Best fish fry in metro MKE? WHY?? (Milwaukee: living in, restaurant)

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

Prime location--northeast corner of N. Water St. and Erie. It was a gay bar, with a restaurant. The atmosphere was very cool in the restaurant, which was a glass atrium type design. There was an outdoor space too, if I remember correctly. It's probably still similar, just an Irish pub, or whatever it is now. I haven't been in there since it changed hands. I think it closed in mid 2006 after something like 30 years of business. It was around long before the Third Ward was a place someone would want to live in.

The owner sold out of the business a few years prior as I understand it, but still owned the building. I think the restaurant and bar closed around the time he sold the building for $990k in 2006. Not bad for a bar in what used to be a seedy warehouse area.

Very interesting history.

I guess I wasn't familiar with the M&M because quite frankly, before moving back here in mid-07, I was very, VERY unfamiliar with the Third Ward, especially for a long-time MKE resident who doesn't exactly just stay in his neighborhood.

I don't need to tell you 43-87, but I am continually boggled by the Third Ward's quick metamorphosis. Its been discussed to death on this forum and other areas, but when I was a younger buck - early and mid-90s...not *that* long ago, the Third Ward was overall a dark, rundown, empty-to-industrial dump (largely).

Now, holy cow...definitely the place in MKE to be.

Just staggering how quickly that all circled over.

Anyway, interesting history there - thanks for sharing!!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by quijote

Congrats on your new position, EP!

Thanks quijote, that is kind of you. It was actually a staggering (in a good way) opportunity. I guess that just goes to demonstrate that yes, even in ol' MKE metro, and yes, even in these hard economic times, given the right timing and circumstances, good things can still happen professionally. However, I do realize it is a blessing and don't take it for granted.

Anyway, back to the fish...

Originally Posted by quijote

But I've been to the one at Turner Hall a couple of times and really enjoyed it. It's pricy, but there are options for lightly breaded perch, walleye, etc., and potato pancakes. It's the variety of fish, the light/flavorful breading, and potato pancakes that do it for me.

Good call here!! I had forgotten about ol' Turner. I did their ffry once for lunch and it was indeed quite tasty. I like that place.

Originally Posted by quijote

Benji's also has a good fish fry--not great, but more than serviceable for those looking for a little extra batter.

Hmmm...Benji's is an interesting thought. I never would've thought of them for a fish fry. When my wife and I rented on the East Side, we used to LOVE getting deli sandwiches as Benji's. I will have to try them out.

[quijote]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Thanks quijote, that is kind of you. It was actually a staggering (in a good way) opportunity. I guess that just goes to demonstrate that yes, even in ol' MKE metro, and yes, even in these hard economic times, given the right timing and circumstances, good things can still happen professionally. However, I do realize it is a blessing and don't take it for granted.

Anyway, back to the fish...

Good call here!! I had forgotten about ol' Turner. I did their ffry once for lunch and it was indeed quite tasty. I like that place.

Hmmm...Benji's is an interesting thought. I never would've thought of them for a fish fry. When my wife and I rented on the East Side, we used to LOVE getting deli sandwiches as Benji's. I will have to try them out.

I just love Benji's in general--the ffry isn't out of this world, but it meets my needs, and then some. And who can resist a cup of the chicken matzo soup....

I find it kind of funny that some ethnic restaurants (Mexican, Thai, etc.) in town offer a fish fry of some sort. I've heard the ffry at Polonez and Crocus are good and have "Polish touches" (not sure what that means).

I hope you have plans to hit up a good fish fry to celebrate that job!

[Gophers2011]

My favorite is Kegel's Inn by 60th & National-- a great classic German fish fry But if you want to get seats, reservations are a must!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Gophers2011

My favorite is Kegel's Inn by 60th & National-- a great classic German fish fry But if you want to get seats, reservations are a must!

I keep hearing about that place for fish fries, but I don't think I have ever even noticed the building! I don't live innumerably far from there...I will have to check it out sometime.

My "check out" list is growing exponentially from this thread! I guess I will still need to get a part time job just to check all of these places out!

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I have heard some very enticing things about the Lakefront Brewery fish fry...I have never been to it. I think this might be the final hook that gets me to go try it.

I too have always heard good things. It is ALWAYS crowded and packed for it, I know that.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Alright, so you can go to pretty much any MKE-exclusive area "lifestyle" site and get opinions on the best MKE metro area fish fries.

However, I would be eager to entertain what CD Forum'ers thought were the best fish fries in the area. Moreoever, not just who serves 'em, but WHY.

NOTE: I am NOT interested in a Madison area or Stevens Point area or Kenosha area or Fox Valley area 'fry. Just MKE metro. Moreover, I am certainly not interested in something out of state. Just MKE metro. Finally, I am not interested in a Door County fish boil...just a MKE metro area fish fry. And why.

I was here from '99 - '03 and was a *huge* fan of the Brown Bottle Pub's Friday Night Fish Fry. The big problem is...the place is no longer in business. So I am SOL there.

I actually used to to the Chancery fish fry quite a bit which wasn't all too bad. I do realize they are a chain though...although a local chain.

I have been back here since mid-07 and partially for budgetary reasons (wife stays at home with 2 young kids) I have not hit a ffry since coming back. However, I just landed a position here with an enormous salary increase, so I am feeling the taste of fried fish in my gullet again.

So folks...a) where is the best fish fry / fish fries in metro MKE, and b) WHY???

(I add the why component because I always hear prattling on about "Serb Hall" but is that because it actually is a superior fish fry, or because it is "where we've always gone")...

Man alive I miss the Brown Bottle Pub. Some of the managers were friends of mine. One of the former mgrs, runs the North Star American Bistro in Shorewood, fyi if you are seeking a new eating spot, not necessarily for Fish Fry.

[EnjoyEP]

As an update:

Not a "classical" fish fry, but after a few (responsible) pints or so on Friday, a buddy convinced me to do a fish fry.

So we hit one of the Boulder Junction ffries (they have two locales in the metro MKE area)...it wasn't too bad at all, in fact, it was pretty friggin' good.

So, EnjoyEP can endorse a kind of unconventional fish fry here: Boulder Junction.

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

My requirements are downtown or the East Side/North Shore. I prefer restaurants/pubs instead of "halls", so I'm not going to rate the big hall-type places.

.

Being a conniseur of fish frys (especially all you can eat) it's a toss up between Aliota's in Wauwatosa or Brocach/downtown eastside.
Aliota usd to be all you can eat, but you still get a lot. Solid cod deep fried without being greasy, best cod out there. Brocach, beer battered haddock but again not greasy, just right, much better than the haddock at Brown Bottle which I thought was a bit oily. Plus Brocach has live Irish entertainment sometimes and they have a pretty good chef who works there. Excellent service as well.


These places are hands down the worst fish frys in Milwaukee
Jetsetters across from the airport..extremely greasy , more batter than fish. Klingers East, horrible, it's like the fish was pulled out of the local creek, french fries like eating raw potatoes, place is a dump.
Bavarian in in Glendale HORRIBLE and overpriced, Van Camps baked fish is better, and I'm not kidding. very bad service as well. There is another place on South west side of milwaukee that is like Klingers, but I forget the name

Don't read Milwaukee Journal, reccomendations are almost always bad..usually just reccomend those that advertise with there little paper or who they want kiss up yo to get them to advertise.

If you are ever in Burbank CA, never get a fish fry from a place called the Copper Penny..pure grease and batter

[Fishtacos]

Not being from Milwaukee, nor Wisconsin, it always surprised me that some places have Fish Fry's in Milwaukee year round. I had never heard of that before. I had heard of Fish Fry's.