I am completely overwhelmed by this week's blog. When I posted on Facebook asking friends' for suggestions, I had narrowed it down to a few places and by mid-week last week I decided to go to Stolley's Hogg Alley, 2008 N Venice Beach Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066-5047. I never expected the response after my decision.
This is where the take-off of the Lake Country Wisconsin Fish Fry happened. I went from around 80 friends to nearly 135 "likes" in a week and had people anticipating this very review. There's a little pressure for this blog, but as like my other entries, I'm going to tell it like it is and the bottom line is Stolley's Hogg Alley is good!
Ann, Dave, Mike and myself arrived at Hogg Alley (I had been to breakfast here before and I 100% recommend you do too) at around 7:15pm and the place was insanely packed, this place isn't very big, so people fill up fast. Once we made it through the front door and around the bar area, we were greeted by a server who gave us the "drill" - which is...write your name and number in your party on a dry-erase board just outside the dining room. It's a unique way to keep track of potential diners, but it works!
We realized the wait was going to be at least an hour, so this gave us plenty of time to catch up on the week's events and unwind with a few drinks. The bar staff was amazing, sometimes you see people get frazzled with such a demanding crowd, but these two were full of smiles and made one hell of a drink. In fact, everyone at this place was amazingly friendly (servers & patrons) and I was a "stranger" -- I never did tell anyone who I was and why we were there. But, when someone posted on facebook that they treat you like family at Hogg Alley, they were not kidding.
Now onto the food. By the time we were seated it was closer to 8:45, so unfortunately they were out of potato pancakes, baked cod and German Potato Salad. However, the nice waitress found us a small portion of the German Potato Salad -- and it was very good, but I was more impressed with her shuffling through the "to-go" orders to get us the small sample.
I ordered the deep fried Walleye ($12.00) while the rest of my table opted for the AYCE Deep Fried Cod ($11.00). Along with the fish, the servers bring out coleslaw and rye bread prior to the meal. The Slaw was amazing, creamy and full of flavor, we all enjoyed it, the bread was very average.
I'll start out with my first and only negative comment of the day. I was disappointed in my Walleye, while the breading was amazing and the fish itself cooked beautifully it tasted very, very "fishy" – and I couldn't eat much of it. I had a few bites, passed it along to the others at the table who all whole-heartedly agreed with me. However, once we all dug into the cod, it made us quickly forget about the walleye disaster. The breading on the cod was seasoned perfectly, just the right amount of flavor to compliment the fish. It was probably some of the best breading I've had in the area and we all truly enjoyed our dinners (once I made the switch from the Walleye).
As far as ambiance, like I told you earlier, it's literally like going to a family gathering at the local greasy spoon. They pack you in the dining room pretty tight, but that's all part of the thrill when you go out to eat at one of these places and it's the joy of the experience. I had a lot of fun.
I will give Stolley's a solid 8 out of 10 for their fish fry. I can't overlook the fishy Walleye, but other than that the meal was delightful and the friendly, over-the-top service was a treat. I think we all know good service is really hard to come by these days. I will definitely be back to Stolley's Hogg Alley and I suggest if you haven't tried it, to do so in the near future.
The blog is taking a little break as we head towards the Thanksgiving holiday -- and I will be on vacation in Texas. We will be back reviewing the fish fries on December 10.
Have a great week everyone. And as the holidays fast approach us, think about helping out someone less fortunate this season, whether it is in donations or time. Even if it's throwing loose change in the Red Cross pail, it's helping to make someone else's life a little brighter.
Hugs to all and never forget to give Thanks for everything you have!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Fox & Hounds in Hubertus never lived up to the billing
I've been dreading writing this blog since Friday. I have not been put in a predicament like this since I started the blog last year, but it happened, and I knew some day I'd have to suck it up and write my first crappy review.
This week my friends Mike and Shannon joined me at the Fox & Hounds, 1298 Friess Lake Road, Hubertus, WI. I was told how great the fish fry was and even though it was outside the Waukesha County/Lake Country radius, I was excited to try it. It was recommended by a few friends and some reviews online suggested we were in for a real treat. I was seriously disappointed.
First of all, let me say something positive, the setting in the middle of nowhere with the rustic decor and living room atmosphere was pleasant, even though this place is huge, it still felt like you were in a comfortable atmosphere. My glass of Pinot Noir was excellent and we were ready to head to our table. This is where the fun ended for me.
Mike and Shannon opted for the all-you-can eat deep fried cod and shrimp for $9.99, I decided to have the baked cod for $14.99. This is my first real disconnect with pricing. I realize that baked fish is normally priced higher, but usually a dollar or two, but FIVE dollars? I would like every restaurant to know that I KNOW it doesn't require $5 dollars worth of work to put loins of cod into a broiler with water/butter, rarely is baked fish prepared to order, and I'd challenge anyone to correct me if I'm wrong. (Along with your fish you are given a side of french fries (baked potato for $1 extra), creamy cole slaw and a slice of rye bread. You were not treated to any potato pancakes at the Fox & Hounds and again, to charge $1 extra for a baked potato is absurd.)
