Fish Type: Lake Perch Price: $19.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Every year over Memorial Day weekend we take a trip up to Door County, and every year I pick a different place to get fish on Friday night. I always do a little research beforehand and we've wound up at places like: JJ's La Puerta, the Sister Bay Bowl, the Greenwood Supper Club, the Bayside Tavern, Fred & Fuzzy's, and the Cornerstone Pub. All of them offer lake perch (a staple in DoCo) and all have been highly recommendable, but this year might have been the greatest yet - the Peninsula Pub.
The perch at the Pub is pricey - 19 beans, but it's the real deal and like everything else in Door County is subject to a roughly 20% markup (it's a tourist economy, that's just the way it is). Thankfully you get what you pay for here and the fish is simply superb. It's served butterfly style (as real lake perch should be) and harbors NO GREASE whatsoever. It's light and flaky all around and capped off by a breading with a boatload of seasoning. Despite the ultra-flavorful coating you could somehow still taste the actual fish which was remarkable. It's definitely some of the best I can remember eating anywhere and that includes the Villa Tap and Wendt's on the Lake. It's no wonder they've recently won Best Fish Fry in Door County.
Some plain Jane fries (with an absurd amount of salt) came on the side and while I love salt I think most people would have been overwhelmed by this lot. As a salt fiend saying it was "too much" is almost unheard of, but I'd imagine the bulk of folks would balk at these super seasoned spuds. If nothing else, I guess it keeps you coming back for more suds...
A tremendously thick tartar with a lot of dill played Robin to the perch's Batman, but somehow the dill didn't take over mix. It actually complimented the perch well, but to be honest this fish was so good you could eat it with sauce or without.
I'm not sure I've seen a vinegar-based slaw in Door County and the creamy variety at PP fell right in line. This mix was well-balanced and struck all the right notes. The pumpernickel rye on the side really pumped things up as well and made for the full Friday Fish Fry experience.
Our family tradition of going to Door County over Memorial Day weekend is alive and well, and the Wisconsin tradition of Friday Fish Fry is more alive now than ever. It's truly a sight to behold when these two traditions come together, and 2018 may have just been the greatest collision yet. Overall, we highly highly highly recommend this Fish Fry and can hardly wait to see where 2019 takes us...in all likelihood right back to the Peninsula Pub!
peninsulapub.com
7899 County Road A
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
(920) 839-2141
