Friday in Wisconsin means crispy fish, clinking ice, and Old Fashioneds that lean generous. You can taste tradition in every rye-scented sip and buttered roll, with neon tavern signs promising comfort inside. Follow the glow to places where bartenders remember your brandy preference and the perch arrives hot and flaky. Ready to plan your next delicious road trip across the Badger State?
Kroll’s West – Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
Right across from the roar of Lambeau, Kroll’s West keeps game-day energy humming even on quiet Fridays. The fish fry arrives crackling, with potato pancakes that balance crisp edges and tender centers. Ask for a brandy Old Fashioned sweet, and watch the bartender build it with muddled cherries and an unapologetically generous pour.
Rye bread and coleslaw come standard, like a handshake from the past. The dining room glows with Green Bay history, and service moves fast without losing warmth. You settle in, sip, and realize this ritual is as much about community as it is about crunch.
Expect familiarity, not fuss. Kroll’s proves simple done right still wins. Fridays here feel like tradition preserved in amber.
The Packing House – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Just off the runway glow, The Packing House turns Friday into a standing appointment. The drive-thru fish fry is legendary, but the dining room is where the magic lingers longest. Order the cod or perch, then let a brandy Old Fashioned sweet set the tone, heavy on nostalgia and pour.
Servers glide through the wood-paneled space with platters of crisp fish, rye bread, and tangy slaw. Potato pancakes arrive with applesauce, striking that sweet-savory chord you remember from childhood. Conversation hums like a familiar radio station.
You feel looked after, never rushed. The bar team nails balance without skimping spirit. By dessert, the city outside feels softer, wrapped in supper club glow.
Ishnala Supper Club – Lake Delton, Wisconsin
Ishnala feels like a pilgrimage, tucked among pines with Mirror Lake sparkling outside every window. Settle into the view, then settle into a brandy Old Fashioned poured like they still trust you. The fish fry arrives with a chiffon-crisp crust, delicate and steaming, as the sun trades gold across the water.
Inside, midcentury lines and Northwoods charm strike a timeless chord. Coleslaw is bright, rye is plentiful, and the hush of the dining room invites lingering. Conversation softens when the first bites land.
This is destination dining without pretense. You come for scenery, stay for the pour, and leave feeling restored. Friday tastes slower at Ishnala, in the best way.
Toby’s Supper Club – Madison, Wisconsin
Toby’s feels like the kind of place where your coat keeps a seat warm. The bar hums with regulars and newcomers swapping fish fry tips. Order an Old Fashioned and watch the muddling ritual unfold, a generous splash sealing the deal before the glass ever hits your hand.
The fish fry delivers crisp fillets, fluffy potato pancakes, and slaw that cuts through richness. Service is cheerfully direct, like family who knows what you need. Rye bread waits for a swipe of butter and a quick nod of thanks.
Nothing here is overcomplicated. Friday means full plates, full pours, and a full heart. You leave promising to return next week.
The Old Fashioned – Madison, Wisconsin
Named for the drink, The Old Fashioned treats the cocktail like a civic duty. Expect a confident pour, balanced sweetness, and just enough bitters to keep things tidy. Order the perch, and the basket arrives audibly crisp, with lemon wedges winking under the lights.
The vibe is Capitol-adjacent convivial, Wisconsin pride on full display. Potato pancakes come golden, applesauce bright and friendly. You might discover a new favorite mustard while you wait, because condiments here are practically a museum.
The staff keeps pace without losing charm. Between sips and bites, you understand why lines form early. It is a love letter to Wisconsin tavern culture, one Friday at a time.
Buckhorn Supper Club – Milton, Wisconsin
On the shores near Milton, Buckhorn pairs a lake view with a pour you can measure in courage. The Old Fashioned arrives amber and confident, fruit muddled just enough. Choose perch and hear that first bite shatter as steam escapes.
Inside, wood beams and windowed walls frame the water like a postcard. Potato pancakes play nice with applesauce, and slaw keeps everything lively. Service is attentive without hovering, the kind that anticipates your next sip.
Fridays feel like a neighborhood reunion, even if you drove an hour. The room grows cozy as night falls over the lake. You linger because the glow is hard to leave.
Mark’s East Side – Appleton, Wisconsin
Mark’s East Side is a Fox Valley staple where Fridays run on rhythm. The bar team builds brandy Old Fashioneds briskly, heavy enough to loosen the week. Haddock or perch crackle into baskets, with lemon, rye, and a dollop of real-deal tartar.
Servers circulate like clockwork, topping waters and trading jokes. The potato pancakes hit that griddle-scented nostalgia, edges lacy, centers tender. Slaw brightens the plate without hijacking the show, doing the small work well.
Families, first dates, and old friends share the same happy ritual. You taste consistency in every bite, and it feels reassuring. Appleton knows a keeper when it sees one, and this place keeps winning.
Schwarz’s Supper Club – New Holstein, Wisconsin
Schwarz’s sits along country roads where headlights feel like stars. Inside, the supper club glow turns strangers into tablemates by dessert. Order a brandy Old Fashioned and watch the pour land heavy, a friendly promise in a rocks glass.
The fish fry is abundant, crisp fillets stacked like a triumph. Potato pancakes crunch politely, applesauce smoothing every bite. Rye bread and slaw complete the set, honest and satisfying.
Staff keep the cadence easy, guiding first-timers through the ritual. By the second round, you have a favorite booth. Outside, fields rest quiet while Friday gets loud in the best way.