Review
The last time I visited the PSP it was pretty much just me and a bunch of regulars; and by regulars, I mean regulars. It was your common clan of Sconnie gents, just hanging out and havin' a beer or two to start the weekend off right. This time was no different and I'm pretty sure it was the same 10 or so dudes. The bar was full of 'em so I grabbed a table for myself and awaited the arrival of the bartender/waitress. She stopped by quickly, took my order for a 3-piece and a Spotted Sow, and sped away towards the kitchen.
She was back about two minutes later with my beer, some coleslaw and a roll. I dove right into the slaw and found it was kind of runny and very raw tasting this time. I actually remembered it being much creamier and zestier my previous visit. The roll seemed to be pretty much identical on both visits and was perfectly average. I finished the roll and poked around at the slaw for a about 5 minutes before my fish was ready and served to me fresh from the fryer.
The fry cook that brought my fish this time was a different lady from my previous visit and the fish reflected it. While it was still good, it was different and not quite as tasty or well fried. The batter this time seemed to be more thrown together and while it was still light and flaky it lacked flavor and the fall-apart texture I was expecting. It also seemed as though the fish was slightly overcooked which made some of the thinner portions tough. Don't get me wrong, it was still good, just not as great as the first time.
Like my prior visit I again chose the beer battered fries over the plain and was glad I did. They were perfectly fried, had great flavor and were more than plentiful. The tartar on the other hand was in short supply. It was a tasty little combo but with such a small portion I ran short before my fish supply had been exhausted. Since the bartender never came by to ask how I was doing, I never got more but managed to span it out as best I could. While not as good as a fully loaded tartar bite, the last couple were just fine without it.
As I finished my plate of food, save for a bit of the coleslaw mountain, the bartender came over and grabbed it. I downed the last of my beer and headed to the bar with a ten dollar bill in hand, seven bucks for the fish and three for the beer. I dropped a couple dollar tip, and left the bar no longer than 20 minutes after I went in. It was almost like stealing.
Overall, this is a great little Fish Fry; it reminds me of Wilson's a lot, and I can easily recommend it. For only $7.00 you get the total package - fish, fries and tartar which are right on the money, as well as some slaw and a roll that play their part adequately. Apparently, the 10 regulars and I are the only ones who have figured this out which is just fine with me because it allows me to get a great Fish Fry at a great price in no time flat. I win.
I showed up before noon and grabbed a stool just down the bar from a group of regulars who were enjoying some beers this lovely Friday morning. The signs on the wall and in the entryway highlighted the cod special - 2-piece for $6 and 3-piece for $7, along with the other options, some Fish Fry related, some not. The bartender/waitress could tell I was here to eat and came over quickly to take my drink and food orders. Since I was hungry but not starving I went for the 2-piece cod with "beer fries" and opted for coleslaw instead of cottage cheese.
As I sat back and sipped my cool, clean Cow I was almost forced into watching a stupid infomercial for some sort of spine-fixing chair on the jumbo TV. Luckily for me the other direction featured the kitchen and I was able to peak back there from time to time and see exactly what their Fish Fry entailed. As I watched the cook hand batter the fish and release them to the fryer the waitress brought me a roll and my side of slaw. The slaw was creamy and good even though it featured lots of poppy seeds. The roll was very plain-Jane but just fine and really exactly what I expect at a Fish Fry. I polished both of them off and waited for the entrΓ©e which came about 10 minutes later.
The cod was simply great. The homemade batter was incredibly light and flaky and had a superb flavor. It was so light it pretty much fell off the fish in certain spots which made it difficult to handle but no less delicious. The fish itself was also light and flaky with nary a hint of grease. I was blown away. The beer fries were also outstanding. They were crispy and flavorful and looked much better than plain crinkle fry option.
The tartar was served in a tiny little cup but like the fish and fries was absolutely great. It was super thick and heavy on the mayo, just how I like it. However if I had opted for the 3-piece another cup would certainly have been necessary. The 2-piece turned out to be no match for me as I destroyed practically every morsel of food on the plate besides the lemon wedge. 3-piece for sure next time.
The icing on the cake was the service which was fast and fairly friendly, although you can tell the bartender has been at this a while and doesn't take any sh*t from anyone. However, since the PSP is in McFarland smoking is still kosher so you have to deal with that, but it doesn't really bother me.
Overall, this is certainly a phenomenal value but what's more it is simply a great Fish Fry. For six bucks you really can't ask for anything more. The fish, fries and tartar were great and the roll and slaw did their job. I was truly amazed at how good this Fish Fry was and predict a return trip to the Park Side Pub in the near future.
Nice piece of lightly-breaded walleye, well-fried and grease-free. All the hyphens. Battered fries were a better choice than the crinkle-cut according to junior. Tartar was thick and bold, roll was as basic as they come, and the slaw seemed to be the Sysco standard.
Overall a great little Fish Fry for the price. Bar is nice, bloody was tasty, and the beer was free (thanks to the book). Can't beat it with a stick. We'll be back.