Review
"What are we going to do Captain Fish Fry?" asked the Little Vegetarian. "It is the day after Thanksgiving and we have more turkey leftovers than we know what to do with."
"Fear not, my loyal sidekick. The bountiful bird keeps well, and will have to wait until another day. Today is Friday, and we must use our superhuman abilities to locate an establishment specializing in fried fish as well as vegetarian vittles!"
"Are you sure such a place even exists?"
"I feel it is so, comrade, although it will take all of my power to conjure it up."
Within minutes Captain Fish Fry, using his fantastic powers of communication, reveals that the Sports Pub has recently added a weekly vegetarian special to their lineup. Captain Fish Fry has long known of the East Side establishment's Friday Fish Fry special, but the addition of veggie variable has made the post-Thanksgiving option a reality. The two are off in an instant, leaving the turkey on ice for another day.
After tearing through Truax the pair pulls into the airport-adjacent Sport Pub. The frigid December air ushers them inside where they are greeted by the large, but largely empty bar - this is the day after Thanksgiving after all. They immediately notice the neon sign in the entryway which describes the Friday specials in full detail: $10 for breaded or beer battered cod, and $12 for walleye. The dining space to the left of the bar is practically empty, and the duo decide to setup shop. There they await their waitress for a few minutes.
"Well, friend of friends, it seems that a waitress may not be in our future. I will have to use my powers of inquiry while I procure a pint and see what must be done for food to find us. To the bar!"
Captain Fish Fry returns to the two's table moments later with a spot of Cow, and a promise of waitresses arriving in short order. Around 10 minutes pass and the Captain's Cow begins to wane.
"Should I finish this Cow prior to ordering we would be well served to bid this place adieu, as service that slow would surely ruin any Fish Fry."
Thankfully, no sooner had Captain Fish Fry spoken these words than their waitress came over to avail them of the menu. The two order instantly; one breaded cod with French fries for CFF and the black bean chipotle wrap special for LV. They relax, knowing they are now fully invested in the Sports Pub.
Unlike the lengthy wait to order, the food is prepped in no time flat. The cod is scalding hot when served, indicating that it didn't sit long once it exited the oil.
"This cod could not be hotter," Captain Fish Fry remarks. "I believe I may have burned the roof of my mouth in my haste to taste. This light and spicy breading blends well with the flaky fish, although some chunks of cod seem to be less than the highest quality. Overall, it is average, but quite edible, how is your wrap Lil' Veg?"
"I must say, your keen senses have come through for us yet again, my Captain. This wrap is simply delicious, and without your coaxing, I would surely never have tried it."
"Ah yes, it just goes to show, you never know what you are going to get until you try it, so sometimes you just have to take a chance on a place like the Sports Pub. You might just be surprised."
"I am." LV remarked.
"While your veggie gamble seems to have paid off, I'm not sure the same can be said for our maiden voyage with this Fish Fry. The Julienne cut fries are fine, but nothing really special; although the portion is certainly plentiful which is rewarding. This tartar is a bit of an oddball though, its mayo base is punctuated by big chunks of onion. It tastes good, but the sweetness of the onion is a little strange to say the least."
A standard, but stale dinner roll, and a side of slaw round out the plate. The roll is eaten begrudgingly, but the slaw is ingested to much acclaim.
"This coleslaw could quell most any foe, Little Veggie! It is rich and creamy, with the kind of zest you come to expect from a fine slaw."
"That is all well and good, but it sounds like your meal is just so-so overall?"
"Alas, it is, my confidant. Everything is fine, but nothing really stands out, even though, as you can see, nary a morsel remains. I think I would still recommend it to a friend though since $10 for a 3-piece is a fair deal, and all the important elements are there, even if none of them are outstanding. I do believe I'd be wise to try the walleye should we come back."
"Quite the opposite for me," LV chimed in. "I love my unexpectedly delicious chipotle wrap, and appreciate the side of chips and salsa which fit the theme well."
"Agreed," CFF stated. "You've won this round, my dear."
But in a way, Captain Fish Fry knew they had both won. Sure, he didn't get a top 10 Fish Fry, but he did get a Fish Fry he would be willing to eat it again at a place where his partner was more than willing to revisit. This is a huge win unto itself since great Fish Frys and vegetarianism don't often reside in the same worlds. Thankfully for our heroes, there are instances where the two unexpectedly cross paths, the day after Thanksgiving 2010 was one of them.
The lunch fish special at the Stoughton Ave stop is nothing fancy - a simple $8 2-piece - but does come with all the trimmings. It took my plate about 15 minutes to arrive at my bar-side perch and everything was hot so I can't complain about the service. The fish on the other hand, begs my commentary.
On my last trip I was more or less pleased just to be getting fish (since I was with my vegetarian wife), and apparently viewed the whole experience through rose-colored glasses. This time it was just me, and I noted every nuance of the meal. The cod, while fine, was a letdown. It was lightly battered, but inconsistent from bite to bite. In addition, one piece was large while the other much smaller. The fish itself was slightly below average - moderately flaky but not pristine, not greasy, but not flavorful either. The batter, while light, really needed a pick-me-up... salt, pepper, something.
The curly fries I chose over the regular option were also just so-so. Like so many curly fries before them they were cold in an instant which is the bane of this style of fry. I'm not sure if it's the surface:volume ratio or what, but for whatever reason, the curlier the fry, the faster the cool down.
Following suit in the mediocrity department was a homemade-looking tartar that was very dilly despite the fact that the potent herb wasn't visible in the mix. Perhaps an abundance of pickle juice played a part, but whatever it was, the phantom dill was a real downer.
Surprisingly, the slaw was semi-scrumptious, although it sported a soupy substrate. The creamy concoction was almost over the top, and perhaps I appreciated it more since I had to ask for it when it didn't arrive initially. The roll was just a roll, and a little crushed at that.
While there was nothing glaringly wrong with this Fish Fry, not much was right either. Overall, I wouldn't recommend the Fish Fry I had on this trip, and likely won't make a point of coming back for it. The bar on the other hand might warrant a return visit. It's a pretty nice place, and the sports are ample, it's just not a Fish Fry destination.