Wisconsin's Best Seafood Restaurant Provides a Full Experience

All week long, I have been diving deep into Yelp's list of "Best Seafood" restaurants in America, with specific focus on those in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The exercise has made my mouth water and contemplate making some fresh shrimp for dinner this week.

For Illinois, Yelp pegged Lowcountry Lakeview as a restaurant with a "fun experience," "various options," and maybe most notably, a "messy" seafood boil. Their boils appear to be for what they're best known. They are packed with shrimp, snow crab legs, lobster tails, and mussels, along with potatoes and corn on the cob.

In Iowa, Waterfront Seafood Market in West Des Moines, IA was named by Yelp as worthy of the title. The restaurant has been owned and operated by the Hanke family for over 40 years. With a super-sized menu, Waterfront has something for everyone. Favorites that Yelp reviewers highlight include the Potato-Encrusted Halibut, Rock Shrimp Basket with sweet-potato fries, and the New England Clam Chowder.

Now, it's time to turn our attention to Wisconsin. Unlike the restaurants in Illinois and Iowa, respectively, I actually recently (and unexpectedly) visited the eatery Yelp and its reviewers noted as having the best seafood in the state. The establishment is the St. Paul Fish Company, located in the bustling Milwaukee Public Market in the heart of the city.

Photo Credit: Google Street View

Catherine and I were in Milwaukee double-dating with friends for a Milwaukee Bucks game back in March. My best friend suggested the Milwaukee Public Market as a place to eat, shop, and commiserate. It was a stellar recommendation. The indoor, heated space is a full-blown bazaar of vendors, drinks (both soft, caffeinated, and alcoholic), events, and delicious food.

St. Paul Fish Company is an end-cap of the market, located at the back or the front (depending on where you enter). Yelp notes that the fishmongers who work at the company used to work as deckhands in Alaska. They have 20+ years experience serving the same peak-freshness fish that you'd expect from a high-end restaurant, only with far more agreeable prices.

When we went to St. Paul Fish Company, I couldn't resist the Cajun shrimp, which were appropriately buttery, flavorful, and messy. The lobster roll is another praised offering, and it comes stuff with your choice of meat or calamari steak.

Combing through the Yelp reviews for St. Paul Fish Company, you'll notice that mouthwatering descriptions of the food they serve is customary:

I always want to try the local specialties, so I was glad to find a spot that offers Great Lakes fish. The lake perch had a light, flaky texture with a mild flavor that made it a perfect fit for frying. Batter added a delectable crunch with a beautiful golden-brown color. The [walleye] held its shape well while still being flaky. It had a subtle sweetness that matched well with the rich, piquant flavors of the beurre blanc" - Auggie L's review, per Yelp