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Lent is here, which means that it's time for Fish Fry-days at restaurants, churches and fire halls across the city!
It’s Fish Fry-days season and there are lots of places around Pittsburgh to get a great fish sandwich. We've identified some of our favorite Pittsburgh Fish Fries to check out all across the city. Whether this is your first fry or you just want to try somewhere new, follow along to our 2023 Fish Fry Guide of Pittsburgh.
What's a Fish Fry?
If you're not sure why fish on Friday is a thing, let me back up a bit. Lent (Feb. 22- April 6, 2023), is a religious observance by many Christian denominations that covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday. During all of the Fridays of Lent, Catholics over the age of 14 abstain from meat and from foods made with meat.
The end result? Places from churches to fire halls, restaurants and bars get in on the Fish Fry fun, offering up colossal fish sandwiches, Only in Pittsburgh pierogis, traditional Polish favorites like haluski and lots of mac-n-cheese, fries and other fried goodies. You don't need to be a member of the church to go, either; just head on in (bring cash) and experience the Pittsburgh Fish Fry for yourself!
This old-school fish house & tavern (since 1870) located in historic Market Square, offers fresh seafood platters. The cod has a delicate flavor with just the right amount of spices and the onion rings are perfection!
And nothing says you HAVE to eat a fish sandwich, you can also nosh on their namesake oyster sandwich and Maryland-style crab cakes too!
If you're near PPG Paints Area, head to the bottom entrance of Epiphany Church - Divine Mercy Parish for Brother Andre's Cafe, one of Pittsburgh's hidden gems for great coffee. For Lent, they're also serving up fish sandwiches and fries on Fridays!
Restaurants love changing it up for Fish Fry season. The Warren opens up for lunch on Fridays specifically for Lent, and their massive sandwich is available from 11 a.m.-midnight with chips or on a bun!
The hook here is the NPL 12 oz Giant Fish Sandwich comes from the secret beer batter that the fish is dipped in and then fried to a golden brown. Also has a location east of the city with the same great food.
Run completely by volunteers, the Elks Lodge #339 fish fry is a fantastic stop in a historic neighborhood. The menu includes hand-breaded Atlantic cod on a fresh Breadworks roll and homemade sides. Just get in line; it's worth the wait.
Grant’s has long been known for their fish sandwiches. The generous size leaves plenty to share (if you want to!) Pair it with their off-the-chart onion rings and you won’t be hungry again for a while. If you do save room, their desserts are one of the area's best-kept secrets.
The fish and chips is excellent. Their hand battered haddock is moist, flaky and has the perfect texture. Get it with their crispy chips and tartar sauce.
Constantly voted as one of the top Fish Fry locales in the region, and for good reason. Hand-battered fish along with many sides, homemade by culinary trainees, including pierogies, mac & cheese, haluski and coleslaw.
Insider Tip: This was the first fish fry I went to in 2023 for good reason. The fried fish is hand-seasoned and hand-battered to order and even the french fries are fresh cut. This fish fry is a MUST.
Dine-in returns (takeout also available) for this Pittsburgh-favorite fry offering various fried and baked options including fried or baked fish, homemade crab cakes, shrimp dinner, mac & cheese, pierogies, desserts and more!
Opened in 2020, Oak Hill Post is a casual neighborhood eatery offering delicious breakfast and specialty sandwiches, netting them top positions in restaurant rankings every year since they opened. Their cornflake-breaded Barramundi fish filet on a house-made buttermilk biscuit is not to be missed!
An off-the-beaten-path bar that’s not fancy but their food is great. Big portions and good service. They were featured on Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." The atmosphere and location are part of the whole experience. A must-stop, simple as that.
The Codfather is the stunner here, a huge filet of cod dipped in beer batter and perfectly fried, all on large kaiser roll. It gets crowded on Fridays during Lent, so go early or later in the evening.
Not into the fish sandwich? Head to Catatouille's food truck park outside of Belvedere's Ultra Dive for their vegan, fishless fish fry served with homemade slaw, tartar sauce and, of course, pierogies.
Tucked into a stretch of row houses along Butler Street, E-Town has a great beer selection and terrific food, including flavorful fish sandwiches. Etna's best-kept secret has definitely gotten out.
Jumbo fried fish sandwich AND jumbo fried fish - need we say more? If you get the jumbo it will feed two people. Enjoy it with french fries and coleslaw.
One parish, two amazing fish fries at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church or Ss. Simon and Jude Church in Green Tree. Secret recipe crab cakes and fish tacos are great orders here, along with Friday's famous bread pudding for dessert.
Us natives just call it Wholey's (pronounced wool-ees)! Fish of every kind imaginable including incredible melt-in-your-mouth, buttery fish sandwiches. Try the Wholey Holy Moley (1 pound of Icelandic cod stacked on a sandwich) or Wholey Whaler (with 1 lb. of whiting).
If you want the authentic church fish fry experience, Cellar on Penn works with St. Stanislaus Kosta Parish each Friday of Lent for the classic fish sandwich, but you'll also want to try their capellini pasta with crabmeat vodka sauce and famous St. StanisSLAW.
Primanti's famous coleslaw and fries piled atop their colossal fish and cheese is a match made in heaven. Get every flavor of the Pittsburgh fish fry in one bite, available here and at all Primanti locations.
Photo Credit: Wholey's Facebook Page
There are plenty more options in the greater Pittsburgh area to grab some fish over the next few months, there's even an interactive map of Pittsburgh fish frys to check out! So many options, so much fish to try!
