Welcome Back, it's been a crazy couple of weeks, and if you can bear with my overwhelming schedule and occasional fish fry missed weeks, I appreciate your patience, and welcome you to check out past blogs and reviews if you're ever looking for a restaurant to visit.
This week we decided on Ron's Cozy Corner, W359N5920 Brown St., Ste 110, Oconomowoc. I've had several people recommend Ron's, and felt it was time to descend upon this Lake Country favorite. I dined with my friends Kendra and Tim, Kendra was nice enough to give her own thoughts about our experience, so I've decided to include them. I'll add to hers at the end of the column.
Kendra's take:
When Beth mentioned fish fry at Ron’s Cozy Corner on the first Friday of Lent, I was like…ummm…..really?? All I could envision was masses of cranky people crowded together in a small town tavern-like setting just waiting waiting waiting for a table to finally open up. But I decided that I would go and see what kind of mayhem may be in store for us. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised (once we actually found the restaurant, which was somewhat difficult)! Ron’s was not at all what I expected – the food was great, the atmosphere welcoming, and the wait acceptable.
First – the atmosphere. Nothing at all like the small town bar/restaurant experience I expected. Ron’s new location was warm and welcoming and the decor actually reminded me a little bit of a nice Mexican restaurant.
Second – the wait. We arrived a little after 7pm and the wait was an acceptable 30 minutes. There were open seats at the bar, the bartender was very friendly and, according to Beth, made a great bloody mary.
Third – the food. I ordered the perch ($11.95) and was very happy with my selection. The fish batter was seasoned just right, and the fish itself crispy on the outside and flakey and light on the inside. I used very little tartar sauce, which, as I’ve said in previous posts, is an indication that I’m really enjoying my dinner. The potato pancakes appeared to be homemade, and were delicious as well.
Ron’s Cozy Corner had everything I look for in a fish fry experience – amazing company, efficient service, and great food. The only complaint I would have about the evening was the difficulty in actually finding the new location. Overall, I give Ron’s a 9 out of 10!
Thanks to Kendra, as always for helping me out with the blog from time to time, it helps to get someone else's opinion, and I'm finding I do have a lot in common with the diners I go out with, and hopefully that translates to my common interests with the blog readers!
I only want to add a few details. Ron's serves the traditional fish fry family style. For $9.95 you get deep fried haddock (yes, haddock, not cod) and french fries, for an additional $2.00 you have the option of potato pancakes. You have an option for more fish, but I believe you can only order two extra pieces, in my opinion, you don't need the extras, they serve more than enough the first round.
The waitress brings creamy cole slaw, rye bread and German potato salad out prior to the meal, and all components were average. I felt as though the German potato salad was a little bland, the bread was out of a bag and I'm not sure the cole slaw was homemade.
I ordered the haddock -- HOORAY -- I'm incredibly pleased that for the first time in weeks, the fish was perfect. No tartar needed. So far, Ron's is the first restaurant to pass the "Say No to Tartar" campaign, as they mixed a perfect blend of seasonings in their batter. The fish was cooked perfectly, as Kendra said, we had the best combination of crunchy batter, that was not overwhelming, and a delicious piece of haddock. Kudo's to Ron's.
On a side note, the bloody mary's were phenomenal!
Overall I will give Ron's a solid 8 out of 10. I think the sides were underwhelming and it keeps me from getting them too close to perfection. I highly recommend you visit Ron's Cozy Corner.
I hope you all have a wonderful week, I will not be blogging on Friday as I will be out of town this weekend. I might have to stop at my dad's for a fish fry, but I'm not going to review that. It's a little biased!
One last thing, in lieu of the recent events in Japan please keep in mind that it is truly important for us to be thankful for all the little things we have. Life is an amazing gift and we never know when it can be taken away from us. Maybe in all this turmoil, we can learn to appreciate each other, not just the people that are alike, but different as well.
Give a hug!
Happy St. Patty'sDay!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Five O'Clock Club, Pewaukee, WI
So, in case you're annoyed with me, or possibly sick of me entirely, you might want to stop reading this blog, because I'm still on my "anti-tartar" campaign. I feel like I'm lobbying for restaurants to step up the game a little bit and season the batter.
This week is no different as our group headed to the Five O'Clock Club in Pewaukee. I will say, I was pretty excited for this trip as I've been to the 5-O before, and my entrees each and every time were extremely delicious. However, until last Friday, I had yet to order their famous fish fry, and I don't think I'll order it again.
As we drove into the parking lot around 8pm on Friday, the place was packed. Packed as in, people were creating their own parking spaces packed (I was not one of them, I got lucky) -- even later in the evening our wait was over 45 minutes, but it was to be expected for one of the best fish frys around (according to many, many people I've talked to over the last two years). We found a cozy spot in the corner of the bar area and our conversation led to a quick passing of the quarter of an hour.
