So, lent is finally over. I can eat meat on Friday's...Whew!!!!
For this final fish fry of the season, I have to admit, I was excited to visit the Five O'Clock Club in Pewaukee. I have never participated in their Friday cuisine, but have heard great things about it -- and I've eaten there before and their menu is fantastic. The owner also generously sponsors our bowling team, so it was only fitting the last fry would be there. However, there was one small problem. The wait was over 2 hours and this was at 8pm. The hostess was frazzled, fried, confused, sweaty and above all a little rude when she told us about this unfortunate predicament. I realize it was Good Friday, but at 8pm, I was hoping we'd be shown a table before 9. Not the case, so...because our bellies could not handle the 2 hour wait (and I'm sure our livers would have been a little bruised too), we decided to saunter down the road to the Waterfront, which is located just off Hwy SS on beautiful Pewaukee lake.
Ann and I had been to Waterfront before for fish, it was well before the blog started, but it was one of our first outings since I had moved to Lake Country.
The most refreshing thing about walking into the Waterfront last Friday was the beautiful sight of open tables -- after leaving the Five O we had wondered if every place was going to be a madhouse, and to our delight that was not the case.
The friendly waitress immediately greeted Alyssa and I as we sat down and asked what we would like to drink, as we waited for Ann and Dave to arrive. As we sipped on our beers and looked over the menu, it was clear that the choices were few and mostly deep fried. The bright spot is they did offer baked cod, but the other sides were either deep friend or nothing.
Once the Grevenkamps arrived, we swiftly put our orders in. Hungry cannot even begin to describe the feeling -- it was close to 8:45pm and after a workout and a stint at a busy restaurant, the food could not have been put in front of me soon enough. Thankfully, we did not wait long.
I opted to go with the baked cod, I realize I should have ended this lenten season with a traditional fried cod choice, but since joining weight watchers, I thought I would try and cut a few corners with my points and the baked option helped me do that. I did top this order off with some haystack onion rings, which were delicious and worth every point I had available! The baked cod however, was a different story.
The cod itself was overcooked and under seasoned. I will never understand why people offer to bake fish, if they are not prepared to do anything but throw a little paprika over the top and pop it in the microwave. I'm not sure if this was the method of operation at the Waterfront, but that's what it tasted like. Their "normal" baked cod is apparently doused in butter and then plated, but they said they could make me a tasty version without having it be sitting in the dairy product all night. A part of me wishes I would have opted for the butter-laiden fish. The dinners were served with some average store-bought rye bread and a cream-based average cole slaw, as a result this fish fry will get an average rating of 5 out of 10 stars.
I'm afraid this last fish blog does not have the climactic ending I had hoped for...but at least I can steer you in a few directions if you are thinking of summer fish fry dining. We will definitely be back after labor day to review more and more fish frys -- and even a few times this summer we will blog about the timeless Wisconsin tradition, but we need a tiny little break.
In the meantime, please don't stop checking out this site. We are still going to blog, but we have been inspired to switch gears. You see, the Waterfront has prompted me to find suitable healthy options at restaurants. As much as my baked cod was better for me, it tasted like cardboard with salt -- and I want to find restaurants which offer healthy goodies, but still taste good at the same time. We should never have to sacrifice taste or quality when trying to be conscious of what we put in our mouths/bellies. So stay tuned as we gear up for our summer restaurant search.
I will keep the blog under the same name, but we will be adding a sweet little twist that I hope you all enjoy.
Have a beautiful week and as always, never forget to give those you love a hug and to let them know how important they are in your lives. Without good health, friends and family there is truly nothing.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Rookies Sports Bar and Pub, Okauchee, WI
Happy Wednesday everyone!
I'm sorry the blog is a little late, but Ann and I had a very eventful weekend and didn't get to the details of our fish fry experience. We had thrown a surprise 40th birthday party for her brother Tom on Saturday and spent Sunday recovering. It a lot of hard work and effort to keep the surprise, but it was all worth it to see the look on his face when he walked into the door. Happy Birthday Loppy, and many, many more to you! I think I might have celebrated a bit too much, but oh well...there's always room for that right?
This Friday, Ann and I ventured to a fish fry luncheon, as we both had the "day off" of work and wanted to check out Rookies as it was the venue for the surprise party. We looked at their menu and decided we could kill "two birds" by checking out how we were going to set everything up and relax to an afternoon fish dinner. All while watching the Badgers play Wofford in the crazy 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Rookies is every bit a "bar" -- so if you're looking for a fine dining experience in the evening, I suggest you travel elsewhere. However, if you're in the mood to sit at the bar, I highly suggest you go to Okauchee and check this menu out.
I dined on the "traditional" menu item of deep fried Haddock, with potato pancakes, garnished with a side of cole slaw and rye bread ($6.95, YES, $6.95 and it was all-you-can-eat). Not only did we get an upgrade of fish in the haddock, but for all of you people that love "extras" -- you could eat until your belly was unreasonably full! I have never heard of such a price for a fish fry, but then again, you're not getting any ambiance, but I didn't care.
