Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Lake Michigan yellow perch is a sweet, mild freshwater fish, traditionally beer-battered or pan-fried, served on rye with tartar sauce and lemon.
Lake Michigan yellow perch has been the canonical Wisconsin fish fry fish since the early 20th century, when commercial fishing fleets out of Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Two Rivers landed perch by the ton. The Wisconsin DNR limited commercial perch fishing in the 1990s after stocks declined, but recreational fishing still supplies area restaurants, and Lakefront Brewery, Pier 222 and River Lane Inn still feature it on the Friday fish fry.
4 editor picks for Lake Michigan perch in Milwaukee, ranked by editorial score. All Milwaukee signature dishes · Lake Michigan perch across every city.
Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce Street, Russ Klisch's 1987 brewery, runs the city's defining Friday fish fry with a polka band and free brewery tours.
OrderAll-you-can-eat perch fish fry with the polka band on Friday night.
TipFriday fry fills by 17:30; reservations recommended on the brewery site for groups of 6 or more.
Third Coast Provisions on North Milwaukee Street downtown is a Great Lakes-leaning seafood room with raw bar and walleye, smelt and whitefish from Lake.
River Lane Inn on West River Lane in Brown Deer is a North Shore seafood room with Lake Michigan perch and cedar-plank salmon, running since 1981 here.
OrderLake perch fry on Friday and the cedar-plank salmon with lemon-butter.
TipReservations on OpenTable for Friday and Saturday; bar takes walk-ins from 16:30.
Blue Jacket on East National Avenue in Walker's Point is a nautical-themed gastropub with a strong burger, Friday fish fry and a long cocktail program here.
OrderThe Blue Jacket burger with smoked cheddar and a Friday cod fish fry.
TipPatio fills in summer; book on Resy for weekend evenings Walk-ins usually OK.
Lake Michigan perch makes more sense with someone from Milwaukee explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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