We were seated, and withing minutes the overrun waitress greeted us with our own portion of coleslaw, tartar sauce (of course) for the table and rye bread. She set that in front of our faces even prior to us ordering our entrees, but none of us complained, it was late and we were hungry.
I decided on the small fried cod with french fries, $8.50, while my counterparts the table ordered the perch/cod combo, $14.95 (also with fries). The 5-O does not have any other potato option besides fries, unless you want to pay extra, and that was a huge disappointment, as I'm a big fan of the potato pancake. We overlooked the starchy glitch and continued to dig into what I considered some of the best cole slaw in Lake Country, it was oil-based, but not too greasy and seasoned to absolute perfection, an even better follow-up was the homemade seafood chowder, again this was a great homemade soup with big chunks of seafood and potatoes and just the right mixture of veggies in a creamy broth. I figured this was just like the composition of a symphony, light bright beginning, a lingering, yet pleasant middle and then the climactic ending.
We missed out on the climactic ending.
The fish was cooked perfectly, the breading was gorgeous in color and flawless in it's crumb texture, but one very big thing was missing, the flavor. Up to this point we were treated with a great introduction of appetizing components leading up to our very mediocre main entree. It's that simple, I was again disappointed in the seasoning.
And for all your tartar lovers out there, my experts said it was too sweet.
So, there you have it. I'm sorry if you feel as though you're reading the same blog over and over the last month or so, but honestly that's what I've been eating over and over the last month -- it's the fish fry equivalent to Ground Hog's Day.
I will rate the Five O'Clock Club a 7 out of 10. It is strictly because the soup and coleslaw were excellent, but those things should never outshine the main character.
Here's to another week in the books. Next week I hope to fix my bland problem...cross your fingers. And hug the ones you love too!
This week is no different as our group headed to the Five O'Clock Club in Pewaukee. I will say, I was pretty excited for this trip as I've been to the 5-O before, and my entrees each and every time were extremely delicious. However, until last Friday, I had yet to order their famous fish fry, and I don't think I'll order it again.
As we drove into the parking lot around 8pm on Friday, the place was packed. Packed as in, people were creating their own parking spaces packed (I was not one of them, I got lucky) -- even later in the evening our wait was over 45 minutes, but it was to be expected for one of the best fish frys around (according to many, many people I've talked to over the last two years). We found a cozy spot in the corner of the bar area and our conversation led to a quick passing of the quarter of an hour.
We were seated, and withing minutes the overrun waitress greeted us with our own portion of coleslaw, tartar sauce (of course) for the table and rye bread. She set that in front of our faces even prior to us ordering our entrees, but none of us complained, it was late and we were hungry.
I decided on the small fried cod with french fries, $8.50, while my counterparts the table ordered the perch/cod combo, $14.95 (also with fries). The 5-O does not have any other potato option besides fries, unless you want to pay extra, and that was a huge disappointment, as I'm a big fan of the potato pancake. We overlooked the starchy glitch and continued to dig into what I considered some of the best cole slaw in Lake Country, it was oil-based, but not too greasy and seasoned to absolute perfection, an even better follow-up was the homemade seafood chowder, again this was a great homemade soup with big chunks of seafood and potatoes and just the right mixture of veggies in a creamy broth. I figured this was just like the composition of a symphony, light bright beginning, a lingering, yet pleasant middle and then the climactic ending.
We missed out on the climactic ending.
The fish was cooked perfectly, the breading was gorgeous in color and flawless in it's crumb texture, but one very big thing was missing, the flavor. Up to this point we were treated with a great introduction of appetizing components leading up to our very mediocre main entree. It's that simple, I was again disappointed in the seasoning.
And for all your tartar lovers out there, my experts said it was too sweet.
So, there you have it. I'm sorry if you feel as though you're reading the same blog over and over the last month or so, but honestly that's what I've been eating over and over the last month -- it's the fish fry equivalent to Ground Hog's Day.
I will rate the Five O'Clock Club a 7 out of 10. It is strictly because the soup and coleslaw were excellent, but those things should never outshine the main character.
Here's to another week in the books. Next week I hope to fix my bland problem...cross your fingers. And hug the ones you love too!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Finn's Bar & Grill and The Phoenix
Well, what a ride it's been the last few weeks. The Packers win the NFC Championship, I have a birthday, the Packers win the Super Bowl and now I recover. It never ceases to amaze me the wonderful roller coaster ride you go on as a sports fan, but the ultimate reward capped off a great season on Sunday and I'm still riding high!
