Area church and nonprofit groups are cooking up their own fish fries
Care for a slice of local life with your fish fry? Then perhaps you'd like to have dinner at one (or more!) of these area churches and nonprofits that hold fish fries during Lent, typically with the help of volunteers. (Some of the churches also serve fish fry beyond Lent.) Fridays in Lent this year fall from Feb. 28 through April 10.
Milwaukee County
Catholic East Elementary — Dinner is baked or fried cod, served with baked potato or french fries, coleslaw, applesauce, rye bread, dessert and coffee. Beer and wine are sold separately. Dinner is $10, or $9 for seniors and for takeout and $6 for children. Fish fry is 4 to 7:30 p.m. March 6, 13, 20 and 27 and April 3 in Holy Rosary Hall, in the basement of Three Holy WomenHoly Rosary Church, 2011 N. Oakland Ave. The parking lot is off North Bartlett Avenue. Parties of six or more can request reservations at ceefishfry@gmail.com; emails should include name, phone number, number in party and preferred time.
Holy Family Catholic Church — The parish makes fried or baked cod for $12, lake perch for $13 and fried shrimp for $13. Meals are served with coleslaw, rye bread, dessert and a choice of fries, sweet potato fries, potato pancakes or baked potato. Meals for children (a piece of fish or four shrimp or macaroni and cheese) are $6. The fish fry is 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday in Lent. Carry out or dine in at McCormick Hall's lower level. Enter from the parking lot in the 4800 block of N. Marlborough Ave. in Whitefish Bay, through the southeast doors; the wheelchair entrance is at the church's front door, 4825 N. Wildwood Ave. Credit cards are accepted.
Polish Center of Wisconsin — Every Friday in Lent, the Polish Center will serve fish fry. From 4:30 to 8 p.m., diners can help themselves to the all-you-caneat buffet. There'll be hand-breaded fried cod and baked cod, pierogi, coleslaw, french fries and rye bread. Desserts and drinks are sold separately. Dinner is $15, $13 for Polish Heritage Alliance members with membershipcards and $8 for children 6 to 12. 6941 S. 68th St., Franklin. (414) 529-2140. Carryout is available, reservations are not.
Sacred Heart Croatian Parish — Baked or fried cod, french fries, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, coleslaw, rye bread and coffee or milk are on the menu.
Grilled cheese sandwiches ($2.50 or $4 for a plate) are available, and homemade desserts and other drinks are sold separately. Dinner is $10, or $9 for those 65 and older, $8.50 for takeout and $5.50 for children younger than 10. Fish fries will be 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 27 at the church, 917 N. 49th St.
St. Augustine Catholic Church — The fishy fry is all-you-can-eat beer-battered or baked cod for $11, or $5 for children 3 to 11; early birds pay $10.50 from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Dinner includes french fries, buttered new potatoes, coleslaw, rye bread, dessert and coffee or milk. The combo six-piece breaded shrimp and allyou-can-eat fish dinner is $14. Macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches also are available, and beer, wine and soda are sold separately. Patrons can dine in or carryout from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday in Lent in the parish hall, 2025 S. 67th Place, West Allis.
St. Augustine of Hippo Parish — The parish prepares hand-cut and -breaded fried cod or baked cod and breaded shrimp, with from-scratch potato pancakes, french fries or parsley baked potatoes, homemade coleslaw, a vegetable, dessert and coffee, tea or milk. It's $10, or $6 for a smaller portion, served from 4 to 7 p.m. (or until sold out) Feb. 28, March 20 and April
10. The fish fry is in the church hall, 2530 S. Howell Ave.
St. Florian Parish — Smelt is an option at these allyou-can-eat dinners, which include a salad bar. Also available: homemade clam chowder, baked and beerbattered cod, french fries, parsley buttered potatoes, rye bread, dessert, coffee and milk. Soda and tap and bottled beer are sold separately, and takeout is available. Dinner is $12, or $7.50 for children 3 to 10. Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinners are 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 26) and every Friday in Lent. In the Cristo Rey School cafeteria (elevator available), 1215 S. 45th St., West Milwaukee. (414) 383-3565.
St. Sebastian Catholic Church — Dine-in, all-youcan-eat fried or baked cod with salad bar, milk and coffee is $11.50, or $9.50 for seniors and discounts for children; it's $4 for only the salad bar. Dine-in fish fry during Lent is March 6 and April 3. Takeout also is available then and on Feb. 28, March 13, 20 and 27, and April
10. Takeout fried or baked cod with sides is $10.50, or $29 for a bucket of fish and fries. Shrimp chowder and a soup of the month are sold separately, as are beer and soda at dine-in dinners. Fish fries are served 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria, 1740 N. 55th St.
Waukesha County
Queen of Apostles Parish — Diners can choose from a two-piece fried or baked cod dinner for $10 or three pieces for $11, or fried shrimp or a combo plate for $12. Dinner is served with french fries, coleslaw, tartar or shrimp sauce, bread and homemade desserts. Macaroni and cheese is $5, and beer, wine and soda are sold separately. Hours to dine in or carry out are 4:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 27 during Lent. N35-W23360 Capitol Drive, Pewaukee.
St. Agnes Parish — Lightly battered cod, $9, is served with coleslaw, rye bread and a choice of french fries, potato pancakes or handmade, fried shredded onions. Drinks and desserts are sold separately. Dinners are 4 to 7 p.m. March 13 and April 3. In Hafford Hall, 12801 W. Fairmount Ave., Butler.
Contact dining critic Carol Deptolla at carol.deptolla@jrn.com or (414) 224-2841, or through the Journal Sentinel Food & Home page on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter at @mkediner or Instagram at @mke_diner.