Fish Type: Cod Price: $9.00
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Whenever I have a great Fish Fry at a place I like to come back not long after and try it again. You could call it verification, or second guessing myself, but in reality I’m just a sucker for finding tasty fish at places I haven’t been to a hundred times. When the crew from WisSports.net reached out looking for a spot near Stoughton this Friday I threw out the Squirrel’s Nest hoping they’d take the bait. They did, and I got my chance to confirm my findings.
Big Norb, Travis, and Travis’ younger brother were there early and secured one of the few actual tables in the tiny nest. It was well before kickoff so we had plenty of time to BS and wait for our fish, which wasn’t really even necessary since it fried in a flash once we actually put our order in.
The Squirrel slings cod for nine beans or walleye for 11 and all four football fans tried the cod. As on our last visit some Merkt’s cheese spread and cellophane sticks hit the table beforehand and almost stole the show. It’s such an unexpected accompaniment for a bar that it’s easy to get lost in the ajo, cebolla, or blanco bliss.
The fry station at the Squirrel is about 10 square feet so it’s somewhat surprising they can cook the cod as quickly as they do. Three average sized pieces of fish come with the same light breading that adorned the walleye on our last visit. This breading is light and holds the flaky fish together, but could definitely use some supplemental seasoning. While it works well with the walleye since the freshwater fish has so much inherent flavor, it’s a little lackluster on the cod. Still, it’s a nice, greaseless rendition although not a knock-your-socks-offer. A little more spice would undoubtedly bump it into excellence.
Following the slightly downward trend were the hash browns which lacked some of the allure that had us swooning initially. This version was more loaf-like than the slick, melty, greasers we were hoping for based on round one, and while they were still good, the amount of onion and cheese was dialed way back which left us slightly soured.
While the fish was good, some stupendous tartar made it all the better. It had plenty of pop which made the under-seasoned cod much more appetizing. A real roll, and a peppy, albeit goopy looking, slaw did their part and made cost even more appealing.
The Nest gives you three pieces of fish, a generous portion of hash browns, a roll, some slaw, tartar, AND cheese and sticks all for a measly nine bucks. Nine bucks! It has to be some of the cheapest Fish Fry you will find anywhere and one we feel good about recommending. Overall, we do recommend this Fish Fry, and while it regressed from our initial trial it is still very tasty and a deal that is too good to pass up.
www.facebook.com/Squirrels-Nest-382143498543529/
2655 US Route 51
McFarland, WI 53558
(608) 838-0293
