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Fish Type: Cod     Price: $13.00

Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.

Fish Score: Excellent
Potato Score: Good
Tartar Score: Excellent
Bread Score: Good
Miscellaneous Score: Excellent

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Comment: Alchemy burst onto the Fish Fry scene in 2008 and was an immediate success. Their Friday special started humbly as a hearty meal for a good price, but has since blossomed into something more… Something better… Something truly special… I don’t think I’m alone in saying this, but it really has evolved in to one of the best Fish Frys in the city. Let me tell you about it…

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.



alchemycafe.net
1980 Atwood Avenue
Madison, WI 53704