I've sampled the Fish Fry at every Vintage location from the OG on Whitney Way to their "Tangent" on East Wash; from their far afield spot in Sauk, and now their all new spot on Main Street in Cross Plains. And I have to say, while they all have some unique attributes, they are strikingly similar in a lot of ways.
The VBC cod is on the everyday menu at every location (as far as I know), with the Friday "special" in CP being an AYCE option for just $2 more than the regular list price of $18. We stuck with the regular portion which is a 3-piece with a substantial beer batter that will get a little soppy if you don't give it a flip every now and again. I flipped frequently and avoided the wet-sock effect, but buyer beware if you're not as diligent...you might get some pooling.
The fish comes with a choice of tots or sidewinder fries and you really can't go wrong with the squirrely spuds - they're a favorite of kids and adults alike. The tartar wasn't terribly thick but still nice and clingy. It gave the fish a needed boost and even enhanced the occasional fry that found its way near. The slaw, while sort of dry, had a unique flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on but really enjoyed. Call me crazy, but it seemingly had a sort of seafood essence (and I don't think it was just Old Bay).
The Fish Fry at the new Vintage in Cross Plains was very, well, Vintage; that is to say, it was on-brand (they clearly have a formula that works for them and they're sticking to it). While it's far from perfect IMO, it also check's a lot of the right boxes and is a fine option if you're a fan of good old beer battered cod, which so many of us good old Wisconsin folks are.
The VBC cod is on the everyday menu at every location (as far as I know), with the Friday "special" in CP being an AYCE option for just $2 more than the regular list price of $18. We stuck with the regular portion which is a 3-piece with a substantial beer batter that will get a little soppy if you don't give it a flip every now and again. I flipped frequently and avoided the wet-sock effect, but buyer beware if you're not as diligent...you might get some pooling.
The fish comes with a choice of tots or sidewinder fries and you really can't go wrong with the squirrely spuds - they're a favorite of kids and adults alike. The tartar wasn't terribly thick but still nice and clingy. It gave the fish a needed boost and even enhanced the occasional fry that found its way near. The slaw, while sort of dry, had a unique flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on but really enjoyed. Call me crazy, but it seemingly had a sort of seafood essence (and I don't think it was just Old Bay).
The Fish Fry at the new Vintage in Cross Plains was very, well, Vintage; that is to say, it was on-brand (they clearly have a formula that works for them and they're sticking to it). While it's far from perfect IMO, it also check's a lot of the right boxes and is a fine option if you're a fan of good old beer battered cod, which so many of us good old Wisconsin folks are.