There is only one way to describe my baked cod, BLAND. While the fish was perfectly cooked, it was grossly under-seasoned with a hint of paprika. It seemed like there was nothing else, and I definitely gave my own healthy dusting of salt and pepper before I doused it in butter. I had about half of my dinner and decided to stop trying. I figured the meal Shannon and Mike ordered had to be better. I was wrong. Their shrimp was nothing more than a Vande Kamps frozen fish stick shaped like a shrimp (with a tail) and thrown into the fryer and the cod pieces were small, over-cooked and the breading, again, was under-seasoned.
I will keep this blog on the shorter side, as I hate to harp on imperfection, but when you boast a Friday Fish Fry special, I believe you're obligated to provide the best meal possible, because it's your "special." I also realize we might have just got the one bad meal that night, but unfortunately it's all I have to write about.
The rest of the menu at Fox & Hounds looked intriguing and I think I'll definitely stop out again to try a two-for-one weekday meal, or a two-for-one Prime Rib "special" on Saturdays. I also recommend you call ahead for reservations, as the wait was over an hour when we got there (which I know is typical).
I'm not going to come out and say "don't go to the Fox & Hounds" -- but if you're in the mood for a fantastic fish fry, I would opt for a different location. Perhaps, The Phoenix in Hartland (I know I'm obsessed, but folks, it's that good).
The Fox & Hounds gets a solid 2 out of 10 this week, those two points are solely based on good service and halfway decent cole slaw.
Next week is a toss up, we have no idea where we're going, so stay tuned to the facebook page to find out where we decide to dine.
In the meantime, have a great week -- enjoy these last bits of sunshine and warmth this fall, it's absolutely gorgeous. Have a great weekend, and as always, do not forget to let those important people in your life know how important they are.
I'd also like to wish my dear friend Karen a Happy Birthday on the 10th. What an incredible person, I hope you have many more healthy and happy birthdays in the future. Love you!
This week my friends Mike and Shannon joined me at the Fox & Hounds, 1298 Friess Lake Road, Hubertus, WI. I was told how great the fish fry was and even though it was outside the Waukesha County/Lake Country radius, I was excited to try it. It was recommended by a few friends and some reviews online suggested we were in for a real treat. I was seriously disappointed.
First of all, let me say something positive, the setting in the middle of nowhere with the rustic decor and living room atmosphere was pleasant, even though this place is huge, it still felt like you were in a comfortable atmosphere. My glass of Pinot Noir was excellent and we were ready to head to our table. This is where the fun ended for me.
Mike and Shannon opted for the all-you-can eat deep fried cod and shrimp for $9.99, I decided to have the baked cod for $14.99. This is my first real disconnect with pricing. I realize that baked fish is normally priced higher, but usually a dollar or two, but FIVE dollars? I would like every restaurant to know that I KNOW it doesn't require $5 dollars worth of work to put loins of cod into a broiler with water/butter, rarely is baked fish prepared to order, and I'd challenge anyone to correct me if I'm wrong. (Along with your fish you are given a side of french fries (baked potato for $1 extra), creamy cole slaw and a slice of rye bread. You were not treated to any potato pancakes at the Fox & Hounds and again, to charge $1 extra for a baked potato is absurd.)
There is only one way to describe my baked cod, BLAND. While the fish was perfectly cooked, it was grossly under-seasoned with a hint of paprika. It seemed like there was nothing else, and I definitely gave my own healthy dusting of salt and pepper before I doused it in butter. I had about half of my dinner and decided to stop trying. I figured the meal Shannon and Mike ordered had to be better. I was wrong. Their shrimp was nothing more than a Vande Kamps frozen fish stick shaped like a shrimp (with a tail) and thrown into the fryer and the cod pieces were small, over-cooked and the breading, again, was under-seasoned.
I will keep this blog on the shorter side, as I hate to harp on imperfection, but when you boast a Friday Fish Fry special, I believe you're obligated to provide the best meal possible, because it's your "special." I also realize we might have just got the one bad meal that night, but unfortunately it's all I have to write about.
The rest of the menu at Fox & Hounds looked intriguing and I think I'll definitely stop out again to try a two-for-one weekday meal, or a two-for-one Prime Rib "special" on Saturdays. I also recommend you call ahead for reservations, as the wait was over an hour when we got there (which I know is typical).
I'm not going to come out and say "don't go to the Fox & Hounds" -- but if you're in the mood for a fantastic fish fry, I would opt for a different location. Perhaps, The Phoenix in Hartland (I know I'm obsessed, but folks, it's that good).
