Fish Type: Cod (AYCE) Price: $11.00
Overall, I would not recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Fair Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Fair Bread Score: Poor Miscellaneous Score: Good |
Comment: It seems like only yesterday that the Angelic Brewing Company was serving thirsty patrons their own (less than spectacular) microbrews. Whenever I visited I found the décor to be inviting and the service to be very good, even if their homemade beer didnt suit my tastes. For one reason or another, the Angelic didnt survive and was forced to close its doors. Since the place was so nice I had a feeling it would be back up and running in no time flat. Well, it took a little while, and they are no longer brewing their own beer (which is probably a good thing), but the food spot is back, this time in the form of Logans Madtown.
Apparently there is some back story involving Tony Romo and the owner of the Logans franchise which led to its arrival in Madison. I dont really want to get into it here, but there is an autographed picture of the former Wisconsonite hanging above the bar so I assume it isnt total BS. I happened upon their Facebook page randomly and saw that they were offering an AYCE Fish Fry all day long. I recruited my regulars and we set foot to Logans
We all arrived at roughly the same time and grabbed an open table near the bar. Since the place was deserted at 11:30 on a Friday I was already worried, but tried to write it off as them being so new that people just hadnt caught on yet. It was self delusion at its finest; I knew we were in trouble. We all went for the AYCE and waited the surprisingly long time for it our food. I say surprisingly long because it took at least 20 minutes for it to be ready even though we were literally one of two small groups in the whole place, what is going on in that kitchen, I thought.
The food arrived, and as I suspected was not scalding hot. The first round of cod had a very light, almost white colored batter. It was not flaky and lacked flavor, although the actual fish was decent so it wasnt a total loss. When the time came for the second round, their ship totally sank. Jer and I each asked for one more piece, of course, she brought back full orders of 3 pieces each. While that in itself wasnt a problem, the fish was. Round two was clearly different fish from round one. The pieces were longer and thinner and while they looked much better they tasted much, much worse, which is really saying something because even round one wasnt great. The batter on this supplemental fish had a nice golden color and was actually really light, although not tasty. The fish itself had a nasty fishy taste and was simply gross. It had a mushy texture and pretty much put the final touch on ruining this Fish Fry all three of us, as Gabe even tried a piece to verify its awfulness.
I was also let down by the potato served. I read somewhere that the French fires at Logans are to die for and was really hoping to give them a try. Without warning, or prompting from the waitress, our plates arrived with greasy, undercooked American fries which just didnt cut the mustard. The tartar was also a let down as the thin mix was more ranch than tartar and really didnt improve the fish, although Im not sure any tartar could have improved the fish that came in the second round.
In addition, there was no bread served which I find absolutely ridiculous at an AYCE Fish Fry, especially considering this IS the same meal you get for dinner. Apparently they try to make up this discrepancy with a butt load of their homemade looking coleslaw which was actually really good, but, cmon
Overall, we dont recommend this Fish Fry. Even the first round was probably not good enough to be recommended, but after round two it was clear, there is no way. While the service was pretty decent it was not above reproach, and since the place was practically empty all the unnecessary waitresses were just kind of milling around the bar looking depressed which totally killed the atmosphere. A less than spectacular Fish Fry, decent, but uninspired service, I mean, Logans, what is going on here? You guys had better get this thing together quick, or you will be joining the angels just like your predecessor. Maybe the late night bar scene is good? I hope for their sake it is, because if not, it's going to be bye-bye Logans in no time.
322 W Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 287-1404
