Helgesen's Harpos on Eleven is recently under new ownership. The place everyone has called Harpo's for years is just west of Janesville, Wisconsin on Highway 11. Heide and I headed out there to see if they are still holding up the fish fry reputation.
The Cod is all-you-can-eat for $10.95. The Perch is not all-you-can-eat, but the same price. Other fish options like Walleye go for $10.95 and up.
Heide ordered the Perch. It was presented with a lighter batter than you might find on Cod. She opted for the potato pancakes which she said looked and tasted homemade. Heide likes salad and Harpo's dinner salad met her high standards; there was egg, grated cheese and carrots, cherry tomatoes, a mix of crispy greens, and cucumber - she rated it as excellent - it is the small things in life that make or break a fish fry.
I ordered the deep fried Cod with its heavier batter. I ordered seconds which is a good sign. I choose the Au Gratin potatoes. I also ordered the Clam Chowder in lieu of cole slaw. It was smooth and not fishy like some chowders I have had over the years. The tarter sauce had a standard taste; there was no cole slaw with the options we got.
Heide likes homemade desserts so we tried the lemon lime homemade pie. We shared a piece between us. It was creamy and the crust was just thick enough.
With a Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, the dessert, and a 20-percent tip, we got out of there for 35 Bucks.
Helgesen's Harpos on Eleven is cool with Cool Dadio. Their address is 5201 West Highway 11, Janesville, Wisconsin. Call (608) 752-8886 for more food options and other special and day. The starts serving fish at 5:00 p.m. on Fridays.
This week's Wisconsin soldier to remember is Army Ranger Specialist Robert J. Cook, 24. He was killed in an accidental explosion at a weapons cache west of Ghazni, Afghanistan, near the village of Dege Hendu, about 90 miles southwest of the capital, Kabul on January 29, 2004. Specialist Cook was Wisconsin's first soldier to die in the Afghanistan War. Specialist Cook was sent to Afghanistan in August of 2003. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Robert graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 1997. Cook played football and was a defensive tackle when the team went to the state championship in 1995 and won the only state football championship for Sun Prairie. After high school Robert spent three years working in construction and carpentry. Cook joined the Army in 2000. His first duty station was in New York. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. Robert is survived by his mother Sandra Selheim and a sister.
3,830 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
445 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
28,276 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1,652 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
81 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
5 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
118 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Soldier of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; and, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