The haddock was exquisite (yes, I used that word to describe bar food) -- it could not have been cooked any better and the light beer batter was the perfect compliment to the fish. The flavoring in the batter was delightful and just the right amount of crunch before diving into the flaky, moist haddock. I ordered the potato pancakes, which were superb. I could not have been more surprised at how good this food was, because you wouldn't expect it by walking in the door. That's the great thing about Wisconsin, even your local tavern can have the best comfort food around.
Our meal was complimented by a wonderful cup of homemade clam chowder that was thick, rich and full of potatoes and hearty pieces of clam. I loved the soup and could have made a meal out of it.
The service was "ok" -- but the bar was basically empty, however, nothing is more annoying than watching the help talk on the cell phone or text. I realize she wasn't too busy, but there are always things that can be done. I will have to say, though, that as much as she wasn't around, she seemed to show up when the beer glass was empty, so I guess there's something to be said for that.
All in all, the fish fry at Rookie's was great and I would suggest you taking a trip out there for a little food before you hit their dance floor (and they even have a stripper pole...).
I will give Rookie's an 8 out of 10. If it was based on just the fish itself, I would be inclined to give out the perfect score. It was an amazing meal.
So, if you're in the lake country area, I highly suggest visiting Rookies, especially if you are in the area for lunch.
In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your week...I'm heading to spend time with my sister and her children, which is always entertaining. I'm looking forward to the little bit of time away and have quality "sister" time.
I will try to squeeze in a fish fry too, as I know how much you all enjoy the blog.
Don't forget to put a huge smile on your face and hug someone you love! :-)
I'm sorry the blog is a little late, but Ann and I had a very eventful weekend and didn't get to the details of our fish fry experience. We had thrown a surprise 40th birthday party for her brother Tom on Saturday and spent Sunday recovering. It a lot of hard work and effort to keep the surprise, but it was all worth it to see the look on his face when he walked into the door. Happy Birthday Loppy, and many, many more to you! I think I might have celebrated a bit too much, but oh well...there's always room for that right?
This Friday, Ann and I ventured to a fish fry luncheon, as we both had the "day off" of work and wanted to check out Rookies as it was the venue for the surprise party. We looked at their menu and decided we could kill "two birds" by checking out how we were going to set everything up and relax to an afternoon fish dinner. All while watching the Badgers play Wofford in the crazy 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Rookies is every bit a "bar" -- so if you're looking for a fine dining experience in the evening, I suggest you travel elsewhere. However, if you're in the mood to sit at the bar, I highly suggest you go to Okauchee and check this menu out.
I dined on the "traditional" menu item of deep fried Haddock, with potato pancakes, garnished with a side of cole slaw and rye bread ($6.95, YES, $6.95 and it was all-you-can-eat). Not only did we get an upgrade of fish in the haddock, but for all of you people that love "extras" -- you could eat until your belly was unreasonably full! I have never heard of such a price for a fish fry, but then again, you're not getting any ambiance, but I didn't care.
The haddock was exquisite (yes, I used that word to describe bar food) -- it could not have been cooked any better and the light beer batter was the perfect compliment to the fish. The flavoring in the batter was delightful and just the right amount of crunch before diving into the flaky, moist haddock. I ordered the potato pancakes, which were superb. I could not have been more surprised at how good this food was, because you wouldn't expect it by walking in the door. That's the great thing about Wisconsin, even your local tavern can have the best comfort food around.
Our meal was complimented by a wonderful cup of homemade clam chowder that was thick, rich and full of potatoes and hearty pieces of clam. I loved the soup and could have made a meal out of it.
The service was "ok" -- but the bar was basically empty, however, nothing is more annoying than watching the help talk on the cell phone or text. I realize she wasn't too busy, but there are always things that can be done. I will have to say, though, that as much as she wasn't around, she seemed to show up when the beer glass was empty, so I guess there's something to be said for that.
All in all, the fish fry at Rookie's was great and I would suggest you taking a trip out there for a little food before you hit their dance floor (and they even have a stripper pole...).
I will give Rookie's an 8 out of 10. If it was based on just the fish itself, I would be inclined to give out the perfect score. It was an amazing meal.
So, if you're in the lake country area, I highly suggest visiting Rookies, especially if you are in the area for lunch.
In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your week...I'm heading to spend time with my sister and her children, which is always entertaining. I'm looking forward to the little bit of time away and have quality "sister" time.
I will try to squeeze in a fish fry too, as I know how much you all enjoy the blog.
Don't forget to put a huge smile on your face and hug someone you love! :-)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Kurt's Steakhouse, Delfield, WI
You know, there is something to be said about having a routine. Personally I like structure and planning, so when those types of things are not happening in my life, I get a little anxious. The last couple of weeks I was taken out of my routine and wasn't able to "plan" as I usually do, which left me a little uneasy, but thankfully I made it through the bumps in the road and am back for yet another fish fry blog!
I never thought that I'd be happy to be in a "routine" but it's where I'm happiest. At work, at the gym, at yoga and of course at the latest and greatest restaurant in Lake Country trying to find the very best fish fry!
