Pittsburgh's Fish Fry-Days | 2024 Fish Fry Guide
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 2024 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. 14 - March 28, 2024), 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! Home to a thriving culinary scene across various neighborhoods, you'll find a scrumptious array of fried fish offerings throughout Pittsburgh.
Fish Fry Guide 2024
Downtown
The Original Oyster House, Market Square
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!
Brother Andre's Cafe, Uptown
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!
The Warren, Downtown
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!
North
North Park Lounge, North Hills
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.
Allegheny Elks Lodge, Deutschtown
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.
The Grant Bar & Lounge, Millvale
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.
Pittsburgh Fish & Chicken, Brighton Heights
This casual eatery serves a variety of fried fish entrees, including tilapia, cod, and catfish. Don't miss pairing your meal with a side of fries, bread, and coleslaw.
South
The Pub Chip Shop, South Side
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.
Piper's Pub, South Side
Experience generous portions of fish and chips with the perfect crunch. In Piper's Pub, haddock is prepared with a beer batter and chips are accompanied by a side of mushy peas.
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, Hazelwood
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.
St. Joan of Arc Church, South Park
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!
Oak Hill Post, Brookline
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!
East
Big Jim’s Restaurant & Bar, Greenfield
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.
Swissvale Fire Department, Swissvale
Beer-battered fish sandwich is tasty and hearty. The mac & cheese is good and the haluski usually sells out quickly so get there early.
Stinky’s, Lawrenceville
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.
Catatouille, Lawrenceville
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.
E-Town Bar and Grill, Etna
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.
West
Elly's, Carnegie
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.
St. Margaret of Scotland, Green Tree
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.
Strip District
Robert Wholey & Co., Inc.
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).
Cellar on Penn
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.
Penn Avenue Fish Company
Super casual, loft-like, vibrant restaurant for sampling sushi and daily catches. It’s a great place to get fresh and delicious fish.
Primanti Bros.
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.
Mullaney's Harp and Fiddle Irish Pub
This charming Irish pub provides an array of whiskey to enhance your fried fish experience. The fish and chips are lightly seasoned in a Guinness batter, revealing a burst of hearty flavors in each bite.
Osteria 2350
The sister restaurant of the popular Cioppino, Osteria 2350 is offering up huge hand-breaded pieces of cod with house-made tartar sauce, available as a classic sandwich for lunch or with a little bit of an elevated approach for dinner.
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!
Related Content:
The Original Oyster House20 Market Square
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Primanti Bros. Market Square2 South Market Square
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222