Fish Type: Lake Perch Price: $16.00
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: If you've been paying attention to the MFF Instagram account (and shame on you if you haven't) you'll know I'm a huge proponent of these new fangled juicy/hazy/New England IPAs. I just love the high ABV coupled with the drinkability and have come to accept paying more for the premium products. For me it's a "you get what you pay for" scenario and the Untitled Art collaborations out of Octopi are some of my absolute favorites. When you couple those amazing beers with a the fact they have a cook that actually gives two shits about making great fish (even if it is out a food truck for now), you know I'm going to fall for them hook, line, and sinker.
The "perch plate" this Friday was $16, and while I feel like that's been standardized, I do think there is some fluctuation in the offering from week to week (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong @lionvibes). While only three fillets came per order, they were definitely the real deal yellow perch. Each morsel was home to a bubbly beer batter which surprisingly didn't totally crush the delicate fish. Cooks at beer-centric establishments tend to go overboard with the beer batters, thinking they need to stand out for some reason, but this one found a special balance. You could still taste the fish, but got just enough from the beer to remind you where you were sitting. Yes, the portion left a little something to be desired, but like a say - premium products costs a premium price.
Some "smashed potatoes" rode shotgun and were basically a baked potato, crushed and then crisped, with a little green onion scattered on top. It was a decent side actually, but I'm still craving those special hash browns...which were unavailable...again. Maybe next time?
A food-service-free tartar did the deed and seemed to me to be made in-truck. There was much more to it than simple mayo and relish and it gave the fish a leg up. The cabbage and carrot slaw was equally well-balanced and there was actually legit rye on the side! God bless that oh-so-colorful truck!
Apparently the cook/chef in charge of the Octopi Fry is a well-known Tory Miller disciple which, for some, apparently means he's automatically infallible. Thing is, Fish Fry knows no names and takes no prisoners. It's a tough game to master, but an easy one to over think. Many have tried and failed, but this chef clearly knows what he's doing. This Fish Fry has a fresh feel to it, without being over thought or pretentious. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry, and will definitely be back for some of those sweet beers and salty perch.
www.octopibrewing.com/
1131 Uniek Drive
Waunakee, WI 53597
(608) 620-4705
