Fish Type: Haddock (AYCE) Price: $11.00
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Excellent Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: I'm not gonna lie to you, I just cant bring myself to do it. Yes, we had Fish Fry at Fitzgeralds, and yes, it was good (Im pretty sure). However, the details of the evening are a little fuzzy to me at this point. You see, when it came time for Madison Fish Frys bachelor party it seemed like common sense to start the festivities off with an AYCE Fish Fry. Wouldnt you? No problem, I thought. Well just throw back some fish with some good friends, have a few beers, and see where the evening takes us. Well, good friends sometimes have bad ideas, and a few of them figured it wasnt a bachelor party without a numerous shots of various brown liquors for yours truly. Bad idea, my friends, bad idea.
From what I recall, we arrived at Fitzgeralds and were pretty surprised at how few people were out for Fish Fry this Friday. Perhaps they knew a party was brewing and wanted to avoid the ruckus? For whatever reason, the place was damn-near deserted which gave me an uneasy feeling. Regardless, we were here for AYCE Fish Fry and were ready to pay the piper. We were seated at a big table all by our lonesomes, well away from any and all other diners. At this point the first of what would be several shots arrived for the lucky guy. No matter, I thought, Ill just put it down and that will be that (yeah right). I easily stomached this first blow as it nestled lovingly in my gut atop the three or four Beamers that were taken previously at home. At this point we also all put in our orders. Everyone went with the AYCE from the kitchen, even though the waiter was pushing the buffet. Ha-ha waiter Joe, we knew better. We have played this game before.
Once the waiter had gone we all sat back and began the normal bachelor party BSing. At this point, another shot arrived thanks guys and everything stepped up a notch. The first order of business was the slaw and bread which were dropped along with my shot. The little loafs of self-slice bread were great, and the standard supper club slaw was right on the money. The fish came some time later and was hot, but not scalding when it arrived. It and the fries were served in heaping piles, family-style, and the boys wasted no time tearing the presentation apart.
The haddock fillets were very tasty. The light and flaky fish was well complimented by the delicate batter which I somehow remember precisely. I tried as best I could, and got down two pieces almost instantly. Since we knew the portion presented on this first round would be nowhere near enough, we immediately re-upped, and sent them back for more fish and fries (and apparently more shots).
As I enjoyed a few of the perfectly fried crinkle-cut fries, another drink found its way to the table. This dastardly conglomeration was known as The Three Wisemen, and if you know anything about it, it is not the kind of thing you want to drink during dinner. At this point I wasnt ready to be completely blitzed and did what we could to avoid taking it, but being the fool I am, was easily talked into it. After stomaching much of it, and taking a short break, I tried to return to the fish, and managed to get one more piece (or close to it) down. These pieces were from the second round were much hotter and fresher than their predecessor, according to Jer. Ill have to take his word on that.
From this point on there is not really much more I can say. I seem to recall leaving a piece or two of fish uneaten on my plate, but cant really be sure. By the time we got up to leave I was feeling no pain, but knew I had eaten my share of tasty fish (and managed to keep it down, despite my friends best efforts).
Overall, I am pretty surprised at how much I actually remember from this Fish Fry, although I certainly dont have all the details down. The fish, fries and tartar were all very good, and the service was very punctual, especially considering the size of our group and the intermittent shots that the waiter was also responsible for delivering. In addition, the slaw and bread were supper club standard, and easily above average. I still feel very confident highly recommending this Fish Fry and am kind of curious as to why they were not busier. Ill chalk it up to the fact it was past 8 oclock and the bulk of their patrons had likely already been there and done that, cause it certainly aint for a lack of quality fish!
MFF wants to thank Fitzgeralds for helping make his bachelor party a night to remember, and his friends for getting him drunk enough to forget. We all had a fantastic time, and will be back anytime we are looking for a great AYCE Fish Fry. The next order of business - the wedding, and of course, more Fish Frys!
www.foodspot.com/fitzgeralds
3112 Parmenter Street
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 831-7107