I will keep you posted about next week's outing, because depending on selection Sunday and when my beloved Wisconsin Badgers take the court for March Madness will dictate what my Friday night dining plans will be. Who knows, I may just take out Culver's and watch the game somewhere.
I will make sure it becomes a very important part of my routine!
This week Ann was again out of town, so my friend Kendra Ferguson and I decided to go to Kurt's Steakhouse 22 West Main Street, Delafield, Wis. I have heard a lot of great things about this restaurant, mostly about their famous steaks, but this was a Friday, it's Lent I'm Catholic and we need a blog!
I am going to copy Kendra's sentiments about this week's outing and I will chime in.
Next she brought us a creamy coleslaw which was a little too much in my opinion. Too much cream, mayo, and a bit heavy, however, shortly after the slaw disappointment I was greeted by an entree I will not forget for a while. What a highlight of the evening!
I never thought that I'd be happy to be in a "routine" but it's where I'm happiest. At work, at the gym, at yoga and of course at the latest and greatest restaurant in Lake Country trying to find the very best fish fry!
I will keep you posted about next week's outing, because depending on selection Sunday and when my beloved Wisconsin Badgers take the court for March Madness will dictate what my Friday night dining plans will be. Who knows, I may just take out Culver's and watch the game somewhere.
I will make sure it becomes a very important part of my routine!
This week Ann was again out of town, so my friend Kendra Ferguson and I decided to go to Kurt's Steakhouse 22 West Main Street, Delafield, Wis. I have heard a lot of great things about this restaurant, mostly about their famous steaks, but this was a Friday, it's Lent I'm Catholic and we need a blog!
I am going to copy Kendra's sentiments about this week's outing and I will chime in.
KF: I can’t believe it has been more than a month since I’d been able to join in on Beth and Ann’s weekly fish fry outings. That’s completely unacceptable! Needless to say, I was excited to be able to join Beth (Ann was missed!) at Kurt’s Steakhouse in Delafield for dinner. I’ve been to Kurt’s Steakhouse many times, but always for steak, never for fish. The restaurant has a very traditional steakhouse look and feel, with lots of regular patrons who obviously spend enough evenings there to be on a first name basis with the bartenders and wait staff. I arrived a few minutes before Beth, so made my way over to the bar, which was filled with people waiting for a table. The bartenders were very friendly and efficient, which is a great combination in a packed bar. When Beth arrived she put our name in for a table (which I forgot to do because I was very thirst and the bar was calling my name), and was notified that the wait time would be approximately 30 minutes, which is pretty standard at this establishment. Beth and I nibbled on amazing potato chips at the bar while we waited. Okay, I think we actually ate most of the bowl of potato chips because they were so good and we were hungry!
After about 25-30 minutes our table was ready, and we were seated for dinner. My only minor complaint about Kurt’s would be the size of the table we were given – XS (extra small)! I think Beth and I were both surprised by the lack of table space, but it really turned out to be a non-issue. Our waitress took our drink order immediately, and then walked us through the many specials available on Friday evening. We quickly received bread and coleslaw, which I found to be well above average, and then ordered our dinner. I have to admit that I really wanted to order the petite filet, which is always amazing, but knew I had to fulfill my duty and ordered the baked cod ($14.95). It turns out I’m really glad I did! The fish, which was served in very short order, was baked to perfection, crispy on the outside and light and flaky on the inside, and the seasoning tasted amazing! I used almost zero tartar sauce, which for me is an indication that I’m really enjoying my dinner. In addition to the fish, I selected the parmesan au gratin potatoes as a side, and they were creamy and delicious. Overall, Friday night at Kurt’s Steakhouse had everything I was looking for in a fabulous fish fry experience – amazing conversation, great service, and outstanding food, so I give Kurt’s a 9.5 out of 10!
After about 25-30 minutes our table was ready, and we were seated for dinner. My only minor complaint about Kurt’s would be the size of the table we were given – XS (extra small)! I think Beth and I were both surprised by the lack of table space, but it really turned out to be a non-issue. Our waitress took our drink order immediately, and then walked us through the many specials available on Friday evening. We quickly received bread and coleslaw, which I found to be well above average, and then ordered our dinner. I have to admit that I really wanted to order the petite filet, which is always amazing, but knew I had to fulfill my duty and ordered the baked cod ($14.95). It turns out I’m really glad I did! The fish, which was served in very short order, was baked to perfection, crispy on the outside and light and flaky on the inside, and the seasoning tasted amazing! I used almost zero tartar sauce, which for me is an indication that I’m really enjoying my dinner. In addition to the fish, I selected the parmesan au gratin potatoes as a side, and they were creamy and delicious. Overall, Friday night at Kurt’s Steakhouse had everything I was looking for in a fabulous fish fry experience – amazing conversation, great service, and outstanding food, so I give Kurt’s a 9.5 out of 10!
