There is a lot of debate over what makes the perfect fish fry. We are checking out a local golf course's take on the Northeast Wisconsin staple.
Everyone has a different preference.
"Walleye. Deep fried," said Tony Meyer from Denmark.
"Perch. Lightly breaded. Crispy, not soggy," said Jeana Jaeger from Denmark.
"It's gotta be cod," said Meteorologist Michael Fish.
"Obviously it's gotta be cod with some tarter sauce," said Abigail Hantke, the morning anchor on NBC26 Today.
"It starts with a light batter on the fish," said Matt Kowalski from Denmark.
"It's gotta have a good unhealthy beer batter, classic Wisconsin," said Fish.
Everyone wants something different on the side as well.
"A good potato salad," said Fish. "You gotta have a good potato salad."
"Maybe some waffle fries," said Kowalski. "Waffle fries are a big thing for me."
"Broasted potatoes on the side," said Meyer. "I'm not a cole slaw guy."
"Cole slaw which is sweet and creamy," said Jaeger.
Then there is the age old debate at NBC 26. Do you eat your fish fry with or without a big fat slice of raw onion?
"I've never actually had a raw onion on my fish," said Hantke.
"No onions here," said Fish. "No onions."
"Bring it on," said Kowalski. "I love some onion."
"I despise onions," said Meyer.
"Rye bread with real butter and raw onions," said Jaeger.
"We have many people that request onion with their rye bread," said Bruce Kettner, the Food and Beverage Manager at Hilly Haven Golf Course.
At Hilly Haven Golf Course, their take on the perfect fish fry includes some options.
"Perch, shrimp, walleye, baked cod," said Kristin Stelzer, the General Manager at Hilly Haven Golf Course. "A couple of different combo platters and we always have a Friday fish special."
"A very light mild seasoned batter. Not real heavy," said Kettner.
Each plate is served with a variety of the usual sides.
"French fries, seasoned waffle fries, baby red potatoes or you can get a baked potato," said Kettner.
The perch plate is their most ordered option. Of course you can't have fish without an old fashion.
For desert, they serve something special. You get a complementary grasshopper with every fish plate.
"It's a great way to finish your meal," said Stelzer. "End it with that minty flavor. It freshens your breath after your Friday fish fry."
As if that isn't reason enough to grab a fish fry at Hilly Haven.
"We are very friendly," said Stelzer. "We like to get to know all of our patrons when they are here."
The atmosphere is not only Covid-friendly.
"It's very high energy," said Stelzer. "There's a lot of talking so it tends to get a little louder with everyone catching up from the week or what their plans are for the weekend."
Which is what most Wisconsinites are all about.
"It's about the company you go with," said Kowalski. "Share it with some family and friends and you can't go wrong."
Good food, drinks and conversation all make for the perfect Friday night.
On Friday, March 5th, the special is blackened cajun tuna served on a bed of lettuce with an avocado/balsamic dressing.
They're serving from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The special starts at 4 p.m.
For more information, click here.
