The Phoenix

We were looking for a new fish fry place to try and came across The Phoenix. We placed the order which was ready in a mere 15 minutes! I ran downtown Hartland to pick it up and had to park about 3 blocks away due to the lack of parking around The Phoenix. No big deal as the extra calories burned does me good. Went in and talked to the hostess — she had my order all ready to go but she said had to pay the bartender. Three adult fish fry’s and a child chicken tender meal — $ 46 and some change.
So far my experience has been good — enter bartender Kelly. I hand her my ticket and my debit card — to which she replies «we don’t take credit cards». Hmmm.ok. I said «oh its 2016 and you don’t accept cards» — to which so kind of got an attitude and said once again «we don’t take credit cards». She did point out they have an ATM machine on premise — not sure why when we placed the phone order that wasn’t mentioned to us. Not wanting to pay the ATM fee’s, I picked up my debit card and said I was going to run to my bank down the road (about ¼ mile away) and get some cash. She said — again with attitude — «are you coming back?» I said that I’d try. As I turned to walk out she called me a dick in front of all the bar patrons. I drive to the bank, get cash and return to The Phoneix. I walk in and probably by surprise I returned, she went and got my ticket, I put down $ 60. She took it, made change and knowing I was going to do a Unilocal reviewed took two pictures of Kelly. She asked what I was planning on doing with the pictures and I said it was going to make a good Unilocal review. She then said if I posted her pictures online she was going to hunt me down.
No financial tip for Kelly. but a more important one coming from somebody who bartended for 7 yrs myself. Don’t call your customers a Dick and say you’re going to hunt them down — no matter how badly you want to.
Lots of food for the money but the fish was OK — average at best. We probably would not have gone back a 2^nd time before bartender Kelly so graciously spread her classiness all around.
Hostess — 5 stars
Food — 3 stars
Kelly — 0 stars
overall 2.66 stars — round up to 3

Stinky Ass Bar. People smoking inside bar. Made in 2 steps inside the front door and left.

It’s a dive bar and VERY Midwest. I guess now that I live so close to the heart of wine country and have developed a bit of Marin snobbery I am not a good judge, but I went with amazing company (best friend in high school — met up 15 years later like no time had passed). And they have decent wines (from CA, duh ;)), a laid back and welcoming atmosphere, easy parking, lots of old-​school bar games. Nice local spot.

It’s not fancy, but heck, the bartender and customers were friendly. A PBR with shot of whiskey + tip was $ 5.

Great Bloody Marys. Friendly service. As to the low rating below, I suggest ignoring it — it’s a bar for god sakes!!!

Saturday night.
Prime Rib.
Go there. Seriously. My family goes in herds… and we will be there again this weekend. I’m so excited, I had to look them up.
Yes, you wait but it’s darn worth it. Go comfortable. It’s not a stuffy place at all. Stiff drinks that make downtown Milwaukee look ridiculous– and a quarter of the price. Pool, darts, Elvira pinball (sweet) and a Claw game. Small bar, small dining so call ahead if you have a group (I don’t think you have to but we do to make sure they have enough prime rib for our giant family).
Great salad bar, very fresh. I don’t like shrimp but the salad bar shrimp are HUGE. Everyone says they like them. Get the sauteed mushies. OMG drool.

Seriously the best fish fry you can get your hands on. Check this out — all you can eat buffet with ALL the following on it: breaded cod, breaded mahi, breaded clam strips, breaded catfish, crabcakes, potato pancakes, fries, breaded butterflied shrimp, peel and eat shrimp plus salad bar. It’s like a Vegas buffet without having to lose all my money versus an 8 card 21. This place is a hidden gem.
Try it once and you will be taking people back with you the next time.

Best dang Wisconsin Fish Fry that you might ever have!
Karl is the chef in the kitchen and has been the driving force behind this tavern for decades. He is a bit older, has a tobacco stained beard and runs an establishment that is part Wisconsin Tavern, part dining room and part game room.
We used to frequent this joint when it was called the «In Between» in the 1980s and later «Karl’s Place» in the 1990s and today «the Phoenix».
Karl is a master chef, but bear in mind, you will wait for your food. Even if you are coming in for lunch on a Tuesday and order a hamburger you might wait a good 40 minutes before your food arrives.
You’ll get the typical fixings with your Wisconsin Fish Fry here: 4+ different kinds of potato dishes (German potato salad, egg-​potato salad, french fries, etc.). They offer a full salad bar with that curious dessert-​ish marshmallow-​cream-​jello goodness thing.
I most recently fully enjoyed the fried perch which I enjoyed the most and shared my parents other fish choices: baked fish and fried pike.
This place may look like a pit when you walk inside, but just find the friendly and experienced greeter, Nancy, and you will be treated right!
I think it is all-​you-​can eat too!

My wife and I went for the Friday Fish Fry based on a local fish fry review site. The fish fry was OK, but the atmosphere… bizarre. I imagined I was eating at a table set up in my grandma’s living room. My wife sat next to a vacuum. One wall was lined with a desks and cabinets covered with papers and an exceptionally large teddy bear. Probably will not be back.