Like Kendra stated, the waitress was prompt in giving us our service, took our drink order and allowed us time to peruse the menu and ponder the specials she rattled off. I decided to go for the Italian breaded deep fried cod ($.9.95) which is their traditional "Fish Fry" for each and ever Friday night. The bread which came to the table shortly after our orders was warm, sourdough rolls and as much as my trainer might cringe when she reads this I have to say, the butter melted on the bread and then proceeded to melt in my mouth. It was amazing. I don't think there is a more comforting feeling than warm bread/melting butter and the same feeling on your palette.
Next she brought us a creamy coleslaw which was a little too much in my opinion. Too much cream, mayo, and a bit heavy, however, shortly after the slaw disappointment I was greeted by an entree I will not forget for a while. What a highlight of the evening!
My fried cod was perfect. There is no other way to describe how good this dish was. Two weeks ago I know I ranted and raved about our dinners at "On the Rocks" -- but this fish was one step above in overall presentation, flavor and, of course, perfection. The breading on the fish was a light italian bread crumb with simple spices and had a nice subtle crunch to it. Once you were past the breading (which wasn't overwhelming) you got to a white, flaky, flawless piece of cod. This was true comfort food on a Friday night. The feeling I got while eating the bread was exactly the same as eating this fish fry. Once I got past the crunch of the breading, the fish literally melted in my mouth like a warm piece of butter. No extra seasoning necessary, and of course, no tartar!
The potato pancake was very average, but I really didn't care after digging my fork into the fish. But for that reason, I will have to stay true to my ratings and give Kurt's Steakhouse a 9 out of 10. That last point could be reached with a little extra effort on cole slaw and the potato pancake. Our service was fantastic and I will definitely be back at Kurt's for a dinner soon.
I guess I got a little reward for getting back into my routine and I couldn't be happier.
In the meantime I'd like to wish all my friends (even the non-Irish) a Happy St. Patrick's Day. Even though I have NO Irish background in my family, I like to say I'm preparing for Oktoberfest.
Have a wonderful week, Go Badgers and as always, give someone you love a hug this week...and let them know how much they mean to you, life is too short not to!
Monday, March 1, 2010
On the Rocks, Merton, WI
Ok, so I had this wonderful blog written and as I was copying and pasting some general information into this hot little page, everything got deleted. I have not been able to get it back, so I'm starting from scratch, which is just a little irritating today. I will do my best to improve upon the perfection I wrote earlier! LOL.
First, mad props to Team USA and the athletes that made this Winter Olympics so much fun to watch and follow. The gold-medal hockey match between the USA and Canada did not disappoint, although I would have preferred a different outcome. It amazes me how the Olympics seem to become more and more of a spectacle, but I love it. Vancouver did a great job, although the closing ceremonies were a little weird.
Enough of that, let's talk fish!
Enough of that, let's talk fish!
I did want to say very quickly that after being sick last week and with Ann being in Costa Rica, the blog was a little bit different, I want to give Dionne and Andy Groth a huge thank you for filling in last week, as it is really important to keep this going. Also, to all of you who comment, thank you, it's awesome to know that my little opinion is getting some attention. I hope you continue to enjoy the blog and visit the restaurants we love!
This past Friday we ventured to Merton (just outside Hartland) to On the Rocks Pub and Grill. I've been to this place once before, but just for drinks, so I was excited to check out their dining room and have heard great things about their food. I am going to stop rambling for a moment to give you Ann's addition to this blog and I will follow up!
I was glad to be back to Fish Fry Friday…I must admit I was feeling a little empty not having enjoyed the company of my friends and fish fries for TWO WEEKS. After deciding to spend our Friday workout night at Yoga we went to Merton for our fish fry. I realized as we pulled into town that in the 28 years I have lived in Hartland I can’t remember ever eating dinner in Merton!?!?!? Well, I hope that all places in Merton serve up as good of a meal as the one we had on Friday! We each started with a bowl of clam chowder which was delicious...I am sucker for chowder ☺ The fish fry we ordered was the Potato Crusted Chive and Cheddar Cod. I opted for the potato pancakes because I love potato pancakes, especially good ones! When our food came not only did it look delicious but it tasted fantastic too!!!! It really was so good that it did not take long for it to be off our plates and in our bellies. The potato crusted chive and cheddar part of the fish was simply brilliant. It added a flavor to the fish that was unexpected…We really enjoyed our fish fry and I think I speak for all we I say we will visit this fish fry again!!! 9.5/10
I have to agree with Ann's sentiments about the Fry at On the Rocks. The front door gave way to a pretty crowded bar and we were a little apprehensive to stay barring the amount of people, however, as we ventured back the dining room was free and clear (one of the advantages of going out to eat late). We were immediately greeted by a smiling face offering to take our drink order. Upon receiving our cocktails, we immediately ordered.
I know I have taken a little bit of flack for not ordering the "traditional" fish fry, but this Potato Crusted Cheddar and Chive Cod ($12.95) looked way too good to pass up. Any time there is a unique flavor combination in breading, I want to try it and I'm sorry if that is troublesome to a few readers, but boy, am I glad tried this entree. Side note: On the Rocks also offered Fried/Baked Cod ($9.95) and Fried/Baked Perch ($11/95).