Now, onto the business at hand. First of all, this might get a little lengthy as I'm going to make a plea to all the fish fry establishments in the Lake Country area (and all places for that matter). Please, please, please do not settle for mediocrity. Over the course of the last month or so, I've travelled to various places to enjoy a fish fry, and while my meals weren't terrible, none of them have been over the top either. I haven't thoroughly enjoyed my meal since, well, since the last time I was at the Phoenix in Hartland.
Just because you cook a mean fish, you're breading has that super crunch and the fish is done well, doesn't mean the task is finished. You see, I do NOT like tartar sauce (most tartar sauces) and if a fish fry is great, you don't need to dip an already greasy piece of food into more grease.
I think a lot of places bank on you dousing your fish fry in tartar sauce and lemon. To me, it covers up any shortcomings the batter/breading might have. To me, it's complacency. To me, it's lazy.
I compare this thought to cooking a great steak, my grandfather and my dad always told me that if a cut of meat is done right and seasoned to perfection, you do not need any steak sauce. The same can be said for the bad marriage between tartar and fried fish.
I've encountered this at a few different restaurants and the latest was Finn's Bar & Grill, 220 West Summit Ave., Wales, WI. I've had people ask me to go there, claiming it was one of the best in the area. While Ann and I enjoyed ourselves, I would say the fried cod was average in taste, very well cooked and breaded to absolute perfection, but nothing to excite my taste buds. My guess is it tasted much, much better after a clear coat of tartar.
Our potato pancakes were not homemade (admitted by our server), but they were the highlight of my meal. They had to have been some of the best "box" pancakes I've ever tasted and the coleslaw was also a nice compliment to our entree. To top it all off, our server was pleasant and our meals were brought out in a timely fashion, all while the dining room was full of warm bodies. Finns was out of baked cod when Ann and I arrived, so unfortunately, I can only comment on the fried cod. They also have a combo platter with various deep-fried fishy goodies (perch, cod, shrimp) to entice you. The prices are reasonable at Finns and regardless of my earlier rant, I do want to visit again.
I will give Finns a solid 7 out of 10. Not bad, not great.
The best Fish Fry in Lake Country over the course of the last year and a half is still The Phoenix in Hartland. I went back last week, to get rejuvenated. Like a junkie I needed my Phoenix fix. And, for the third time now, my meal was simply amazing (be ready to wait at least an hour for your meal, no matter what time you arrive, swiftness is not their forte). The server recognized us (only my third time being there), the baked haddock, fried cod, potato pancakes were scrumptious and I left full, happy and ready to find another establishment that can compare to my favorite hole in the wall fish fry. I have yet to find the rare combination of atmosphere (very unique, and not entirely classy), service and comfort food the Phoenix offers. It's hard to describe in words, you have to go and see what I'm talking about.
Bring it on Lake Country, I want to taste the best entree you have to offer, I challenge you to beat the Phoenix for the number one spot in my blog.
Thanks for reading the rant, I realize it's probably not your average fish fry blog, but I'm not your average person. Have a wonderful rest of your week. Soak up every moment of this Super Bowl victory and go out and enjoy a fish fry on Friday. Let me know if you think I'm on the mark, or off my rocker!
Don't forget to visit our facebook page Lake Country Wisconsin Fish Frys -- and give any suggestion, comment or critique.
As always, make sure you hug someone special, it's Valentine's, hug two people if it makes you happy!
Now, onto the business at hand. First of all, this might get a little lengthy as I'm going to make a plea to all the fish fry establishments in the Lake Country area (and all places for that matter). Please, please, please do not settle for mediocrity. Over the course of the last month or so, I've travelled to various places to enjoy a fish fry, and while my meals weren't terrible, none of them have been over the top either. I haven't thoroughly enjoyed my meal since, well, since the last time I was at the Phoenix in Hartland.
Just because you cook a mean fish, you're breading has that super crunch and the fish is done well, doesn't mean the task is finished. You see, I do NOT like tartar sauce (most tartar sauces) and if a fish fry is great, you don't need to dip an already greasy piece of food into more grease.
I think a lot of places bank on you dousing your fish fry in tartar sauce and lemon. To me, it covers up any shortcomings the batter/breading might have. To me, it's complacency. To me, it's lazy.
I compare this thought to cooking a great steak, my grandfather and my dad always told me that if a cut of meat is done right and seasoned to perfection, you do not need any steak sauce. The same can be said for the bad marriage between tartar and fried fish.
I've encountered this at a few different restaurants and the latest was Finn's Bar & Grill, 220 West Summit Ave., Wales, WI. I've had people ask me to go there, claiming it was one of the best in the area. While Ann and I enjoyed ourselves, I would say the fried cod was average in taste, very well cooked and breaded to absolute perfection, but nothing to excite my taste buds. My guess is it tasted much, much better after a clear coat of tartar.
