Fish Type: Lake Perch Price: $12.50
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: There was a time when the Villa Tap had Fish Fry on Fridays, but didnt necessarily feature Fish Fry on Fridays. Sure, you could get cod at lunch, and perch in the evening, but neither of them were drawing in the crowds and certainly werent what youd call destination dinners. Things have changed somewhat over the past few years, and with the new owner Chico driving the bus they have taken a better route, and picked up a lot more passengers along the way us included.
A crew of co-workers and I pulled into the Packers Avenue pub just after the noon hour and were greeted by a larger than expected crowd. Since it was busy and we were five-strong we were forced to grab a high-top table in the back room and wait for the waitress to come find us. Luckily, there was another table back there that she was taking care of so it didnt take long for her to realize wed arrived and come over. (Aside: Back in aught-eight when we started coming to the Villa they didnt even have waitresses, and if you found yourself in the back you could sit back there all day and all night without so much as a glace from the bartenders the addition of waitresses on Fridays marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Villa).
Its pretty evident that the lake perch at the VT is becoming increasingly popular. Every Friday night tickets line the strip atop the fryer to the point where there is actually a hearty wait for fish. For the impulsive eater (like us) there is respite from the madness perch and walleye are available for lunch now! While there is no break on the price (or the portion for that matter) who really cares? I didnt think twice about it and welcome the opportunity to have some of the best fish around for this early in the day.
Pre-perch youll receive some Tap coleslaw and bakery-fresh(ish) bun. The slaw is usually a little runny, but always has a nice zip and does a good job setting the table for the fish. The roll is just a standard white dinner roll, and really nothing special, but hey, nothing special is still better than nothing at all.
Our perch plates came about 10 minutes after the slaw and roll, and were screaming hot. As per usual, the fish was simply superb. It was moist and flaky, and featured the Villas signature breading which just cant be beat. It clings effortlessly to the five fat fillets and virtually screams eat me!
Claiming the Best Condiment in a Supporting Role was the Villas homemade tartar sauce. Its performances are commonly called thick, zesty, and unpretentious, and today was no exception. The master played its part perfectly, giving its all for the star of the show and asking nothing in return.
While the French fries at the Villa havent totally emerged from the freezer, they are pretty much on the precipice. The skin-on spuds are basically as good as you can get for a frozen fry and Chico knows how long to fry them such that they are crispy on the outside, plush on the inside, and dont taste fishy.
What can I say? This is one of my favorite Fish Frys and it just keeps getting better. It has really developed over time, becoming more than just great fish with a bunch of so-so stuff around it. Today it constitutes a complete Fish Fry one that is well worth the price and the drive. Overall, we highly recommend the lake perch at the Villa Tap - it's a meal fit for the Homo sapien in us all.
iViva la Villa!
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2302 Packers Avenue
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 244-9627
