Smitty's Study Pub

Most places you go on a Friday night in Madison (or Wisconsin at large) are going to be busy, and those few places that have a reputation as being "the best of the best" are going to be REEEEEEEALLY REEEEEEEALLY busy - that's just the nature of the beast. If a place isn't packed by 5:30/6 it's a surefire sign that their Fish Fry isn't all that good and is probably being avoided for a reason. There are very few "sleepers" in the mix, but one place we've been couple times now and been pleasantly surprised is Smitty's Study Pub on the UW campus.

SSP is located on the top floor or the Fluno center and despite it's university location is 100% open to the public, save for special UW alumni events. The only limiting factors here are desire and parking, but if you have the will you'll find a way. Smitty's Fry is on the everyday menu, so it's not a special per se, but that doesn't mean their trotting out pre-battered garbage. The hand-dipped 3-piece cod runs a stiff $16, but considering the portion size and the proximity to major sporting events and such that's not totally unheard of. The pieces in the penthouse are fat and more than enough for a standard, or even a slightly hearty appetite - on both visits I've taken a piece home to be enjoyed the next day. The fish itself it flaky, and the batter light and grease-free, making for pure cod crunching pleasure.

A paper boat of house-cut fries come with the fish and believe me when I say they are some of the best out there right now. With their skin in tact and fried just right, they check all the main boxes and then some. A ramekin of thick and creamy tartar also does its duty and appears to be made in-house as well. A so-so slaw doesn't live up to the lofty standards set by the Big 3, but it really doesn't need to as a soft piece of real marble rye is there to pick up its slack. Being that we were at Dexter's for lunch we had real rye twice in one day! I could only think - Is this Madison!? Am I dreaming!? What year is this!? And so forth...

While I'm not fully prepared to call the Study Pub a "sleeper" after only two visits I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a friend, or even a stranger who happened to be on or around campus on a Friday night. Overall, we recommend this and think it's a great change of pace if you don't feel like waiting at a crowded bar, or just want a nice Fish Fry in a clean, modern atmosphere..oh yeah, the killer view doesn't hurt either.

I knew it was homecoming weekend, but I didn't really care. I was going to get a Fish Fry at Smitty's Study Pub on the top floor of the Fluno Center come hell or high water this Friday. A few adult beverages at various establishments around town cemented those hardheaded plans and after battling through traffic and finding our parking spot I was feeling pretty good about my stubbornness. I'd like to say more about my unwavering attitude and the homecoming crowd, but I'll leave it at that...

Being that the Fluno is a UW conference center and hotel there were plenty of homecoming-related festivities therein. People were buzzing to and fro enjoying libations and hors d'oeuvres, but The Study Pub was pretty accessible when we arrived (it got far busier shortly thereafter). We got a table with a view, and ordered our Fish Fry (which is on the everyday menu but still made fresh). I'd like to say more about places that offer Fish Fry every day, but I think we should just get on with it...

First and foremost, it took a lot longer than you'd expect to get our food since apparently the kitchen was dealing with homecoming snacks in addition to the normal Friday diners. It wasn't a huge deal, and our food didn't suffer, but it was definitely noteworthy. As far as the fish goes, the pieces of cod were very nice. They had a perfect white flake and reasonably light beer batter that gave them just the right finish. A modicum of grease seeped from the loins but didn't soak the batter in any meaningful way. I'd like to say more about it, but the Bloody Mary I had with lunch wants me to keep it to myself...

A bevy of what looked to be fresh-cut fries stacked up pound for pound with the fish and had a nice seasoning to them. They had a near-perfect crunch and offset the creamy fish just right. I'd like to say more about them, but the 3 pints of Pulp Culture I had at Working Draft after lunch won't let me...

The tartar was right on the money and the coleslaw was super creamy and clung together well finishing with just the slightest hint of horseradish. Both were seriously excellent. I'd like to say more about these additions, but the Moon Man I had with dinner stole any remaining thoughts on the subject...

A full slice of rye was cut diagonally and set on top of the fish so as not to get greasy. I'd like to say more about the starch but it's just bread after all, and since I already had a nice buzz going there's nothing really left to say anyway...

As a UW Alum I should probably be more enthusiastic about homecoming weekend, but since I still live here it just doesn't seem to have the same appeal. Hell, I can go to campus whenever I damn well please so it's usually just easier to avoid the crowds that funnel in to relive their glory days. I will say, now that we have a 4 year old the parade was a welcome surprise and we'll probably make plans to attend it from now on. As far as Smitty's goes, the establishment was great and this is easily the best UW-affiliated Fish Fry we've had to date. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry, and almost highly so. I'd like to say more, but when you say: Wisconsin, you've said it all...