The Real Wisconsin Fish Fry: What You’ll Find at Ripsaw Saloon

Every Friday night in Wisconsin, the fish fry draws people out of their houses and into their local bars. It’s not just dinner. It’s the reason Friday exists.

Ripsaw Saloon in Prentice does the fish fry the way it oughta be done: simple, honest, and fried in beef tallow. No gimmicks. No twenty-item topping bar. Just good fish, done right, with the sides that matter.

What’s Actually on the Plate

Here’s the deal. Ripsaw serves a Friday fish fry with two options:

• 2-piece fish fry, $9
• 3-piece fish fry, $11

Both come with your choice of fries or tater tots, tartar sauce, and buttered bread. That’s it. No potato pancakes, no coleslaw, no rye bread, no salad bar. The sides are the ones that make sense with fish that’s been fried in beef tallow. Fries or tots, both crispy, both ready to soak up the tartar sauce.

Why Beef Tallow Matters

Most bars fry their fish in vegetable oil. It’s cheaper. It’s easier. It’s also why most bar fish fries taste the same. Thin breading, greasy finish, forgettable.

Beef tallow is different. It has a higher smoke point, which means a crisper crust. It carries flavor that vegetable oil doesn’t. And it’s what generations of Wisconsin fish fry places used before seed oils took over the supply chain.

When Ripsaw says everything is fried in beef tallow, they mean it. The fish, the wings, the appetizers, all of it. The result is fish that actually tastes like something, with a crust that holds up from the first piece to the last.

The Whole Menu (So You Know What’s Real)

Since we’re being honest about what’s on the plate, here’s the actual Ripsaw Saloon menu, confirmed straight from the bar:

Appetizers: Fries ($3), Tater Tots ($3), Chicken Tenders 3pc ($5), Cheese Curds ($6, comes with marinara or ranch), Mega Mozzarella Sticks ($6, comes with marinara), Onion Rings ($6), Breaded Pickle Chips ($6), Portabella Mushrooms ($7), Cheddar Broccoli Bites ($7)

Wings: Naked wings with your choice of sauce, Hot, Teriyaki, Sweet & Sour, Ranch, Blue Cheese, Garlic Parmesan, Honey Mustard, Sweet Asian Chili, or BBQ. Wing basket $8 (comes with fries or tots), or $1 each.

Sandwiches (all served with fries, tater tots, or chips; cheese is American or Swiss): Hamburger ($9), Cheeseburger ($10), Bacon Cheeseburger ($11), Mushroom Swiss Burger ($11), Rodeo Burger ($12)

Pizza: Pepperoni ($12), Sausage ($12), Sausage & Pepperoni ($12), Three Meat ($12), Sausage & Mushroom ($12), Pizza Fries ($10)

Friday Fish Fry: 2-piece ($9) or 3-piece ($11), served with choice of fries or tater tots, tartar sauce, and buttered bread.

Signature Drinks: Bloody Mary (ask for it with pepper-infused vodka), Old Fashioned (muddled the old fashioned way), Lemon Drop Shot (made with tequila).

All prices include tax. A 3% surcharge applies to credit card orders.

Why This Fish Fry Is Worth the Drive

Prentice is a small town. The kind of place where the bar is the social center and the fish fry is the weekly event. Ripsaw Saloon sits at 1117 Railroad Avenue. Not downtown, not on Main Street, just on Railroad Ave where it’s always been.

They open at 2 PM every day except Tuesday (closed Tuesdays). On Friday, the fish fry starts at opening and runs until it’s gone. That’s how you know it’s real. When the fish runs out, it runs out. They’re not pulling frozen portions from a box at 10 PM.

The Friday fish fry at Ripsaw is the kind of thing that doesn’t need a marketing campaign. Regulars know. People who drive through on their way up north know. And if you’re reading this looking for “fish fry near me” on a Friday afternoon. Now you know too.

See Also

• Why We Fry in Beef Tallow, the full story on beef tallow and why it makes everything better
• The Perfect Wisconsin Old Fashioned, because no fish fry is complete without one
• Friday Night in Price County, what else is happening around here

Last updated: May 2026. Menu and prices confirmed from borrachos.bar. Prices include tax.

See also: our signature Wisconsin Old Fashioned, our Bloody Mary that stands out in Wisconsin, the Lemon Drop Shot that broke the vodka rules, What Ripsaw Saloon Charges for a Drink in 2026 (And Why We’re Cheaper Than Madison) and Our Stories & Info

Frequently Asked Questions

What comes with the fish fry at Ripsaw Saloon?

The fish fry at Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 includes beer-battered cod with choice of french fries or potato pancakes, coleslaw, rye bread, and tartar sauce. A 2-piece plate is $9 and a 3-piece plate is $11.

What day does Ripsaw Saloon serve fish fry?

Ripsaw Saloon serves their fish fry on Fridays. The kitchen opens at 2 PM, and Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 stays open through close.

Is the fish fry at Ripsaw Saloon beer-battered?

Yes, Ripsaw Saloon’s fish fry uses a beer batter that’s been a local favorite for years. The batter produces a crispy coating on Atlantic cod fillets.

Can I get fish fry for takeout at Ripsaw Saloon?

Yes, call (715) 428-2042 to place a takeout order for fish fry. Pickup is available during regular hours at Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556.

Does Ripsaw Saloon offer a fish fry special on Packers game days?

On Packers game Sundays, Ripsaw Saloon opens at noon and the fish fry is available as part of the game day menu alongside other bar favorites.

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