We started the meal with some average clam chowder, my guess it was a food service brand, and while it was served hot, was lacking a bit in flavor. Shortly after finishing our cups of soup, the entrees arrived. And like Ann had said prior, this dish was amazing. I decided to get the baked potato with my meal, and like most frys, this dish was complimented by a piece of rye bread and coleslaw. The sides, again were average, but this is the last time I'll use that word to describe our dinner.
The crust on this fish was a superbly blended mixture of potato, cheddar and chive. Although the breading was a little heavy, it wasn't too much, probably because the flavor was unique. After breaking through the crust with my fork I was greeted with a perfectly cooked piece of cod, which is difficult to master when your breading is a little thick. The combination was amazing and I certainly would recommend On the Rocks for your Friday dining excursion.
I will give the meal an 8 out of 10 (just because of the lackluster sides and soup).
Next week Ann and I will be out of town, and the blog will continue after our March 12 fry! I'm heading to a family weekend, so you might get a peep out of me after I go to dinner with my parents at Blanck's. I cannot wait for some yummy haddock again!
Until the next blog, I hope you all have a great week. Eat well and hug someone you love!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Endter's Sports Grill (to-go version) -- Please read Black Trumpet Entry!
So, this week the blog is going to be unique. I am going to post TWO separate entries. You all get a special treat because I got sick.
Unfortunately, I fell ill with a nasty cold/body ache thingy and was out of commission for the day/evening on Friday, leaving me unable to fulfill my blogging duties. I was really disappointed, especially because it was the first Friday of lent and besides "Good Friday" -- it's typically the busiest Fish Fry night for restaurants and supper clubs. Fortunately, though, for all of you, there was a solution.
My friend Dionne Groth (yes, the story is true, I did send her flying out of a golf cart and she is definitely STILL in one piece despite her dramatization of what happened) and her husband Andy offered to blog about their dining experience on Friday. As an added bonus, I had someone drop off a fish fry at my condo on Friday night, ensuring I'd indeed get my fish fry point of view into words. I will keep mine pretty short and sweet as I think it's really unfair to judge "to-go" fish fries. There was some high points and low points of this dinner, but overall I can't complain, because as I've stated in this blog numerous times before, I truly have the best friends anyone can ask for and that trumps any meal at anytime!
Endter's Sports Grill, 300 Cottonwood Avenue, Hartland, WI: I had the basic fried cod with potato pancake, side of coleslaw and bread. The breading was a typical beer batter on the cod, and while the fish itself was very flavorful, it took some work digging through all the breading. I am a big fan of beer batter, but there is a fine line between perfection and disaster. This cod was very close to being disastrous. I figure once I picked most of the breading off, the portion size was almost half of what it looked like from the start. However, like I stated before, it's a little bit more difficult to assess the situation when the meal is put in a styrofoam container with aluminum foil and transported, so I will definitely be back at Endter's to review from tableside.
The potato pancake was average, but they forgot to put applesauce with my meal, so I used ketchup. It was not a stand-alone cake by any means. The coleslaw was irrelevant, and there is no excuse for something to taste that bad -- despite the fact it was in transport, coleslaw should travel better than it did. There was not enough cream in this recipe and the slaw itself was a major bust.
I'm not going to rate Endter's now -- because first of all, I was ill and second it was not the best of circumstances. I just could not let a week go by without sharing my thoughts... I mean, it is MY blog!
In the meantime, have a great week and thanks so much for reading my random thoughts each week. I hope you're having as much fun reading as I am writing this damn thing.
Black Trumpet, Waukesha, WI
We read Beth’s blog on a regular basis and have used her recommendations in the past, so my husband, Andy, and I were extremely excited to guest blog for Beth. We were considering going out for fish anyway, so now our Friday night plans had evolved. Beth had planned on going to one of our usual places, the 5 O’clock club in Pewaukee, but they are always super busy and being that it was the first Friday of Lent, we figured the 5 O’clock club and all of our regular haunts would be even more crowed so we decided to try the Black Trumpet inside the Clarke Hotel in downtown Waukesha. Waukesha has really put a lot of effort into improving the downtown area and we think it is important to frequent these establishments. If people don’t come downtown and spend money, these places will close and we will be right back to the crappy Waukesha that many of us grew to avoid. (But enough about my “Support Downtown Waukesha” speech) As a note to those who don’t spend much time in downtown Waukesha, don’t spend a lot of time looking for the perfect parking spot, just find one of the public lots and enjoy the walk. The Clarke Hotel does have valet if you really find this to be a concern.
