In this series, we’re on the hunt for some of the area's best 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.

Main Mill
N88 W16521 Main St., Menomonee Falls
(262) 345-5692
themainmillsteakhouse.com

Venture to Main Mill, a steakhouse operated by the owner of the adjacent AJ O’Brady’s Irish Pub, and you’ll find a restaurant with a combination of modern farmhouse and industrial chic decor where the focal point is centrally located meandering bar that trails the majority of the length of the dining room.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, Main Mill offers fish fry options including fried walleye with a choice of soup or salad ($16), baked or pan-fried whitefish ($11 or AYCE for $14), beer battered cod ($11 or AYCE for $14). Each are served with guest’s choice of sides. Options for sides include steak fries and coleslaw, mashed potatoes and coleslaw, red potatoes and coleslaw, potato pancakes with applesauce and vegetables with coleslaw.

We arrived around 6 p.m. on a Friday and there was a 40 minute wait for a table, so we chose to eat at the bar. From a hospitality perspective, our experience was mixed. Each of the employees we encountered was friendly; but there was a disorganization in terms of the way our service played out. A bartender took our drink orders and a server came by to request our food orders (we ordered both the walleye and cod). Somewhere in between, the lines of communication seemed to get crossed, resulting in numerous foibles.

The waters we ordered alongside our cocktails were never delivered. Our food came out of the kitchen a few times; but staff didn’t know to whom it belonged, so back to the kitchen it went (this occurred twice before I caught onto what was happening). In the end, the circumstances were acknowledged by the manager on duty, who paid us a visit to rectify the situation. However, our overall experience (with both service and food) might not be enough to compel me to return.

The fish

The walleye fillets (of which there were two) were astoundingly uniform with a mid-weight breading that was well seasoned and crisp thanks to the use of both rice flour and breadcrumbs in the coating. The fish was tender with a fine flake and a mild flavor; unfortunately, that flavor was largely masked by the thicker-than-ideal breading.

The beer battered cod didn’t fare quite as well. The portion was comprised of three small square pieces of cod. The fish was mild, as expected, and the batter was crisp; but the quality of both the flavor and texture was typical of most all-you-can eat offerings (that is to say a bit disappointing, and not of the caliber I’d expect from a steakhouse).

The potato 

The potato pancakes, which appeared housemade, had loads of potential. On the upside, they were made with nicely seasoned shredded potato. But the cooking was extremely inconsistent. Of the two on my plate, the top pancake was crisped on the edges with a nice, golden brown color; but the other, nestled below the well prepared pancake, was darkly cooked and soggy with grease. My dining companion’s experience was similar, though in the case of both of  his cakes, they were moderately cooked on one side and overly browned on the flipside.

The old fashioned 

The old fashioned was built in the classic fashion with visibly muddled fruit and a finish of soda with notable notes of cherry, citrus and clove. The balance leaned slightly in favor of the soda, rather than the brandy.

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