In this series, we’re trying out some of the city’s most popular fish fries. You’ll find commentary, pro tips and ratings of the three staples of a classic Wisconsin fry: namely the fish, the potato pancakes and the classic Wisconsin style brandy old fashioned. View all fish fry reviews here.

Butler Inn
12400 W. Hampton Ave., Butler
(262) 783-5899
thebutlerinn.com

Designed with the look and feel of an English Pub, the Butler Inn is a comfortable spot with dim lighting and a classic friendly vibe. The dining room sports hefty wooden furniture, Tiffany-style lamps and branded glass windows which separate it from the bar area. Everything is just a little bit old-school, right down to the plates, which are still garnished with pieces of kale, a hold-over from a time before the curly greens were recognized as a "real" vegetable.

Owned for years by the Marks family, and today by restaurateur David Tomter, the Butler Inn has seen its share of history. Long before the building was damaged by a fire in 1980 and subsequently rebuilt as an English pub-style venue, it was a hotel that served railroad employees working at the nearby Butler Yard. Even today, historic photos in the restaurant’s menu pay homage to the rail workers who put the Village of Butler "on the map" during the golden age of rail.

Folks visit the bar and restaurant for numerous reasons. Many go for the ribs or pizza. Others visit for daily specials like all-you-can-eat broasted chicken on Wednesdays and $0.50 wings on Thursdays. In my case, I went to try out the Friday fish fry.

Fish fry options include deep fried Icelandic cod ($9.95), lake perch ($12.95), pan-fried or beer-battered walleye ($13.95), parmesan-crusted walleye ($14.50) and a sampler combo featuring cod, perch and walleye ($16.95). All come with French fries (or potato pancakes) coleslaw, marble rye bread and butter. Baked Icelandic cod or grilled salmon are also available served with rice pilaf, coleslaw, and rye bread ($9.95/$13.95).

Pro tip: If you’re up for it, the cajun turtle soup is also worth your while. And this might sound a bit wild, but it’s also delicious mixed into the clam chowder. The latter was a suggestion that came from our server, and it was pretty delicious.

The fish

Thanks to an enthusiastic recommendation from our server, I forwent my usual choice of fried perch in favor of the pan-fried walleye. And it was a good move. The large walleye fillet was well seasoned with a thin semi-crisp exterior. The fish itself was flaky and mild with a clean flavor and a beautiful texture.

We also tried the Icelandic cod, but you can promptly push that out of your mind (and I did not factor it into the overall fish score this time around). The batter was crisp, but the fish beneath was dry and a a bit tough. It could have been a fluke, but based on our experience I’d definitely recommend taking a pass on the cod in favor of the far more well-prepared walleye.

The potato pancakes

Billed on the menu as "our delicious potato pancakes," these cakes were quite tasty. They were very soft, much like a breakfast pancake, with a browned (but not crisp) exterior. Not quite the light, crisp pancakes I’m apt to rave about. But they were solid, and definitely housemade.

The old fashioned (3)

The old fashioned didn’t exhibit the classic muddling or balance one might expect from a bar that’s been operating for as long as The Butler Inn. It was pleasantly sweet with just enough brandy, but it didn’t have the brightness of orange that’s achieved from a good muddle and was generally underwhelming in its complexity.

Got suggestions for our next fish fry? Email lori@staff.onmilwaukee.com with your suggestions. Suggested fish fry menus must include lake fish (walleye, perch), potato pancakes and a stellar old fashioned.