Fish Type: Lake Perch Price: $14.00
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Good Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: After an excellent lunch at the Esquire I was looking for something more low-key for dinner; the Gym Bar and Grill up in Sauk City fit that bill to a T. That’s not to say the Gym doesn’t take their Fish Fry seriously (they do), I just wasn’t feeling another full-on supper club experience this Friday.
We rolled into the unassuming looking tavern around 6pm and found plenty of open seating awaiting us - this place is MUCH bigger than it looks from the street and while there was a crowd, we easily found a high top in the barroom. Our waitress swung by immediately, dropped the menus, took our drink orders and sped away. When she returned mere moments later our food orders followed, highlighted by my $10 bluegill and pub chips with a $4 perch addition.
You see, the Gym has a unique “start small and build” system with the main fish entree going for $10 with add-ons for $4 each. It’s something I haven’t seen elsewhere and this time I made sure to take full advantage. As per my previous experience, the bluegill was a solid rendition - three larger than average fillets with a light breading, subtle musk, and satisfying snap. The perch was also downright decent and seemed to share the same batter and its freshwater friend.
I’ve been a sucker for good homemade pub chips ever since I got addicted to them at the Harmony Bar many years ago. While the Gym’s chips didn’t quite reach that lofty standard, they were still really good. The slaw was a real banger and the tangy tarter was stupendous - besting even my homemade tartar in the head-2-head contest I had the next day with the kid’s leftover cod. Rounding out the plate were two warm and buttery pretzel rods that were an outstanding upgrade from your basic dinner roll.
The Gym is a great little bar bar with great food to match. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry and think it’s an easy one to get pumped about.www.facebook.com/TheGymBarandGrill/
833 Water St
Sauk City, WI 53583
(608) 643-2001
