A week after having brunch at the newest supper club in the Madison area, Baba’s in Sun Prairie, I thought I’d go to the oldest, Stamm House in Middleton, for a Friday night fish fry. Located on Century Avenue, the Stamm House was built in 1852 as a store and inn and now serves dinner Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The main floor has a few tables but is primarily used as a bar. A musty smell throughout the building reminds you of the long history of the place and its honor of being Dane County’s oldest tavern.

Upstairs is the hostess stand and an unexpectedly bright dining room (from all the windows). The menu includes steak, chicken, seafood and pasta, and each night there is a special. I came for the all-you-can-eat deep-fried perch. It’s served family style with soup, salad or coleslaw, as well as fries, hashbrowns, baked potato or potato pancakes.

I chose the potato pancakes and was impressed not only that they offer them over the standard fries, but also because they were pretty good. The perch was breaded in corn meal and decent. There was no wait time for refills; however there were only three other tables occupied at the time.

My dining companion had the broiled walleye, a healthier and tasty alternative, though it was coated in a butter sauce.

I don’t think I would return for the fish fry–despite the rave reviews from other publications, I wasn’t floored. Still, I would like to come back for the all-you-can-eat chicken and dumplings on Wednesdays or a ribeye steak.

Happy hour takes place from 4-6 p.m., with 50 cents off drinks. Stamm House does take reservations, and there’s usually a big crowd on Friday nights.