As Lent 2024 begins, here’s a list of 27 fish fries in southwestern Illinois

Jennifer Green
·7 min read
2
Lenten fish fries continue this week with many options for the community.

Lent begins this week with the arrival of Ash Wednesday and the search for the local Friday fish fries.

So here’s a list of places to get some fish and other great eats, many starting Wednesday, Feb. 14, for Lent and beyond.

And I hope you’re hungry, because there are a lot to choose from.

Are any missing from the list? Send the details to lifestyle@bnd.com.

Starting Ash Wednesday

▪ O’Fallon Knights of Columbus & Ladies Auxiliary Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Fridays during Lent. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, hamburgers, hot dogs, and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229 until 7:30 p.m. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239

▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Fridays during Lent. Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. Cod, catfish and walleye (sandwich, dinner, pound), potato salad, slaw, green beans, fries, onion rings, hush puppies. Fish breading is gluten-free. Dine in or carryout. Call 618-566-2288 to order. facebook.com/vfwpost7682

▪ Collinsville American Legion Fish Fry — Noon to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and 3-7:45 p.m. every Friday. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Cod, shrimp, catfish, crab cakes and sides. Curbside (Fridays only), carryout or dine-in. Place a to-go order by calling 618-345-2508. facebook.com/legionpst365

▪ St. Mary’s Fish Fry — 4-6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Fridays Feb. 16 through March 29. St. Mary’s Church, 1706 W. Main St., Belleville. Freshly prepared fish and choice of sides. Drive-thru only. Cash, credit/debit or check accepted. Enter the campus via 17th Street, order when you arrive and your take-home feast will be hot-and-ready when you drive around to the food preparation area.

▪ 11th annual Dave Marti Memorial Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14. St. Lawrence Posch Center, 420 S. Prairie St., Greenville. Alaskan pollock, bread, cole slaw, potato salad, mac & cheese, dessert. Presented by Greenville Fire Protection District Volunteers and benefiting Backstoppers. facebook.com/GreenvilleFPD

▪ Highland Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Fridays Feb. 16 through March 29. Highland Knights of Columbus, 12454 IL Route 143, Highland. Fried and baked fish, fried shrimp, chicken strip dinners, two sides from fries, cole slaw, macaroni salad, applesauce, plus bread, iced tea, coffee. Cash bar. facebook.com/HighlandKnightsofColumbusCouncil1580

▪ Smoke & Kettle at the KC Club and Event Center — 4-7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and noon to 8 p.m. every Friday. 5420 Old Collinsville Road, O’Fallon. Catfish, cod, shrimp and more. Dine in or carryout. facebook.com/KCClubEastStLouis

▪ The B’s Family Kitchen — 4-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday. Swansea Improvement Association, 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, catfish, shrimp and more. Dine in and carryout. 618-416-1868. facebook.com/thebsfamilykitchen

▪ Catholic War Veterans Post 370 Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday Feb. 14 and every Friday. Catholic War Veterans Post 370, 3535 S. Route 159, Freeburg (between Belleville and Smithton). Dine in and carryout. 618-416-5284.

▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and every Friday. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311. avistonlegion.com

▪ Queen of Peace Fish Fry — 4:30-7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and Fridays, March 1 & 15. Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 5915 North Belt West, Belleville. Enjoy cod, fish (baked) tacos, peel-and-eat shrimp, salad, homemade sides – French fries, QP slaw, mac & cheese, potato salad. Desserts and drinks. Dine in/carryout. facebook.com/QPRaiders

Fish on Fridays

▪ Waterloo VFW Post #6504 Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday. Waterloo VFW Post #6504, 406 Veterans Drive, Waterloo. Traditional Menu of cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp, chicken, chicken strips, hamburgers, fries, slaw, hush puppies, onion rings, fried green beans and fried mushrooms. Cash bar available. Dine-in or carryout. Credit/debit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-939-7999.

