Friday Fish Fries Flourish In Tampa Bay During Lent

TAMPA BAY, FL — Residents substituting fish for meat during lent have plenty of options this year.

Duffy’s Sports Grill, 1580 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, is bringing back its $11.99 fish and chips meal on Fridays through April 7 from 5 p.m. to close. Healthier options include grilled salmon from $18.99 to $20.99 and blackened mahi mahi from $17.99 to $19.99 (dine-in only).

4 Rivers Smokehouse is offering its limited-time Shrimply the Best Tacos, featuring three grilled tortillas loaded with pico de gallo, queso fresco, guasacaca, and creme fraiche topped with 4R All Purpose Rub-smoked shrimp and fresh chopped cilantro. The special is available any Friday or Saturday during Lent. Locations include 623 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa; and 14330 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.

Bonefish Grill’s Angler’s Catch is returning every Friday through April 14, plated with tempura-style, hand-battered crispy cod and Panko-battered jumbo shrimp, served on a bed of French fries with house-made coleslaw, cocktail and tartar sauce for $19.90. Locations include 3665 Henderson Blvd., Tampa; 13262 N Dale Mabry Highway, Carrollwood; 1015 Providence Road, Brandon; 225 W Pipkin Road, Lakeland; 25264 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz;

Wings Etc. Grill & Pub, 3419 Palm Harbor Blvd., Palm Harbor, is offering a Shrimp Po’ Boy featuring the restaurant’s signature, crispy jumbo shrimp on a toasted sub roll with lettuce, tomato and pickles, topped with new, limited-time-only, spicy-tangy “Boom-Boom” sauce. The sandwich comes served with fries or a choice of a side. In addition to the Shrimp Po’ Boy, Wings Etc. offers Crispy Fish Tacos, Jumbo Shrimp, a Crispy Fish Sandwich and a crispy fish & chips entrée through April 6.

Through Easter, Metro Diner, 4011 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, is offering a Shrimp O' Boy sandwich layered with fresh lettuce, tomato and chipotle ranch served on a hoagie roll with a side of seasoned fries and classic Fish & Chips, plated with crispy beer battered and fried white fish served with tartar sauce, coleslaw and seasoned fries. The Po’ Boys are available for dine-in and to-go through Easter.

Joella's Hot Chicken, 10150 Ulmerton Road, Largo, is bringing back its popular menu item, the Crispy Cod Sammie, for a limited time, along with the Crispy Cod Plate option. The Crispy Cod Sammie is made with seasonal North Atlantic wild-caught cod that's double beer-battered and fried and topped with sweet vinegar slaw, pickles, and Bama White or Tarter Dippin' Sauce. For $9.25, guests will get the Sammie with their choice of one Southern side. The Crispy Cod Sammie can be seasoned with any of Joella's six famous heat levels: including Southern (no heat), Spiked Honey, Ella's Fav, Tweener, Hot and Fire-In Da-Hole. Joella's will also offer the Crispy Cod Plate, which includes two pieces of Crispy Cod with Bama White or Tarter Dippin' Sauce on the side, and one Southern side for $12.99.

Visit Pete & Shorty's Tavern, 2820 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, every Friday for its famous platter of crispy Alaskan Pollock filets served with a pile of shoestring fries and coleslaw.

Catholic churches throughout Tampa Bay will host fish fries throughout lent as well:

Hillsborough County

St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, is offering fried shrimp, fish or a child’s platter every week, and is also offering a weekly feature dish:

• March 24 – Bake cod
• March 31 – Seafood paella

The cost is $13 per person, $8 for for kids 12 and under or $40 per family. The church also offers a best value “fast pass” for $190 per family for all six Fridays of Lent

The Knights of Columbus at St. Mark the Evangelist, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa, winner of the Spirit FM Fish Fry World Tour, will hold a Friday Fish Fry through March 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. Meals include an adult fish/shrimp combo for $14, adult fish or shrimp dinner for $12, adult mac and cheese dinner for $9, child combo dinner for $10, child fish or shrimp dinner for $8, child Mac and cheese dinner for $7, New England clam chowder for $4 and shrimp caesar salad for $6. All dinners include fries, coleslaw, hush puppies and iced tea and coffee. Various sides, desserts and beverages also will be available.

The Knights of Columbus Council 7282 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 702 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center will host a fish fry each Friday during Lent from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Conesa Center. Dinners include fried fish with tartar sauce and a slice of lemon, hush puppies, coleslaw, tea and dessert for $13.

The Men's Club of St. Stephen Catholic Church, 10118 St. Stephen Circle, Riverview, will host its annual fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Fridays at the Family Life Center through April 3 for dine-in, carry-out and drive-thru.

• Fish dinner: Two fish fillets with slaw or applesauce and fries for $10
• Shrimp dinner: 12 shrimp with slaw or applesauce and fries for $12
• Combo: One fish fillet and shrimp with slaw or applesauce and fries for $11
• Child: One fish fillet with slaw or applesauce and fries for $6
• Pizza: Large slice of cheese pizza with slaw or applesauce and fries for $5
• Extra slice of pizza with purchase of any meal for $2
• Extra piece of fish with purchase of any meal for $4
• Desserts for inside dining only are $2.