Our potato pancakes were not homemade (admitted by our server), but they were the highlight of my meal. They had to have been some of the best "box" pancakes I've ever tasted and the coleslaw was also a nice compliment to our entree. To top it all off, our server was pleasant and our meals were brought out in a timely fashion, all while the dining room was full of warm bodies. Finns was out of baked cod when Ann and I arrived, so unfortunately, I can only comment on the fried cod. They also have a combo platter with various deep-fried fishy goodies (perch, cod, shrimp) to entice you. The prices are reasonable at Finns and regardless of my earlier rant, I do want to visit again.
I will give Finns a solid 7 out of 10. Not bad, not great.
The best Fish Fry in Lake Country over the course of the last year and a half is still The Phoenix in Hartland. I went back last week, to get rejuvenated. Like a junkie I needed my Phoenix fix. And, for the third time now, my meal was simply amazing (be ready to wait at least an hour for your meal, no matter what time you arrive, swiftness is not their forte). The server recognized us (only my third time being there), the baked haddock, fried cod, potato pancakes were scrumptious and I left full, happy and ready to find another establishment that can compare to my favorite hole in the wall fish fry. I have yet to find the rare combination of atmosphere (very unique, and not entirely classy), service and comfort food the Phoenix offers. It's hard to describe in words, you have to go and see what I'm talking about.
Bring it on Lake Country, I want to taste the best entree you have to offer, I challenge you to beat the Phoenix for the number one spot in my blog.
Thanks for reading the rant, I realize it's probably not your average fish fry blog, but I'm not your average person. Have a wonderful rest of your week. Soak up every moment of this Super Bowl victory and go out and enjoy a fish fry on Friday. Let me know if you think I'm on the mark, or off my rocker!
Don't forget to visit our facebook page Lake Country Wisconsin Fish Frys -- and give any suggestion, comment or critique.
As always, make sure you hug someone special, it's Valentine's, hug two people if it makes you happy!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
North Lake Inn, North Lake
Hello everyone and welcome to my birthday week! I've missed blogging and I'm happy to report to you my greatest thought and insight on the great fish fry tradition. However, this week, we ran into yet, another bust.
On Friday, Ann, Shannon and I ventured to the North Lake Inn, W315N7707 State Road 83 in quaint North Lake, Wisconsin. We tried to make the trip a few weeks ago, but were stunned at the amount of people and decided elsewhere, that particular night I was in no mood to wait in line for dinner, but I put my mind in the right place for this latest adventure and decided that no matter how many people or how long the trip might take, I was going to eat at the North Lake Inn.
Much to my surprise, there were barely any people at the NLI on Friday night, but my guess is the sub-zero temperatures and time of the evening (8pm) had a little to do with it. I've been to this restaurant before for some absolutely fantastic pizza and as we were sat, I caught a glimpse of some other italian delights at other tables. The lasagna dish looked incredibly delicious, but I had to keep my mind on the goal: the blog. the fry.
As we sat in the tiny dining room we were not greeted warmly at first. Our server/busser had to be summoned (by us) and I despise having to call a server to a table (especially when it is not busy). We quickly ordered the cheese filled tortilla crusted thingys (I don't have access to a menu, and cannot remember for the life of me what they were called), they were served with salsa and sour cream and were absolutely delicious.
We waited a bit as our friend Shannon was running a little late, as she was ten minutes out of town, she asked we order for her (big mistake). This night, we did not stick to variety (and I apologize) all three of us ordered the herb crusted baked cod. The entree sounded too good to pass up ($11.95), we each ordered the potato pancakes to accompany the fish and as always, had the coleslaw and bread.
The Inn also has Perch, Deep Fried Cod and Walleye, and I deeply apologize for not having tasted one of them, but as you read this blog, you will realize I might not have been missing much.
I'm not lying when I say that within two minutes our entrees were ready to be served. I'm all about fast service, but this was a little out of control, as Shannon wasn't even at the restaurant yet. Ann and I started in on our dishes, and awaited Shannon's arrival. You knew it would be disaster once that food was put back under the dreaded "heat light" -- fish does not sit well...trust me.
Well, in hindsight, I wish that our waitress had kept ALL our dinners under that heat light. I still cannot understand how food that came out so fast, could have been cold. Yes, my fish was cold, my potato pancake was rock hard (it was a giant potato chip smothered in grease). I was so disappointed as I was looking forward to this trip. The highlight of the evening was the fantastic company, creamy coleslaw and one damn good piece of garlic bread.
One thing to the NLI, if that fish had been properly heated and the potato pancake less "dead" the entree would have been successful and this review would have been longer and more positive. Cold fish sucks, bottom line and I was lost after that first bite.
