Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of fish fry season, and in St. Louis we take this very seriously. We look forward to this Catholic holiday almost as much as we look forward to Opening Day. There is a lot to love about this time of the year even if you’re not religious. […]
Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of fish fry season, and in St. Louis we take this very seriously. We look forward to this Catholic holiday almost as much as we look forward to Opening Day. There is a lot to love about this time of the year even if you’re not religious. Fish fries are more than just occasions that mark Lent; they’re a great way to get reacquainted with your neighbors after a long winter of being sealed up indoors. There is a perfect fish fry option available for every family. So get out there, find some fish and find your community.
The Best Fish Fry Fiesta
Parroquia Santa Cecilia
(906 Eichelberger Street; 314-351-1318)
Parroquia Santa Cecilia, a.k.a. St. Cecilia, is the unofficial church for Mexican-American Catholics in St. Louis. Families come together for its Lenten events and bring to the table an entire new universe of fish-fry fare, with the emphasis on fare, as opposed to fish. St. Cecilia fish fries are perhaps best known for their chiles rellenos — big-ass mildly spicy poblano peppers jammed full of cheese, then dipped in batter and fried till the exterior browns and the cheesy depth-charge inside achieves molten status. Praise the Lord and pass the cervezas; these calorie bombs are addictive to the very last gooey bite. Read more about it here.
— Rease Kirchner
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Kelly Glueck
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The Best Family Gathering
St. Pius V
(3310 S Grand Boulevard, 314-772-1525)
The Lenten feasts in the basement hall of St. Pius V are the everyman’s fish fry. Cod baked or fried. Fried catfish. Three sides, one of which will almost surely be cafeteria-style mac and cheese, plus dessert. It’s beautiful in its simplicity. The hall is always filled with families, and you are guaranteed to see little kids dancing away in the aisles to a live band that shifts its makeup through the evening as members of the crowd join in. The lines can be long, but not that long. And if you’re lucky, the volunteers will swing through with free cans of Budweiser, like friendly beer angels to ease the burden.
—Doyle Murphy
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Doyle Murphy
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The Fancy Fry
Edibles & Essentials
(5815 Hampton Avenue; 314-328-2300)
If you want some high-quality fancy fish fry, get yourself to Edibles & Essentials every Friday through Lent. They’ll be serving their beer-battered Fish n’ Chips out of their Essentially Fries food truck outside the fron tof the building. If you’ve had anything from Edibles & Essentials, you know just how important it is not to miss out on this treat, starting at 4 p.m. each Friday.
Find out more here.
Photo credit: image courtesy of Edibles & Essentials
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The Best-Kept Secret
Epiphany of Our Lord
(6596 Smiley Avenue; 314-781-1199)
For more than 50 years, the Clifton Heights parish has honored this Lenten tradition with a massive feast every Ash Wednesday and Friday during Lent, except Good Friday. In addition to the traditional fried cod, Epiphany serves cornmeal-crusted catfish, pollock and battered shrimp. The parishioners are proud of their homemade sides, including creamy mac & cheese (the highlight of the feast) and vinegary coleslaw.
— Cheryl Baehr
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Cheryl Baehr
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The Best Fry for Those in a Hurry
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church
(8750 Magdalen Avenue, Brentwood; 314-961-0149)
Your prayers have been answered — one church here in St. Louis that offers its delicious fish-fry eats in drive-through form. The “God’s Cod” drive-through at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School (8750 Magdalen Avenue, Brentwood; 314-961-0149) makes it easy to get your Lent on, even if you’re in a hurry. There’s a fish fry every Friday until Easter from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The full menu is available to dine in or carry out, and the drive-through has an abbreviated menu. Pick up a single meal, a family meal or even a whole cheese pizza for the kids on your way home from work.
—Nancy Stiles
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Flickr / 5chw4r7z
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The Best Real Deal South City Fry
St. Joan of Arc
(5821 Pernod Avenue; 314-752-4171)
This south city parish is the workhorse of St. Louis fish-fry scene. The long cafeteria’s arranged to accommodate lengthy lines. Carry-out to the left, dine-in on the right, and keep it moving. Once the line hits a certain point, St. Joan volunteers have been known to pass out free beer. The side dishes are where it’s at. They’re definitely homemade and among the best on the scene. Macaroni and cheese studded with a heavy dose of black pepper stands out, as do the al dente and flavorful green beans.
-Robin Wheeler
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Robin Wheeler
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The People’s Choice
St. Ferdinand Catholic Church
(1765 Charbonier Road, Florissant; 314-837-3165)
If you live in North County — heck, if you live north of the boot heel — you know that St. Ferdinand is the gold standard of fish fries. For over 60 years, this Florissant church has been serving its flaky fried cod by the pound to hungry Catholics — and they don’t just do it during Lent. St. Ferdinand’s seafood supper is so popular, the parish operates it every Friday of the year. Here you’ll find little more than cod, catfish, spaghetti and green beans — washed down with Busch beer and consumed under the basketball scoreboard in its school’s gym. And perhaps this is the reason for its staying power — it’s the quintessential fish fry experience.
—Cheryl Baehr
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Flickr / Jeffrey W
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The Best Fish Fry for Bargain Hunters
Pietro’s Restaurant
(3801 Watson Road; 314-645-9263)
The Pietro Family has reigned over St. Louis for for more than three decades by serving up unapologetically American-style Italian comfort dishes like veal parmigiana, chicken piccata and sweet Italian-dressed salads. But every Friday during Lent, Pietro’s Restaurant will be offering $5.95 Fish Fridays. Your choice of fish is served with green beans and mashed potatoes. The deal is dine-in only and runs from 11 a.m. to close. It’s the cheapest fish fry special we’ve come across all year.
Find out more here.
Photo credit: image courtesy of Pietro’s Restaurant
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The Best Hush Puppies
Our Lady of Guadalupe
(1115 S. Florissant Road; 314-522-9264)
St. Cecilia’s in south city gets all the attention when it comes to Mexican fish fries, but it’s not the only local Catholic church that caters to a large Mexican congregation. Near the city-limits line that separates Cool Valley from Ferguson, tiny Our Lady of Guadalupe brings the Lenten fiesta to north county. There’s Midwest fish fry staples: flaky cornmeal-breaded cod loins, the usual sides and hush puppies! Even better? Potato tacos. Corn tortillas are filled with mashed potatoes, roasted jalapeños and green peppers, fried, then topped with salsa, shredded lettuce and queso fresco.
-Robin Wheeler
Find out more here.
Photo credit: Robin Wheeler
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The Best Vegetarian Option a.k.a. the UnFish Fry
First Unitarian Church of St. Louis
(5007 Waterman Blvd; 314-361-0595)
Vegan falafel, pita bread, veggie chili and dolmas aren’t traditional fish fry fare, but then, little about the menu at the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis’ UnFish Fry could be described as traditional. This annual vegetarian dinner not only takes meat off the menu, but also fried food in general. The decidedly healthier, Mediterranean-inspired eats include the above mentioned entrées, as well as mac ‘n’ cheese, dolmas, green beans, cole slaw, salad and applesauce, and the usual buffet of baked goods for dessert.
-Liz Miller
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