Fish Type: Bluegill Price: $11.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: We go to Dexters pretty regularly, and why wouldnt we? They have one of the best all-around Fish Frys in town and when we dont want to take any chances they are one of the first places that comes to mind. We recently found ourselves at Dexters doorstep for lunch two Fridays in a row the first being a solo visit and the second a reunion with the crew from WisSportsNet.
Truth be told, things actually went a little smoother on the solo visit - the fish was hotter, it came much quicker, and the portion was larger all around. It was a little disconcerting on the follow up Fry but not totally unexpected when you consider groups are generally served all at once and coordinating that much fish can be difficult. On the first trip we went for the bluegill with a side of onion rings, while on the second we changed thing up with lake perch and waffle fries.
The bluegill is buck cheaper than the lake perch, which works well for us since the bluegill is actually a bit tastier in our opinion. While both fish feature the same light breading, the seasoning works a little better with the fishier sunfish than the inoffensive perch. Regardless of which you prefer, both fish are smooth and flaky, with the light breeding you love, and the subtle fish flavor you crave. You really cant go wrong no matter which you choose.
Dexters really does a number on the fish, but not at the expense of the sides. The onion rings we got with the bluegill were thick-cut and very tasty, but hard to keep in one piece (as onion rings so often are). They featured a crispy batter that had a rich, almost smoky, flavor. While we liked the rings enough, we still prefer Dexters waffle fries which are spicy and delicious, although were lacking in abundance when we ate with our friends.
Besides the fish and the sides everything else was pretty much exactly the same between the two visits. The tartar was tremendous, featuring a thick and creamy mayo base with a great zip; the thick, soft half-slice of rye was radical (longtime Madisonians will get that reference); and the slaw was homemade and diverse. While some would say the ample onion overpowers the slaw, we think it pairs perfectly well with the pungent rye making a new flavor sensation that neither provides on its own.
Weve heard some rumors recently that Dexters is slipping, and perhaps they are getting overwhelmed by the crowds on Friday nights. While we wouldnt go that far, it was pretty evident that there were some discrepancies between our solo visit and the trip we made with Nick, Rick, Travis, Norb, and Adam. Everything was a bit slower with the group and the portions suffered when served in bulk, but even those detractors arent enough to make this anything less than a stellar Fish Fry. Overall, we highly recommend both the bluegill and lake perch at Dexters and wont hesitate to come back for either... especially at lunch time.
www.dexterspubmadison.com/
301 North Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 244-3535
