Fish Type: Walleye Price: $16.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Poor Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: To say I like the Tip Top would be an understatement...OK, a gross understatement. Ever since I first laid eyes on the tiny taverns walleye I knew this Fish Fry was one for the record books. This is easily some of the tastiest fish around and is getting harder and harder for me to pass up come Friday.
This round of walleye was classic Tip Top. For starters, it crazy that a Fish Fry can even be considered classic after only being around for a couple years, but this baby definitely is. Its a testament to the Tip Top staff and shows just how established theyve become in such a short time. Its delicious, its consistent, its consistently delicious which is exactly what makes it classic. This fillet is simply gorgeous. Its thick and meaty with their crispy breading that holds it all together, but gives way effortlessly when provoked. When the crispy and crunchy breading meets the smooth and flaky fish a euphoric sensation washes over you, and even with a rambunctious toddler bouncing off the walls all was blissful in our fishy little world. This is easily some of the best walleye currently out there, no bones about it (and thats not even a pun although there were no bones in this fillet so I guess it actually could be its not though, I swear).
The Tip Top fries arent cut in-house (as far as I can tell) and arent the best (based on my experience), but are also far from the worst. At the very least they are expertly fried and lovingly prepared which is more than a lot of places can say.
Walleye this good could easily stand on its own two fins, but the Tip Top trots out some spectacular tartar sauce just to make things totally irresistible. This superb sauce has plenty of diversity and, while thin, adheres to the fish like glue. The walleye obviously doesnt need a push, but this loving caress takes it everything to a whole other level.
A vinegar-kissed, purple cabbage coleslaw does all it can, but is a little raw (both literally and figuratively). Its super crispy and clean, but almost too much so. The shredded carrots laid on top lend some diversity to the aesthetic but do little for the flavor. While its not at all bad its just so basic that some (including myself) might not appreciate its subtlety.
No Fish Fry is perfect and although this one is damn close, even it has a failing. The Tip Top still hasnt realized that bread strikes a balance to all their fried goodness and doesnt put any sort or starch on the plate. Even a small slice of rye would go a long way, but as of yet it remains absent. Heres to hoping they come around someday
The more times I have fish at the Tip Top the more I think that its some of the best Madison has to offer. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and feel 100% confident that anyone who tries it would agree. Its the tops!
www.thetiptoptavern.com/
601 North Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 241-5515
