Review
The Musky was hoppin' at 5:00 when we pulled in but after a quick drink order we scored a quartet of stools at the bar. We wasted little time with the QR code menu, and had our trays in well less than the estimated eight minutes.
Hank is currently slinging perch, walleye, and pollack and since I haven't had the walleye I gave it a shot. All the fish share the same bubbly beer batter, and of those I've tried, I think it works the best on the walleye. The meatier freshwater fillets handle the beer batter well and don't get totally overshadowed by it. It's more balanced than the perch or bluegill and next time I'd go for the walleye again.
The $18 fish comes with sides of waffle fries, slaw, and tartar and I added on a biscuit for $2.50. The waffle fries are Hank's standard which are appropriately portioned and well-fried. The slaw is clearly house-made with a cool and creamy consistency and pleasant flavor. The tartar is on the thin side with a notable lemony essence while the biscuit was flaky and hearty and a nice addition that helped round things out. All in all, the sides do their job and make this Fish Fry the full meal deal.
The Musky has definitely found its groove and has become a hub of activity in the neighborhood. The ambiance is great, the drink selection is vast, and having Hank's back there really makes it something more. Overall, we recommend this Fish Fry and think you should probably get it too.We rolled into the Muskellounge around 5:20, grabbed a Cave Ale and a handful of pull tabs, and had an order of perch through Hank's on-line system less than 10 minutes later. We picked it up at 5:40 and wasted no time digging in.
As of February 2024 Hank's has walleye, pollock, and lake perch, and the lake perch we had tonight was the genuine article. For $18 five husky fillets filled the to-go container, each with a noticeable fishy flavor that was offset by a bubbly beer batter. It paired nicely with the thin yet pungent tartar and I had no problem quickly burring the quintet.
A smattering of Hank's waffle fries laid a formidable foundation for the fish and the fat cup of slaw was simply excellent.
The Muskellounge is a pretty great bar, and while the hot pretzels and Fraboni's pizza they had previously were already pretty impressive, having Hank's right next door really takes their food offerings over the top. Overall, this is a really tasty Fish Fry and we're more than happy to recommend it.
Old Henry slings fish on Wednesdays and Fridays and offers walleye (yum), bluegill (double yum), and pollock (hmmm). I went for the double yum, and added a side of curds for the little man.
Fish fries fast on the backside of the bar and we had a lovely looking basket in hand about 10 minutes after the tap. I basically expected this 'gill to be a carbon copy of the @mintmarkmadison fish of yesteryear, but it was a bit of a departure. The MM bluegill always had a very salty and extra-crispy batter (which I loved), and this one was much more subdued. It had a plush texture with a mellow seasoning that let the flavor or the fish come through. It was soft yet flaky, and unlike any bluegill I've had before. I liked it and will get it again.
The waffle fries were pretty standard, the cup o' tartar was delicious, but of all the side items the slaw stole the show. I don't know what was in it exactly, but it was great. Some of the best slaw I've had since the pandemic, that's for sure.
As for the curds, they were also excellent and improved dramatically by the horseradish sauce (which worked equally well with the waffles).
While the lounge might not be everyone's cup of tea, I really enjoy what they bring to the table; and now that Hank's is slinging great burgers and a legit Fish Fry I have all the more reason to love it. When you add in the fact we bumped into some old friends who live in the neighborhood it makes me want to go back even more. This is a great spot.