Review
I did, but I just can't help myself, the $10 Fish Fry at the City is just too good, and too cheap to pass up. This was out third trip in the last couple months and is likely not our last. This visit was basically a carbon copy of the previous two so if you want the details just go read those. They're still relevant.
One note: the slaw was the creamy variety...
OK, one more note: this Fish Fry is awesome. Just go and enjoy it. For $10 you can't do better, trust me. Or don't...that will just make it easier for me to get this week...
I've had plenty of food at the City in the past but they just started doing a Fish Fry a couple months ago and it's already firing on all cylinders. Their only option is a $10 3-piece cod, but it comes with all the fixins. For starters, the fish is superb. And I do mean SUPERB. The three average-sized pieces of cod are cloaked with a perfectly-seasoned breading that has more flavor than almost any other fish out there. This cod canvass is painted with Picasso-like precision and is a true masterpiece for the taste buds.
Next in line are some of the City's classic fries which are slathered in sea salt and perfectly fried. The hearty potion forms a formidable ally to the tasty cod and goes deep on the plate. These babies are great, and that's no lie.
Very rarely does a fish come along that doesn't necessitate tartar sauce, and while most homemade sauces can make for noticeable improvements, the City's sauce is an all-out game changer. It pairs perfectly with the cod and although the fish probably doesn't need it, it definitely welcomes it with open arms.
Over the course of two visits we sampled two different styles of coleslaw - the first being a finely-chopped creamy rendition that had all pop you want and no odd flavors beyond that. The second was more of a vinegar base that was clearly made fresh for the day. Of the two, the vinegar variety was superior and I hope they stick with it moving forward.
A whole slice of real rye saddles up next to fish and helps this Fish Fry immediately jump to the top of the State Street scene. While all this goodness wasn't necessarily unexpected, it's a little surprising how amazing it actually is.
While the City is still a college bar and the place clears out once happy hour is over a Fish Fry this good will definitely help them fill the void between six and nine. Forget the fact that it's in a basement, or that they don't have proper table service, and just let the food speak for itself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and can't help but love the City even more than we already did.
I've had plenty of food at the City in the past but they just started doing a Fish Fry a couple months ago and it's already firing on all cylinders. Their only option is a $10 3-piece cod, but it comes with all the fixins. For starters, the fish is superb. And I do mean SUPERB. The three average-sized pieces of cod are cloaked with a perfectly-seasoned breading that has more flavor than almost any other fish out there. This cod canvass is painted with Picasso-like precision and is a true masterpiece for the taste buds.
Next in line are some of the City's classic fries which are slathered in sea salt and perfectly fried. The hearty potion forms a formidable ally to the tasty cod and goes deep on the plate. These babies are great, and that's no lie.
Very rarely does a fish come along that doesn't necessitate tartar sauce, and while most homemade sauces can make for noticeable improvements, the City's sauce is an all-out game changer. It pairs perfectly with the cod and although the fish probably doesn't need it, it definitely welcomes it with open arms.
Over the course of two visits we sampled two different styles of coleslaw - the first being a finely-chopped creamy rendition that had all pop you want and no odd flavors beyond that. The second was more of a vinegar base that was clearly made fresh for the day. Of the two, the vinegar variety was superior and I hope they stick with it moving forward.
A whole slice of real rye saddles up next to fish and helps this Fish Fry immediately jump to the top of the State Street scene. While all this goodness wasn't necessarily unexpected, it's a little surprising how amazing it actually is.
While the City is still a college bar and the place clears out once happy hour is over a Fish Fry this good will definitely help them fill the void between six and nine. Forget the fact that it's in a basement, or that they don't have proper table service, and just let the food speak for itself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and can't help but love the City even more than we already did.
It goes without saying that the City's digs aren't the most attractive - it is a basement after all, and making yourself descend the staircase a on beautiful Friday afternoon would be damn near impossible if not for the lure of freshly fried fish. Unfortunately for us, our fish, while freshly fried, was not up to snuff this Friday. It was super greasy and leaked onto everything in its path. The fries were soaked. The tartar and slaw were swimming. And the rye...the rye was fortuitously spared due to the high ground on which it sat. You see, we were literally the first diners of the day and I presume the fryer hadn't been started before our arrival. When fish is fried in lukewarm oil it tends to harbor grease which leaks out during the course of the meal and that is exactly what happened here.
Fortunately, the breading was still flavorful (although it couldn't cling as it normally does), and salvaged the slick cod to some extent. The fries, save for those on the bottom, were still plentiful, crispy, and well-seasoned which buoyed the Fry to some extent.
The cups of slaw and tartar, while lubed up, had contents intact. The diced, creamy slaw had the welcomed zip we expected, and the tartar packed the punch the cod craved. The rye was pristine as it sat perched atop Fry Mountain, and added an aridity that was sorely needed.
This is our first less than stellar Fish Fry at the City and while the greasiness was a big problem it's partially our fault for arriving so damn early...unfortunately that is how we're forced to roll these days. Overall, we still recommend this Fish Fry as the price is just too good not to. Rest assured we'll be back in due time and I'm sure the next round will be everything we expect it to be if not more.