The Fox & Hounds gets a solid 2 out of 10 this week, those two points are solely based on good service and halfway decent cole slaw.
Next week is a toss up, we have no idea where we're going, so stay tuned to the facebook page to find out where we decide to dine.
In the meantime, have a great week -- enjoy these last bits of sunshine and warmth this fall, it's absolutely gorgeous. Have a great weekend, and as always, do not forget to let those important people in your life know how important they are.
I'd also like to wish my dear friend Karen a Happy Birthday on the 10th. What an incredible person, I hope you have many more healthy and happy birthdays in the future. Love you!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Silver Spring Golf Club La Par Restaurant
Happy Wednesday everyone, again, thanks for taking the time to read about the weekly fish fry in Lake Country Wisconsin. The facebook page is growing, the list of readers is growing and I'm happy to give you the best analysis I can and I'm having way too much fun in the process.
This Friday Ann and I ventured out to the La Par Restaurant at Silver Spring Golf Club, N56 W21318 Silver Spring Drive, Menomonee Falls. I had a a free coupon I received in the mail for a Fish Fry and I jumped all over it. When we arrived around 6:30pm, the bar was very empty, but dining room was full, we were seated within 10 minutes and our server promptly set us up with the information regarding their fish fry special. The options are (and all are priced at $10.95 and the deep fried cod is all-you-can-eat) deep fried cod, baked cod with a panko-like bread topping and deep fried tilapia. There are other specials and a huge selection of menu items, but we dove right into the fish options. Also, on a side note, you can add soup and salad bar for $2.95 OR soup/salad AND dessert bar for $4.95. Ann had the tilapia, I ordered baked cod and we both opted for the soup/salad bar.
First things first. The salad bar was average, you had your choice of romaine lettuce or spinach, normal toppings and some croutons. Everything was fresh and tasted good, but aside from some potato salad and ceviche (yes, ceviche on a fish fry salad bar) everything was normal. The soup was a homemade clam chowder which was to DIE for. It was bursting with flavor, huge pieces of clam, carrots and celery and a hint of bacon (yes, bacon). I did everything I could from literally licking every last drop of soup out of that cup. Well done, chef, well done.
The server brought coleslaw (creamy) and hot sourdough rolls to the table, all of which were very very good. It was more than enough pre-dinner snacking, and I think the next time I'll just have the rolls and slaw. Oh yeah, and the soup!
As we finished our salads and raved over the soup, it wasn't very long before our extremely pleasant server arrived with our entrees. My baked cod was well-cooked, flaky and very full of flavor -- the breadcrumbs on the top were a nice addition. Usually the meal is served with a lemon butter cream over the top, I opted to have that on the side (I'm glad I asked for it that way, and suggest you do the same when ordering). The sauce didn't match well with the way the fish was prepared -- so if there is any complaint, it's that the cream sauce is not necessary to make this a successful dish. I do, however, suggest you get drawn butter, as that IS a nice compliment!
I had the potato pancakes, which were homemade and absolutely wonderful.
Ann's tilapia (while not fresh) was good as well. The breading was a little heavy, but the components overall were good and she enjoyed her dinner. I also had a quick taste of the deep fried cod, it was a little heavy on the breading as well, but it wasn't overly powerful and the fish inside was soft and mouth-watering.
Overall, I'll give this establishment an 8 out of 10. It wasn't the very best fish fry, but I would most definitely go there again for a meal. The service was top-notch, the wine was excellent and most importantly I left with a full belly.
I'm not sure if anyone could leave the La Par restaurant NOT full. I had not a single space left for dessert, but who knows, maybe next time.
Happy Halloween everyone! This week I will be taking a break from the fish fry, as I have a Friday night gig at the Badger Bowl in Madison. If you don't have any ghostly plans, Pink Houses takes the stage at 9:45pm.
And, as always -- give a hug. People need it!
Enjoy!
This Friday Ann and I ventured out to the La Par Restaurant at Silver Spring Golf Club, N56 W21318 Silver Spring Drive, Menomonee Falls. I had a a free coupon I received in the mail for a Fish Fry and I jumped all over it. When we arrived around 6:30pm, the bar was very empty, but dining room was full, we were seated within 10 minutes and our server promptly set us up with the information regarding their fish fry special. The options are (and all are priced at $10.95 and the deep fried cod is all-you-can-eat) deep fried cod, baked cod with a panko-like bread topping and deep fried tilapia. There are other specials and a huge selection of menu items, but we dove right into the fish options. Also, on a side note, you can add soup and salad bar for $2.95 OR soup/salad AND dessert bar for $4.95. Ann had the tilapia, I ordered baked cod and we both opted for the soup/salad bar.
