Review
The Badger hockey game started at 7:00 and I had some decent seats. Since it was the second week of Lent I knew a place like Feiler’s would be busy, but I figured if we went early enough I could get in and out in around an hour and fifteen minutes or so and still catch the whole game. It turned out that even arriving at 5:30 wasn’t enough. We pulled into the parking lot and it was absolutely packed. We actually had to park around back in an area that I didn’t even know existed. We got inside and got on the list as quickly as we could and were told it would be 25 minutes or so.
We waited for a good 50 minutes before our table was actually ready; this was putting me real close to 7:00 and I was getting a little worried about it but we were in too deep at this point to leave. The waitress wasn’t exactly snappy either and by the time we got our food it was shortly past the hour. The food was served nice and hot though so I assume it came out as soon as it was ready. The two options for Friday Fish Fry are Cod and Bluegill, I went for the Bluegill instead of the Cod and it was quite good. The Bluegill was plentiful and well fried with a thin batter was very which really let the taste of the fish out. The tartar sauce at Feiler’s is a welcome compliment to the fish and I had no problem finishing the whole cup as well as the generous portion of Bluegill.
Now, I know I asked for French fries but instead got a twice baked potato which I wasn’t willing to send back because I was already behind schedule. Luckily the twice baked was good enough so I can’t complain too much. The coleslaw was decent as was the small basket of bread that awaited our arrival. Regardless, the fish itself is very good so even average side items are enough to make his Fish Fry worth it.
Feiler’s is a tiny little place and from the looks of it hasn’t been remodeled in some time; you might almost say it looks a little dumpy. Well, the best part about all of that is that they know it, and even make light of that fact. Once you get a table and actually sit down it becomes clear and for this reason Feiler’s wins the award for best placemat at a Madison restaurant. This is a good old fashioned atmosphere you come to expect in dark Wisconsin Supper Clubs all over the state.
Overall this is a great Fish Fry and a true Madison classic. The fish is always very good and the atmosphere is great. The service seems to be a crap shoot depending on what time you arrive and which waitress you get; and you usually can’t get seated immediately, but this is kind of what you expect on a Friday so I can’t get too pissy about it. I did wind up missing the first 10 minutes of the Badger game but that is the price you pay sometimes.
Feiler's is kind of a hidden gem as far as Madison goes...well, it's definitely hidden, the gem part is debatable. It fits the supper club mold in that it's old school, has a dark interior, and the requisite menu, but there is something about it that comes up short when compared to some of the classic supper clubs out there. Id' say it's really more of a supper club lite.
Of course, even a supper club lite has Fish Fry on Friday, and the lunch special at Feiler's is only $6.75. Obviously for six seventy-five you can't expect the word and the lunch portion is conservative, but appropriate. Five to six small cod nuggets start things off and add up to roughly 6 oz. of meat. The fish is flaky and pure, and cloaked in Feiler's moderately thick, but severely tasty beer batter. These doughy little golden-brown bites are rich and creamy and definitely fall on the decadent end of the fish spectrum.
A small handful of thick, Julienne-cut fries come with the nuggets and while they have a satisfying crunch and are well-fried there is nothing really special about them. The homemade tartar on the other hand is exceptional. It's incredibly thick and creamy with visible amounts of relish. It stands up to the creamy cod without giving an inch which is really saying something since the fish is so rich.
A wispy hamburger-looking bun with some rock hard butter comes before the fish and while it's edible it's not necessarily good, moreover it's just there. The coleslaw is better, with a creamy, hearty pop - just as it should be.
While Madison isn't a supper club town per se, there are a few places doing their best to uphold the statewide tradition, and Feiler's is doing their part. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry, and think it a great choice for a cheap lunch. For those looking for more, the dinner portion is much larger and comes with a choice of potato including twice-baked and hash browns. Just so ya know.