The deal: In addition to a lovely setting in the great outdoors, Quivey's Grove's Paddock Fish Fry offers diners a choice of fish (beer battered cod, pretzel crusted perch or baked cod), potato (either parmesan potatoes or fries), cole slaw & tartar sauce. Again, I must lament the lack of salad. The cod is $11.95 while perch is $13.50. One nice option at Quivey's is that you can turn your fish into all-you-can-eat for an extra $1.50 and you don't have to decide until after you're into your plate. No more eyes bigger than the stomach!
The food: I opted for the perch and parmesan potatoes. My fish didn't have a ton of flavor, but I did enjoy the crispy crust. The potatoes were creamy and delicious. All in all, I would have labeled it a great meal. But then, I tasted my friend's beer battered cod. Oh, the cod. It was simply perfect: light, beery batter and flavorful, but not fishy. The fries were also just excellent. At that point, I forgot all about the perch and could only lament that I didn't order the cod. Oh regret, the saddest of all emotions.
Quivey's has a magnificent beer list inside, but you only have one or two options outside. Happily, it's decent beer like Spotted Cow.
The flavor: The paddock fish fry is served up in a tent on Quivey's vast lawn. There are plenty of yard games for the kids and, unfortunately, plenty of mosquitos for the entire family. That said, it's still a picturesque and enjoyable evening full of good friends, good beer and great fish.
Second opinions:
Madison Dining Online
Yelp
Madison Fish Fry
Beer Advocate
77 Square
3 comments:
Sounds like a unique fish fry experience!
I always tend toward ordering the perch, so I would have shared your disappointment.
PS
Am always glad to find other WI food bloggers -- will add you to my WI blogroll.
Does anyone know what beer goes best with a traditional Wisconsin fish fry?
I think it depends on the season. In the summer, I like a wheat beer with a touch of lemon to play off of the lemon I'll squirt onto the fish.
In the winter, I want something dark and heavy, but more in the Porter family rather than something like a Nut Brown Ale.
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