12 Wisconsin Tavern Fish Fries That Feel Like Friday
In Wisconsin, Friday fish fry isn’t just a meal it’s a cherished tradition that brings communities together.
From the crispy beer-battered cod to the creamy coleslaw and buttery rye bread, these tavern feasts represent the heart and soul of Badger State dining culture.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through, these 12 establishments serve up the authentic Wisconsin fish fry experience that makes every day feel like Friday.
1. The Packing House – Madison, WI
Tucked away in a cozy corner of Madison, The Packing House has been serving their legendary fish fry for over four decades. Their secret? A crispy beer batter made with local New Glarus Spotted Cow ale that creates the perfect golden crust.
Lines often form before they open, but the wait is absolutely worth it. Each plate comes loaded with perfectly flaky cod, homemade potato pancakes, and a side of their famous tartar sauce that locals swear has a hint of dill pickle juice.
During summer months, you can enjoy their popular drive-thru fish fry service a pandemic innovation that became so popular they kept it around. Bring cash though this old-school joint keeps things traditional!
2. Klemmer’s Banquet Center – Madison, WI
Klemmer’s doesn’t just serve fish they celebrate it. This family-owned establishment has transformed Friday nights into a community gathering where generations come together over plates piled high with hand-breaded perch.
What makes their fish fry special is the attention to detail. Each piece is individually breaded using a 75-year-old family recipe that gives it a distinctive crunch. The accompanying German potato salad follows Grandma Klemmer’s recipe from the old country.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try their lake walleye option a regional specialty that locals consider the true test of a Wisconsin fish fry. The vintage wood-paneled walls and decades-old photographs create the perfect backdrop for this authentic experience.
3. Tipsy Cow – Milwaukee, WI
When Milwaukee locals want to impress out-of-town guests, they head straight to Tipsy Cow. This downtown tavern puts a modern twist on the traditional fish fry while respecting its roots.
Their beer batter incorporates Lakefront Brewery’s Riverwest Stein for extra flavor depth. The fish arrives piping hot with a satisfying crunch that gives way to moist, tender cod. Instead of standard sides, they serve their fish with hand-cut fries dusted with malt vinegar powder and a kimchi-inspired coleslaw that adds unexpected zing.
Though relatively new to the scene, Tipsy Cow has quickly earned its reputation among Milwaukee’s fish fry royalty. Arrive early on Fridays or make a reservation the secret is definitely out about this place!
4. Lakefront Brewery – Milwaukee, WI
Few places capture Milwaukee’s spirit better than Lakefront Brewery’s Friday fish fry. The massive beer hall transforms into a lively celebration complete with a polka band and communal tables where strangers quickly become friends over shared pitchers. Their fish fry features three perfectly golden pieces of cod served alongside homemade potato pancakes, applesauce, coleslaw, and marble rye bread. The brewery setting means your fish is battered in the freshest possible beer – often brewed just feet from where you’re sitting. Did you know they started their fish fry tradition to use up beer that didn’t meet their quality standards? Now they brew special batches specifically for their batter. This combination of great food, flowing beer, and authentic Milwaukee atmosphere makes it a must-visit Wisconsin experience.
5. The White Gull Inn – Fish Creek, WI
Nestled in Door County’s charming Fish Creek village, The White Gull Inn offers perhaps the most picturesque fish fry setting in Wisconsin. This historic inn dates back to 1896 and serves their fish in a dining room that feels like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting.
Their Lake Michigan whitefish comes straight from local waters, often caught the same morning it’s served. Unlike the typical beer batter, they use a light panko coating that lets the fish’s delicate flavor shine through.
Each plate includes their famous cherry chutney a nod to Door County’s famous fruit. During summer months, grab a spot on their garden patio where the smell of fresh fish mingles with lake breezes. Reservations are absolutely essential during tourist season when visitors from across the Midwest flock to this legendary spot.
6. The Waterfront – Oshkosh, WI
Sitting directly on Lake Winnebago’s shores, The Waterfront lives up to its name with stunning views and fish so fresh you’ll wonder if they caught it right off their dock. Their all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry has become legendary throughout the Fox Valley.
The perch and walleye options showcase Wisconsin’s freshwater bounty, while their cod satisfies traditionalists. Every table receives a basket of warm, house-made potato bread that regulars know to save for making mini fish sandwiches with the leftovers.
Summer evenings here are magical, with the sunset reflecting off the lake as boats dock at their pier so passengers can come in for dinner. Even in winter, locals brave the cold for their fish fix, warming up with The Waterfront’s signature brandy old fashioned sweet the perfect Wisconsin pairing.
