Fish Fries

In Milwaukee [1], you’ll find a fish fry everywhere—even at the chain fast-food drive-through and Miller Park during Friday-night Brewers [2] games. Dozens of neighborhood taverns and bars still line up the plank seating and picnic tables with plastic coverings on Friday nights. The tables are arrayed with tartar sauce and maybe pickles (you’d better like coleslaw, because that’s what you get as a side dish).

Most fish fries come in under $7 for as much as you can stuff in. The most unreal fish fries are found south [3] and west of downtown [4]. Or head for a Catholic church; Milwaukee’s got 275 parishes, so you’ll find a good one.

Founded in 1833, the oldest civic and cultural organization in Milwaukee, Turner Hall, presents a defining Milwaukee dining experience. Once-dingy interiors were lovingly restored, and the reborn
Milwaukee Historic Turner’s (1034 N. 4th St., 414/276-4844, www.historicturner.com [5], 11 a.m.– midnight Sun.–Thurs., till 1 a.m. Fri. and 2 a.m. Sat., $6–18) is refreshingly warm and wondrously bright, allowing a look at the classic Old World interiors: stained glass, photographs, murals, and century-old memorabilia.

And yes, it’s still got the legendary fish fry, although it’s a menu item now and not quite the socializing buffet of before. Along with the fish fry is an eclectic array of appetizers, sandwiches, creative salads and pastas, and a few traditional German dishes.

Also inside is the Heritage Tourism Center, with rotating exhibits and information on ethnic areas and multicultural events along the Lake Michigan Settlement Trail and in Milwaukee [1].