Fish Type: Cod Price: $6.00
Overall, I would barely recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Fair Potato Score: Excellent Tartar Score: Fair Bread Score: Good Miscellaneous Score: Excellent |  |
Comment: Simple can be beautiful. Simple can also be boring. The Cottage Café can be a bit of both. They make good looking grub that is no doubt timeless, but can also be a little dull. Regardless, their food is a great value, especially the $6 Friday Fish Fry.
For six bucks every order of fish comes with two pieces of cod, your choice of potatoes, a cup of tartar sauce, a side of mixed veggies, a dinner roll, and a cup of soup. The soup of the day was beef vegetable and it showed up in advance of the fish. It was a nice addition that normally doesnt come with a Fish Fry, but since Im no soup critic Ill just say it was good and leave it at that.
The fish plate came about five minutes after the soup and looked pleasant with a side of peas and corn standing in for the standard coleslaw. I popped the lid on the cup of tartar and went to work on the fish right away. The pieces of cod were thin but not flaky, and home to a light breading that was fine, but not flavorful. In addition, the two small chunks were slightly over-fried which resulted in the mid-quality fish being a little chewy.
The below average cod could have used a pick-me-up, but there wasnt a whole lot of support for it anywhere on the plate. Normally, said support would come in the form of a zesty tartar sauce, but the Cafés version was merely mayonnaise. There wasnt a hint of relish anywhere to be found, and while Im a man who loves his mayo, this was a bit too basic, even for me.
Potatoes, cheese, and onion are three of the most basic ingredients out there. How is it that these rudimentary foodstuffs can come together to make something so striking, so alluring, so delicious? The hash browns with cheese and onion produced at the Cottage were simply striking, and anything but dull.
Normally Id welcome a side of corn and peas, but when it comes at the expense of the coleslaw Im not so sure its a worthwhile trade. The steamed veggies were exactly what youd think theyd be, but I cant help but think some slaw would have taken this Fish Fry somewhere steamed veggies cant.
The roll was tardy, but eventually showed up with some room temp butter. Even though it was late it was soft and fresh, and still got devoured.
Simple can be beautiful, but when things get too basic simplicity tends to get boring (especially when Fish Fry is involved). While everything looked fine, a few thing didnt deliver on their promises with the hash browns being the only truly remarkable item. Overall, I still recommend this Fish Fry, and while it's not top shelf, it is a good value. Plain and simple.
www.facebook.com/pages/Cottage-Cafe/114766878598118
915 Atlas Avenue
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 221-4815