I'm going to give the North Lake Inn a 5 out of 10. Our service got much better after the disastrous start and my old fashioned was pretty damn good. I'll be back to the NLI, but for pizza....
Have a great rest of your week everyone. As 39.1 looms on my horizon, I'd like to say thanks to you all for reading, thanks for following on facebook and for giving me a little attention while I do something I really enjoy. Much love to you all.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ox & Cat's Sports Bar and Grill, Monches, WI
Happy New Year and welcome to the first blog of 2011. I cannot believe that we are already embarking on a new year, filled with new resolutions, new goals and for some, new hope. Ultimately, I've been pretty good at staying away from the hype regarding resolutions, but I do resolve to continue eating fish nearly every Friday, and giving you my opinion. I mean, that is why you're reading this.
This past Friday I made my first trip to the Ox & Cat's Sports Bar and Grill, W302N9510 County Rd E, Hartland, WI (The address is technically Hartland, but it's located in Monches, an unincorporated town north of Hartland). I had been told this fish fry was one of the better in Lake Country, so I was eager to give it a try. Turns out, my anticipation gave way to disappointment.
Our waitress swiftly tended to our table of 8, took our drink orders and in no time had them sitting in front of us, impressive indeed. Soon after she was back to take our order. I decided on the deep fried cod ($9.00), my friend Shannon ordered the baked cod ($10.00) and we decided to mix and match. She ordered the sweet potato fries and I just had side of chili, knowing I was near my fill of carbs for the day! The Ox & Cat's also has Perch and I believe Walleye (I am not sure on that one, sorry for the oversight).
As we waited for our food and conversation was flowing I looked around the old wood-floor dining room and noticed it was very much like an indoor picnic. Informal table settings, menus, plasticware and napkins lodged in an old six-pack container on the table, folded chairs and long tables everywhere. The place was actually packed and what was more impressive is that the dining room was run by a one-woman show...and she handled it perfectly.
The food came in a very reasonable amount of time and from the moment the fish was set in front of me, I knew it was going to be a less than pleasurable experience. The cod was overly breaded and the fish inside was overcooked. I'm not sure if they hand-bread at the Ox & Cat's, but the case could be made that they do not and the fish is pre-packaged and frozen. The breading was absolutely overwhelming, very similar to the heavy breading you find on a frozen fish patty at McDonald's, it overpowered any flavor the fish might have had, I actually had to use my tartar sauce on the fish pieces (you know that's bad if I'm doing that).
My chili, was homemade, a little cool, but still very good...props on that. Shannon's baked fish was much better than my deep fried entree. The seasonings were simple, but flavorful and the portion size was just right. The highlight was those sweet potato fries, I had a couple and was very glad they were not on my plate as I could have easily downed them all.
Overall, I'm going to give the Ox & Cat's a 7, and that's because the service was amazing, I'm still in awe how that waitress was able to command the dining room without breaking a sweat. The food was just OK, but after perusing through the menu, I will definitely try the perch next time, they also have (according to the patrons I was with) great sandwiches and pizza.
Until next time, have a wonderful week. I'm not sure if I'll by fish frying it this week or not as I have dinner theater plans, but definitely will be back on track the following week. I love it too much to stop. Also, if you have any suggestions or would like me to stop at your establishment, just leave a comment or post on Facebook. Don't forget to check Lakecountrynightout.com for the upcoming events or places to go in Lake Country.
And, as always, especially this time of year...tell someone you care about, just how much they mean to you. In wake of the tragedy in Arizona, it's time we all lighten the load.
This past Friday I made my first trip to the Ox & Cat's Sports Bar and Grill, W302N9510 County Rd E, Hartland, WI (The address is technically Hartland, but it's located in Monches, an unincorporated town north of Hartland). I had been told this fish fry was one of the better in Lake Country, so I was eager to give it a try. Turns out, my anticipation gave way to disappointment.
Our waitress swiftly tended to our table of 8, took our drink orders and in no time had them sitting in front of us, impressive indeed. Soon after she was back to take our order. I decided on the deep fried cod ($9.00), my friend Shannon ordered the baked cod ($10.00) and we decided to mix and match. She ordered the sweet potato fries and I just had side of chili, knowing I was near my fill of carbs for the day! The Ox & Cat's also has Perch and I believe Walleye (I am not sure on that one, sorry for the oversight).
As we waited for our food and conversation was flowing I looked around the old wood-floor dining room and noticed it was very much like an indoor picnic. Informal table settings, menus, plasticware and napkins lodged in an old six-pack container on the table, folded chairs and long tables everywhere. The place was actually packed and what was more impressive is that the dining room was run by a one-woman show...and she handled it perfectly.