The Knights of Columbus, St. Mary Catholic Church, 15520 North Blvd., Tampa, are sponsoring the church’s annual fish fry on March 24, 31 and April 12 in the Parish Life Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and a Lenten soup dinner on Good Friday, April 19 at 1 p.m. All proceeds support Saint Mary’s Youth Ministry Programs. The dinner menu is fried fish, baked beans, grits, french fries and hush puppies for $10 a plate, two dinners for $15, children 6 to 12 $3 a plate, and $25 per family with children under 6 eating for free. Eat in or take-out will be available.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9715 N 56th St., Temple Terrace, will host a fish fry Fridays through March 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. Meals include two planks of fried fish for $10 for adults and mac and cheese for kids for $7.

St. Paul Catholic Church, 12708 N Dale Mabry Higway, Tampa, will host a fish fry Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. through March 31. Meals include fried fish, shrimp scampi, pizza and macaroni and cheese for $9, or $5 for children ages 6 to 13. Desserts are an additional $2.

The Men's Club at Nativity Catholic Church, 705 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon, will host a fish fry each Friday in Lent in the social hall from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Meals include fish, shrimp, fries, coleslaw and bread for $8 for adults, $4 for kids and an early-bird special for adults for $7.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4450 County Road 579, Seffner, will host a Lenten fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday.

The Knights of Columbus at St. Anne Catholic Church, 106 11th Ave. NE, Ruskin, will host a fish fry at 5 p.m. during Lent.

Knights of Columbus at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, will its Lenten drive-thru fish fries each Friday at The Venetian Event Center through April 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. The menu includes a fish or shrimp dinner for $11, a fish and shrimp combo dinner for $13, mac and cheese dinner for $9, a piece of fish for $6 and a cup of New England clam chowder for $4. Dinners include fries, coleslaw and hush puppies.

The New Horizon of Men will host a fish fry at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1203 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24. Enjoy a dinner of fish, beans or fries and slaw for $13 or a sandwich for $8.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4518 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa, will host its 26th annual Lenten dinner Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. through March 31. It features fried or baked fish with fries, coleslaw, yellow rice and peas for $10 for adults, $8 for children and free for kids 3 and younger.

The Knights of Columbus of Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, will host a Lenten fish fry March31 at 5 p.m. for $9 for adults, $6 for kids ages 4 to 10 and free for children 3 and under.

Polk County

The Knights of Columbus St Anthony Catholic Church & School, 820 Marcum Road, Lakeland, will host its Friday fish fries from 4 to 7 p.m. through March 31. The menu includes fish and shrimp, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, macaroni salad, beans, pudding and clam chowder.

Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Terrace Way, Lakeland, will host a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. through March 31, featuring fried or baked fish, fries, slaw, a roll, a vegetables, drink and dessert for $12 for adults, $7 for children age 6 to 12 and free for children under age 6. Church Fish Fry

St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 501 E Carter Road, Lakeland, will host a fish fry Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parish hall on March 24 and 31. It will include fried fish, shrimp, fries, coleslaw, hush puppies, clam chowder, cheese pizza and mac and cheese.

The Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 532 Avenue M NW, Winter Haven, will host a fish fry through March 31 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the parish center featuring fried or baked fish, hush puppies, corn fritters, waffle fries, coleslaw, cookies and drinks.

Pinellas County

St. John Vianney, 445 82nd Ave., St. Pete Beach, is offering fried or baked fish, french fries, coleslaw, a soft drink and a choice of dessert for $14. "Hungry man" deals with larger portions are $17. Baked cheese ravioli dinners are available for $12 and a cheese pizza dinner that includes two slices is $10. Beer and wine is available as well. Carry-out is available.

The Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes of Sacred Heart Pinellas Park, 7809 46th Way N, Pinellas Park, will offer dine-in and take-out options on Fridays during Lent from 5 to 7 p.m. through March 31. Meals will include fish, fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce for $10. Dine-in or take-out is available.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church, 715 E Orange St., Tarpon Springs, will host a fish fry Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. through March 31, featuring a choice of baked or fried fish, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, bread, dessert and a drink for $14 for adults and $9 for ages 9 to 15. Kids can have cheese pizza, mac and cheese, a cookie and a drink for $4 for ages 8 and younger.

Madeira Beach Marina, 503 150th Ave., Madeira Beach, will host the 12th annual Grunt Hunt and Community Fish Fry March 25 at 4 p.m. It includes a fishing tournament followed by freshly caught fish with french fries and slaw for $15.

VFW Post 2473, 1401 N Hercules Ave., Clearwater, will host a fish fry while listening to the music of Soulfish on March 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. It will include fried or blackened fish with coleslaw, fries, tartar sauce, ketchup and lemon for $11.

Pasco County

Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center, 32145 St. Joe Road, Dade City, will host a fish fry March 24 from 5 to 7:15 p.m. It includes fried fish, baked beans, hush puppies, coleslaw, cheese grits or macaroni and cheese for $11 for adults and $5 for children.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church Knights of Columbus, 13485 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, will host a fish fry Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m. through March 31 featuring baked or fried cod with a cup of soup, drink and choice of baked potato or fries for $10.

The Knights of Columbus of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, will host a fish fry Fridays through March 31 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Dine in or take-out will be available. Meals will include fried fish, fries, hush puppies and coleslaw for $10.

The Knights of Columbus No. 11877 of St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1107 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, will host a fish fry Fridays through March 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring a choice of fried or broiled fish, pasta or lasagna for $10.

Lady of the Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes, will offer its Lenten fish fry every Friday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. The menu includes fried, baked or Cajun fish, french fries, coleslaw, baked beans, and mac and cheese for $11. Sit-down or take-out is available.

The Knights of Columbus at Saint Michael the Archangel, 8014 State Road 52, Hudson, will have a fish fry every Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 3 of the parish center. The meal includes fried or baked fish, two sides, a roll, salad, a beverage and dessert for $12.