Review
The first thing you need to know is that Alchemy is going to be pretty damn busy, and you'd better be ready to wait your turn. The locals (and probably a lot of non-locals too) have taken a shine to this Fish Fry, and they are packing the place on Friday nights (especially around 7:30 apparently). If you're like us, you'll luck into a couple stools at the bar within 15 minutes or so, but if you want to eat at a table be prepared to wait it out with a couple cocktails (luckily, the bartenders at Alchemy are real pros so that shouldn't be a problem).
When you do get your fish (and rest assured there will be plenty of orders whizzing past you to get you in the mood) it will be scalding hot - so watch yourself. Alchemy features beer battered cod, but it isn't your typical portion nor is it your typical batter. The portion is GIGANTIC (four 3oz. pieces) and the batter is nothing less that amazing. The batter, while on the thick side, is not heavy at all, and has an incredible flavor that needs to be tasted to be appreciated. It is clearly a secret blend of spices, featuring some cumin and/or red chili powder that gives it a unique and memorable flavor. While the batter might look thick, it melds perfectly with the flawlessly white and flaky cod. Amazingly it won't leave any grease whatsoever, and while 12 oz. might seem like a lot of fish, it's so good you'll hardly even notice its enormity. Mine was gone in an instant.
Alchemy's signature fries are also superb, and while you don't get a ton of them, I cherished everyone I received. While the potato chip-like cut is a little unusual, the taste is what really matters and the fries are perfectly spiced. The tartar is something special, and like the fish, is clearly a secret recipe. It is a thick mix with so many miscellaneous items in it that it is impossible to dissect them all. It has a beautiful reddish-hue, and a little bite which pairs perfectly with the cod. It is euphoria for your taste buds, simple as that.
As you might expect based on Alchemy's reputation for freshness, the coleslaw is made special for Friday and crisp as all get-out. While the portion might be miniscule and the slaw itself isn't zesty enough, it plays its role as side dish effectively. The roll is also a step up from your average dinner roll, but takes a backseat to the fish, fries, and tartar. Its main function is to serve as a palate cleanser and to this end it does its job splendidly.
In all honesty I really can't wait to go back and have the fish at Alchemy again. As far as beer battered cod goes it has to be some of, if not the best in the city, and probably in the greater Madison area in general. Alchemy has obviously figured it all out and is running their Fish Fry on all cylinders at this point. It's like watching Babe Ruth in his prime. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this Fish Fry (with a capital HIGHLY even), and think you owe it to yourself to try if you haven't yet. You can thank me later.
We met our good friends Jer and Lauren on the east side at the height of the frying hour (6pm) and I was shocked to get seated immediately (I figured we'd have a decent wait). We grabbed some specialty cocktails, put in our orders, and enjoyed the company. When the fish showed up I wasted no time tearing into it.
Alchemy used to have perch from time to time, but apparently it was popular enough that they added it to their specials every Friday (a smart move). This perch is on-point - it's 100% the genuine article, smooth a sweet, with a lightly-seasoned ultra-crispy breading. Fantastic stuff. The tartar is a unique mix that's clearly made in-house with a thin-ish texture but tantalizing tang. It improved the flavors of the fish ever so slightly, although my eight fillets were perfectly palatable without it.
The hand-cut fries are always interesting, and while I appreciate the atypical cut, our 11 year old felt otherwise. Kids beware I guess... The vibrant slaw is fresh and clean, but seemingly missing the oomph some slaws have, while the slice of fresh bread sort of saved the day.
Alchemy continues to be a staple for east siders and a true destination for us far west siders. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and think Alchemy still mixes it up with the best of 'em.It was another early dinner for our family of three, and showing up at 5pm turned out to be a smart move. By 5:30 it was packed and the wait list was filling up. Since we were so early the oil was hot and fresh, and we had no trouble getting a table big enough for all of us. Our food came about 15 minutes after we ordered and looked fancy.
For $13 Alchemy gives you four big pieces of cod, some homemade fries, a sizable cup of tartar, a tiny bit of slaw, and a Pac-Man-looking roll, so even though it's on the pricy side you get a lot of food for your buck. Alchemy's cod is a unique beast, the likes of which you've probably never seen before. It has a fluffy beer batter that is thick, but also incredibly tasty. Normally we are not fans of thick batters, but this stuff has so much flavor it works, and since the fish is hearty it miraculously balances out. The batter boasts a boatload of cumin which really bolsters the creamy cod and enhances its rich golden-brown color.
