Fish Type: Walleye Price: $14.25
Overall, I would not recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Fair Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Fair Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Excellent |
Comment: Please, dont take this as a condemnation of the Mid Town Pub. It really is a nice bar, with (usually) really good food. Ive had several tasty meals there in the past but this Fish Fry just didnt cut the mustard (or the tartar as it were).
Even during lunch the MTP was pretty busy (as any good place should be). As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a friendly hello by the bartender, and decided to just take up shop in his neck of the woods since he was so welcoming. He grabbed me a beer and took my order in the blink of an eye - the service is one thing that always shines at the Mid Town.
The fish choices were somewhat limited and for some reason I opted for the $14.25 walleye over the much cheaper cod. While the price is on the high end, you get quite a bit of fish for your buck, so its not like I left feeling ripped off or anything. The single large walleye fillet was buried under a slew of fries, and a slab of buttery garlic toast so I had some trouble getting to it initially. The fish was also flanked by the tiniest cup of tartar ever, and although it would turn out to not be so great, I still requested backup immediately.
After munching a couple fries, and brushing the buttery toast aside I got my hands on the fish. Wally walleye was densely battered and pan-fried. The breading was thick and dare I say, doughy. While it had some flavor, the thick pan-fried skin was a real turnoff. It really clung to the fish, but was also was kinda dry and unappetizing. The fish itself was flaky and moist for the most part, but a little tough on the thin end. While the meat had a hint of favorable walleye flavor it was totally buried under the beefy breading.
The fries were freezer-fresh, but came in droves. While they were nothing special, there was nothing wrong with them either. Push.
Even with a second partially-filled cup, the tartar ran out in no time. At this point I basically cut my losses and decided to box up the rest of the fish in a to-go container rather than aks for more. The so-so sauce had a bit too much dill, although it wasnt evident by outward appearance. It was creamy, and zesty, but a bit too much so - which isnt something you dont hear MFF say all that often.
Per our notes: The slaw was good. Not much to say. So Ill just leave it at that.
Lastly, we have the garlic toast which wasnt bad, but kind of seemed out of place. While it would have been more at home next to a big plate of pasta, it was still on par taste-wise with a basic dinner roll you get most everywhere else.
I went to the Mid Town Pub because I was pretty sure what to expect I was wrong (way wrong). The walleye was simply not done very well and I will definitely think twice before ordering it again. Overall, I dont recommend the Fish Fry I had on this visit, but I still like the Mid Town Pub and will give them a chance to right the ship one of these days.
www.midtownpub.com
2405 Allen Boulevard
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 826-5129
