It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati (Lent officially starts March 6), which can only mean one thing: Fish Fry Fridays are back. That and someone you know has given up chocolate for 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.
Bridgetown Finer Meats — Fabulous Fish Friday at Bridgetown Finer Meats is the place to find the enormous Fabulous Fish Friday Sandwich topped with lettuce and tartar sauce and an option to add cheese. The menu also features Big John’s Shrimp Boat, lobster bisque, lobster mac with fries, and sides like mac and cheese, fruit salad and coleslaw. 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Fridays March 1 until Easter; also open on Ash Wednesday. Bridgetown Finer Meats, 6135 Bridgetown Road, Bridgetown, bridgetownfinermeats.com.
Findlay Kitchen Friday Fish Fry — Soul Secrets is popping up at the Findlay Kitchen for a Friday fish fry through April 19. Find hand-breaded fish, sides, vegetables and dessert. Beverages provided. Must RSVP. 6-7:30 p.m. $15. Fridays March 8-April 19. Findlay Kitchen, 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. RSVP and get tickets here.
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. Fridays during Lent. Lehr's Prime Market, 740 Main St., Milford, facebook.com/lehrsprimemarket.
Mary, Queen of Heaven Fish Fry — Mary, Queen of Heaven Fish Fry is widely known in Cincinnati as the Home of the Codfather. Izzy’s CEO John Geisen becomes the Codfather for a day by dressing mafia-style and carrying around his giant stuffed cod for photos. Make sure to see the Codfather and try foods like shrimp tacos, baked cod, fish sandwich, butterfly shrimp, the signature Holy Haddock and more. 4-8 p.m. Fridays March 8-April 12 (except Good Friday) for eat in or take out. Mary, Queen of Heaven, 1130 Donaldson Road, Erlanger, facebook.com/mqhfishfry.
Nine Giant Brewing — Held specifically on March 8, this Friday fish fry features panko-crusted haddock, pommes frites and remoulade. Special runs all day, until it's gone. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. March 8. Nine Giant Brewing, 6095 Montgomery Road, facebook.com/ninegiant.
“Off The Hook” St. Ignatius Fish Fry — This West Side parish invites the community to bring friends and family to their annual fish fry dinner. The menu offers fried fish, baked fish and shrimp with sides like mac and cheese, green beans and coleslaw. Pizza, French fries, desserts and more will also be available for dine in or carry-out options. 5-8 p.m. every Friday in Lent except for Good Friday. St. Ignatius, 5222 North Bend Road, Monfort Heights, stignatiusfishfry.org.
R & R Quality Meats — If anyone doesn’t want to wait until dinner for fish fry fun, R & R has them covered with their lunch menu. They offer fish tacos, lobster mac, a cod sandwich, grilled cheese, shrimp baskets and sides on their lunch and dinner menus every Friday in Lent and Ash Wednesday. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner is served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday starting March 8 until Easter. R & R Quality Meats, 4029 Harrison Ave., Bridgetown, http://www.randrmeats.com/fishfry.
Saint Francis Seraph Church — The Brothers of Saint Francis Seraph team up with Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom to offer a battered cod filet dinner with two sides and a dessert. 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays March 1 through Lent (except Good Friday). Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/SFSChurch.
Saint William Parish — St. William’s Church is celebrating another Lenten season with a weekly fish fry with food, friends and entertainment. 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. Cash only. 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.