First things first. The salad bar was average, you had your choice of romaine lettuce or spinach, normal toppings and some croutons. Everything was fresh and tasted good, but aside from some potato salad and ceviche (yes, ceviche on a fish fry salad bar) everything was normal. The soup was a homemade clam chowder which was to DIE for. It was bursting with flavor, huge pieces of clam, carrots and celery and a hint of bacon (yes, bacon). I did everything I could from literally licking every last drop of soup out of that cup. Well done, chef, well done.
The server brought coleslaw (creamy) and hot sourdough rolls to the table, all of which were very very good. It was more than enough pre-dinner snacking, and I think the next time I'll just have the rolls and slaw. Oh yeah, and the soup!
As we finished our salads and raved over the soup, it wasn't very long before our extremely pleasant server arrived with our entrees. My baked cod was well-cooked, flaky and very full of flavor -- the breadcrumbs on the top were a nice addition. Usually the meal is served with a lemon butter cream over the top, I opted to have that on the side (I'm glad I asked for it that way, and suggest you do the same when ordering). The sauce didn't match well with the way the fish was prepared -- so if there is any complaint, it's that the cream sauce is not necessary to make this a successful dish. I do, however, suggest you get drawn butter, as that IS a nice compliment!
I had the potato pancakes, which were homemade and absolutely wonderful.
Ann's tilapia (while not fresh) was good as well. The breading was a little heavy, but the components overall were good and she enjoyed her dinner. I also had a quick taste of the deep fried cod, it was a little heavy on the breading as well, but it wasn't overly powerful and the fish inside was soft and mouth-watering.
Overall, I'll give this establishment an 8 out of 10. It wasn't the very best fish fry, but I would most definitely go there again for a meal. The service was top-notch, the wine was excellent and most importantly I left with a full belly.
I'm not sure if anyone could leave the La Par restaurant NOT full. I had not a single space left for dessert, but who knows, maybe next time.
Happy Halloween everyone! This week I will be taking a break from the fish fry, as I have a Friday night gig at the Badger Bowl in Madison. If you don't have any ghostly plans, Pink Houses takes the stage at 9:45pm.
And, as always -- give a hug. People need it!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Diamond Jim's Stoneridge Inn
Good afternoon Fish Fry enthusiasts, and thanks for taking the time to read the blog. I decided to go a little outside the "comfort zone" this week and try a restaurant east of 124th Street, a recommended little place in Hales Corners called Diamond Jim's Stoneridge Inn, 11811 W Janesville Rd.
After a much needed seasonal facial, we walked in the door close to 7:30pm, again, the perfect time as far as I'm concerned. I will give you Alyssa's take on the experience and I will follow-up and conclude.
Alyssa: I’ve had Diamond Jim’s fish fry before and because I thought it was quite possibly the best I’d ever had, I suggested the restaurant to Beth. The food was even better this time than it was a few weeks ago. We arrived late (7:30 is late for the Hales Corners crowd) and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. This represents, to me, the perfect balance between tumbleweeds blowing through the dining room and “I’m not waiting that long for a fish fry let’s leave.” It’s popular but not off-putting. The almost-elderly hostesses and waitresses were busy and tired and not afraid to show it. While the service was civil, it wasn’t exactly friendly. However, the food more than made up for the personalities. My three huge pieces of fresh beer-battered cod arrived light and crispy, and the homemade potato pancakes with chunky applesauce were well-seasoned and hearty. Coupled with the cup of clam chowder I added as an appetizer, the flavorful tartar sauce and the creamy coleslaw, I couldn’t even finish all my food – and I’m usually a proud member of the Clean Plate Club. I give it a 9/10, one-point demotion for the staff treating us like impositions rather than guests.
I will exact Alyssa's sentiments on the service, it was a borderline rude. I got the distinct impression the restaurant was incredibly busy prior to our arrival, but being tired and running your ass off on a Friday night should be nothing strange to a waitress in Wisconsin, unless you’re 16 and clearly she was not.
We started the meal off with a cup of homemade clam chowder, and it was fabulous. It was chunky, flavorful and very filling. Shortly after the waitress cleared away our soup cups, our entrees were in front of us. (side note: even though the waitress herself wasn’t so happy, the overall quickness of getting our food was top-notch). I went with the broiled cod ($12.95) and Alyssa had the fried cod ($10.95). I pulled off a "trade" with Alyssa, one piece of fried cod from her plate for an equally sized square of broiled off mine, a very fair and equal maneuver.
I recommend both entrees. The beer-batter was crispy and not over-cooked, seasoned well and fried to perfection, and inside the fish was moist, flaky and delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed that piece of cod. My broiled fish was no different. The light paprika seasoned filet was cooked well, but a little overdone, however, it was a little later and some places tend to “pre-broil” their fish in order to get it out timely. This wasn’t that bad and the flavors were in tact, but it did need a partner in drawn butter to make that happen. I usually like to critique on whether or not the fish NEEDS extra condiments or if it can stand on it’s own.