The food came in a very reasonable amount of time and from the moment the fish was set in front of me, I knew it was going to be a less than pleasurable experience. The cod was overly breaded and the fish inside was overcooked. I'm not sure if they hand-bread at the Ox & Cat's, but the case could be made that they do not and the fish is pre-packaged and frozen. The breading was absolutely overwhelming, very similar to the heavy breading you find on a frozen fish patty at McDonald's, it overpowered any flavor the fish might have had, I actually had to use my tartar sauce on the fish pieces (you know that's bad if I'm doing that).
My chili, was homemade, a little cool, but still very good...props on that. Shannon's baked fish was much better than my deep fried entree. The seasonings were simple, but flavorful and the portion size was just right. The highlight was those sweet potato fries, I had a couple and was very glad they were not on my plate as I could have easily downed them all.
Overall, I'm going to give the Ox & Cat's a 7, and that's because the service was amazing, I'm still in awe how that waitress was able to command the dining room without breaking a sweat. The food was just OK, but after perusing through the menu, I will definitely try the perch next time, they also have (according to the patrons I was with) great sandwiches and pizza.
Until next time, have a wonderful week. I'm not sure if I'll by fish frying it this week or not as I have dinner theater plans, but definitely will be back on track the following week. I love it too much to stop. Also, if you have any suggestions or would like me to stop at your establishment, just leave a comment or post on Facebook. Don't forget to check Lakecountrynightout.com for the upcoming events or places to go in Lake Country.
And, as always, especially this time of year...tell someone you care about, just how much they mean to you. In wake of the tragedy in Arizona, it's time we all lighten the load.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Woody's Bar and Grill, North Lake – Part Deux
Have you ever had one of those days that you didn't feel like waiting? You were just too tired, or too hungry or perhaps a bit too crabby to deal with a crowd of people? If you answered yes to those questions, you will identify with how I was feeling Friday night. So, you can imagine my disdain when I made the short drive to North Lake from Hartland and saw the North Lake Inn was completely packed, or at least that was the impression with the cars in the street and the full parking lot.
Now I realize that's all a part of a Friday Fish Fry and usually I'm all for sitting around, having a couple of drinks, laughing and engaging in fun conversation, but this past Friday night, I wanted to hang out with a friend, get my food and get on to the next part of the evening. So, while I'm sure you're disappointed in my lack of commitment to blogging on the NL Inn, I decided to drive the half block to the next best thing -- Woody's Bar & Grill, W314n7788 Kilbourne Rd., North Lake, WI 53064.
I'm familiar with Woody's, I'm comfortable with Woody's and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't. Fortunately for my friend Shannon and myself, as soon as we walked in, we saw an open table in the very small dining room adjacent to the bar in the front of the building. We grabbed it, and within seconds the waitress was at our table taking our drink order. I even think this might have been the same waitress we had the last time we visited Woody's in November, 2009.
We glanced over the menu, although I knew what I was going to have before I even walked in, it was the bluegill plate ($12.00). I ordered the homemade potato chips as my side and as always, just waited on the coleslaw and bread that came with my dinner. Shannon picked the Cod Diablo (the exact entree I had in 2009).
My bluegill was delicious, it was lightly breaded in a breadcrumb/cracker coating and most of my pieces were done perfectly. Although the breading could have used a tad more seasoning (but again, I like heavy seasoning, and I also dig salt) the fish itself was done well -- there were a few straggling small pieces that were rubbery, but that's sometimes the problem with bluegill, you have to be aware of the size of the fillets, because when you're cooking them, the smaller ones will be overdone. That was the case for me, but it wasn't hard for me to just put them aside as the portion size was more than enough. My homemade potato chips were a tad soggy, but I've had them numerous times before with a better outcome.
Shannon's cod diablo was fantastic -- see blog 2009 http://fishfryblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/lake-country-fish-fry-week-1-woodys.html -- as her comments were very much the same as the ones I made over a year ago!
I'm going to give Woody's a slightly lower rating (7.5 out of 10) than last year, just because my bluegill could have been better, but to be honest, overall Woody's has a great little thing going and it shocks me there aren't more people taking advantage of it. Their service is BEYOND amazing, each and every one of the wait/bar staff people are incredibly easy to get along with and super friendly. I've only been there a handful of times, but each experience has been pleasant and I love going there. I really think that if you plan on going to the North Lake Inn one night, that you drive about a block and a half to the north on 83 and stop at Woody's instead. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Well, until the next time, I hope you enjoy the blog. For obvious reasons we will be taking a few weeks off, but cannot wait to continue the journey to find the best Fish Fry in Lake Country. Don't forget to check out www.lakecountrynightout.com for other fun things to do in Lake Country as well.