We had been to the Clarke Hotel for cocktails before and loved the atmosphere but never dined there. We arrived about 6:30PM, and were asked if we had had reservations, we didn’t. They told us it would be a 45 min to one hour wait. We should have thought they wouldn’t have had the typical “no reservation on Friday rule”, oh well. We had a couple glasses of wine and enjoyed the warm, cozy, non-smoking atmosphere. We found out during the lengthy wait that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had done a good review of their fish fry in Friday’s paper, and they were busier than usual and unprepared for the influx of customers. We entertained ourselves by people watching out the window and just enjoying each other’s company. The service at the bar could have been much better, this wasn’t related to how busy it was, it was that the bartender just wasn’t very attentive, although her lack of attention paid off for us since it seems she forgot to ring up about half of our drinks. Though that will be offset by the dry cleaning bill for the wine she spilled on Andy’s pants. We were finally seated at 8PM.
The fish fry special is $13.99 for the all you can eat fried or baked cod. This price is a little higher than the average Waukesha County fish fry, but we expected this from the Black Trumpet (Early Bird price is $11.99 from 4:30 -5:30PM). We each ordered the half and half Fish Fry, half fried and half baked. We were kind of surprised that they hadn’t offered any other fish options or specials, but we had planned on the regular fish fry anyway. After we placed our order, we heard our server telling the table next to us the specials, turns out there were other fish specials just no one shared them with us. Andy and I felt the pressure to give a thorough review and scoped out the place. The dining room is very nice; however we noted that they left tables un-bussed for 10-15 minutes, sometimes longer. This hurt the atmosphere and obviously affected the time other customers had to wait for seating.
The rye rolls that came with the meal were average. Our meal came fairly quickly, within 10 minutes. The waitress indicated that they were out of lemon (strange). We were really starting to worry that the Black Trumpet was not going to pan out, and we would have to write a bad review about a restaurant that we had been looking forward to trying. Here is where the evening finally turned around. The food was wonderful and made up for the long wait. The fried cod was thick and firm, cooked perfectly, not greasy or mushy. The breading, which included ground potato chips, was crisp and flavorful and REALLY good. The baked cod was seasoned perfectly and also VERY good. I did use some of the drawn butter that accompanied the fish, but not too much. The meal included french fries that were skinny, crisp and also quite tasty. We weren’t offered any other optional sides, i.e. potato pancakes, etc., so I am guessing that this is all they had. The coleslaw was creamy and also quite good. I am really picky when it comes to tartar sauce, I can’t stand the kind that is all mayo with a little pickle type relish. This was some of the best tartar I have had, it was made using roasted Poblanos (those are peppers) and was excellent.
The waitress didn’t offer a “re-order” of fish until we were both completely finished with our first orders. She then came back, apologized for the delay, and indicated that they had run out of fish and had to thaw out more. When we received our re-order, about 15 minutes later, she failed to bring us the amount we had requested, but they had found more lemons. The re-order was still excellent even if it was “thawed” and was just as good as the first order.
We had looked at their menu during one of our previous cocktail stops and noted that the Black Trumpet had changed there regular menu from a rather high end (we remembered Sturgeon and Caviar being offered on the old menu), to one with an Italian spin that included pastas and pizzas. It seems that many restaurants in Wisconsin have had to adjust their menus to more standard, affordable fare in order to remain in business, kind of a shame. Would we go back? Yes, only because the fish was fabulous and we would highly recommend it, though we were disappointed with the wait, the service and the lack of attention to detail. If you are going to tout yourself as a “high end” restaurant, you need to go all the way. That includes the service. We did note the owner/manager milling around the restaurant, but he seemed to only stop and visit the regulars. “Overall I would rate it an 8, even though the food was spectacular, could have easily been a 10, but the service really wrecked it.”
From the Black Trumpet, we decided to walk down to Chill, a small martini and wine bar, and found it worth a visit, great for a date or small group. It has a small bar (2 or 3 seats) and 3 tables, quaint, great drinks, I may have had one too many and the tab got quite expensive rather quick. Overall a great evening, with my husband with a heavy price tag. Thanks for letting us sub for you...
We had been to the Clarke Hotel for cocktails before and loved the atmosphere but never dined there. We arrived about 6:30PM, and were asked if we had had reservations, we didn’t. They told us it would be a 45 min to one hour wait. We should have thought they wouldn’t have had the typical “no reservation on Friday rule”, oh well. We had a couple glasses of wine and enjoyed the warm, cozy, non-smoking atmosphere. We found out during the lengthy wait that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had done a good review of their fish fry in Friday’s paper, and they were busier than usual and unprepared for the influx of customers. We entertained ourselves by people watching out the window and just enjoying each other’s company. The service at the bar could have been much better, this wasn’t related to how busy it was, it was that the bartender just wasn’t very attentive, although her lack of attention paid off for us since it seems she forgot to ring up about half of our drinks. Though that will be offset by the dry cleaning bill for the wine she spilled on Andy’s pants. We were finally seated at 8PM.
The fish fry special is $13.99 for the all you can eat fried or baked cod. This price is a little higher than the average Waukesha County fish fry, but we expected this from the Black Trumpet (Early Bird price is $11.99 from 4:30 -5:30PM). We each ordered the half and half Fish Fry, half fried and half baked. We were kind of surprised that they hadn’t offered any other fish options or specials, but we had planned on the regular fish fry anyway. After we placed our order, we heard our server telling the table next to us the specials, turns out there were other fish specials just no one shared them with us. Andy and I felt the pressure to give a thorough review and scoped out the place. The dining room is very nice; however we noted that they left tables un-bussed for 10-15 minutes, sometimes longer. This hurt the atmosphere and obviously affected the time other customers had to wait for seating.
