I did not have time to prepare dinner last night, so I hit up Brat und Brau for some carryout food. There's not a wide variety of restaurants on Madison's north side, so I was hoping to find a decent, new dining spot close to home. I order the fish dinner and a grilled cheese for my daughter.
Unfortunately, it was not the kitchen's best performance. It seemed like the staff just assembled and warmed Sysco ingredients. The kitchen did not apply much in the way of creativity or technique to either dish.
The fish dinner ($12.99) suffered from a lack of seasoning and a lack of any texture. The breading was bland and lacked any crunch. The texture of the fish also was mushier than other fish fries I've had. The small serving of tartar sauce suffered from the same lack of seasoning - I could not detect any lemon or herbs.
On the other hand, the cottage fries were soggy and had far too much salt. While the portion size was generous, I was unable to finish them.
The slaw looked promising and added some much-needed crunch to the meal. However, it just had an off taste and I quit eating it after a couple of bites.
The dinner roll was a standard issue roll for a fish dinner. Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it.
My daughter enjoyed for grilled cheese ($2.99), especially the cheddar cheese. They actually grilled the sandwich because the griddle had been turned off. The sandwich had grill marks and the cheese was melted through. Other than the overly salty fries, it was a great meal for the price. My daughter preferred this grilled cheese sandwich over was she gets from Culver's.
The ordering process was efficient and the staff was friendly when I picked up the food. I also am a fan of any place that offers free popcorn.
Despite the mediocre food this visit, I will try Brat und Brau again because of my positive interactions with the staff and a streak of nostalgia. However, I'll stick to the bratwurst and request the kitchen go easy on the salt.