Review
Sure, it's only cod, but this Fry comes in three different sizes so there is some diversity to it. Diners can satisfy their appetite with a 2, 3, or 4-piece for $8, $9, or $10 respectively. That's right, $10 for a 4-piece cod complete with all the trimmings, where else are you going to find that kind of deal other than tavern? While the fish takes its soak some canned baked beans, coleslaw, and a basket of rolls are served up. The slaw is a basic creamy blend, and the beans would surely make the Bush's smile, but the real standout is the bread basket which had a couple little corn muffins, a soft white bun, and the real star - a fresh pumpernickel roll. It's an impressive lineup considering you're talking about a $9 Fish Fry at a bar here.
Before we even got our fill of the apps this Friday, the fish was fried and found us in a jiffy. It looked great, but didn't quite live up to the hype we'd placed on it. The light breading that we fell in love with last time lacked some of the seasoning that drew our affection, and while it was still flaky, it had to be ripped apart to some extent (much like the cod at Wilson's). That said, the crisp coating held everything together well, had no grease whatsoever, and was plentiful. The 3-piece will easily satisfy most Friday night aFISHionados.
Of course there are fries, and a few other sides to choose from, but when I hear cheesy hash brown casserole those other options simply fade away. Unfortunately, these spuds weren't exactly super. Sure, they were plenty thick, and plenty creamy, and certainly made from scratch, but there was celery in it...honest to god, celery. It was odd to say the least, and while the wayward veggie didn't ruin the 'role, it certainly didn't help matters.
This kind of fish calls for a big, bold tartar, and this sauce iced the cod cake just right. Maybe it was just Sysco, but maybe that's all you need sometimes and it answered the call today.
There are only about 20 lily pads in this pond, and they don't serve fish at the bar, so unless you show up early you're risking a wait. We showed up at 6:00 and were one of the first tables of the night, but almost every seat was full when we left, so take that for what it's worth. Tiny taverns can be a crap shoot, but we hit tonight. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry and think it's a damn good deal, even if it wasn't as special as we hoped it would be. While the Pond might not be the place, it's definitely one of those places we'll have no problem coming back to.
Small town bars typically have the best deals in Fish Fry and the Frog Pond in Morrisonville proves that point and then some. It starts with the cod which is a solid rendition that's eerily reminiscent of my old standby, Wilson's - light, flaky, 100% grease-free, and delicious.
The sides include several spud options and both the standard and curly fries were super. The tartar was also excellent, had a unique tang, and took the fish to new heights. The roll was just okay, the slaw was cool and creamy, and the baked beans were a nice bonus.
In this day and age when there are places charging upwards of $15 for an Old Fashioned alone the Friday Fish Frys at bars like the Frog Pond are a breath of fresh air. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and think it's one helluva deal.
While T2 had all sorts of fish, the FP only has fried cod, but it comes in three different sizes - 2-piece: $9, 3-piece: $10, 4-piece: $11. I obviously went to the four banger and was glad I did. Some slaw, beans, and a roll come beforehand, and the chunky, homemade slaw has a good zip but beyond that was pretty standard. The baked beans are superb and serve as a wonderful addition to the already cheap Fry; while the roll is better than basic with a generous crust and plenty of density. Needless to say it's a good start to what is a fantastic Fry.
As you can imagine the 4-piece is substantial and, and made even more so when you consider each piece was a good 3-4 ounces. All are dusted with a superb breading that has a subtle blend of seasoning that tastes of celery salt and other goodies. This totally grease-free rendition makes for easy eating and mine went down in a flash despite how much of it occupied the plate (which is how you know it's good).
A big old scoop of cheesy hash browns looks to be straight out of a casserole dish (just like grandma would make) and while they are gooopy they taste gooody (?) yeah, let's go with that...gooody.
With so much fish you'd hope to get more tartar than the Surgeon General recommends and that is exactly what the Pond puts it out there. Two 2 oz. Solo cups come along and put the smack down on the four fat finsters. This stuff is as thick and creamy as it gets with just enough of a relish pop to pair with the salty substrate of the fish.
While Morrisonville might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about hitting the town, The Frog Pond should definitely be up there when they're thinking about finding the fish. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and are ready to splash in again soon.