You can guess that a restaurant that specializes in all different kinds of walleye would be a go-to place for the soon-to-be celebrated Friday fish fry, carrying on a North Hudson tradition at the same venue that dates back to the 1950s.
The fish fry at Seasons Tavern is perhaps the highest rated in this area online — indeed, under that heading one woman raved about the walleye and scrambled eggs with tavern fries, and lamented not ordering a Bloody Mary to go with it, (yes, Seasons does even have walleye options for breakfast). All for what was listed as a midrange price.
Only North Hudson as a whole was given a slightly higher, five-star rating for fish fry, and Seasons no doubt contributed to that score with their two varieties of all-you-can-eat cod.
“As for the reviewers… YES! We are proud to be viewed as the top fish fry in the area,” owner Brad said. “We are motivated by the support that we have received and are challenged to continue to live up to expectations that people have for Seasons Tavern.”
The restaurants at the site at Monroe and Sixth Streets North, under several different names and owners, go back several decades. With the Italian/Catholic roots, both in the North Hudson community and the restaurant, they were among the first in the area, or even the Cities, to offer fish on Fridays. All this clamor started with the first predecessor to Seasons, (Sam’s for several years), at the same venue from decades back, which had a renowned fish fry for only $3.95.
“It wasn’t talked about much like let’s go to a Friday fish fry,” said Dorothy, a longtime North Hudsonite who was working in the Cities at that time, but did go to Sam’s because at that time the village was smaller in population, everybody know everybody, and they were well acquainted with the staff. “It was great food and it was friendly and comfortable, and we knew the servers.”
So that is a tough act to follow, or replicate, but Seasons might be the ones to pull it off. Brad has been in the business of providing fish fries for 25 years, first at other restaurants and now at Seasons for the past several years, so he has the expertise that comes with experience, and has honed those skills.
“I am proud to be the new ‘torchbearer’ of the location…. Although I have a long way to to receive that honor (in my book anyway),” Brad said. “I look forward to being able to occupy this location for a long time to come.”
And continue to help put North Hudson on the culinary map, even as far as the Twin Cities are concerned.
“My personal experience of serving a Lenten Friday fish dinner, whether it be walleye or a fish fry, has shown me how much people like fish! I will always strive to put a better piece of fish on the plate, and share that passion with my employees,” Brad said.
Seasons serves cod for the fish fry. “The choices are broiled or deep fried in a beer batter,” Brad said. “As for the walleye…. We serve it in many different ways (breakfast and dinner) and will continue to be creative with the dishes it is prepared with.”
He says another requirement for being successful with fish fries is being adaptable, and changing things up in short order when it will help meet customer needs.
The best fry is an all-you-can-eat event, including battered and deep-fried cod or pollock with fries and/or cole slaw, a Twin Cities food columnist suggested. Memory brings her back to the restaurant in North Hudson, Wisconsin, years ago, she wrote online. (It is interesting she felt it necessary to put Wisconsin at the end of her statement, since the Twin Cities media not only seems to include the Hudson area as a part of the metro, they seem preoccupied with it in a Border Battle sense).
And so, the presence of the best food is included in that tug of war. “I couldn’t wait to go with my Mom and Dad to the Friday Night Fish Fry,” the columnist said.