive north of town, and although the building has been used in many capacities over the years, I think there is a good chance that it will have the role of restaurant for some time to come.”
Takeaways: Best rolls ever; crispy golden beer batter on the fish; so so quiet—I dropped my forks on the floor by accident because I was so excited it was Friday and the whole place probably heard me; solid homemade potato pancakes; historic building; cozy atmosphere; refined presentation—except for the one TV that was tuned to Family Guy for some reason, and an electronic witch that lit up and said stuff when you entered and left the building.
Romey’s Place Bar & Grill (Franklin)
7508 S. North Cape Rd.
Franklin, WI 53132
414-425-9913
Website
“The potato pancakes were excellent. Thick, hearty, meaty, comforting, mild, and like a meal on their own are a few of the words I’d use to describe them. Halved, buttered, and sandwiched together, the bread was a contrast of caraway seeds that packed a punch and light rye. When I ordered my meal, I was asked if I wanted creamy or vinegar coleslaw. The question is so rare that I didn’t know what to do, and froze. Eventually I snapped out of it, and went with the vinegar slaw, doing so because it is not found as often as creamy slaw. It seemed rather standard to me, but was still good, although I tried some of the creamy slaw one of my friends had, and did like it more.”
Takeaways: Over 50 years in business; positive vibes from the staff; there are more seafood options than tables; superb Old Fashioned and potato pancakes; satisfying fish, but I could have gone for another piece or two; choose your own coleslaw adventure; there was a lot of relish in the tartar sauce.
St. Paul Fish Company (Milwaukee Public Market)
400 N. Water St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-220-8383
Website
“It was just about the perfect late-summer weather for eating outside, and we found a spot along the building on St. Paul Avenue. I opened the bag and was pleased to find both a fork and a soup spoon, some napkins, and some ketchup packets. The heavy bag did not disappoint. When I opened the box of food I found four butterfly fillets of perch. There was a hefty mound of fries, but for once they were buried under the fish, as they should be, instead of on top of it. I was also pleasantly surprised to find two containers of tartar. Hooray!”
Takeaways: There is a bunch of fresh seafood in a case and I want to try all of it; also, you can buy fresh perch and cod and put it in your freezer just in case you ever need to make an emergency fish fry; they have an oyster bar and an outside bar; if you don’t have time to get a table in the dining room, you can sit upstairs or go outside; hefty portion of fish and fries; high quality perch; I got two tartars; you don’t get rye bread; very “Milwaukee”—I escaped that Hoan Bridge smell and saw a streetcar and the Milverine.
The Schwabenhof (Menomonee Falls)
N56W14750 Silver Spring Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
262-252-4100
Website
“Schwabenhof is steeped in tradition, which enhances the Friday night fish fry experience. The food is excellent, but to-go there on a packed Friday is an event in and of itself, and I almost enjoyed the ambiance as much as the food. Maybe this was just a Lenten finale fluke, but I’d suggest you make the drive under the arched sign and see for yourself.”
Takeaways: Dynamic ambiance, hard working and efficient wait staff, AYCE options, excellent food, tradition, an all-around experience. You can’t get much better than this.
Scotty’s Bar & Pizza (Milwaukee)
3921 S. Clement Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-481-6060
Website
“Overall, Scotty’s Bar & Pizza has a pretty all right fish fry for a pizza joint. I’ve been to plenty of places that have fish frys as their main Friday focus that don’t do it as well as this place that spends most of their time on pizza. Both the fish and pancakes should at least be satisfactory, if not memorable, for anyone who makes a stop. As for The Fish Monger, I plan on trying one at some point. But the next time I attempt to get one I’m putting my order in early and heading out right away.”
Takeaways: Solid Old Fashioned but the bartender put too much cherry juice and not enough brandy in it; I almost ate something called The Fish Monger but I balked and then made 124 phone calls in 41 minutes before giving up on it—for now; the meaty fish and light breading complemented each other; tangy tartar; soft, delectably chewy, and mildly sweet pancakes; they should change their name to Scotty’s Bar & Pizza & Fish Fry.
Slick Willies Bar And Grill (South Milwaukee)
2301 12th Ave.
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
414-762-1974
Website
“Despite the rather chaotic atmosphere, which could be attributed to the large amount of people ordering food in the somewhat-small bar, I’m glad I started off the year at Slick Willies. It is another classic example of a thriving neighborhood bar, and the food wasn’t that bad either. Especially those pancakes.”