▪ Holy Trinity’s Lenten Fish Fry — 3:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 16 through March 29. Holy Trinity, 505 Fountains Parkway, Fairview Heights. Fish and shrimp (plate, sandwich, pound), fries, slaw, green beans, applesauce, mac & cheese, onion rings, hush puppies, spaghetti. Carryout orders can be placed at 3:30 p.m. Dine-in begins at 4 p.m. holytrinityil.org

▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. every Friday. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Dine-in and carryout. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694

▪ Maryville MPH Church Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Fridays Feb. 16 through March 22. MPH Parish Center, 200 N. Lange, Maryville. Costs: $12 for two pieces of cod fish, choice of fries or onion rings, cole slaw (homemade), bread, two hush puppies (homemade) and a drink; $8 for one piece of cod fish, fries or onion rings, cole slaw, bread, two hush puppies and a drink. mph.dio.org

▪ St. Joseph Church Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Fridays Feb. 16 through March 22 and Friday, April 12. St. Joseph’s Parish Center, 6 N. Alton St., Freeburg. Fried cod loins (plate, sandwich or pound), baked cod, shrimp, green beans, fries, homemade slaw, stewed tomatoes, mac and cheese. Dine in or carryout. No phone orders. Sponsored by the Support Committee.

▪ St. Henry Catholic Church Famous Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Fridays Feb. 16 through March 29. St. Henry Catholic Church, 5315 W. Main St., Belleville. Fried cod, fried shrimp, baked salmon. Sides are homemade coleslaw, spaghetti, onion rings, French fries, hush puppies, mac-n-cheese and soup. Fish sold by the plate, sandwich or pound. Plate includes two sides, $12; Pound is $15. Discount for police, fireman, military, and EMS personnel. Cash, credit or debit cards taken. Dine in or carryout. Call Jerry at 618-540-8062 or Kim at 618-540-8383 with questions.

▪ Firefighters Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 16, 23, March 1, 15, 22 & 29. Ellis Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 501 Eggemeyer Plaza, Ellis Grove. Buffalo fish, catfish, cod, shrimp, baked beans, fries, cole slaw, onion rings, hush puppies, potato salad, fried pickles. Cost: $15 adults, $7 kids 5-12, under 5 free. Dine in or carryout. 618-859-3473.

▪ Millstadt Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. every Friday. Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Eat in or carryout. Call ahead for carryout. 618-476-1180. facebook.com/MillstadtVFWPost

▪ Millstadt Sportsman’s Club Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. every Friday. Millstadt Sportsman’s Club, 4915 Schmidt Lane, Belleville. Cod, shrimp, walleye, salmon patties, sides. Carryouts available. 618-476-1891.

▪ St. Joseph’s Lenten Fish Fry — 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays Feb. 16 through March 22. 901 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Fried cod, catfish, shrimp, French fries, cole slaw, potato salad, applesauce, hush puppies and desserts. Dine in or carry out.

▪ Glen Carbon American Legion Post 435 Fish Fry — 4:30-8 p.m. every Friday. American Legion Post 435, 190 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Dinners and sandwiches, catfish, cod, jack salmon, Alaskan white fish and chicken strips, slaw, fries, baked beans and more. Carryout available. 618-288-7119 or facebook.com/amlegion435.

▪ Shiloh Eagles Fish Fry — 5-7 p.m. every Friday. Shiloh Eagles 545, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and sides. Dine-in or carryout available. For carryout, call 618-624-5412. facebook.com/shiloheagles545

▪ Okawville American Legion Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. every Friday. American Legion Post 233, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. Dine in or carryout. facebook.com/OkawvilleLegion

▪ Quail Club Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Fridays during Lent. Quail Club, 8303 Concordia Church Road, Belleville. Cod cut-ups, walleye, shrimp, burgers. Sides and desserts available. Carryout available. No phone orders. quailclub.com/fish-fry

▪ Smithton Turner Hall Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Fridays during Lent. Turner Hall, 115 N. Julia, Smithton. Baked and fried cod loins in both plates and by the pound, grilled cheese, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries, baked potato, cole slaw, stewed tomatoes, mac and cheese and hush puppies. Plus desserts provided by the Smithton Turner Ladies. Dine in with plenty of seating or call in a carryout. 618-277-9690 or facebook.com/smithton.turnerhall.