Fish Type: Cod Price: $11.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Excellent Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Dexters recently waded into the waters of the Wednesday Night Fish Fry (albeit with an abbreviated lineup), and the first chance I got I paid them a visit. On Friday Dex rolls out the whole gamut of fish, but on Wednesday there is only cod and walleye to be found, which, in all fairness, is all most places do on Friday anyway. So I guess you could say a Wednesday Night Fish Fry are Dexters is as good as a Friday Night Fish Fry anywhere else.
Of course, my cod came quickly, and why wouldnt it? It was a Wednesday after all, and unlike Friday night the place wasnt jam packed with people free to come and go as they pleased. The kitchen was also manned by one dude instead of three or four like you find on Friday.
The cod was good, but like the Wednesday menu itself, has been scaled back somewhat. The pieces used to be a good four to five ounces each, and Id say this time around they were maybe three. Each was enrobed by a really dark beer batter, that was fried to the max, but not burned or anything like that. The fish underneath was super flaky, and paired nicely with the ultra-flavorful batter. While the batter looked daunting, it was surprisingly light, and very good, but not quite Owls Nest or Hooterville good.
The side of record at Dexters is the waffle fries and this batch was massive. While the portion would be too much for some lightweights I crunched every last one of them without issue. They were pure spuduly perfection, and thats all Im going to say.
The tartar was also great and has come a long way in a short amount of time. This sauce easily stands up to the flavorful fish although the cup is a little too small for all three pieces. I was scraping bottom about halfway through the second piece.
Even on Wednesday Dexters brings their A-game as evidenced by the half-slice of rye bread. While you may not like rye, its what is expected by a Fish Fry purist and I had no problem mowing it down. It was all good, and all gone you should really do yourself a favor and learn to like it.
Like the tartar, Dexs slaw has come a long way over the years. What was once an abomination has become a strong suit and was the first thing I finished. The current mix is onion-y and juicy, and really complements the rye well.
If youre sick of fighting the crowds on Friday nights, and I know many of you are, hit up Dexters on a Wednesday. As long as youre okay without bluegill or lake perch there is still a lot to like, especially if you are into the Wild Caught stuff. Overall, we highly recommend Dexters, but of course you already knew that.
www.dexterspubmadison.com/
301 North Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 244-3535