The rye rolls that came with the meal were average. Our meal came fairly quickly, within 10 minutes. The waitress indicated that they were out of lemon (strange). We were really starting to worry that the Black Trumpet was not going to pan out, and we would have to write a bad review about a restaurant that we had been looking forward to trying. Here is where the evening finally turned around. The food was wonderful and made up for the long wait. The fried cod was thick and firm, cooked perfectly, not greasy or mushy. The breading, which included ground potato chips, was crisp and flavorful and REALLY good. The baked cod was seasoned perfectly and also VERY good. I did use some of the drawn butter that accompanied the fish, but not too much. The meal included french fries that were skinny, crisp and also quite tasty. We weren’t offered any other optional sides, i.e. potato pancakes, etc., so I am guessing that this is all they had. The coleslaw was creamy and also quite good. I am really picky when it comes to tartar sauce, I can’t stand the kind that is all mayo with a little pickle type relish. This was some of the best tartar I have had, it was made using roasted Poblanos (those are peppers) and was excellent.
The waitress didn’t offer a “re-order” of fish until we were both completely finished with our first orders. She then came back, apologized for the delay, and indicated that they had run out of fish and had to thaw out more. When we received our re-order, about 15 minutes later, she failed to bring us the amount we had requested, but they had found more lemons. The re-order was still excellent even if it was “thawed” and was just as good as the first order.
We had looked at their menu during one of our previous cocktail stops and noted that the Black Trumpet had changed there regular menu from a rather high end (we remembered Sturgeon and Caviar being offered on the old menu), to one with an Italian spin that included pastas and pizzas. It seems that many restaurants in Wisconsin have had to adjust their menus to more standard, affordable fare in order to remain in business, kind of a shame. Would we go back? Yes, only because the fish was fabulous and we would highly recommend it, though we were disappointed with the wait, the service and the lack of attention to detail. If you are going to tout yourself as a “high end” restaurant, you need to go all the way. That includes the service. We did note the owner/manager milling around the restaurant, but he seemed to only stop and visit the regulars. “Overall I would rate it an 8, even though the food was spectacular, could have easily been a 10, but the service really wrecked it.”
From the Black Trumpet, we decided to walk down to Chill, a small martini and wine bar, and found it worth a visit, great for a date or small group. It has a small bar (2 or 3 seats) and 3 tables, quaint, great drinks, I may have had one too many and the tab got quite expensive rather quick. Overall a great evening, with my husband with a heavy price tag. Thanks for letting us sub for you...
Monday, February 15, 2010
Hartbook Lanes, Hartland, WI
So, today's blog is just me, my opinion and my thoughts. Ann is in Costa Rica on a yoga retreat, so I was left to fend for myself this weekend, my friend Z joined me and we decided to keep the trip simple and head to the local bowling center to check out their fish fry.
I've heard lots of good things about Hartbrook's fry, however, this particular meal did not live up to the billing. So to my friends Jo and Jen of Ledgeview Lanes...your fish fry is still the best of any bowling center and most restaurants!!
First of all, I have never been to Hartbrook and when I walked in I literally felt as though I just stepped out of the time machine. The decor reminded me of my grandparent's restaurant back in the day. With velour detail on the wallpaper, dark beams lining the ceiling and even a little carpet on the walls, I stopped for a moment to think about my decision to sit in this dining room. But even the most "out of date" restaurants serve the best comfort food...so, I smiled at the lack of modern elements and made my way to the table.
We were seated immediately and within no time a smiling waitress was there to take our order, Z did not need a menu and I was a little perplexed, so I asked for one...then I realized why he did not need one. You had two options for this meal, either the all-you-can-eat fried cod ($9.95) or a baked cod option ($11.95). For the sake of simplicity, I just went along with Z and got the fried cod, knowing I probably would not eat $10 worth of food.
After receiving our drinks, the waitress brought us a basket of rye bread, creamy cole slaw and a mayo-based potato salad. The cole slaw had an amazing flavor, I was impressed by how much I enjoyed it, however the potato salad was a complete bust. We even ran into some friends at Hartbrook, who felt as we did about weird composition of this side. It just didn't taste right, the potatoes had an odd consistency and the mixture was way "off".
Within minutes of getting the slaw/salad the waitress was already in tow with our dinners. I was amazed at how quickly we went from sitting at an empty table to one full of food/bread/drinks. If you are in a rush, I suggest an outing to Hartbrook. I had literally two sips of my drink prior to our meals arriving and for some that might be a nice option, but when I go out to eat, I prefer a bit of time to enjoy the cocktail, conversation and bread...