Takeaways: Excellent potato pancakes, solid perch, and fish fry orders come with soup and salad bar. The chowder isn’t that good, but you can eat a five gallon bucket of it if you want. They have a “Mini Fish Fry,” but I don’t know who would ever want less fish than a normal-sized order. The place can be packed, so you may have to wait awhile for your food. Similarly, the place was so busy that I didn’t have a chance to ask why the place was named Slick Willies…or Slick Willie’s…or Slick Willy’s.
Steny’s Tavern & Grill (Milwaukee)
800 S. 2nd St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-672-7139
Website
“I’ve had Steny’s fish fry before, last on August 28, 2015, but I don’t recall it being as good as what I had this time around. I was pleasantly surprised by the three pieces of beer-battered cod. Both the texture and the flavor of the batter were on point. It was light but crisp, with the perfect thickness. It covered the fish well, but could also be easily cut through. There was a distinct beer flavor, but it wasn’t overpowering. Underneath the batter was a thick, meaty fish. The tartar was imbued with a tangy zip of flavor and had crunchy and relatively large pickle chunks mixed in it.”
Takeaways: Steny’s has curbside fish fry pickup from 11–8 on Fridays, or until the fish runs out (do not call ahead); there is a pandemic but you wouldn’t be able to tell it from the enthusiasm and efficiency of the staff; still, you may want to go early in an attempt to avoid a long line or the running out of food; there was no awkward waiting around—it was quick and easy and felt safe; I washed my hands a lot; good fish with an even better batter; zippy tartar with crunchy pickle bits; the fries were decent, but the potato pancakes were all gone.
Tess (Milwaukee)
2499 N. Bartlett Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-964-8377
Website
“Tess is one of those places that I’ve wondered about over the years but never set foot inside of. Although I’ll have to wait a bit longer to do so, I’ve at least now gotten to try the food. If their perch is any indication of what their interior is like or what the quality of their other food is like, they’ll be a place worth circling back to in the future. If you are hankering for some perch, I’d suggest giving them a try. Just like driving over the Hoan Bridge on a sunny day, it can make everything seem all right.”
Takeaways: Excellent panko breaded perch that dips well into a sweet and tangy tartar; extra thick rye bread; Asian coleslaw; the potato is a sweet potato.
Thirsty’s (South Milwaukee)
500 Madison Ave.
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
414-301-4295
Website
“While I could nitpick about what could be improved upon, I don’t want to waste my breath—the mouth is much better put to use by simply eating more fish. If you are looking for a tavern-style fish fry where you can stroll up to the bar and easily get an order of well-sourced cod with a golden beer batter and sides with enough character to prop up the meal—and want a hell of an Old Fashioned to boot—look no further than Thirsty’s.”
Takeaways: Stellar muddled Old Fashioned; hunky and meaty cod with a gently-crisp beer batter and a be-all-you-can-be tartar; move over rye, here are some homemade corn fritters.
Victor’s (Milwaukee)
1230 N. Van Buren St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-2522
Website
“As we were heading out, the tables were starting to fill up, and I got the feeling Victor’s was getting closer to morphing into a nightclub. I chatted with a bartender for a bit, and he encouraged me to stick around and eat for a few more hours, and then hit the dance floor. At that point I could barely walk, let alone dance, so there was no way in hell that was happening. So I left, and I never found out if Mrs. Robinson showed up.”
Takeaways: Excellent fresh baked buttered bread with a side of butter; all-you-can-eat fish, but really what’s on your plate is all you can eat; the place has the ability to shift your perceptions of time and space; I got cod, not cougars.
Wegner’s St. Martin’s Inn (Franklin)
11318 W. St. Martins Rd.
Franklin, WI 53132
414-425-9971
Website
“Three pieces of perch—two of them still butterflied together—and two pieces of haddock were the meal’s centerpiece. Both had a crunchy coating, but they diverged from there. While the perch was breaded, the haddock was beer battered. The breading was thick with plenty of texture, and maintained a softness despite being crunchy. Mild in flavor, it was an ideal counterpart for the fish it covered, which also was mild. The batter on the haddock was golden brown and glazed, and harder than what covered the perch. Underneath, the large haddock pieces were meaty and white as snow.”
Takeaways: Automobile and racing themed; cozy dining area; joining the quarter century club this year; many fish options; scrumptious bread; excellent slaw; somewhat unique pancakes that definitely aren’t hash browns; distinct fish coatings; park in the church parking lot.
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