The Alchemy fries are made in-house and cut into big, amorphous chunks. The spuds are then lavishly salted and fried to perfection before being place alongside the fish. These babies are a far cry from Mickey D's and the kind of fries kids probably wouldn't like but adults definitely should.
Next up is some of the craziest tartar you will find. There is so much in the mix it could never be pieced out, but it still tastes great and pairs well with the flavorful batter on the fish. Since there is so much fish the oversized cup is absolutely necessary, and mine was totally drained by the end.
Surprisingly, the share of slaw on the side was super small. It was probably tiniest portion we've ever seen and amounted to a mere three forkfuls. What was there was sweet and fresh with a lemony zest (although that may just have been because the lemon wedge was sitting on top it).
Getting chased around the plate was the Pac-Man roll and his power pellet of butter. This hungry little fella was dense and hearty -- a small powerhouse. Watch out Pinky.
We fell in love with Alchemy years ago, but still like to come back every so often to rekindle our relationship with their Friday Fish Fry, and what better day to do so than Valentine's Day. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry, and adore almost everything about it.
The four fat chunks of cod come stacked like a boxed-out campfire and feature a dense batter that has a goodly amount of flavor but is way too thick. Historically the batter features a serious amount of cumin (which helped overcome its girth) but it seems to have mellowed over time (which is a bad thing). The cod itself is totally suppressed by the beefy batter and on the mushy side. There was nary a bit of flakiness left this time around although I know it was there at some point. Eating all four pieces is also quite an endeavor and not one you walk away from feeling light on your feet.
The house-cut Alchemy fries are definitely the real deal and the amorphous slices are fried to a dark crispiness. It easily amounts to a whole small potato (or half of a large one) and they definitely get the job done, but little more.
Alchemy's unique tartar has a ton of taste and while it's not the supper club standard it doesn't need to be. It's different but delicious, and the huge cup provided is 100% necessary considering how much fish is stacked on the plate.
If Pac-Man ate butter instead of ghosts Alchemy's roll would be every bit of 8-bit. It was softer and less dense than that in our memory but the house-made slaw was every bit as unappetizing as we recalled. It was a crudely-chopped concoction with little zip and little flavor. Blah.
We've had a lot of good experiences at Alchemy, but wouldn't call this one of them. They seem to have stagnated somewhat and unfortunately they landed on a thick, bland batter and unflaky fish. Overall, we barely recommend this Fish Fry and think it looks a heck of a lot better than it tastes.
As is now the norm, Alchemy was packed even though we showed up late (8:15ish). We had a group of four (which is probably about as many as you'd want to try to bring on a Friday night), and were subject to an hour-long wait in orbit around the bar. Luckily for us, we were in good company and the time passed quickly. We eventually got one of the prime tables in the front window and it went from there.
The fish arrived about 15 minutes after we ordered, and was hot but not steaming. While it looked stunningly similar to the magnificent cod we had last trip it had a few flaws that were not present previously. At least two of the four large pieces were over-fried which caused the batter to get hard in spots. These firm zones coincided with areas where the cod underneath was on the thin side, which is what you'd expect to see. The two other pieces were better, but the batter wasn't unique and the cod was nowhere near as pristine as our last visit. Perhaps it was just the fact that it was nearing the end of the evening and they were losing focus, but the fish was off and everyone noticed. One of my less desirable pieces even had fryer basket indentations! You really gotta keep them boys movin' in there...
Radiating out from the hub of cod were the rest of the Alchemy's signature sides, led by their eponymous fries. While the well-known fries were good, the portion was small and not hot enough. Argh.
The coleslaw contingent was also on the scant side, with the visually pleasing fusion comprising a mere two bites (and no, that is not an exaggeration - two bites). It was gone in a flash (if it was ever really even there???). Bolstering the lineup to a minimal degree was Alchemy's infamous "Pac-man" roll which, while hearty and delicious, hardly makes up for so little slaw and fries.
At this point a terrible tartar sauce could easily have sunk the ship since the Alchemy Fry was taking on water quickly. Luckily, a serious swashbuckler of a sauce stepped in and saved the day with a spicy flavor and some serious kick. Alchemy's signature tartar isn't traditional, but works perfectly with the cumin-infused coating on the cod. The chipotle-looking concoction bailed water like a mother and saved our sinking schooner with grace.
Fish Fry is a finicky mistress and even one bad plate can be enough to turn patrons off forever (we Wisconsonites are a stubborn lot dontcha know?). Luckily, I've had enough fish at Alchemy that even a couple bad pieces don't necessarily spoil the lot. Overall, we still recommend this Fish Fry and believe they have a recipe for success. At this point they just need to continue hone their craft until every plate is as good as the one I had the last time. I bet our next one will be...