Can you believe 2010 is almost over? It's mind-boggling to me how fast time flies as I get older (and wiser, of course). Another fish fry blog year is in the books and I couldn't have had a better time, it's so fun to put my opinion out there and for the enormous response I've got in 2010. Thank you for that.
Merry Christmas and the happiest of Holidays. I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous 2011.
Peace.
Now I realize that's all a part of a Friday Fish Fry and usually I'm all for sitting around, having a couple of drinks, laughing and engaging in fun conversation, but this past Friday night, I wanted to hang out with a friend, get my food and get on to the next part of the evening. So, while I'm sure you're disappointed in my lack of commitment to blogging on the NL Inn, I decided to drive the half block to the next best thing -- Woody's Bar & Grill, W314n7788 Kilbourne Rd., North Lake, WI 53064.
I'm familiar with Woody's, I'm comfortable with Woody's and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't. Fortunately for my friend Shannon and myself, as soon as we walked in, we saw an open table in the very small dining room adjacent to the bar in the front of the building. We grabbed it, and within seconds the waitress was at our table taking our drink order. I even think this might have been the same waitress we had the last time we visited Woody's in November, 2009.
We glanced over the menu, although I knew what I was going to have before I even walked in, it was the bluegill plate ($12.00). I ordered the homemade potato chips as my side and as always, just waited on the coleslaw and bread that came with my dinner. Shannon picked the Cod Diablo (the exact entree I had in 2009).
My bluegill was delicious, it was lightly breaded in a breadcrumb/cracker coating and most of my pieces were done perfectly. Although the breading could have used a tad more seasoning (but again, I like heavy seasoning, and I also dig salt) the fish itself was done well -- there were a few straggling small pieces that were rubbery, but that's sometimes the problem with bluegill, you have to be aware of the size of the fillets, because when you're cooking them, the smaller ones will be overdone. That was the case for me, but it wasn't hard for me to just put them aside as the portion size was more than enough. My homemade potato chips were a tad soggy, but I've had them numerous times before with a better outcome.
Shannon's cod diablo was fantastic -- see blog 2009 http://fishfryblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/lake-country-fish-fry-week-1-woodys.html -- as her comments were very much the same as the ones I made over a year ago!
I'm going to give Woody's a slightly lower rating (7.5 out of 10) than last year, just because my bluegill could have been better, but to be honest, overall Woody's has a great little thing going and it shocks me there aren't more people taking advantage of it. Their service is BEYOND amazing, each and every one of the wait/bar staff people are incredibly easy to get along with and super friendly. I've only been there a handful of times, but each experience has been pleasant and I love going there. I really think that if you plan on going to the North Lake Inn one night, that you drive about a block and a half to the north on 83 and stop at Woody's instead. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Well, until the next time, I hope you enjoy the blog. For obvious reasons we will be taking a few weeks off, but cannot wait to continue the journey to find the best Fish Fry in Lake Country. Don't forget to check out www.lakecountrynightout.com for other fun things to do in Lake Country as well.
Can you believe 2010 is almost over? It's mind-boggling to me how fast time flies as I get older (and wiser, of course). Another fish fry blog year is in the books and I couldn't have had a better time, it's so fun to put my opinion out there and for the enormous response I've got in 2010. Thank you for that.
Merry Christmas and the happiest of Holidays. I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous 2011.
Peace.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Coyote Canyon, Eagle
What is Eagle?
It's the question I asked when someone suggested the location for our next fish fry. Remember, I'm not from the area, so when I moved to Hartland, I was very limited in my knowledge of Lake Country, which is why I started this blog. I have become more acclimated to the parts of Lake Country, but have never traveled south of Dousman, however, I'll definitely be making the trip again.
Eagle is a quaint little town, which was hit hard by a devastating tornado this past Summer, that's really all I knew, and while we didn't get much time to talk to many people about the town itself, our visit to Coyote Canyon, 105 Main Street, Eagle, WI, was indicative of what a village like this is, it's family. And I love that about small towns!
The typical fish fry foursome (Ann, myself, Dave & Mike) decided to take the trek to Eagle, we had not decided on our location, but as we found a parking spot, we realized we were closer to Coyote Canyon, the place seemed to have some open seating, so we walked in. We were greeted warmly by a server who explained to us if we wanted to eat in the small dining room we'd have to wait, but if we chose to eat in the bar we could order right away. We opted for the second choice.
A second server immediately came to our table in the bar, handed us the menus and then took our drink order. The fish fry was not on the menu, but they had the special advertised on a chalkboard as you walked in. $8.85 for two pieces of cod, $9.95 for three, very reasonable and very convenient, because when I asked if I could have one piece of baked and one of fried, the waitress smiled politely and said "yes" -- I was thrilled, I could do a full review without posting up on one of my friends' plates.
