Crabby’s was a seafood restaurant in Wisconsin Dells that in 2016 began offering heated rocks as a method of cooking. That concept apparently was popular enough that it is now the name of the restaurant as of this year: Hot Rocks. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘seafood’
Hot Rocks
Sunday, November 18th, 2018Mad Seafood Boiler
Sunday, January 14th, 2018
If you’re heading to Mad Seafood Boiler, which features delicious seafood soaking in a pan of seasonings and sauces, then heed my recommendations: wear the bib and the gloves that come with your table! You’ll need them as you’re cracking, peeling and slurping. Also, don’t come here on a first date.
To get started, you can either choose a combo platter of seafood, or you can mix-and-match items such as blue crab ($12.99/lb.) and clams ($12.99/lb.). From there, you choose either lemon pepper, cajun or garlic butter flavor, followed by heat level and then a side.
All the seafood was fresh and served in a big metal pan (previously, it was in a big plastic bag). Their taste was enhanced by the sauce; in my platter, it was the cajun, which was buttery, oily and so delicious that I wanted to dip bread into it.
I got Combo A ($20.99), which includes a half-pound of shrimp (with or without the heads), a half-pound of snow crab legs and either a half-pound of mussels or crawfish (I picked the latter). I chose to keep the heads on the shrimp for the extra flavor, and I smeared that perfectly cooked shrimp into that aforementioned sauce–yum! The crawfish did pick up the cajun flavor, and the snow crab legs were meaty and tender.
There are five combo platters, and all come with corn, red potatoes (which was perfectly soft) and sausage (which was mild and tender).
For those not looking for a messy meal, Mad Seafood Boiler has an extensive selection of sushi rolls (regular and special), sushi appetizers, sushi entrees and even poke bowls that weren’t part of its initial menu.
The Forbidden roll ($12.95) is unique for its use of black rice. The cream cheese is a bit overwhelming, but the other components, from the creamy avocado to the crispy softshell crab, make it worth ordering.
Other rolls include the Tiger roll ($10.95 with spicy shrimp), the Madison roll ($11.95 with snow crab) and the Fancy lobster roll ($14.95 with lobster salad).
Gyoza ($5.95) and shumai ($4.95) are among the appetizers. I loved the tuna pizza ($8.95), which is like an open face sushi roll. The finely diced tuna, roe and slightly sweet sauce sit atop a crunchy scallion pancake, which had enough thickness to it not to fall apart.
Mad Seafood Boiler is open every day for lunch, dinner, carryout and delivery.
New menus at the Edgewater
Sunday, July 24th, 2016
Despite opening less than two years ago, the Edgewater Hotel has overhauled its food offerings. A revamped management team includes a new GM, a new executive chef and consulting help from Bartolotta Restaurants. I was invited recently to see the outcome of these transformations that abide by the theme of “Modern Midwestern.”
There’s much to like about the new menus at the Statehouse and Augie’s Tavern (the now-named bar inside the Statehouse)–the Boathouse also has a new menu–and here are my highlights. Overall, the improvements should attract diners who enjoy high-quality meals.
Emphasis on seafood. You’ll find it everywhere on the menu, from the appetizers (e.g. snow crab claws) to the raw bar section to the entrees (e.g. grilled Atlantic swordfish).
- I mean this, I probably have never had better octopus than the broiled octopus ($14) found on the “chef’s unique appetizers” section of the menu. Not at all chewy, excellent grilled flavor and punctuated with the guanciale vinaigrette.
- The broiled 2 lb. lobster ($58) is very simple, and that’s exactly what I want out of a lobster dish. You don’t need the drawn butter, believe me.
- I’ve always been a fan of Dan Fox’s Heritage pigs, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a 14-oz Heritage Farm Tomahawk pork chop ($26) among the entrees. Save the parts by the bone for last–they’re incredibly flavorful.
- You barely even need to chew the mega-tender, 22-oz Painted Hill Farm ribeye bone in ($48). I’m not sure why enhancements (e.g. Bordelaise) are offered, because they’re not necessary.
Bar food, too. Start or end your night at Augie’s, named for the previous owner of the Edgewater. You’ll find bar snacks, small plates, sandwiches and salads on the larger-than-expected menu.
- Get an extra napkin to eat the “MSG” wings ($10), which are smothered in a finger-licking-worthy maple-sherry gochujang sauce (it’s savory).
- The onion rings ($7, also available as a side at the Statehouse) are battered with both beer and vodka (of course, you can’t discern the vodka). I appreciated that the onions were quite mild. The homemade A-One sauce added a hint of sweetness.
- On my next visit, I look forward to trying the braised porkbelly ($10) and the Beast Burger ($13; topped with beer-braised onions, A-One sauce, onion rings and Hook’s cheddar).
The Statehouse is open for dinner every day, breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday and brunch on Sundays.
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See more photos in our Statehouse Flickr album.
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