Nine places to get fish 'n' chips, even if you're not giving up meat during Lent

Nancy Olesin, MetroWest Daily News
·6 min read

Here are nine places you can get fish ‘n’ chips so you can look forward to “Fish Fridays” — during Lent or any time of year.

And if you are giving up meat, crispy and delicious fried cod or haddock may just help take the edge off having to give up your usual burger or pepperoni pizza.

Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday today and lasts for 40 days, is when Christians commemorate the death of Jesus and prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.

When I was growing up, we went to Mass at 6 a.m. before school every day during Lent. So giving up meat on Fridays or even for the whole 40 days seems like getting off easy, especially if you’re biting into a hot platter full of golden brown seafood, not to mention fries or onion rings.

If you want to skip the guilt, many of these eateries have broiled or baked fish, too.

Do you have another favorite fried fish restaurant? Email us to let us know.

New England Seafood Co. 

Tom Carlson of New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022, with fish 'n' chips and a lobster roll.
Tom Carlson of New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022, with fish 'n' chips and a lobster roll.

121 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlborough, 508-481-5252

Skate on over to the New England Sports Center in Marlborough to experience the crispy deliciousness of the fish and chips at New England Seafood Co. It’s one of the reasons our staffers love to cover ice hockey there. Fish and chips with coleslaw, homemade tartar sauce, and homemade chips or fries is $17

Hours: 4-8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

New restaurant: In Framingham, they're serving up about 40 flavors of bubble tea

Harry’s Restaurant

Fish ’n chips at New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022.
Fish ’n chips at New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022.

149 Turnpike Road (Route 9), Westborough, 508-366 8302

Harry’s is known for its big portions. The menu says its fish ‘n’ chips is haddock, and is served with French fries and coleslaw. For an extra $2, you can substitute onion rings or sweet potato fries. On Fridays, the fish ‘n’ chips is on special for $12.99; other days it costs $16.99.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to  9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Kennedy’s Restaurant & Market

Cindy Daniel, manager of Kennedy's Kennedy's Restaurant, Pub and Market in Marlborough, carries lunch plates from the kitchen, Jan. 21, 2022.
Cindy Daniel, manager of Kennedy's Kennedy's Restaurant, Pub and Market in Marlborough, carries lunch plates from the kitchen, Jan. 21, 2022.

247 Maple St. (Route 85), Marlborough, 508-485-5800

Kennedy’s has its own seafood market, so you know the fish is fresh. A few years back they won our staff’s lobster roll taste test. Its fish and chips is always a generous portion, cooked to golden brown and is served with coleslaw and fries and costs $17.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30-9:30 p.m. Friday; noon to 9:30 Saturday; and 8 a.m. to noon (breakfast) and 1-8 p.m. (dinner) Sunday.

Cold outside?: Here are 12 restaurants where you can enjoy fireside dining

Depot Street Tavern

Depot Street Tavern owner Adam Hicks poses for a photo in this file photo.
Depot Street Tavern owner Adam Hicks poses for a photo in this file photo.

45 Depot St., Milford, 508-488-6844; 508-488-6827

Depot Street Tavern likes to source its ingredients from local purveyors. Its seafood comes from West Boylston Seafood, which has some of the freshest around. Depot Street’s menu promises crispy haddock filets with hand-cut fries, served with remoulade sauce. $20. Pair it with one of the local brews they serve, and you’re all set.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to noon (brunch) and 1-9:30 p.m. (lunch and dinner); and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday (brunch only)

Prezo Grille & Bar

229 ½ East Main St. (Route 16), Milford, 508-634-0101

Prezo’s fish ‘n’ chips Is made with haddock, its menu says, and is served with fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce for $20 at dinner. Baked haddock, haddock tacos and salmon with shrimp are other seafood selections on the menu.

Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday; noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; noon to 9:30 Friday and Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Pepperoncini’s Pizzeria & Grill 

201 Main St. (Route 16), Milford, 508-478-7377

The fish ‘n’ chips here is battered and golden fried, served with french fries, coleslaw and tartar for $18.49. Originally opened in Framingham, owner Vince Loscerbo moved the business to Milford in 2010, and of course they have great pizza if someone in your party doesn’t like fish. Local musicians and events like trivia nights make this a fun spot, too.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.

Growing up Catholic: 'Unto the Altar of God': Westborough author's memoir recalls years at a boys' seminary

New England Steak & Seafood

The lobster roll at New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022.
The lobster roll at New England Seafood at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, March 2, 2022.

11 Uxbridge Road, (Route 16), Mendon, 508-478-0871 or 508-473-5079

New England Steak & Seafood has been around since 1956, and fish and chips can’t get any more traditional. Its fish and chips dinner is $22.99, and all of its dinners include cheese and crackers, homemade breads, choice of salad, potato, rice, or pasta and a vegetable. Other fish options include fried bay scallops, grilled or baked haddock and baked stuffed shrimp.

Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 4-10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Tuesday.

Captain Marden’s Seafoods

279 Linden St., Wellesley, 781-235-3737

At $14, and served with two from a list including French fries, coleslaw, rice, baked potato (after 4 p.m.) vegetable, and lettuce and tomato, Captain Marden’s fish ‘n’ chips is a good deal. It also has a variety of baked and broiled fish, as well as a raw bar. Call to place a take-out order and to hear its daily specials. Outside, Captain Marden’s also sells fish ‘n’ chips from its “Cod Squad” food truck for $12. If you want to make it yourself, there’s the fish market, too.

Hours: 4-8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 3-8 p.m. Thursday; 3-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. Cod Squad Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Legal Sea Foods

50-60 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham, 508-766-0600;

Founded by George Berkowitz, who died Feb. 20 in a Dedham retirement community at age 97, Legal Sea Foods has a wide array of fish choices and is known for its quality fish. The East Coast chain of 23 restaurants has a food safety laboratory where it tests all seafood products prior to being served, so you know its fish is fresh. Its lobster roll came in second in our lobster roll taste test a few years back. The fish for its fish ‘n’ chips is “locally-sourced by our good friend Tory Bramante,” who happens to be the third-generation owner of Atlantic Coast Seafood Co. in Boston. Legals' fish 'n' chips is served with French fries and coleslaw, and costs $25.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Fish and chips restaurants in MetroWest and Milford