Here’s a list of 26 fish fries in southwest Illinois for your consideration this Lenten season
It’s already that time of year again.
Lent began Wednesday, Feb. 22, and with it comes the need to find those places to catch some fish on Fridays.
And you won’t even need any bait.
Here are some places in the area you can go to get your weekly fish fix. Some are also offering fish on Ash Wednesday.
Is one (or more) fish fry missing from the list? Let me know at jgreen@bnd.com.
▪ St. Mary’s Fish Fry — 4-6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and Fridays during Lent. 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.
▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and 4-7 p.m. every Friday. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Dine-in and carryout. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, 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. 22, and Fridays, March 3 & 24. 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. Dine in/carryout. facebook.com/QPRaiders
▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and every Friday. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Salmon patties on Ash Wednesday. Fridays include bluegill, cod, shrimp, walleye and sides. For members and qualified guests accompanied by a member. facebook.com/Lodge1221.BellevilleSwansea
▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and every Friday. Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. Dine in or carryout. Call 618-566-2288 to order. facebook.com/vfwpost7682
▪ Smithton Turner Hall Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and 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.
▪ Collinsville American Legion Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and 3-7:45 p.m. Fridays during Lent. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Limited menu on Ash Wednesday (no drive-thru orders) Call-in/drive-thru, carryout and bar dining available on Fridays. Cash or check only in the drive-thru. Place a drive-thru order by calling 618-345-2508. facebook.com/legionpst365
▪ O’Fallon K of C Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. every Friday. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239
▪ 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.
▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carryout, call-in and dine-in orders. 618-222-7171. facebook.com/swanseafishstand
▪ KC Club and Event Center Fish Fry — 3-7 p.m. every Friday. 5420 Old Collinsville Road, O’Fallon. Catfish plates, cod plates, barbecue chicken, fries, cole slaw, hush puppies, baked beans, potato salad. Dine in or carryout and drink specials. facebook.com/KCClubEastStLouis
▪ Highland Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Fridays during Lent. 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 hush puppies, bread, iced tea, coffee. Cash bar. facebook.com/HighlandKnightsofColumbusCouncil1580
▪ Maryville MPH Church Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Fridays during Lent. 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. 24 through March 31. 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. Orders taken in person or by calling 618-539-4720. Sponsored by the Support Committee.
▪ St. Henry Lenten Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Fridays Feb. 24 through April 7. Msgr. Voss Parish, 5303 W. Main St., Belleville. Fried cod, baked salmon, fried shrimp, cole slaw, French fries, onion rings, mac n’ cheese, hush puppies, spaghetti, soup, dessert. Cash or credit cards accepted. Dine in and carryout. No call-in orders. 618-233-2423.
▪ St. Teresa Men’s Club Fish Fry — 4-7:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 24 & 31. St. Teresa School, 1108 Lebanon Ave., Belleville. Fish, shrimp, spaghetti, sides. Sandwich or dinner plate. Dine in or carryout. facebook.com/stteresamensclubfishfry
▪ Firefighters Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 24, March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7. 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, $3 kids 5-10, under 5 free. Dine in or carryout. 618-859-3473.
▪ Friday Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. every Friday. Millstadt Sportsmen’s Club, 4915 Schmidt Lane, Belleville. Cod, shrimp, walleye, salmon patties. Carryouts available. 618-476-1891.
▪ 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
▪ Walton’s Kitchen Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. every Friday. Catholic War Veterans Post 370, 3535 S. Route 159, Freeburg (between Belleville and Smithton). Cod, tilapia, catfish (plates and sandwiches, bread, plenty of sides. Dine in and carryout. 618-416-5284 or facebook.com/waltonsfishfry.
▪ 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 and fries. Curbside/Carryout service. 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
▪ St. Joseph Lenten Fish Fry — 5-7 p.m. Fridays Feb. 24 through March 31. 901 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Fried cod, catfish, shrimp, French fries, cole slaw, potato salad, applesauce and desserts. Dine in or carry out.
▪ Okawville American Legion Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. every Friday. American Legion Post 233, 205 N. Hanover St., Okawville. Dine in or carryout. Also serving lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday with a salad bar. Pizza made fresh and served every day. facebook.com/OkawvilleLegion
▪ Quail Club Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Fridays through April 7. 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
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM.
