Fish Type: Cod Price: $10.00
Overall, I would highly recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Excellent Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Good |  |
Comment: Our first visit to the Tipsy Cow was a couple years back when the downtown dining spot was in its infancy. The fish on this initial journey wasnt very good, but we vowed to give them a chance to redeem themselves. Well, we didnt wait quite long enough and found ourselves in a classic fool me once fool me twice scenario. After being burned by the bovine a second time we swore not to come back until we heard things had changed for good. It took a year and half, but we finally heard the good word.
Even though we arrived late, the square-side hotspot was jam packed - 9:30 means nothing in these parts. As luck would have it, one of bar-adjacent high top tables opened up right as we walked in, and the hostess had it ready for us in no time. We had a good 10 minutes to peruse the menu as we waited for our waiter who eventually noticed we had taken up residence and came to grab our orders.
The Cows kitchen was clearly moving, and we had our food in no time. Everything was blazing hot, looked stupendous, and smelled absolutely amazing. I simply couldnt resist the allure, and tore into the plate, starting with the cod. This fish was so much better than the cod of the past that it wasnt even comparable. The new beer batter was creamy and sumptuous without a drop of grease to be seen. It was incredibly tasty and had some cumin and/or chili powder that really perked it up. It melded marvelously with the flaky cod underneath, and while it was great on its own, it was even better with a shot of tipsy sauce (thats right, tipsy, not tartar).
Dont be fooled, the Tipsy Cow does give you tartar with your Fish Fry, but its a thin homemade blend that is a too heavy on the pickle flavor. While it would get you by in a pinch its far from ideal, and nowhere near as good as the sauce that supplements it. The signature tipsy sauce that also comes with the Fish Fry blesses everything it touches, especially the spicy chunks of cod. The pink wonder is just brilliant, and has a smoky, chipotle undertone that is very memorable.
The half of the plate not covered in fish was home to a handful of house-cut French fries. The salty spuds were very good, but took a back seat to the flavorful fish. The portion was on the small side, but it was manageable and I somehow made them last until the end.
Since the fish on our first couple trips was downright bad it left the door open for the slaw to steal the show and steal the show it did. The cool brew was clearly homemade, with a creamy sweetness and a little zest (but not too much). The same slaw is still being served with the Friday special and while it didnt steal the show this time around it is still as delicious as ever.
The Cow tries to keep things classy with a slice of Clasens rye, but while we appreciated the tiny toast, the half-slice they give you is so tiny and almost seems like a joke. Two bites is not quite right.
Now this is what we anticipated when the Tipsy Cow opened their doors back in 2011. The atmosphere was lively, the fish was uniquely delicious, and the rest of the food was great as well. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry, and would have to say its currently one of the best the downtown Madison has to offer.
www.tipsycowmadison.com
102 King Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 287-1455