The everyday menu is chock full of delicious sounding dishes that abound with local, high quality ingredients. I have had their burger and it was very good so I assumed the Fish Fry probably was too. On Friday Alchemy serves a Fish Fry special for dinner but not lunch. The Fish Fry will run you about $11.00 and consists of 4-5 large pieces of cod with your choice of potato, and homemade red cabbage coleslaw. I obviously got the cod which was good but not great. It was very rich and creamy partially due to the batter which was very substantial and pretty much dominated the taste of the fish. The fish was not very flaky or tender and was borderline mushy, but still tasted pretty good. I think it is actually the same fish that they used to serve at Wonder's which was always perfectly acceptable.
The French fries were basically potato chip style slices which were good for being a non-traditional cut. The coleslaw was actually very good and I think I ate all of it. The tartar sauce that came with the fish was decent but fairly dilly tasting, and just not great which probably contributed some to the fact I could not finish my fourth piece. One problem with this Fish Fry was the fact that they did not serve any bread. I would gladly have sacrificed my fourth piece of fish for a nice slice of rye or a cheap roll. It is nice to have more fish than you can even eat but I would rather have some bread to balance it all out.
It is great to have the Alchemy in the Atwood neighborhood. They have really done a nice job revamping the place and putting out good food that is in tune with their local residents. The Fish Fry was good and the quality of the food certainly comes through.
Maybe Friday just draws a different crowd? Or maybe it is just too early for the hipsters to arrive; I mean the sun is still up after all. I guess it doesn't bother me one way or the other, I'm gonna order a Fish Fry. Hey barkeep, is it cool if we sit at the bar and eat? It is? Sweet. How 'bout you chuck a couple of pieces of that beer battered cod in the fryer for me and grab a "Matilda" for the little lady? We're hungry.
15 minutes, or so, pass and four Fish Frys sit idly at the server's station.Where do you think those plates are headed, my love? Not sure? I bet one of 'em is mine... For shame, look at my fish, just sitting there, getting cold and collecting grease. Maybe it ain't mine? I kinda hope not. Well, there go three of them, out into the crowd behind us, only one left. Uh oh, I think that is your Matilda... yup, sure nuff, it is, and the last of those four Fish Frys is mine. Here it comes.
Plates are served, and still look lovingly prepared even after a few stalled moments at the counter.Wow, I am surprised. This fish has been sitting for a good 4 minutes, but is still nice and hot. And wow! What a great beer batter. It is nice and light, and really flavorful. The cod itself is also pretty boss, although I bet by the time I get to the end it will be a little mushy, it is nice and flaky now. Mmm mmm mmm. I am gonna hit that tartar with it and see what happens.
This tartar looks weird, but what the hell, what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger, right? Whoa! Even though it is kinda thin (and looks ranch-y) it tastes awesome! What is that? Chili powder? Cayenne pepper? Whatever it is, it's wonderful, and combines with that beer batter to take this fish to the next level. Awesome!
I gotta get a fry or two in. Hey, wait a minute. These chip-looking fries are really good (I saw the dude spray them with some vinegar back there), but a few of them are cold. What is going on here? Were there some remnants left in the bowl from an old batch that snuck onto my plate? Hmmm, lucky for me, the bulk of them hot and crispy, and really compliment the zesty cod/tartar blend with a little vinegar zest of their own. I'll look past those couple oddballs, I guess.
Wow, I am really impressed. The Alchemy seems to have stepped their Fish Fry up a notch and look, a nice little wheat bun! Last time we were here there was nothing starchy to speak of and now we have this delightful "Pac-man" roll, complete with a pat of butter in his gaping jaws. Way to go Alchemy!
Man, this Fish Fry is really something. I bet the coleslaw is still kickin' ass too... What what? It is! My dear lord, usually this red cabbage has some serious bite but whatever they have done to it has really quelled its boisterousness. This stuff is sweet and mild; I bet I eat ever last bite.
The slaw, roll, chips and fish are gone. An empty plate with a disheveled cup of tartar and a greasy napkin are all that remain.Well, my dear, it looks like this trip to the Alchemy was a total success. You got to enjoy one of their delectable veggie dishes while I got my Fish Fry (and loved it). I guess we will have to put them #1 on our list of places that have a great Fish Fry and great veggie options - I certainly can't think of one better at this point. You agree? Well then, let us count our blessing as we truly have experienced a great meal. And look, it is only 7:45 or so. I thought the crowds would be much worse and we would be here forever, but here we are, full on fish, the sun is still up, and we are out the door. You can't beat that. Agreed? Agreed...