Additionally, the coleslaw was amazing, probably the best I've had thus far. It’s heavier cream base is normally something I don’t enjoy, but this time it was divine, incredibly balanced with just the right crunchiness from the cabbage/carrots and the creaminess of the mayo/cream combo. As an afterthought, there was a small piece of store-bought, buttered rye bread and average potato pancakes.
While Alyssa is a bit more generous in her rating, I’ll give Diamond Jim’s a solid 7 out of 10.
As always, I hope you all enjoyed this blog and you have an even better week. I’m hoping to hit up Silver Spring Country Club this Friday, as they were nice enough to send a free Fish Fry coupon in the mail.
Don't forget to check out the blog's facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Lake-Country-Wisconsin-Fish-Frys/153633424672319
Also, please check out LakeCountryNightOut.com for more fun things to do in Waukesha County!
And most importantly, I know it might get a little sickening, but seriously, give someone a hug!
After a much needed seasonal facial, we walked in the door close to 7:30pm, again, the perfect time as far as I'm concerned. I will give you Alyssa's take on the experience and I will follow-up and conclude.
Alyssa: I’ve had Diamond Jim’s fish fry before and because I thought it was quite possibly the best I’d ever had, I suggested the restaurant to Beth. The food was even better this time than it was a few weeks ago. We arrived late (7:30 is late for the Hales Corners crowd) and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. This represents, to me, the perfect balance between tumbleweeds blowing through the dining room and “I’m not waiting that long for a fish fry let’s leave.” It’s popular but not off-putting. The almost-elderly hostesses and waitresses were busy and tired and not afraid to show it. While the service was civil, it wasn’t exactly friendly. However, the food more than made up for the personalities. My three huge pieces of fresh beer-battered cod arrived light and crispy, and the homemade potato pancakes with chunky applesauce were well-seasoned and hearty. Coupled with the cup of clam chowder I added as an appetizer, the flavorful tartar sauce and the creamy coleslaw, I couldn’t even finish all my food – and I’m usually a proud member of the Clean Plate Club. I give it a 9/10, one-point demotion for the staff treating us like impositions rather than guests.
I will exact Alyssa's sentiments on the service, it was a borderline rude. I got the distinct impression the restaurant was incredibly busy prior to our arrival, but being tired and running your ass off on a Friday night should be nothing strange to a waitress in Wisconsin, unless you’re 16 and clearly she was not.
We started the meal off with a cup of homemade clam chowder, and it was fabulous. It was chunky, flavorful and very filling. Shortly after the waitress cleared away our soup cups, our entrees were in front of us. (side note: even though the waitress herself wasn’t so happy, the overall quickness of getting our food was top-notch). I went with the broiled cod ($12.95) and Alyssa had the fried cod ($10.95). I pulled off a "trade" with Alyssa, one piece of fried cod from her plate for an equally sized square of broiled off mine, a very fair and equal maneuver.
I recommend both entrees. The beer-batter was crispy and not over-cooked, seasoned well and fried to perfection, and inside the fish was moist, flaky and delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed that piece of cod. My broiled fish was no different. The light paprika seasoned filet was cooked well, but a little overdone, however, it was a little later and some places tend to “pre-broil” their fish in order to get it out timely. This wasn’t that bad and the flavors were in tact, but it did need a partner in drawn butter to make that happen. I usually like to critique on whether or not the fish NEEDS extra condiments or if it can stand on it’s own.
Additionally, the coleslaw was amazing, probably the best I've had thus far. It’s heavier cream base is normally something I don’t enjoy, but this time it was divine, incredibly balanced with just the right crunchiness from the cabbage/carrots and the creaminess of the mayo/cream combo. As an afterthought, there was a small piece of store-bought, buttered rye bread and average potato pancakes.
While Alyssa is a bit more generous in her rating, I’ll give Diamond Jim’s a solid 7 out of 10.
As always, I hope you all enjoyed this blog and you have an even better week. I’m hoping to hit up Silver Spring Country Club this Friday, as they were nice enough to send a free Fish Fry coupon in the mail.
Don't forget to check out the blog's facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Lake-Country-Wisconsin-Fish-Frys/153633424672319
Also, please check out LakeCountryNightOut.com for more fun things to do in Waukesha County!
And most importantly, I know it might get a little sickening, but seriously, give someone a hug!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A funny thing happened at the Phoenix...
Good afternoon everyone, thanks for taking some more time to read my little opinionated piece about my favorite Wisconsin tradition. The fish fry.
