OSS…Only Spicy Sausage? One Single Serving? Outgoing Sarcasm Succeeds, Old Sicilian Spies….whatever it means (Open Serving Sausage), it was nice to visit this gem near the Greenbush neighborhood of Madison, WI.
The brick and mortar exterior, with it’s character and nostalgic appeal is welcoming. She’s situated next to the Greenbush Bar/Italian Workmens Club, which is a tip of the hat to a generation of Madison’s history that is fading all too quickly. I’ve read that this area was a primary target of the urban renewal projects of the 1950’s and 60’s which resulted in residential displacement of some of the cities poorest residents. For more information on that, check out this article. OK…before I digress further, let’s talk about the cheese curds.
1. Presentation: 2.5 – Not the best in the city. I appreciated the honesty and simplicity of the presentation. However, the cafeteria style cardboard dish ran the risk of having its structural competencies compromised after one batch that was just a little too greasy.
2. Breading and Batter: 2 – This was the low point of the overall appetizer. The thickness of the B&B was borderline corn dog. It was a bit soggy and the overall taste suggested notes of state fair funnel cake.
3. Flavor: 3 – The unique sweetness threw me a bit at first but it grew on me. Overall, I was impressed and would eat them again.
4. Curd: 3 – There was a steady diet of shapes and sizes of curd which tells me that they were fresh, not out of a 20 lb. bag or a Joliet bowling alley.
5. Cost: 3 – At 5 bucks, you can’t go wrong. Could have easily earned a 3.5 or 4 but the quantity of curds was below average.
6. Sauce: 3 – Each of the three sauces brought a new flavor to the pallet. The ranch wasn’t too runny, the sriracha was nice and spicy and the honey mustard was beautifully sweet.
Overall: 2.75
I highly suggest getting to OSS Madison for a meal, a good draft beer and the curds. Inside, you have spacious tables and stacks of board games to play while seeing friends, meeting up with family and watching a game. The patio seating outside is welcoming and inclusive. Nice place in a great city.
Whey In On The Curds 