Fish Scraps - Tidbits from Milwaukee

The Little Marinara and I were enjoying a few cocktails and a great view of the lake last evening and we started discussing Fish Frys in Milwaukee. The end result was a decision to put together some snapshots of several places. Please add your comments and additions to the list.

American Serb Hall – South Side - 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. For some reason this place is always listed as the best Fish Fry in Milwaukee. Don’t believe it. It is however, probably the biggest in Milwaukee. Serb Hall claims they serve between 1,500-2,000 dinners on a Friday evening and I can believe it. The place is a huge barn and the customers are treated like cattle. If you believe that fish are shaped like a hockey puck then this is your place.


Turner Hall – Now Known as Historic Turner Hall Downtown - 1034 North 4th Street, Milwaukee. Turner Hall also claims to have the best Fish Fry in Milwaukee. Once again a myth, save your money.


The Packing House
-South Side-900 E. Layton Ave. This is always a good choice, great cocktail lounge, good Fish Fry with all the necessary side dishes, and always busy on Friday evenings. If you are in a hurry they have a drive-thru window to get a fish fry to go.


Saz's State House –West Side- 5539 W. State St. The little Marinara and I have been here many times and have not been disappointed. Saz’s of course is known for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, but their Fish Fries are wonderful. Get it fried or baked but make sure you add an order of Onion Rings.


The Butler Inn –North West - 12400 W. Hampton Ave. The place has been around forever, and so has their food, the Fish Fry is average.


The Open Hearth Restaurant -
2930 N. 117th St., Wauwatosa. The Open Hearth has been in business for at least 25 years. Their fish fry includes: fresh Walleye Pike, Lake Perch and Haddock, all battered or broiled. Always good and always busy.


The Schwabenhof
- 14750 W. Silver Spring Dr. The Schwabenhof offers a Fish Fry on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Sides include choice of German Potato Salad, Potato Pancakes, French fries or Baked Potato, Cole Slaw and Homemade Tartar Sauce (the best). They offer the traditional Fish Fry (Cod) as well as Lake Perch, and Walleye Pike. For those of you who don’t like a WI Fish Fry (go back to IL) you can always get Fried Chicken and Ribs.


George Webbs – All around town. 
I like Webb’s you can get just about anything at any time including a the traditional Perch Fish Fry with French Fries, Cole Slaw and Rye Bread. Sometimes this is the perfect Friday Fish Fry at 1:00 am. The sweet sounds of the Bagpipes may be from Don Hensiak.

Henkels Town Pump - Rhinelander, WI

Why would you want to eat at a place called the town pump? The Little Marinara and I have been asking ourselves that question for years. We go by this joint all the time; it is only a ½ mile from our house. I am guessing it is the curb appeal or lack of, that has kept us away or is it the name. Now I know why they call it the town pump. Years ago when I was the Little Ragu this place had two gas pumps and was a local gin mill. It was also in the Town of Woodboro, hence town pump – or maybe it was because they pumped booze into the old geezers who hung out at the bar.

Oh well, it is Friday and raining, no it is a huge downpour so the Little Marinara and I decide we do not want to drive too far. We look at each other and decide Town Pump after all. If it looks too bad on the inside we can just leave. Three minutes later we are walking in the front door soaking wet, heads turn to look at us and I am waiting for the usual they must be from Mars attitude. To our surprise everyone is friendly asks how we are and comment on how bad the rain is. We find a place at the bar and Marilyn orders an Old Fashioned and I have my Martini. I am guessing it is better to have it on the rocks and forgo the straight-up option. The drinks are great I am smoking a good cigar and my edge is wearing off. As I look around, the place is full of old lumberjack tools; saws and big things that can take your arm off. There is also a non-smoking as well as a smoking dining room. One end of the bar is a 60” flat screen, not bad for a Town Pump. My eyes focus on a jar behind the bar labeled ‘Lake Slime” and over the jar is a sign indicating a contest between Squash Lake and Crescent Lake, order a drink, name your lake and a ticket goes into a pot, on Labor day the lake with the most tickets wins a pizza party. This stuff is gruesome it looks like someone put some frogs in a blender and then added some yogurt to give it body. I’ll pass on the pizza party. So lets eat!

We get a table in the no smoking section, and look over the menu. The Fish Fry here is pan-fried not deep-fried. We both order the standard Fish Fry. As we gaze over the other tables we see someone having Homemade Potato Chips. They look great so we order some and were not disappointed. Dinner is served and the Fries are also homemade, there is a side of slaw that was average and then something different – fry bread. I can tell I am going to need an extra dose of some simvastatin tonight. The fish was fantastic, light, flakey and full of flavor. Marilyn also said the same about hers. I’ll be back I want to see how the lake slime jar is doing.

I guess I am pumped about the Town Pump. Henkel's Town Pump is located West of Rhinelander at 7161 US Highway 8.

