Fish Type: Walleye Price: $17.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Poor Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: A new breed of Fish Fry is sweeping through Madison and the joint with the biggest broom might just be the tiny Tip Top Tavern. The diminutive bar has shed its once divey reputation and become an oasis for foodies and Fish Fry fans alike. They have cod and walleye available all day on Friday and both of them are simply superb.
While not cheap, the cod ($13) and the walleye ($17) are well worth every penny. The portion of cod isnt huge but every morsel is enrobed in the in their lip-smacking beer batter. The batter is dark and smoky with a unique richness that makes it stand out from the crowd. It is so good the standard 3-piece might leave you wanting more, but thankfully extra pieces can be had for three bucks a pop.
The walleye fillet is usually slightly larger than average and of good quality. The flaky meat is home to a saccharine breading that is peppery tasting and sticky to the touch but crunchy on the palate. It has a great all-around flavor and is among the best the city has to offer.
A heap of thick julienne-cut fries come with either style of fish and are expertly executed. They are basically the best freezer fries you will find which is nice, but still fall short when compared to house-cut fries or homemade potato pancakes. A baked potato is also available.
Theres no doubt that both styles of fish are good enough to be eaten solo but the Tip Tops tartar is sinfully delicious and takes each to another level. The wonder sauce is some of the best weve ever had, featuring a little lemon, a lot of zip, and thick, zesty consistency that is incredibly unique.
A scoop of fresh and spunky homemade slaw finishes off the plate and looks better than it tastes, but is certainly nothing to complain about. The only real grievance is that no bread comes with the fish, and while that may sit fine with the gluten-free crowd it leave us slightly soured.
In little over a year the Tip Top has cemented its reputation as one of the best Fish Frys in the city which is really quite an accomplishment when you consider all the great fish Madison has to offer. Overall, we highly recommend both the cod and walleye at the Tip Top and think the dynamic duo is about as solid as any you will find.
www.thetiptoptavern.com/
601 North Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 241-5515
