Fish Type: Cod Price: $14.00
Overall, I would recommend this Fish Fry.
| Fish Score: Good Potato Score: Good Tartar Score: Excellent Bread Score: Poor Miscellaneous Score: Excellent |  |
Comment: This was the perfect little lunchtime Fish Fry from The Shack in Black Earth.
The Shack has ridden the wave all the way to the finals of the Potosi Fish Fry contest in the Greater Madison Bracket (and I can see why) - it’s an idyllic small town bar with a loyal clientele and great bar food. The lunch special is a pared-down version of their post-4pm list, and it just does what it should do. For 12 beans you get a nice 2-piece with fries, tartar, and slaw, all served on a paper plate. No fuss, no muss.
The two small chunks of cod are definitely made-to-order and pretty much exactly what I expected at that price point. The fish itself was stark white and super-flaky. Each piece was dotted with an incredibly light breading that let the fish fall apart when pulled, but still stuck when left alone. While there was a sheen of oil present it didn’t saturate the wafer-thin coating or make things soggy. It all paired exquisitely with the thick and tangy tartar.
The fries were the standard fat crinkles which were nothing special, but certainly nothing to complain about; conversely, the slaw had “it.” The large cup was packed to the brim with the ultra-creamy and tasty mix. While it could well have been a food service variety it didn’t taste like any Sysco I’ve seen. I liked it a lot.
The Shack has an endearing quality that a lot of places in the city lack. It’s comfortable, the food is made with care, and they genuinely seem to like having you there. As for the fish, it checks all the right boxes and, like I say, I’m not surprised they’ve made it to the ‘ship. Overall, this is an easy one to recommend and if you love a great small town bar kick them a vote…it your last chance to do so.facebook.com/theshackgrill3/
1103 Mills St
Black Earth, WI 53515
(608) 767-3725
