Klinger's East - Milwaukee, WI

Klinger's East is a cozy place to eat. The fish fry is brilliant. Cod is on the menu, sheathed in a crunchy coat of beer batter. You can also get smelt, which is a fish-lover's fish with vivid oily character – a heap of crunch-coated two-inch sprats well-accompanied by a short stack of silver-dollar-size potato pancakes.

100% Approval Rating (2 votes)

Overall: Worth driving from anyplace

Must Eats

Potato Pancakes (N/A)

Smelt ($8.00)

Fried Cod ($8.00)

Written Reviews

Michael Stern

" When we went to Milwaukee on a mission to eat its best fish fries, Roadfood friends Jessica Zierten and Brad Warsh, both lifelong Milwaukeeans, insisted that any significant expedition needed to include a visit to their favorite tavern in the Riverwest neighborhood, ..." [Read More].

Logbooks

11/5/2004 - Michael Stern, $10

Map & Directions

920 E. Locust, Milwaukee, WI
414-263-2424

Hours & Policies

Seasons:	Open Year Round
Meals Served:	Dinner, Late Night
Operational Hours:	Always Call Ahead!
Credit Cards Accepted:	No
Alcohol Served:	Yes
Outdoor Seating:	No
Reservations Accepted:	No
Delivery Available:	No
Takeout Counters:	No

"Cod is one of the traditional fishes to fry on Friday night in Milwaukee. Here it is shown with Klinger's East potato pancakes in the background."
Michael Stern

"Klinger's East is not a jolly-looking eatery, but it has a city-tavern appeal all its own. And the fish fry is essential."
Michael Stern

"We asked waitress Tammy Galioto to take a picture of the four of us when we stopped in for our third fish fry of the evening. From the left: Brad Warsh, Jessica Zierten, Jane and me."
Michael Stern

"Brad informed us that the correct pronunciation of smelt, among those who catch, cook, and eat it around here, is shmelt. It has a powerful fish flavor that is impossible to forget. The fries in the background are mediocre; much better to have your smelt with potato pancakes."
Michael Stern