Wisconsin Fish Fry, Pizza Combine In One Lent-Friendly Creation

MILWAUKEE, WI — The fish fry: It's a quintessential Lenten staple and a mainstay on Wisconsin's Friday night dining circuit.

It's comfort food at its fried finest, so one might wonder whether the fish fry needs finessing at all.

Finessing? No. Diversifying, however, is another story.

With locations in several states, including three in Milwaukee and another three in Madison, Ian's Pizza serves up a modern yet familiar alternative to the traditional fish fry.

A concoction eight years in the making, the fish fry pizza has gained swift popularity during its short, periodic stays on Ian's menu.

In fact, it's become a staple during Lenten Fridays, according to managing partner Ryan Donovan.

The fish fry pizza is something "we only do for the Fridays during Lent," Donovan told Patch. "There is a fairly large fan base for the fish fry pizza."

So, what goes on this fishy Frankenfood? Fried fish, of course, plus French fries, tartar sauce, and coleslaw. Also, don't forget the heaps of mozzarella and pizza crust.

In a review for Milwaukee Magazine, Lindsey Anderson wrote that the pizza "does, in fact, taste a lot like a traditional Wisconsin fish fry heaped atop a pile of pizza crust."

Anderson did note that tartar sauce, however, doesn't taste so good "when it’s sandwiched between thick layers of pizza crust and melted mozzarella."

So, is this questionable culinary creation a hit? We'll let you be the judge.

The fish fry pizza joins a roster of other questionably unique foods released in past years. Many of these creations came to fruition in a city just south of Milwaukee.

In August 2019, Chicago-based hot dog-maker Oscar Meyer threw down against mustard rival French's by unveiling the Ice Dog Sandwich to commemorate National Ice Cream Day.

While the Ice Dog was crafted between a cookie bun made by Brooklyn-based bakery One Girl Cookies, it's what was inside that made us pause for a second — hot dog sweet cream, Dijon gelato and candied hot dog bits.

The snack shenanigans didn't stop there.

This Valentine's Day, Kraft-Heinz rolled out its new Candy Kraft Mac & Cheese just in time for the holiday.

The limited-edition item was touted as offering the same familiar cheesy goodness of regular Kraft Mac & Cheese, but the company didn't stop there. They took it a step further, including a candy flavor packet to turn the mac and cheese pink and "add hints of sweet candy flavor."