W6376 Cty Hwy A Johnson Creek, Wisconsin

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Crawfish in the News

Crawfish to operate food truck at Sandy Beach

Crawfish Junction will offer a food truck at Sandy Beach this summer.

The Lake Mills City Council approved an agreement with Crawfish Junction to provide a food truck at Sandy Beach this summer in a 3 to 0 vote with two council members absent.

"We are still leaving it open to proposals. We have one outstanding," said Steve Wilke, city manager.

"This is a seasonal permit for a non-exclusive right to operate a food truck at Sandy Beach Park," said Dan Drescher, city attorney.

Operations are likely to start in June but could start this month.

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Wisconsin's best cheese curds?

The 10 Most Unique (and Amazing) Restaurants in Wisconsin

A group of reported experts in cheese curds have decided to rank the best fried curds in our state, and two of the top 10 picks reside in Southeastern Wisconsin.

However, you will have to travel a bit of a distance from Milwaukee to check them out.

USA TODAY's "10 Best" ranking group chose Crawfish Junction in Johnson Creek as the 7th-best cheese curds in the state, with Pioneer Keg getting the 9th ranking.

"10 Best" mentioned how Crawfish Junction gets "fresh curds from Kraemer Cheese in Watertown" for their customers.

View the article and check out the others!

The 9 Best Places for Appetizers in Wisconsin!

The 10 Most Unique (and Amazing) Restaurants in Wisconsin

Sometimes, the best part of the meal is the appetizer. From cheese plates to tuna tartare, we’ve put together the ultimate collection of food joints with the best appetizers. From crowd favorites to unique dishes, check out the best places for appetizers in Wisconsin.

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The 10 Most Unique (and Amazing) Restaurants in Wisconsin &
The 10 Best Restaurants in Wisconsin!

The 10 Most Unique (and Amazing) Restaurants in Wisconsin

Calling all food lovers: Looking to spice things up the next time you go out to eat? For delectable yet innovative menus, and one of kind but ideal ambiance, these uniquely delicious restaurants across Wisconsin will satisfy your craving. From the atmosphere, to the aesthetic, to getting down to the nitty gritty of the food, Wisconsin brings something scrumptious to the table. Here are our 10 favorites.

Crawfish Junction, Johnson Creek, WI: While its name recites crawfish—and they do have that—Crawfish Junction is famous for brining an alligator dish to Wisconsin. If you have a picky eater, they have a great Friday Night Fish Fry and a household staples of sandwiches on their menu. Beware: The place fills up quickly!

View the article and check out the others!

The 10 Best Restaurants in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin is home to many great restaurants. Besides being famous for beer and cheese, the state encompasses a wide variety of food specialties. Let your taste buds do the talking when you try these 10 best restaurants in Wisconsin.

Crawfish Junction, Johnson Creek, WI: There's nothing more Wisconsin than a Friday night fish fry. More specifically, one at Crawfish Junction. Besides the upbeat and lively atmosphere, they have a lengthy menu to choose from. Try alligator and crawfish, or go a more conservative route by ordering a burger, wings, or their cod. There is something for every picky eater at this townie joint.

View the article and check out the others!

Best of the Area
Daily Jefferson County Union Readers’ Poll, July 20, 2015

The Daily Jefferson County Union conducted it’s Best of the Area readers’ poll for 2015. Readers submitted votes for 135 categories, featured in five divisions including People, Food & Drink, Things, Recreation & Entertainment and Miscellaneous. Crawfish Junction was voted #1 in 12 categories including Best Restaurant, Best Customer Service, Best Appetizers, Best Bloody Mary, Best Martini, Best Old Fashioned, Best Sandwich, Best Steak, Best Place to Hear Live Music, Best Place to Watch the Game. Special recognition goes to Amy Hartling for winning Best Waitress and Becca Wade for bringing home the Best Bartender awards! Thank you for all of your votes and support!

Here is the article that was printed in the Daily Union.

Crawfish Junction cleans up at first timer. “The people are really friendly at...” It’s a cliché that you hear everywhere, but at Crawfish Junction, it’s offered with action. It’s not uncommon for people you don’t know to offer to share their patio table while you wait. Sometimes the invitation is extended for dinner for the evening and sometimes the friendships grow for years. Robb Reed, manager of Crawfish Junction, said he sees that play out regularly. “People meet new people here. I’ll go to seat a couple and the other couple asks if they would like to eat together. They grow with us.” And growth is what has kept Crawfish Junction going. Whether it’s growth of the menu, the number of customers or the number of awards they have received, Reed said, “We are always evolving.” Lesley Erb purchased the business with the original part of the building where the bar at the entrance sits about 10 years ago. But it was time for the building to evolve and in 2008, Erb said she “expanded, updated and remodeled every square inch of the building.” Additionally, they set up patio music where musical artists can play and entertain the guests while they enjoy dinner with a view of the Crawfish River. During the winter, there are bands that play in an area of the dining room. Their goal when they started was to take traditions like the ubiquitous and popular Friday night fish fry and just be really good at it, offering options that other places might not offer — enter alligator bites, sweet potato fries and zippy sauces. Crawfish Junction staff also make changes to their menu two or three times a year, using what they learn about food from traveling and experimenting in the kitchen. “We never think about calories,” Reed added. “It’s not health food. People know that coming in. This is a place for guilty pleasures.” The year 2015 has been a year of recognition for Crawfish Junction. In addition to the Jefferson County Daily Union’s Best of the Area, they also won the Best of Madison for fish fry. “We have incredible food, incredible staff and incredible experience,” Erb said. “I’m so proud of the people who work here and do what they do. It’s a team effort. “I would just like to thank everyone who voted for us from the bottom of my heart. It’s the staff and the customers who make it what it is,” the owner added as she walked away with a little tear in her eye.