This week I'm "re-blogging" -- which means, I wasn't creative enough to find a new place because I was absolutely CRAVING the haddock at the Phoenix, 129 Cottonwood Ave., Hartland, WI 53029-2014, (262) 367-9020. We decided to go with the original "four" members of the fish fry group, Ann, Dave, Mike (Z) and myself.
I'm going to copy a paragraph from my December 2009 blog, because nothing has changed. The Phoenix offers two different Friday buffets, one is a Fish/Chicken buffet (11.95) and a Seafood buffet ($15.95), the boys opted for that dinner choice, while Ann and I, decided to go with the baked Haddock ($15.95). I was delighted when I saw Haddock on the menu and jumped at the chance to have it, I really didn't care who had what at that point, as my mind was made up the minute I saw the choices. This haddock was outstanding. To give you an idea of how impressed I was, I called my father on the phone after eating this dish to let him know that it was better than the haddock recipe at Blanck's. Yes folks, it was THAT good.
Well, our experience in 2010 was very similar to that of 2009, with one exception...I finally met a blog follower. And I feel absolutely horrible for not asking a name, but I was so full of excitement that someone actually reads this thing! The couple I met brought along their two children and were nestled in the back corner of the dining room. They must have overheard me talking about the blog with the waitress, and politely asked if I was the author of the blog, I replied yes, we shared some words (they ordered the baked cod) and I was giddy after a rotten day at work. Again, I'm so sorry I don't have your names, but please know you really touched me that day, and completely turned around what was an incredibly crappy day. Oh yeah and I also called my mom and dad about that little "run-in" -- my dad is now a loyal blog reader. :-)
This dining experience, Mike once again had the seafood buffet, Dave the fish/chicken buffet and Ann & I went with the baked haddock. I will tell you one slightly negative thing, if you choose to eat an item off the menu and not the buffet, you will wait at least a good 20 minutes for your entree. There are positives to this, like you get the best cooked baked fish in all of Waukesha County, which is broiled to perfection and served right out of the oven. But, don't be in a hurry. I did get a chance to sample some items from the buffet, and they were good, but I always prefer off the menu - as fried food has a very quick shelf life in a buffet line. With that said, the staff at Phoenix is constantly making sure the buffet is "fresh" of fried goodness.
I also want to give out props to our waitress, who was such a positive and fun woman. She remembered us (from almost a year ago) and her service made a great meal, nearly perfect. And when she overheard about the blog and the couple who was out to eat there because of this blog, she comped the table a round of drinks. Which, I thought was unnecessarily nice.
I can't do any better than a 10 out of 10 stars for the Phoenix, but I wish I could -- I realize there is probably something comparable out there, but I have yet to run into it and I will definitely recommend the Phoenix first it to ANYONE who asks, and even if you don't.
Have a great week everyone and I look forward to meeting or hearing from you some Friday night down the road.
Don't forget to follow the blog posts on facebook :
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Country-Wisconsin-Fish-Frys/153633424672319
Who knows, I may start with twitter, but that one still confuses me.
I know it sounds sappy, but again, please...tell someone you care about you DO care about them, and what better way to do it than with a big fat hug!
Peace!
This week I'm "re-blogging" -- which means, I wasn't creative enough to find a new place because I was absolutely CRAVING the haddock at the Phoenix, 129 Cottonwood Ave., Hartland, WI 53029-2014, (262) 367-9020. We decided to go with the original "four" members of the fish fry group, Ann, Dave, Mike (Z) and myself.
I'm going to copy a paragraph from my December 2009 blog, because nothing has changed. The Phoenix offers two different Friday buffets, one is a Fish/Chicken buffet (11.95) and a Seafood buffet ($15.95), the boys opted for that dinner choice, while Ann and I, decided to go with the baked Haddock ($15.95). I was delighted when I saw Haddock on the menu and jumped at the chance to have it, I really didn't care who had what at that point, as my mind was made up the minute I saw the choices. This haddock was outstanding. To give you an idea of how impressed I was, I called my father on the phone after eating this dish to let him know that it was better than the haddock recipe at Blanck's. Yes folks, it was THAT good.
Well, our experience in 2010 was very similar to that of 2009, with one exception...I finally met a blog follower. And I feel absolutely horrible for not asking a name, but I was so full of excitement that someone actually reads this thing! The couple I met brought along their two children and were nestled in the back corner of the dining room. They must have overheard me talking about the blog with the waitress, and politely asked if I was the author of the blog, I replied yes, we shared some words (they ordered the baked cod) and I was giddy after a rotten day at work. Again, I'm so sorry I don't have your names, but please know you really touched me that day, and completely turned around what was an incredibly crappy day. Oh yeah and I also called my mom and dad about that little "run-in" -- my dad is now a loyal blog reader. :-)
This dining experience, Mike once again had the seafood buffet, Dave the fish/chicken buffet and Ann & I went with the baked haddock. I will tell you one slightly negative thing, if you choose to eat an item off the menu and not the buffet, you will wait at least a good 20 minutes for your entree. There are positives to this, like you get the best cooked baked fish in all of Waukesha County, which is broiled to perfection and served right out of the oven. But, don't be in a hurry. I did get a chance to sample some items from the buffet, and they were good, but I always prefer off the menu - as fried food has a very quick shelf life in a buffet line. With that said, the staff at Phoenix is constantly making sure the buffet is "fresh" of fried goodness.
