McBob's

4919 W. North Ave., Milwaukee, WI - (414) 871-5050

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Posted By Michael Stern on 1/9/2008 4:07:00 PM

Roadfood rules get skewed in Milwaukee. Usually, taverns are not where we go to find good local food, especially taverns that attract a rowdy crowd of enthusiastic drinkers. But thanks to Milwaukeean and Roadfood.com member Zessica Z. and her friend Brad, we overcame such inhibitions and went a West Side pub named McBob's on a Friday night for the fish fry.

The place was crowded and noisy and the aroma of beer filled the air. But there was another smell, too: hot corned beef. While McBob's has its fish fry every Friday (and Wednesday, too), corned beef is on the menu every day; and it is terrific. Big, tender chunks of steamy-hot meat from the spiced brisket are sold in a sandwich of plain rye or in toasted rye with sauerkraut, horseradish mustard, and Swiss cheese (a Reuben).

The fish fry comes three different ways: your choice of perch, walleye, or grouper, a combo of perch and walleye, or a super combo of all three. With the fish come American fries or potato pancakes, cole slaw, and bread. "This is the real deal!" Brad proclaimed, "All fresh, all real." Each fish filet is encased in a highly seasoned, fragile crust. The walleye is light and ephemeral; the grouper is mild with a sweet oily flavor. The perch is snowy white. If you get the meal with potato pancakes – you should! – the pancakes are fanned out on the plate as a kind of edible trivet for the fish. They are laced with bits of onion and have a potato flavor that perfectly complements the crisp fish.

McBob's has many food choices beyond fish and corned beef: tacos every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, burgers of all kinds, brats, hot beef, and liver sausage sandwiches.

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

Fish Fry	Corned Beef Sandwich

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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

"Wisconsin is known for great cheese; Milwaukee is the home of excellent rye bread; McBob's makes some of the earth's most delicious corned beef. Is it any wonder the Reuben sandwich is extraordinary?"
Michael Stern

"Grouper is an especially wonderful Friday-night fish to fry. It has a sweet flavor and the well-seasoned batter is thin and refined. Note how the potato pancakes serve as a trivet below the fried fish."
Michael Stern

"Here is a close view of the grouper, showing its thin crust and clean, moist meat."
Michael Stern

"We love the way McBob's corned beef is served more as chunks than as slices. It is extremely tender, well-spiced, and succulent. Please pass the horseradish mustard!"
Michael Stern

"McBob's is the rare tavern also open for breakfast, and they serve spectacularly good corned beef hash."
Cliff Strutz

"McBob's 'Combo Dinner' is perch and walleye."
Michael Stern

"McBob's bloody Mary is served with a pickle, olives, and a Slim Jim."
Michael Stern

"A favorite 'mixed' drink for many Milwaukeeans: a shot and a bottle of Pabst"
Michael Stern

"McBob's also uses their chunky corned beef to make world class Reubens."
Cliff Strutz

"McBob's looks like a fairly typical neighborhood tavern, but it serves one of Milwaukee's best corned beef sandwiches (and Milwaukee is a city of great corned beef sandwiches)."
Michael Stern