7. Old Towne Tavern – Green Bay, WI
Green Bay’s Old Towne Tavern might look unassuming from the outside, but locals know it houses one of the most authentic fish fries in Packerland. This blue-collar establishment has been serving the same recipe since 1952, when current owner Mike’s grandfather first opened the doors.
The fish here comes in massive portions two gigantic pieces of haddock that hang off the plate, hand-dipped in a secret batter rumored to contain both beer and a splash of brandy. Packers memorabilia covers every inch of wall space, creating a shrine to Green Bay’s favorite team.
Friday nights during football season are especially electric, with the place packed with fans wearing green and gold. Their potato salad deserves special mention a German-style recipe with bacon and vinegar that perfectly cuts through the richness of the fish.
8. Jack’s Fish Fry – Manitowoc, WI
Jack’s Fish Fry embodies the no-frills, all-flavor approach that defines Wisconsin’s lakeside communities. This Manitowoc institution keeps it simple: perfectly fried perch, smelt, or cod served with the classics rye bread, coleslaw, and your choice of potato.
The restaurant’s interior hasn’t changed much since the 1970s, with wood-paneled walls and nautical décor creating a time capsule of Great Lakes dining culture. What makes Jack’s special is their commitment to Lake Michigan fish when available, they serve yellow perch caught by local fishermen.
Ask for their house-made dill sauce instead of tartar a regional specialty that regulars consider essential. During Lent, lines stretch around the block, so many locals know to arrive by 4:30pm or wait until after 8pm to avoid the rush at this beloved maritime county staple.
9. Schmitty’s – Wausau, WI
Hidden in Wausau’s north side, Schmitty’s represents central Wisconsin’s approach to the Friday tradition generous portions, friendly service, and absolutely no pretension. Their beer-battered cod is so light and crispy that locals swear it defies the laws of physics.
The tavern itself feels like a living museum of Wisconsin bar culture. Deer heads mounted on walls, a vintage bar with original taps, and the same family running the place for three generations. Their potato pancakes deserve special mention crispy outside, creamy inside, and served with both applesauce and maple syrup. Schmitty’s doesn’t take reservations or credit cards, embodying old-school Wisconsin values.
The jukebox still plays polka music, and during winter months, you’ll see snowmobiles parked outside as riders stop in for a fish fry before hitting the trails again.
10. The Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. – Wisconsin Dells, WI
The Moosejaw breaks the mold by combining Wisconsin’s fish fry tradition with a northwoods lodge atmosphere that tourists and locals equally adore. Their fish is beer-battered using their house-brewed Dells Chief Amber Ale, creating a distinctively malty crust.
Unlike many traditional spots, Moosejaw serves their fish fry every day a concession to the Dells’ tourism industry but executed with such quality that purists don’t mind. The massive log cabin interior features two-story ceilings with moose antler chandeliers and a central fireplace perfect for those chilly Wisconsin evenings.
Their fish comes with a unique side rosemary parmesan potato wedges that have developed their own following. While tourists flock here after waterpark adventures, locals know to visit during off-season for the authentic experience without the crowds.
11. Hoffmann’s Café – Milwaukee, WI
Hoffmann’s might be the most unassuming spot on this list a small café tucked into a Milwaukee neighborhood that’s been serving the same fish fry recipe since 1948. Their Polish-influenced take includes both standard cod and a unique Polish-style breaded fish option.
The café feels like stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen, with vintage formica tables, hand-written specials on chalkboards, and the same family working the counter for generations. Their house specialty is the “full Milwaukee” fish served with both German potato salad and a Polish cheese pierogi on the side.
Don’t miss their homemade rye bread baked fresh each morning and served warm with real butter. Hoffmann’s doesn’t advertise and has no website, relying entirely on word-of-mouth and the loyalty of customers who’ve been coming every Friday for decades, some even sitting at the same table each week.
12. The Boathouse – La Crosse, WI
Perched on the banks of the Mississippi River, The Boathouse offers perhaps the most scenic fish fry in Wisconsin. Their riverside deck provides stunning views of river barges and bluffs while you enjoy their signature cornmeal-crusted catfish a nod to the restaurant’s Mississippi River heritage.
Though they offer cod for traditionalists, locals know to order the catfish caught from the very waters flowing past the restaurant. Each fish fry comes with hushpuppies instead of the usual rye bread a southern touch that somehow feels perfectly at home in this river town.
During summer, boats dock at their pier so river travelers can stop for dinner. The Boathouse embraces La Crosse’s unique position at the intersection of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa cultures, creating a fish fry that feels both familiar and refreshingly different from others across the state.