The cod was a little overdone for my taste. The pieces were small and it was apparent to me, that as the night wore on the grease used to fry the fish needed to be changed and it hadn't been. There was little to no flavor in the batter and when a fish is overdone, it's tough to make up for it. Fortunately I had some bread left and was able to put together a "makeshift" sandwich to cover the entree's shortcomings. Along with our fish we got a basket of french fries...which, unlike the fish were undercooked and a little soggy. I did not take photos of our food, it wasn't great lighting (obviously) and the tiny pieces of fish did not really photograph well...
I will have to give props to our great waitress, who was very attentive and pleasant to talk to, and like I've stated before, when you have good service, it makes a bad meal bearable. She made it bearable.
When we were just about finished our server brought our bill and as I reached into my purse to pay with my debit card, the waitress stopped me and said Hartbrook does not take Credit Cards (establishments enforcing this payment method generally do so to keep their prices lower) but they DO take checks. I chuckled at this statement and I was immediately taken back to the beginning of the evening when I walked in the door to the awful 70s decor, things truly were "backwards" at this place.
Make no mistake about it, their prices are definitely in line ($4.50 rail old-fashioned, $3.25 domestic bottle) with 2010 and I'm still trying to figure out why they don't take credit cards. LOL
Overall, the meal at Hartbrook was not impressive and I doubt I will go back unless I'm bowling. I give the fry a 4 out of 10 stars, you can thank the cole-slaw and the service for any stars at all.
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's weekend and you were able to spend time with the ones you love. Actually, you really don't need to use Valentine's Day as an excuse to be with people you love, it should be a practice you live out each and every day. You don't need a holiday to remind you, do you?
Enjoy your week!
I've heard lots of good things about Hartbrook's fry, however, this particular meal did not live up to the billing. So to my friends Jo and Jen of Ledgeview Lanes...your fish fry is still the best of any bowling center and most restaurants!!
First of all, I have never been to Hartbrook and when I walked in I literally felt as though I just stepped out of the time machine. The decor reminded me of my grandparent's restaurant back in the day. With velour detail on the wallpaper, dark beams lining the ceiling and even a little carpet on the walls, I stopped for a moment to think about my decision to sit in this dining room. But even the most "out of date" restaurants serve the best comfort food...so, I smiled at the lack of modern elements and made my way to the table.
We were seated immediately and within no time a smiling waitress was there to take our order, Z did not need a menu and I was a little perplexed, so I asked for one...then I realized why he did not need one. You had two options for this meal, either the all-you-can-eat fried cod ($9.95) or a baked cod option ($11.95). For the sake of simplicity, I just went along with Z and got the fried cod, knowing I probably would not eat $10 worth of food.
After receiving our drinks, the waitress brought us a basket of rye bread, creamy cole slaw and a mayo-based potato salad. The cole slaw had an amazing flavor, I was impressed by how much I enjoyed it, however the potato salad was a complete bust. We even ran into some friends at Hartbrook, who felt as we did about weird composition of this side. It just didn't taste right, the potatoes had an odd consistency and the mixture was way "off".
Within minutes of getting the slaw/salad the waitress was already in tow with our dinners. I was amazed at how quickly we went from sitting at an empty table to one full of food/bread/drinks. If you are in a rush, I suggest an outing to Hartbrook. I had literally two sips of my drink prior to our meals arriving and for some that might be a nice option, but when I go out to eat, I prefer a bit of time to enjoy the cocktail, conversation and bread...
The cod was a little overdone for my taste. The pieces were small and it was apparent to me, that as the night wore on the grease used to fry the fish needed to be changed and it hadn't been. There was little to no flavor in the batter and when a fish is overdone, it's tough to make up for it. Fortunately I had some bread left and was able to put together a "makeshift" sandwich to cover the entree's shortcomings. Along with our fish we got a basket of french fries...which, unlike the fish were undercooked and a little soggy. I did not take photos of our food, it wasn't great lighting (obviously) and the tiny pieces of fish did not really photograph well...
I will have to give props to our great waitress, who was very attentive and pleasant to talk to, and like I've stated before, when you have good service, it makes a bad meal bearable. She made it bearable.
When we were just about finished our server brought our bill and as I reached into my purse to pay with my debit card, the waitress stopped me and said Hartbrook does not take Credit Cards (establishments enforcing this payment method generally do so to keep their prices lower) but they DO take checks. I chuckled at this statement and I was immediately taken back to the beginning of the evening when I walked in the door to the awful 70s decor, things truly were "backwards" at this place.
Make no mistake about it, their prices are definitely in line ($4.50 rail old-fashioned, $3.25 domestic bottle) with 2010 and I'm still trying to figure out why they don't take credit cards. LOL
Overall, the meal at Hartbrook was not impressive and I doubt I will go back unless I'm bowling. I give the fry a 4 out of 10 stars, you can thank the cole-slaw and the service for any stars at all.
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's weekend and you were able to spend time with the ones you love. Actually, you really don't need to use Valentine's Day as an excuse to be with people you love, it should be a practice you live out each and every day. You don't need a holiday to remind you, do you?
Enjoy your week!
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