View the article and check out winners in other categories here

Restaurant Review Crew
Jefferson County Tourism Council, March 1, 2015

Crawfish Junction: Madison Magazine’s top Fish Fry? We have all celebrated the Junction’s award winning Fish Dishes, but have you checked out their ribs on Thursday night? Pair these plump, juicy babies up with $2 Busch products and you have a belly full of yum!

We sidled in on a recent Thursday and were greeted warmly by the bartender and staff.

Service is spot on and exceptionally intuitive. You feel like a regular on your first visit.

I had the full rack of ribs – $18.95 – and took enough home for 2 more meals! Sides included a fresh house salad and crispy onions. Some of our party had the home-made soup and it was soulful. My dining partner had the Bourbon-sauced filet with shredded onion rings and grilled onions & mushrooms. She said it was delightful!

I noticed many other diners tearing into the Junction’s meaty ribs with the smoky-sweet sauce. Fantastic!The drinks are substantial along with the portions; and a trip to Crawfish Junction will not flatten your wallet.

Crawfish Junction is the perfect out-of-the-way delight, with a large sit-down dining room and great bar.

Read the full story here!

Best of Madison 2015
Madison Magazine, February 19, 2015

The Best of Madison Readers' Poll is an annual survey asking local readers and consumers to vote for their favorite food and drink, retail services and people. We are happy to announce that Crawfish Junction won the Best of Madison Fish Fry category!

Thank you to everyone that voted and helped us achieve this honor. If you haven’t yet, stop in and try out our award-winning fish fry!

Check out the entire article plus winners in other categories for Best of Madison here.

The Definitive Guide to Fish Fry in South Central Wisconsin
Excerpt from Eater.com, November 17, 2014

The Crawfish Junction is a great place to start any discussion about fish fry. Located in the tiny village of Milford (between Johnson Creek and Lake Mills) they have basically every type of fish available and do every single one well.

Of course they have cod, and it's great. A key component of fried cod is that it doesn't harbor grease, and Crawfish's lightly breaded loins come with nary a drop. They also season their breading well which gives the cod a little extra flavor without overwhelming it.

In addition, they also get fresh bluegill and lake perch on Fridays which they serve until it runs out. When fresh fish is paired with Crawfish's specially seasoned breading, a taste combination is achieved that is really tough to beat. In addition, their sides are superb, especially the house-cut fries and house-made tartar sauce. They also serve a traditional slice of rye bread with their fish, which is something most places simply don't do anymore. Read the entire article here

Presented by the Jefferson County Tourism Council
October 15, 2014

Amy Hartling of Crawfish Junction was awarded the 4th annual JCTC Golden Pineapple Award!

Eligible nominees work or volunteer for a Jefferson county business or organization and shown exemplary customer service in their field.

“We are looking for a person who makes your day better, who does the unexpected. These front line people are the face of Jefferson County and help to make us a destination. And we don’t think they get enough credit, that’s why this award was created,” said JCTC Board President Leigh Price.

We will be presenting our Golden Pineapple Award to one of the nominated individuals at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, October 15.

The pineapple, especially in Colonial times, was felt to represent a sense of welcome, good cheer, and human warmth. We believe it is the perfect symbol for this award. The top nominees will be honored at a dinner on October 15, 2014, with the winner receiving a cash award.

Congratulations Amy!

Seafood Showcase
Excerpt from Madison Magazine, April 25, 2014

Of course there’s no seafood feast more native to Wisconsin than an old-fashioned fish fry, where the setting and the experience is often as big a draw as the meal itself and worth a journey to find.

For instance, about thirty minutes outside of Madison, toward Milwaukee, down Highway A and on the banks of the Crawfish River, in a little town called Milford, savvy travelers and locals alike gather for what WMTV-TV Facebook fans recently voted “Best Fish Fry in the Area.”

“We are literally in the middle of nowhere,” says Crawfish Junction’s Robb Reed. “This really is a destination location where people probably aren’t expecting to find such a delicious fish fry, let alone exotic stuff like alligator tail.”

In addition to traditional deep-fried or baked cod, Crawfish Junction serves blackened or pan-fried Canadian walleye, fresh lake perch, salmon, deep-fried crawfish, and—one of the biggest sellers of all—fresh, hand-breaded Florida alligator tail marinated for a minimum of twenty-four hours and served with a signature spicy ranch Gator Sauce.

“We were also voted best for our variety,” says Reed. “But I guess if I had to say what separates us, it’s that we’re really dedicated to high-quality product.”

Reed says crowds flock to Crawford Junction because they can enjoy that unexpectedly fresh seafood in a casual, rustic setting.

“It’s kind of a cross between an ‘Up North’ lodge and a sports bar,” says Reed. “It really is a unique dining experience.” Read the entire article here