Fish Fry Review Crew – Rushing Waters Trout House

Rushing Waters Fisheries and The Trout House

N301 County Rd H
PO Box H
Palmyra, WI 53156
Tel. 262.495.2089 | Fax. 262.495.8327
Toll Free. 800.378.7088

The Trout House at Rushing Waters Fisheries – a not-to-be-missed Farm-to-Table Dining Experience!

Prescription for success:

1. Build Wisconsin’s largest Rainbow Trout Farm: a sustainable trout aquaculture business in Palmyra, Wisconsin. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The Trout Farm has 30+ ponds, is available for group tours, private events and corporate meetings, featuring trout fishing, tastings, and private dining.
2. After many years of perfecting their mail order Rushing Waters business – the website claims “It is swimming when you place your order and delivered to your door within 24 hours of harvest” – it just seemed natural to offer farm-raised rainbow trout or smoked fish to hungry customers on premise.

Palmyra, Wisconsin – Jefferson County…

A meandering, wooded road gives way to several buildings, most of which are outbuildings for Rushing Waters Trout Farm. The largest of these buildings is the Farm Store and Trout House Restaurant. We arrive at 5:15pm on a Friday, and already the substantial parking lot is filling up.

Your Fish Dish Review Crew enters, placing our names in qeue (20 – 30 minutes) with our congenial hostess and begin to explore. Turn left after the entrance, and the Farm Store beckons with refrigerated glass cases full of a variety of seafood with fresh and smoked trout and assorted flavors of salmon as the stars of the show. A nice selection of sauces, breading and marinades round out the offerings.

Turn right at the entrance, and a huge L-shaped bar with some cocktail tables precedes the copious dining area. The whole look is retro-industrial, a stone pillared, upscale venue inside offering views into the kitchen and large windows looking out to a bucolic forest setting. One of our crew ventures to the bar for drinks as we are lucky to stake a claim to a table and chairs while we wait to be seated. Because of the crush of people, it takes some time to secure the drinks, despite the labor of three busy bartenders. Perhaps a cocktail wait-staff to expedite drink orders would be a nice addition? Of course, this thought is banished upon the first sip. All is well. They have a drink menu with many drinks combinations we’ve never heard of, taking advantage of seasonal local foods – a rhubarb cocktail, anyone??

We are seated right on schedule. The Friday Fish Fry Menu: $15.00 includes Select Rainbow Trout or Cod – Baked or Battered and Fried.  Served with your choice of Homemade Potato Pancakes with Apple Sauce or French Fries, Creamy Cabbage Slaw, Freshly Baked Rye Bread, Tartar Sauce, and sliced Lemons. Other options are available, but when in Rome, go for the fresh trout! The two large fried trout filets are crunchy on the outside and creamy fresh inside. The tartar sauce is just right. Just the thought that the fish you are eating was swimming just a short while ago makes the experience that much more enjoyable. And did I mention that the trout was just outstanding?

The generous portions of fried and baked cod are pronounced moist and tasty along with a Carbonera Pasta selection. The smoked trout chowder was to die for, with a creamy, not flour thickened broth. The potato pancakes, served with apple sauce, were deep fried and crunchy, the cabbage slaw was fresh tasting and accompanied the meal well. Rye bread with butter was much appreciated and enjoyed. Our waitress wanted us to try the French fries. Each one had crunch and stood up well to ketchup.

If you are looking for an out-of-the-way, unique dining experience, Jefferson County’s Trout House at Rushing Waters Fisheries has to be on your “Fish Bucket List.”

Pardon me while I shop online at www.rushingwaters.net  and make my reservation for the less crowded Wednesday Fish Fry and the Trout House brunch on Sundays. Because we WILL come to this place again (and again).

Oh – and save room for dessert…

Until we meet again,

Your Fish Dish Review Crew