It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati, which can only mean one thing: Fish Fry Fridays are back. (That and someone you know has given up chocolate for the next 40 days.) Almost every church in Cincinnati — and assorted savvy eateries — are offering some type of special fried fish dish on Fridays. Here are some of our favorites.
Bockfest Fish Fry at Old St. Mary’s: The sixth-annual Old St. Mary's Bockfest fish fry will be held along the Bockfest parade route and feature sandwiches, sides and drinks. 5 p.m. until it's gone March 2. Old St. Mary's, 123 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, oldstmarys.org.
Bridgetown Finer Meats: Home of Fabulous Fish Friday and a bigger-than-the-bread giant fish sandwich (for just $10). The menu also includes lobster bisque, lobster mac and cheese, Big John's shrimp boat, famous green beans, homemade tartar sauce and coleslaw. 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Fridays through Easter. Bridgetown Finer Meats, 6135 Bridgetown Road, Bridgetown, facebook.com/bridgetownfiner.
Izzy's: The Codfather returns to Izzy's locations during Lent. The special sandwich features a tavern-cut North Atlantic cod filet, battered with Izzy’s special blend of 17 seasonings and spices, on a Kaiser bun garnished with lettuce and tartar sauce. Served with your choice of potato pancake or coleslaw. Available during Lent. Multiple locations including 610 Main St., Downtown, izzys.com.
Lehr's Prime Market: Every Friday during Lent, Milford's Lehr's meat market hosts a fish fry featuring a haddock sandwich basket (beer-battered haddock on marble rye with tartar sauce), and a la carte options including hush puppies, mac and cheese and extra tartar sauce. Take home or dine in. The fish fry season kicks off with a party 5-8 p.m. Feb. 16, with a Sierra Nevada tap takeover. Fridays during Lent. Lehr's Prime Market, 740 Main St., Milford, facebook.com/lehrsprimemarket.
Mary, Queen of Heaven (aka home of the Codfather): Mary, Queen of Heaven boasts a huge menu of fried Icelandic cod including their signature Holy Haddock sandwich. Sides offered include fries, mac and cheese, coleslaw, green beans and more. And the namesake Codfather, aka John Geisen, the CEO of Izzy’s, dresses in Mafioso gear and carries a huge stuffed cod around the fry for cherished photo ops. 4-8 p.m. Fridays through Easter (except Good Friday). Mary, Queen of Heaven, 1150 Donaldson Highway, Erlanger, Ky., mqhparish.com.
Mecklenburg Gardens: The German restaurant gets fishy on Fridays with Lent-friendly specials including bier-battered cod, blackened salmon, fried shrimp, macaroni and cheese and corn bread. Pair any with a German brew. 5-10 p.m. Fridays through March 30. Mecklenburg Gardens, 302 E. University Ave., Corryville, facebook.com/mecklenburg.gardens.
Saint Francis Seraph Church: The Brothers of Saint Francis Seraph team up with Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom for the fourth year to offer a battered cod filet dinner with two sides and a dessert for $12. Chef Marshall Mann and Olaf Scheil will be preparing the fish and sides and the congregation of St. Francis will be providing the homemade desserts. Pair the dinner with a fresh beer from Moerlein, like the Emancipator Doppelbock, a tribute to the Franciscan Hermits of Paula from Munich, Germany. 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays through March 23. Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/SFSChurch.
Saint William Parish: Put a sandwich called the “magnificod” on the menu and we’re intrigued. Get the famous hand-breaded “magnificod,” or choose from a selection of tavern breaded fish, baked tilapia, salmon, shrimp, crab cakes, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and homemade soup of the week. Beverages will also be available, as will live entertainment. For carry-out or dine in. Drive thru 4-7 p.m.; Dine in 4:30-7:30 p.m. every Friday in Lent (except Good Friday). St. William Parish, 4108 W. Eighth St., Price Hill, stwilliamfishfry.com.
For a full list of events, check out the Catholic Telegraph Fish Fry Guide here.