The fish fry at the Canyon includes your choice of potato, soup or salad along with the normal friday staples (coleslaw, bread, etc.). Ann and Mike ordered the clam chowder, and it was supreme. I had the cheesy tortilla soup, and it was equally as impressive, both were homemade (we asked). After this teaser, I was anxiously anticipating my dinner, and I was not disappointed.
The fried cod was lightly covered in a delicious beer batter (my favorite) full of flavor, the slight crunch on the outside gave way to a soft, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth inside. The baked fish was a strong competitor to it's fried brother, but I'll have to give the nod to the fried on this particular entree. However, the baked was seasoned and prepared well and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter option on Friday night.
Here's the best part, everything at the Canyon is homemade, so I was treated to a fresh batch of potato pancakes, the best applesauce I have ever tasted and a creamy coleslaw that stands up to any of the best restaurants I've visited thus far. And, I even indulged in the tartar sauce, it was one of those scrumptious combinations of mayo, pickle relish and dill, and though I didn't use it for my fish (fish was too good, didn't need tartar) it was great for french fry dipping!
Unfortunately, the rye bread was an afterthought at Canyon (not homemade), but the other components were so beyond amazing, it's tough to care about that, but if you're a bread connoisseur, you would not be impressed.
Between great service, friendly patrons and fantastic food, I'm going to give the Canyon a 9 out of 10 on the visit. If you're in the neighborhood, or even if you're not -- I suggest the drive out to Eagle, you won't be disappointed, actually you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.
Have a wonderful week and during this busy time, make sure you take a moment to stop and be thankful for the greatness of life. And as always, don't forget to let those important to you know how important they are!
It's the question I asked when someone suggested the location for our next fish fry. Remember, I'm not from the area, so when I moved to Hartland, I was very limited in my knowledge of Lake Country, which is why I started this blog. I have become more acclimated to the parts of Lake Country, but have never traveled south of Dousman, however, I'll definitely be making the trip again.
Eagle is a quaint little town, which was hit hard by a devastating tornado this past Summer, that's really all I knew, and while we didn't get much time to talk to many people about the town itself, our visit to Coyote Canyon, 105 Main Street, Eagle, WI, was indicative of what a village like this is, it's family. And I love that about small towns!
The typical fish fry foursome (Ann, myself, Dave & Mike) decided to take the trek to Eagle, we had not decided on our location, but as we found a parking spot, we realized we were closer to Coyote Canyon, the place seemed to have some open seating, so we walked in. We were greeted warmly by a server who explained to us if we wanted to eat in the small dining room we'd have to wait, but if we chose to eat in the bar we could order right away. We opted for the second choice.
A second server immediately came to our table in the bar, handed us the menus and then took our drink order. The fish fry was not on the menu, but they had the special advertised on a chalkboard as you walked in. $8.85 for two pieces of cod, $9.95 for three, very reasonable and very convenient, because when I asked if I could have one piece of baked and one of fried, the waitress smiled politely and said "yes" -- I was thrilled, I could do a full review without posting up on one of my friends' plates.
The fish fry at the Canyon includes your choice of potato, soup or salad along with the normal friday staples (coleslaw, bread, etc.). Ann and Mike ordered the clam chowder, and it was supreme. I had the cheesy tortilla soup, and it was equally as impressive, both were homemade (we asked). After this teaser, I was anxiously anticipating my dinner, and I was not disappointed.
The fried cod was lightly covered in a delicious beer batter (my favorite) full of flavor, the slight crunch on the outside gave way to a soft, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth inside. The baked fish was a strong competitor to it's fried brother, but I'll have to give the nod to the fried on this particular entree. However, the baked was seasoned and prepared well and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter option on Friday night.
Here's the best part, everything at the Canyon is homemade, so I was treated to a fresh batch of potato pancakes, the best applesauce I have ever tasted and a creamy coleslaw that stands up to any of the best restaurants I've visited thus far. And, I even indulged in the tartar sauce, it was one of those scrumptious combinations of mayo, pickle relish and dill, and though I didn't use it for my fish (fish was too good, didn't need tartar) it was great for french fry dipping!
Unfortunately, the rye bread was an afterthought at Canyon (not homemade), but the other components were so beyond amazing, it's tough to care about that, but if you're a bread connoisseur, you would not be impressed.
Between great service, friendly patrons and fantastic food, I'm going to give the Canyon a 9 out of 10 on the visit. If you're in the neighborhood, or even if you're not -- I suggest the drive out to Eagle, you won't be disappointed, actually you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.
Have a wonderful week and during this busy time, make sure you take a moment to stop and be thankful for the greatness of life. And as always, don't forget to let those important to you know how important they are!
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