The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5

Pitlik's - Sugar Camp

In 1928 Charles Comiskey, yes that's correct, Comiskey of the Chicago White Sox Fame sold some waterfront and land to the Pitlik family. This resort and supper club is now operated by the 5th generation of the Pitlik's. The lounge and restaurant have a wonderful view overlooking Sand Lake. When you walk into the lounge the sign over the fire place states "Cast your troubles away", or perhaps you just want to drink them away. The bar/lounge is full of high polished wood with a few fish and deer heads on the wall. It is for the most part a very inviting setting and it was getting me in the mood - for a Friday Fish Fry that is. The Little Marnaria ordered her Vodka and Cranberry and I of course requested my Martini. I got the thumbs up on my cigar and Friday evening was off to a great start. Finding a good Martini in Rhinelander is not an easy task, but here we were just two steps from the edge of nowhere and I was wrapping my lips around an icy glass filled with the silver nectar of the gods. Sometimes it is really good to be me. Our bartender Steve is a transplant from Buffalo NY who confessed he was in love with the area and would never return to the East Coast...wait a few winters my friend. Marilyn noticed that there were purse hooks under the bar a nice touch for the ladies, or for those of you studs who carry a man-purse. We arrived about 5:00 pm and by 5:45 the place was almost full, the hostess held a table for us by the window and we sat down to order.

The Friday Fish Fry menu has several great selections. Deep fried or baked cod for $10.99, blue gill or walleye for $15.99 or the 'Over the Limit' (that's an upscale supersize) serving for $18.99. They also have some great appetizers such as fried dill pickles for $3.99, sweet potato fries for $4.99, duck strips for $6.99 and my favorite a crawfish basket for $6.99. There are not a lot of places in Northern WI serving mudbugs, but I found one..

Our waitress came for the order at 6:10 pm and we did not see her again until 6:40 pm, no water, no bread, and no drink order. In all fairness she looked like she was struggling with her tables earlier in the evening. Marilyn and I both ordered the cod, she was baked (this could be the source of some humor that could get me in deep trouble) and I was deep fried (umh possible college humor) - why change at this stage of my life. My plate contained three pieces of hot lightly breaded flakey cod. Cole slaw some pasta salad and waffle fries. I normally do not care for waffle fries because they are usually dry, these however were very good. The cole slaw and pasta salad did not do so well, unfortunately neither of them had any flavor, they were just bland.

Pitlik's is located at 4833 Sand Beach Road, Eagle River, WI which is really West of Sugar Camp. All in all it was a good evening and the Big Ragu give this place a 3 outa 5.

Circle K - Rhinelander, WI

Have you ever been to a place that when you walked inside people stopped talking and just looked at you?  I found one.  The Circle K has a kind of sterile environment - no log siding and no animal parts on the walls; there is however, an ATM and a pool table.  The ATM must be for the pull tabs.  There was a blue haze over the bar and no objection to my smoking a cigar, but this is about where the fun ended.   The Little Marinara ordered a beer and I ordered my usual Martini - wrong move - there was a discussion on the other end of the bar as to what was in a Martini.  The bartender came back and asked me if it was with the "white stuff or the red stuff" - I ordered a Miller to save us both some pain.

We both decided to order the Fish Fry which turned out to be some breaded deep fried cod with a few fries  a plastic cup of cole slaw and a piece of rye bread.  This place is why people stay home to eat.  The Big Ragu gives this a 2 outa 5

The Fireside - Rhinelander, WI

I admit it I like the Fireside. There must be some kind of affinity I have with the obligatory Northwood’s décor there aren’t any dead animals hanging on the walls but there is a great view over Town Line lake.  I also like the personal touch, if you have been there once or twice Margo the Hostess/Owner, will call you by your first name. Most of the wait staff has been working here for over ten years and they know their customers and how to make them feel wanted.  How many times have you been to a place where you are just another bag of bones walking in the door?  The major plus is this is one of the few places that can make a Martini the way I like it – chilled straight-up glass, shaken, and a twist done the correct way, the Little Marinara can get a good Cosmo – the weekend starts off good.

What I really like is the Friday Fish Fry.  You can order from the bar then slide into your table and enjoy Friday night, as it should be, all you can eat.  The Little Marinara usually has the Tilapia, which is always good, but I can always make that at home and just as good as anywhere I can order it.  If I put in a commercial deep fryer we could also do the fish fry, but then once a week on fried food is enough.  That’s really BS, everyday would be good, but then I would need to set-up weekly appointments at Cardiovascular Associates.

Arriving at the table we find it has been set with sides of pasta salad, marble rye with ice cold WI butter, homemade tarter Sauce, cole slaw, and potato salad.  The potato salad outside of Marilyn’s is the best I have ever had – I am told that Margo makes it every week herself.  The cod has a light breading and is always hot when served.  The downside is the Fries; they aren’t bad just average.

