Fish Type: Bluegill Price: $11.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Excellent Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Im a believer! Yes, you heard right, the one-time skeptic has turned a full one-eighty, and is wholeheartedly endorsing the Big 10 Pub. What could they possibly have done to pull off such a feat, you ask? Well, it isnt all about tartar sauce, but thats a good place to start.
We have always loved the fact that they Big 10 does all the major fish varieties, and does each one well. From piles of perch, to boatloads of bluegill, the Big 10 has a level of Fish Fry mastery that is rarely witnessed. While the fish at Jordans joint has always hit the mark, their subpar sauce was enough to send us elsewhere to get our Friday fix. Im happy to report that a changing of the guard has officially taken place.
Matt, Reese and I rolled in to the Regent Street staple around noon and grabbed one of the open booths along the near wall. Our waiter came over once he saw us, and ran to grab us some drinks right away. When he came back two plates of perch and one of bluegill were ordered, all with potato pancakes as the side. He sped away again leaving us to talk about the previous evenings NFL Draft and ponder what the Vikings were thinking with their first round pick. Needless to say, we shared a few laughs at the dreadful franchises expense.
The fish was ready in no time flat and sat in front of us in pristine condition. My bluegill looked larger than average, but I wasnt about to bitch about big fillets. As soon as I dug in I realized something was amiss the fish tasted very good, but didnt have the bluegill allure. As I glanced around I quickly realized Reese accidentally got my plate, and I, his. We swapped fish posthaste and I took what remained of the bluegill fillets to task. The sun shone brightly on its namesake fish, bathing the critters in deliciousness. In comparison to the perch the bluegill was firmer, but still nice and flaky. Both were sheathed in the same light breading which had a pleasant flavor, but could have used a bit more salt. The perch was good as well, but slightly mushier than the bluegill. While the perch probably had a little better flavor, its texture was worse which leveled the playing field somewhat. By and large, both were good, but I would say the bluegill came out slightly ahead in this head-2-head fish-off.
The Big 10 is well known as one of few places in the Mad City offering potato pancakes with their Fish Fry. In my experience the unique potato products have been hit and miss - always good, but rarely great. Today was a major exception, as the fancy spuds were perfectly fried and absolutely delicious. The crisp edges played off the supple interiors well, and were taken over the top by the chunky apple sauce that accompanied the divine dish.
The homemade slaw that joined the melee was finely chopped, creamy, and right on the money; while the white roll was non-traditional with a very crusty crust, doughy middle. It was a nice departure from the old standby prepackaged roll, but made me wonder where their once proud rye escaped to?
The fish at the Big 10 has always scored highly with us, but their dilly tartar was enough to put a damper on it. The recent revamp in tartar town has so greatly improved this Fish Fry that the whole shebang has been bumped into highly recommendable territory. The new sauce is much more mayo-y, with a generous allotment of relish, and a severe reduction in dill. It now compliments the fish rather than overwhelming it, which is exactly what we are looking for.
Overall, we highly recommend both the bluegill and the lake perch at the Big 10. The fish is great, the potato pancakes are a welcome change of pace, and we really appreciate their new take on tartar. For around $10 you are treated to a full-on Fish Fry complete with all the trimmings which is a a heck of a deal, but can be more than most people expect to eat at lunchtime. When you belly up to the Big 10 be sure to bring your love of freshwater fish and a big appetite because this is one Fish Fry that goes all out regardless of the time of day. Believe that, we certainly do.
big10pub.com/
1330 Regent Street
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 251-6375
