Madison Food Guide: The best fish fry spots

In Wisconsin, Friday fish fries are where it’s at. It’s an event. A ritual. A sacred, deep-fried tradition. And in Madison, the fish fries are as competitive as the Packers–Bears rivalry and nearly as salty.

So we asked our readers: Who’s serving up the best fish fry in town? Over 500 of you turned out with beer-battered passion. And after counting your votes, we’ve got the results for Madison’s best fish fries in 2025.

Here are your top three picks. We’ve added plenty of crispy details, side dish intel, and yes, a few extra menu highlights for the fish-averse folks in your party. (We see you.)

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3. Villa Tap

2302 Packers Ave, Madison, WI 

Villa Tap is the underdog story we all love. Tucked away on Madison’s north side, you might drive past a dozen times without realizing it’s hiding one of the best fish frys in the city. And that’s the beauty of it. There’s no hype. No frills. Just a modest building, a loyal crowd, and a kitchen that knows exactly what it’s doing.

Villa Tap is where locals go when they want real-deal fried fish without the wait, the crowds, or the fancy cocktails. It’s fish fry for the people. 

What makes Villa Tap’s fish fry stand out is the flavor and freshness. There’s no heavy greasiness, no rushed prep. Just solid, well-seasoned fish cooked with care. Each plate comes with a baked potato or French fries, homemade coleslaw, and a dinner roll.

Villa Tap feels like your uncle’s favorite bar — the one where everyone knows each other, sports are on the TVs, and the bartender has worked there since 2011. It’s cozy. It’s casual. It’s very north side.

Be aware that if you’re looking for a fish fry on Fridays, Villa Tap can get busy, but not overwhelming. The crowd is friendly, the drinks are cheap, and the vibe is classic Madison. Villa Tap’s fish fry has been featured in several “best of” lists over the years, but it’s still mostly spread by word of mouth. Locals love it that way.

2. The Old Fashioned

23 N Pinckney St, Madison, WI

We said it when we wrote about Madison’s Best Cheese Curds, and we’ll say it again here: The Old Fashioned is peak Wisconsin. No wonder they keep popping up as one of your favorite places in a number of categories. This is the place you bring your out-of-town cousin to show them what we’re all about — and then you find yourself going back for Friday fish fries throughout the whole season just because it’s that good.

Fried food and high-quality ingredients are rarely mentioned in the same breath, but The Old Fashioned pulls it off. Their fish fry hits the sweet spot between down-home and refined. You get the tradition and the taste upgrade.

All fish fry plates come with their culinary twists on traditional sides: poppy seed coleslaw, matchstick fries, house-made lemon caper tartar sauce, and rye bread. Oh, and by the way, their fish fry lasts beyond Lent.

Right on the Capitol Square, The Old Fashioned is always buzzing. It’s tourist-friendly but never tourist-trappy, and the staff keeps things moving with a smile, even on packed Friday nights.

There’s something deeply satisfying about eating a fish fry while gazing out at the State Capitol. It makes you feel like you’re part of something. Like you belong.

Fun fact: The Old Fashioned sources nearly all its ingredients from Wisconsin farms and dairies. That includes the fish, the cheese, and even the beef in the burgers. Eat local, fry proud.

1. Toby’s Supper Club

3717 S. Dutch Mill Road, Madison, WI

Toby’s Supper Club is the king of our 2025 Reader’s Choice survey. They won Best Restaurant overall, Best Old Fashioned, and Best Fish Fry for 2025. And frankly, nobody on our team is surprised.

This southside institution is what people mean when they say “iconic.” The low lighting, the wood paneling, the clinking of cold beers, and the aromas of roasting prime rib and sizzling fried fish. Toby’s has been around since the 1960s, and it’s still packing the house every Friday with faithful regulars and wide-eyed first-timers.

If you’re looking for an authentic fish fry experience — not a modern reinvention, but the real-deal, rootsy kind — Toby’s is it.

Toby’s offers two main fried fish options on Fridays: cod and lake perch. Both are outstanding. If you opt for the fried cod, you’ll end up with massive pieces of flaky white fish in a crispy, golden batter that’s light enough to crunch but hearty enough to dunk in tartar sauce. Meanwhile, the perch is the sleeper hit. You get delicate, buttery filets, lightly breaded and fried crisp. Perch fans know it’s the gold standard, and Toby’s version is nothing short of perfect.

Both come with classic supper club fixings: coleslaw, rye bread, and your choice of potato — we highly recommend the loaded baked potato if you’re feeling extra hungry. Otherwise, the classic fries are just fine.

If someone in your party doesn’t want fish (blasphemy, but we’ll allow it), here are some other big hits on the menu: prime rib (available on weekends only), pan-fried chicken, or even an African lobster tail, if they want seafood but don’t care for fish filets.

Looking forward to next year’s fish fry? Be aware that Toby’s will almost always have a wait on Fridays. Toby’s doesn’t take reservations on the weekends, and the crowd starts forming before 5 p.m. If you have the right attitude, the wait can be fun. Grab a brandy Old Fashioned at the bar, people-watch, and prepare your stomach with some fried pickles.

Toby’s serves over 600 fish fry dinners every Friday. That’s got to be a record!

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