Review
The $16 walleye at the Nest is large and in charge and one heck of a deal at that. The freshwater beast is the real McCoy, flaky and moist, with an incredibly crunchy, fantastically-fried breading. Pure excellence. It paired just perfectly with the thick and zangy tartar.
The hash browns were also scrumptious, fried open-faced then folded over omelette-style to melt the cheese and soften the onion. The dinner roll was as basic as they come but bolstered by some whipped butter. The side of slaw (or cottage cheese) also did the job without trying to steal the show.
The Squirrel's Nest is a tiny place and only has a couple tables that can seat a party of four or more so plan accordingly if you're bringing friends...if it's just a couple of you, and/or you're willing to sit at the bar you should be good to go. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and really need to find more time to get squirrelly.Big Norb, Travis, and Travis' younger brother were there early and secured one of the few actual tables in the tiny nest. It was well before kickoff so we had plenty of time to BS and wait for our fish, which wasn't really even necessary since it fried in a flash once we actually put our order in.
The Squirrel slings cod for nine beans or walleye for 11 and all four football fans tried the cod. As on our last visit some Merkt's cheese spread and cellophane sticks hit the table beforehand and almost stole the show. It's such an unexpected accompaniment for a bar that it's easy to get lost in the ajo, cebolla, or blanco bliss.
The fry station at the Squirrel is about 10 square feet so it's somewhat surprising they can cook the cod as quickly as they do. Three average sized pieces of fish come with the same light breading that adorned the walleye on our last visit. This breading is light and holds the flaky fish together, but could definitely use some supplemental seasoning. While it works well with the walleye since the freshwater fish has so much inherent flavor, it's a little lackluster on the cod. Still, it's a nice, greaseless rendition although not a knock-your-socks-offer. A little more spice would undoubtedly bump it into excellence.
Following the slightly downward trend were the hash browns which lacked some of the allure that had us swooning initially. This version was more loaf-like than the slick, melty, greasers we were hoping for based on round one, and while they were still good, the amount of onion and cheese was dialed way back which left us slightly soured.
While the fish was good, some stupendous tartar made it all the better. It had plenty of pop which made the under-seasoned cod much more appetizing. A real roll, and a peppy, albeit goopy looking, slaw did their part and made cost even more appealing.
The Nest gives you three pieces of fish, a generous portion of hash browns, a roll, some slaw, tartar, AND cheese and sticks all for a measly nine bucks. Nine bucks! It has to be some of the cheapest Fish Fry you will find anywhere and one we feel good about recommending. Overall, we do recommend this Fish Fry, and while it regressed from our initial trial it is still very tasty and a deal that is too good to pass up.
While the choices aren't endless the Nest does have a couple fish to suit your fancy including an $11 walleye and a $10 cod. Both styles come with a cup of tartar, hash browns or French fries, slaw, a roll, and some cellophane sticks with Merkt's cheese spread.
The first foodstuffs to hit the table (or bar in my case) are the slaw and the sticks & spread, both of which will make you think you've died and gone to a high-end supper club. The finely-chopped slaw is generally creamy with a noticeably sweet twinge before a horseradish kiss set it off. The cheese spread and the sticks are no different from the classic supper club standby and are something I've never seen served with a tavern Fish Fry. Awesome, to say the least.
Not long after you get your fill of the onion, garlic, or plain sticks the fish will find its way to you. The walleye fillet is average-sized, but when you're talking eleven measly bucks that's one heck of a deal. The fillet is lovingly prepared and fried in hot oil ensuring a grease free preparation. Making itself at home on the flaky fillet is a light and crispy flour breading that has just enough seasoning to let you know it's there, but no so much that it overcomes the walleye musk. A thick and creamy tartar compliments the freshwater fish admirably, giving it a gentle nudge towards excellence.
The lone piece of cooking equipment in addition to the deep fryer is a flat top grill, but that's all they need to make some of the best hash browns that have ever graced my gullet. The spuds are loaded with plenty of shredded cheddar and chopped onion and turned while grilling. This turning action allows the cheese to fully penetrate every pore of the potato pile, and sweats the onion without allowing them to crisp on the hot surface. It's an expert preparation which yields excellent results.
Since the sticks & cheese came before the fish I figured that was going to comprise the entirety of the starch contingent, but I was wrong. A real dinner roll came alongside the fish and was fresh, but little else. Still, that's plenty of bread to go around and double what a lot of places give out in 2016.
Some might call it a hole in the wall (or maybe hole in the tree in this case), and they'd be right. The place is small, maybe seating for 35 including the bar, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in substance. When you take into account this is a full Fish Fry (and then some) for only $11, the argument can be made that it's the best deal in the area. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry and see it becoming a staple in our Friday arsenal. I mean, $11. $11!?!?!