I also want to give out props to our waitress, who was such a positive and fun woman. She remembered us (from almost a year ago) and her service made a great meal, nearly perfect. And when she overheard about the blog and the couple who was out to eat there because of this blog, she comped the table a round of drinks. Which, I thought was unnecessarily nice.
I can't do any better than a 10 out of 10 stars for the Phoenix, but I wish I could -- I realize there is probably something comparable out there, but I have yet to run into it and I will definitely recommend the Phoenix first it to ANYONE who asks, and even if you don't.
Have a great week everyone and I look forward to meeting or hearing from you some Friday night down the road.
Don't forget to follow the blog posts on facebook :
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-Country-Wisconsin-Fish-Frys/153633424672319
Who knows, I may start with twitter, but that one still confuses me.
I know it sounds sappy, but again, please...tell someone you care about you DO care about them, and what better way to do it than with a big fat hug!
Peace!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Fish Fry ... to go
Greetings everyone, and thanks for checking out the weekly dose of fish fry banter.
This week I decided to "lay low," which means, I didn't feel like going out, knowing I had a big Saturday ahead of me. So this week, I thought I'd give you my "take" on "take-out" fish frys.
There is a newer establishment in Hartland called J.C. Bogars, located at 352 Cottonwood Ave., I had heard some mixed things about the restaurant, but figured now was as good as anytime to make my own assessment of the fare at this quaint dining establishment.
I called from my cell phone about 15 minutes outside of Hartland, and the courteous server who answered the phone assured me the food would be done in 10 minutes. While my food wasn't exactly waiting for me, I still was able to get in and out very quickly. Twice while I was waiting, I was greeted warmly by the two different servers, making sure I was taken care of and within five minutes of my arrival, I had my food in my hand and was ready to head home.
Because I was dining alone, I thought it only fair (again, this is for you Cabby) to order the traditional fish fry of deep-fried cod, with homemade potato chips. The meal also came with a slice of rye bread and cole slaw, all for $9.95.
I had my ups and downs with this meal. I'll start with the "down" as I always like to end on a positive. There were huge problems with the cole slaw and I was so disappointed in that. For once, I was excited to dive into an oil-based slaw, but it was so bitter in taste, I literally had to spit it out and throw it away immediately. It had me very cautious as I moved into the main entree, but to my surprise, I did not experience any more "spit-out" moments with my meal.
The fish was a little heavy in its breading, but it was a delicious blend of bread crumbs and spices featuring dill. I've never had dill in my fish breading until I moved into this area, but I'm becoming quite fond of this ingredient. The fish itself was a little overdone, but I'll chalk that up to being "to-go." The rye bread was average (store-bought) and not worth putting a lot of comment into.
Also, because I was dining alone, I decided to actually try the tartar sauce (yes, Jodi). I have to admit, this was the absolute BOMB of sauces. I bet you have no idea of the secret ingredient making this sauce edible -- yep, you guessed it -- DILL! Who would have thought that a dill-based tartar sauce would entice me to try it. I mostly used it as a dip for my homemade potato chips, but I did put on some bites of fish, and it enhanced the flavors quite nicely.
All in all I would recommend a visit to J.C. Bogars -- I'm going to give this particular dining experience a 6 out of 10, but I'm looking forward to actually sitting in their dining room and enjoying a full dining experience. Anyone who really knows food, realizes that getting take-out just can't measure up to actually going out to eat, but I had 35 miles to ride the next morning and I couldn't be tempted by the nice-looking bar!
Have a great weekend everyone, I'm not sure where the next fry is going to take me, but that's the beauty of this year, you just never know.
In the meantime, I suggest you give a really big hug and let someone important to you KNOW how important they are! '
My big shout out goes to my fabulous mom, who will turn the big 6-0 on Monday, October 4. I can't wait to give her a big hug on Sunday right before she takes me to the Packers game. Nice present, huh?
This week I decided to "lay low," which means, I didn't feel like going out, knowing I had a big Saturday ahead of me. So this week, I thought I'd give you my "take" on "take-out" fish frys.
There is a newer establishment in Hartland called J.C. Bogars, located at 352 Cottonwood Ave., I had heard some mixed things about the restaurant, but figured now was as good as anytime to make my own assessment of the fare at this quaint dining establishment.