They don’t take reservations on Friday night, but if you get there early you can get your request in for a table by the fireplace, it offers some protection from the hungry hordes of summer tourists.  The Friday night Fish Fry is $12.95 about average for most places.  The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5

Al-Gen Dinner Club - Rhinelander, WI

You have to love a place that still has the same sign on top of the building since 1954.  The Al-Gen Dinner Club has been around longer than I have been alive; in fact I remember going there with my parents and having a Shirley Temple, oops, I mean a Roy Rogers (the same thing, just substitute an olive for a cherry).  Tom shakes up a good Martini and I can still have a cigar, at least until Governor Doyle crushes this simple pleasure under his hobnail boots.  The Little Marinara orders a Vodka and Cranberry (I have her convinced that enough of these will ward off kidney stones).  We enjoy some good conversation and friendly banter with the other patrons and take in all the really cool bar décor; I especially like the miniature ‘kybo’ next to the deer head.  Chick Sale would have had a great time with this one.  By the way, Tom the bartender drives a C3 style Vette that he shows at Iola.  I feel a bond, Martini, Vette and Cigars. 

 My cigar is finished and we make our way to the table, Marilyn orders the Poor Mans’ Lobster and I have the Fish Fry – it is all you can eat for $10.95.  Our waitress starts the parade of food:  Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, French Fries, Marble Rye Bread, Hot Apple Sauce, Homemade Tartar Sauce Potato Pancakes and of course the lightly breaded deep fried Cod.  I can’t believe it, this is all for me, however, I share with the Little Marinara.  The one thing I really like is that the food is hot – you laugh – I can’t tell you how many times I have been served lukewarm fish.  Everything was very good with the exception of the Macaroni Salad, which was very salty, and the Potato Pancakes, which looked good but had an undone potato flavor.  Some day I am going to do an article on the best Potato Pancake in Wisconsin, which were served at Hesser’s Supper Club in Oshkosh, WI.

If you want a seat at the bar on a Friday evening come early, by 6:00 pm the place will be full.  Good food, good service and good price point.  Just as Friday is Fish Fry night in WI, Sunday is Chicken night and the Al-Gen has great Broasted chicken. 

The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5 on the Bubbler Scale.

Ten Point Bar and Grill - Harshaw, WI

With a name like Ten Point Bar ad Grill I expected to walk into a smoke filled room with a bunch of dead animals protruding from the walls. Surprise, the Ten Point is a gem, nice bar and plenty of table seating, in fact they removed the pool table to accommodate more dining.  The first thing I expect when entering a new place is to have the local patrons look at me like I am from Mars - but not here.  We were greeted by the owner Tyrone Smoker with a friendly smile and several rounds of hello from those already seated at the horseshoe shaped bar.  Marilyn had a beer and I had my usual Martini, and to my surprise I was asked if I wanted it up or on the rocks, things were looking good.  I was told there was not problem with my cigar and I was ecstatic.

The Ten Point is family run business with a sandwich menu, breakfast on the weekends and of course the mandatory Friday Fish Fry.  I ordered deep fried lake perch and Marilyn had baked cod.  This was some of the best perch I have had in years, very light breading and generous portions.  I also had the homemade German Potato Salad which was outstanding and only available on Fridays.  At $9.95 for the Perch and reasonable prices for drinks you cannot go wrong with the Ten Point.

The Ten Point Bar and Grill is located at 3983 Harshaw Rd, Harshaw, WI 54592 - 715-282-5302

On the Big Ragu's scale they get a solid 4.

What the heck is a fish fry?

One of the most distinctive traditions in Wisconsin is the Friday Fish Fry.  From local churches, American Legion Halls, local bars to established restaurants, the Friday night fish fry is a requirement for survival inside the Cheddar Curtain.

From as early as I can remember when Friday night came around my Dad would pack the car and it would be off to the American Legion for a fish fry and then ‘Up North’ to the cottage for the weekend. 

Go some place outside of Wisconsin and mention a Fish Fry and they will look at you like an idiot.  The origin of the Friday fish fry is a result of a strong Catholic community which admonished their parishioners not to eat meat on Friday, toss in lent and the fact that Cheeseheads are traditionally frugal and you have the Friday fish fry.  Top this off with our German Heritage and you have the perfect combo – beer and fried fish, a cardiologists dream patient.

Traditionally the fish fry is deep fried cod, haddock or perch, with French fries or potato pancakes and applesauce, coleslaw, and a slice of marble rye with butter.  My arteries start to clog with the mere thought of this tradition.

Inside the Cheddar Curtain

They always say that when you retire you will have less time than when you were working.  It's true, over the last 6 years I have not learned to say no.  I find myself spending 40-60 per week on non-profit volunteer jobs.  So I guess it is no surprise that when my wife Marilyn suggested I start a food blog on fish frys and cocktails in Northern WI I jumped at it.  It pays the same as my other volunteer jobs and I can do it when ever I want, anyway, I have to eat - right?

Northern Wisconsin is home to a multitude of out of the way places and local watering holes with some great food.  In keeping with a true Wisconsin colloquialism we will rate each one on the Bubbler scale of one to five.  For those of you who are asking what the hell is a bubbler, just come to Wisconsin and ask a local where the bubbler is and they will point one out to you.  Once you venture inside the Cheddar Curtain all bets are off.