Fish Type: Lake Perch Price: $11.50
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Excellent Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Sometimes Fish Fry is about more than just what place has the best fish. Sometimes its about trucks big trucks and 14 month olds. 14 month old boys love big trucks. Thankfully the Pine Cone has big trucks, and a big old Fish Fry too.
No matter what kind of fish you fancy the Pine Cone has you covered. Today our desires fell on the lake perch and at $11.50 its more than a square deal. Regardless of what fish is chosen a few sides from their long list will come beforehand. The homemade chowder, while thin on clam, is thick on taste. Its rich and creamy, and while the clam is hard to come by there were at least a few bits here and there. Plenty of potato filled the void and kept the little man almost as satisfied as the passing 18 wheelers. The roll is ridiculous (in a good way) - you have to see this monster to believe it. Grandma would be proud.
While none of the fish weve had at the Cone have lived up to our first visit (due to a lack of seasoning) it has all been good enough to recommend. This lot of four fillet wasnt outstanding, but even average perch makes the cut as long as its the real deal (and the Pine Cone perch is). The highlight is their crispy, fried chicken-like breading, that has a consistent crunch even is the seasoning is anything but.
As a truckers oasis the Pine Cone knows hash browns and these babies could easily satisfy the most road weary travelers with their ample American cheese and ominous onion slices. The mashed potatoes are rich and creamy and equally satiating - accompanied by a ladle full of gravy that apparently has all the salt the fishs breading ia lacking. While some might think two potato sides is downright nutty, we think the double shot of spuds is the way to go seeing as weve tried the other sides and found these to be far and away the best.
Thick and zesty tartar always has a home at the Fish Fry and the dueling pleated paper cups at the Pine Cone did just enough to give the fish the boost it needed.
The Pine Cone isnt sexy, the Pine Cone isnt chic, and the Pine Cone really doesnt give a crap. They care about one thing, and one thing only: good food at a great price, and on that front they deliver (and then some). The amount of food you get for the money is downright ridiculous making this place a definite truckers delight. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry, and how could we not? Good fish at a great price, and a way to entertain a 14 month old for hours. Thats priceless in our book.
www.pineconerestaurant.com
6162 Highway 51
DeForest, WI 53532
(608) 249-8778