I called from my cell phone about 15 minutes outside of Hartland, and the courteous server who answered the phone assured me the food would be done in 10 minutes. While my food wasn't exactly waiting for me, I still was able to get in and out very quickly. Twice while I was waiting, I was greeted warmly by the two different servers, making sure I was taken care of and within five minutes of my arrival, I had my food in my hand and was ready to head home.
Because I was dining alone, I thought it only fair (again, this is for you Cabby) to order the traditional fish fry of deep-fried cod, with homemade potato chips. The meal also came with a slice of rye bread and cole slaw, all for $9.95.
I had my ups and downs with this meal. I'll start with the "down" as I always like to end on a positive. There were huge problems with the cole slaw and I was so disappointed in that. For once, I was excited to dive into an oil-based slaw, but it was so bitter in taste, I literally had to spit it out and throw it away immediately. It had me very cautious as I moved into the main entree, but to my surprise, I did not experience any more "spit-out" moments with my meal.
The fish was a little heavy in its breading, but it was a delicious blend of bread crumbs and spices featuring dill. I've never had dill in my fish breading until I moved into this area, but I'm becoming quite fond of this ingredient. The fish itself was a little overdone, but I'll chalk that up to being "to-go." The rye bread was average (store-bought) and not worth putting a lot of comment into.
Also, because I was dining alone, I decided to actually try the tartar sauce (yes, Jodi). I have to admit, this was the absolute BOMB of sauces. I bet you have no idea of the secret ingredient making this sauce edible -- yep, you guessed it -- DILL! Who would have thought that a dill-based tartar sauce would entice me to try it. I mostly used it as a dip for my homemade potato chips, but I did put on some bites of fish, and it enhanced the flavors quite nicely.
All in all I would recommend a visit to J.C. Bogars -- I'm going to give this particular dining experience a 6 out of 10, but I'm looking forward to actually sitting in their dining room and enjoying a full dining experience. Anyone who really knows food, realizes that getting take-out just can't measure up to actually going out to eat, but I had 35 miles to ride the next morning and I couldn't be tempted by the nice-looking bar!
Have a great weekend everyone, I'm not sure where the next fry is going to take me, but that's the beauty of this year, you just never know.
In the meantime, I suggest you give a really big hug and let someone important to you KNOW how important they are! '
My big shout out goes to my fabulous mom, who will turn the big 6-0 on Monday, October 4. I can't wait to give her a big hug on Sunday right before she takes me to the Packers game. Nice present, huh?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Forget the Fish Fry
Hello all, and welcome back.
This week's report is going to be very short and sweet. Why? Because my dates for the fish fry had a little too much fun while I went on my bike ride after work. We were going to meet at the Water Street Brewery to try their fish, but instead we ordered pizza and sat by a fire in their neighbor's yard. I picked up a 12 pack and decided to join the fun! Unfortunately there was no possible way I was going to catch up, but it was still a lot of fun.
So, my suggestion is if you ever order Peppino's pizza, get the grilled chicken, cheese and alfredo pizza. It was nothing short of delicious and while I've been trying to stay healthy, I figured after 20-some miles, I earned it.
The crust was perfect, I'm not sure if the butter was in the sauce or mixed in the baking of the crust, but nonetheless, it was awesome. I think everything is better with bacon and butter, this time was no different. Speaking of bacon, I bet that would be a great addition to this pizza! :-)
So, I'm heading to MJ Stevens today to meet friends for dinner, they have Wednesday fish fry, so you never know, maybe I'll set you up with a useful blog this week afterall.
I do know I'll be heading to the Falls on Friday to dine at The Schwab, so stay tuned!
In the meantime enjoy the rest of your week and HUGS to all!
This week's report is going to be very short and sweet. Why? Because my dates for the fish fry had a little too much fun while I went on my bike ride after work. We were going to meet at the Water Street Brewery to try their fish, but instead we ordered pizza and sat by a fire in their neighbor's yard. I picked up a 12 pack and decided to join the fun! Unfortunately there was no possible way I was going to catch up, but it was still a lot of fun.
So, my suggestion is if you ever order Peppino's pizza, get the grilled chicken, cheese and alfredo pizza. It was nothing short of delicious and while I've been trying to stay healthy, I figured after 20-some miles, I earned it.
The crust was perfect, I'm not sure if the butter was in the sauce or mixed in the baking of the crust, but nonetheless, it was awesome. I think everything is better with bacon and butter, this time was no different. Speaking of bacon, I bet that would be a great addition to this pizza! :-)
So, I'm heading to MJ Stevens today to meet friends for dinner, they have Wednesday fish fry, so you never know, maybe I'll set you up with a useful blog this week afterall.
I do know I'll be heading to the Falls on Friday to dine at The Schwab, so stay tuned!
In the meantime enjoy the rest of your week and HUGS to all!
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