Fish Type: Cod Price: $22.00
Overall, I would not recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Fair Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Poor Miscellaneous Score: Good |
Comment: I get asked for gluten-free Fish Fry recommendations from time to time, and while there are a few out there, I tend to struggle to think of them. Athen’s Grill has it as an option and I know there are more, but Orchard in Verona has to be the newest addition that (relatively) short list.
Orchard has grown from their humble roots at the Cider Farm, and I thought the CF FFF was decent when I had it back in 2021. The new digs in Verona are really nice and the concise menu is thoughtfully curated, but $22 2-piece cod just didn’t do it for me.
The gluten-free batter is a cornmeal kind of coating and it didn’t have a ton of flavor nor did it hold firm to the fish. It basically just flaked apart, was difficult to handle (to say the least), and I wound up falling back on my fork to scoop up the remnants. The fish itself seemed to be of decent quality, but it really left me wanting more. The thick and zippy house tartar helped a lot, but it could really only do so much.
The fish rode in on a saddle of salty fries and while I make no secret of my love of sodium, these were a bit much even for me. The kid, who is also a salt fiend, had a hard time finishing his altogether. The slaw was also a little raw for my liking, and while I appreciate a fresh take, this one was a little too crisp.
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what to do with this one. I’ve seen some mixed reviews related to the service at the new spot but our waiter was very attentive and made honest suggestions about drinks and such. The owner also seems like a good guy who is welcoming and genuinely cares about his guests, but as for the actual Fish Fry, it just didn’t cut the proverbial mustard. But hey, if you’re GF it might be exactly what you’re after.orchardrestaurants.com
881 W Verona Ave
Verona, WI 53593
(608) 514-4478
