Review
I showed up bright and early this Friday (since I wasn't sure they had fish for lunch based on the menu description) with a backup plan in Bluemounds in mind. Luckily for me, the full Friday Night Fish Fry is served all day long (including the lightly breaded bluegill I was after). Score! I saddled up to the bar, threw in an order, grabbed a handful of pull tabs, and waited anxiously for my foil-lined basket.
Since I was first in line the fish fried in a flash and appeared in pristine condition. As expected, the freshwater finsters were supple and snappy, and kissed by a breading so light the textures shone through. The thin skin had just enough oomph to alter the mildly fishy flavor of the bluegill without taking it over completely. While there was a slight sheen of oil on the surface, it was far from swimming in grease, and it disappeared completely once I propped them up on the side of the basket. Great stuff.
The crinkle-cut fries were sporadically dusted in Cajun spices, but couldn't hold a candle to the homemade hash brown casserole (only available after 4pm). The saving grace here was the sheer amount of them (which was a lot as you can see). The cup of tartar was more than plentiful for the six fillets, but the remainder of the sauce easily got absorbed by the bevy of fries.
The roll was just a roll, but the slaw had a little something more it seemed like. It tasted fresh and sweet, but not too sweet. A very enjoyable mix.
After a second stop at the Viking Bar & Grill I feel pretty confident in my initial assessment. This is good fish, no doubt about it. Add on the fact I got to knock out some last minute Christmas shopping beforehand, and it all adds up to a nice little Friday morning in MoHo. Overall, we highly recommend this Fish Fry.The 5-piece bluegill put my mind at ease to some extent and is a solid deal at $15. The bluegill seemingly spent a moment too long in the fryer and was extra-crispy (especially the thin sides). While some of the flakiness was lost, it was still very flavorful and completely grease-free. The thick and tangy tartar perked it right up and the five small fillets disappeared quickly.
The roll was as basic as they come and the slaw did the job, but the cheesy hash brown casserole was another story - it was simply incredible and totally stole the show. I tried my best to make it last to the end but, man, that was tough to do...I could have eaten it all straightaway. I also sampled a piece of the cod, and it was a slight step up from the freshwater fish this Friday.
The Viking is a fun little bar with a satisfying Fish Fry to match. Overall, we continue to recommend this Fish Fry and think it's one of the many great reasons to take the short drive to MoHo.
This bluegill was right up my alley. The 8-ish fillets were soft yet snappy and blessed by a wonderfully-seasoned breading so light you could practically see through it - just how this fish is supposed to be done. I also got a glimpse of the cod and it was equally excellent with a perfect flake and equally alluring breading.
The gigantic scoop of cheesy hash brown casserole also had a superb flavor that kept me coming back for more...grandma would be proud.
The thick and creamy tartar was on the money, and while the fish was easily good enough to eat without it, it did enhance the flavors to some extent. Some standard slaw and a dinner roll played their parts well and let the Big 3 do their jobs (and do them well).
To say I was impressed with the Viking Bar & Grill in Mt. Horeb would be a bit of an understatement. The fish was delicious, the Old Fashioneds were strong, the atmosphere was inviting, the service was snappy, and to top it all off we ganked a $99 pull tab. All in all, just an incredible night in MoHo!