The Tipsy Tomato in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is one of those restaurants I just hadn't gotten around to visiting. I wasn't sure quite what to expect. I don't like tomatoes and I guess I was hoping it was more than a pizza joint. A friend asked on social media "where should we go for Friday fish?" and several people piped in and even shared some photographs of food from the Tipsy Tomato - who knew - they apparently offered delicious fish with all the Wisconsin Friday night fixin's!
I packed up the kids and drove the few miles to the restaurant. The parking lot was packed. We walked in and I headed to the bar (which was packed and overlooking an equally packed dining room) to find out about the wait. Now I know - reservations are a good idea and almost necessary at this delicious dining experience. However, the bartender was helpful and some patrons reorganized themselves so we could sit at the bar and within twenty minutes we had a table for the entire family!
Before I get to the food - let me tell you about their hand muddled old fashioneds and for those of you not from Wisconsin I'll just tell you they mix a mean cocktail. I enjoyed two pint sized whisky sweet old fashioneds with brussels sprouts before reminding myself though they be delicious they are not good for my waistline. They even offer a bit of a happy hour on Saturday when these delicious drinks are $3.50 each and yes, they're still in a pint glass!
Okay - the dining area is nothing special. I mean no offense by that, but if you're looking for an upscale dining experience as far as ambiance goes, this is not for you. There's some kids games along the wall and I'm pretty sure I was sitting on a folding chair. This takes nothing away from the experience, I'm just keeping it real.
Now - onto the real show stoppers in this Thoughtful Thursday post - I give the Tipsy Tomato 5 stars when it comes to: VALUE, CUSTOMER CARE, AND MENU
This is huge for me. We had a table of seven and not a single person complained about the wait time, the food temperature, the flavor of their entree, etc... absolutely everything about the experience was spot on. The bartender explained things and answered any questions I had (and I know I can be a lot). They customized our orders for the pickiest little eaters, and the portions of perch were out of this world! We also enjoyed a few slices of homemade cheesecake after our meal. We left with some to-go boxes and I can assure you, if you leave the Tipsy Tomato hungry it's your own fault.
I ordered the perch as it was suggested by the gentleman at the bar. He said in his opinion no one in Manitowoc County makes decent fish and he had given up eating Friday fish fry because his bad experiences left him with a bitter taste in his mouth (pun intended). He now ONLY goes to the Tipsy Tomato and orders the perch. Each fish plate comes with a choice of side and I had to ask this very honest gentleman how he felt about German potato salad. He said "it's better than my grammas" so I had to ask and yes indeed, his Gramma was German. I was sold - so I ordered the perch plate with German potato salad and I was NOT disappointed one bit. I think I make a mean German potato salad and my cheesecakes aren't too shabby, but this restaurant had hands down the best of these two items. The perch is locally sourced from Suzie Q Fish Market and whatever they do to bread and prepare it is nothing short of magical.
You know what's awful about writing this on Thursday? I'm salivating in anticipation of Friday fish tomorrow night. Note to self, call and make a reservation as soon as they open tomorrow morning.
If you find yourself anywhere near Two Rivers, Wisconsin on a Friday evening, head to the Tipsy Tomato and order an old fashioned and a perch plate! If you find yourself nearby any other time, I'm told the pizzas are generous, made to order, absolutely delicious, and the crust is thin and crispy. Maybe I'll try one and tell you all about it - but it won't be tomorrow as I have perch on the brain now!
May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, sunshine, and delicious dining experiences for the entire family!
xoxoxo
Crystal
Comments
Post a Comment