After the decadent last hurrah of Fat Tuesday, many Christians observe 40 days of abstinence from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. The most common Lenten sacrifice is giving up meat on Fridays. That means the Midwestern tradition of Friday fish fries and the Chicago-specific pepper and egg sandwich are especially popular during Lent, which runs from Feb. 14 to March 28.
Some restaurants are going further afield for their meat substitutes, serving lobster rolls or fish tacos, while others are harking back to older practices by pouring Lenten beer. However you observe the season, these 26 spots will keep you satisfied until Easter.
The Loop and Near North Side
Shaw’s Crab House
A $35 three-course lunch menu offered Feb. 16 through March 29 starts with a cup of New England clam chowder or lobster bisque with entrees including blackened mahi mahi with crawfish etouffee or a platter of fried cod, shrimp and calamari. Finish with a mini key lime pie or chocolate cake. 21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com
North Side & Northwest Side
All Too Well
Chef Mitchell Jamra created The Michigan — a sandwich made with smoked whitefish spread, dill chimichurri and arugula on schiacciata bread ($14) — just for the holiday. 352 W. Armitage Ave., 773-799-8478, alltoowellchi.com
Avenue Tap & Kitchen
Stop in on Fridays Feb. 16 through March 29 for a $15 fish and chips special. 3407 N. Paulina Ave., 773-871-1200, avenuetapchicago.com
Fat Cat
Come early because the bar often sells out of its $16 Friday fish fries, which feature beer-battered cod served with champagne slaw and house-made herb tartar sauce or on a kaiser roll with avocado and lemon aioli. Both come with a side of fries. 4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100, fatcatbar.com
Irish American Heritage Center
Irish dance schools perform weekly at the fish fries running 6:30-9 p.m. Fridays Feb. 16 through March 29, which include fried cod, french fries, coleslaw and peas for $18 or $13 for kids under 12. The Fifth Province Pub will be pouring drinks and there will be coloring books and movies to keep children entertained. 4626 N. Knox Ave., 773-282-7035, irish-american.org
Lark
Feast on an all-you-can eat fish fry Fridays from Feb. 16 to March 29 that includes fish and chips with coleslaw, hush puppies and tartar sauce for $18. Add on a $5 Bud Light or $35 Nutrl bucket. 3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com
Old Pueblo Cantina
A special $30 mariscos platter offered Fridays during Lent includes an ahi tuna tostada, shrimp and corn empanada, and Baja fish taco. 1200 W. Webster Ave., 773-697-3727, oldpueblochicago.com
Wake ’n Bacon
The Lakeview restaurant brings back the popular sweet salmon couscous ($22) from its opening menu, serving it all day Fridays during Lent. 420 W. Belmont Ave., 773-880-5100, eatwakenbacon.com
West Side & Near West Side
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
A Lenten menu offered from noon to 10 p.m. Fridays from Feb. 16 to March 29 features a pepper and egg sandwich ($16), a fried whitefish sandwich ($18) and a butter poached lobster roll ($25), all served with cool ranch Parmesan fries. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, heritage-chicago.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Beer-battered whitefish is served as fish and chips with house-made tartar sauce ($13) or on a brioche bun as a sandwich with fries ($14) daily from Ash Wednesday through Good Friday. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Tuman’s Tap & Grill
Monks in the Middle Ages would brew strong beer to get them through the Lenten fast and you can get a taste of the tradition with a $7 Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier. The bar also offers beer-battered cod with hand-cut fries and house-made tartar sauce on Ash Wednesday and Fridays through March 29. 2159 W. Chicago Ave., 773-782-1400, tumanstapandgrill.com
South Side & Near South Side
Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery
Get a pepper and egg sandwich for $6 throughout Lent along with other specials including a tuna melt ($8.25), eggplant Parmesan sandwich ($8.35) and buffalo shrimp from Lawrence’s Fish Market ($11). 701 W. 31st St., 312-808-0147, freddieson31st.com
Pleasant House Pub
The British-inspired cafe has been serving beer-battered fish with triple-fried chips and house-made tartar sauce ($17) on Friday for 13 years. Their signature vegetarian and vegan royal pies ($14) are also popular during the Lenten season. 2119 S. Halsted St., 773-523-7437, pleasanthousepub.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Aboyer
The American French restaurant serves whole roasted Dover sole with brown butter and fried capers ($49) on Fridays. 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-441-3100, georgetroisgroup.com
Bulldog Ale House
Fill up with a $14 all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry and $7 cheese pizzas along with $4 domestic pints and $2 PBR cans. 157 S. Weber Road, Bolingbrook, 630-378-0333 and 459 S. Randall Road, North Aurora, 630-264-0333; bulldogalehouse.com
Bonefish Grill
The Angler’s Catch, a plate of tempura-style cod, battered shrimp, fries, coleslaw, and cocktail and tartar sauce, is available for $20 Fridays from Feb. 16 through March 29. Multiple locations, bonefishgrill.com
Buona
The Italian beef chain serves $6.99 pepper and egg sandwiches on Ash Wednesday and Fridays through Easter. Multiple locations, buona.com
Carnivore & The Queen
The supper club offers three beer-battered walleye filets, three jumbo shrimp steamed in lemon garlic broth, potatoes, slaw and onion rings for $39 on Fridays. 2241 Maple Ave., Downers Grove, 630-541-9951, carnivoreandthequeen.com
Catch 35
The seafood restaurant offers specials from Feb. 15 through Good Friday including a crispy seafood platter with beer-battered shrimp and cod served with fries, coleslaw, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce ($29), tuna poke tostadas ($19), and cedar plank salmon ($34). 35 W. Wacker Drive, 312-346-3500 and 35 S. Washington St., Naperville, 630-717-3500, catch35.com
Easy Street
All three of the pizzeria’s locations are offering a $15 fish and chips special Fridays from Feb. 16 through March 29. Multiple locations, easystreetpizzachicago.com
Johnnie’s Beef
The family-owned hot dog joint offers a $5.04 pepper and egg sandwich on Ash Wednesday and Fridays. 7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park, 708-452-6000 and 1935 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, 847-357-8100
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
Enjoy a Wisconsin fish fry on the North Shore with lake perch, house-made tartar sauce and salt and vinegar fries offered for $27 on Fridays. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com
The Matrix Room
Mix it up with five different fish specials served Fridays during Lent including fried cod and chips ($25), grilled branzino ($35) and jerk salmon ($25). 808 S. Route 59, Naperville, 630-581-7200, matrixvenue.com/matrix-room
Pomeroy
Indulge with wild Dover sole ($73) served Fridays during Lent or try some of the restaurant’s regular seafood dishes including trout amandine ($31) and seared salmon ($35). 844 Spruce St., Winnetka, 847-999-3090, pomeroywinnetka.com
Portillo’s
Get a pepper and egg sandwich served on French bread or a croissant on Ash Wednesday and every Friday through Easter. Multiple locations, portillos.com
Shaw’s Crab House
Choose your preferred version of a fish fry with popcorn shrimp, beer-battered wild Alaskan cod, or a platter featuring cod, calamari and fried shrimp, all offered for $28 from Feb. 16 to March 29. All the meals come with french fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce, a Caesar salad or cup of New England clam chowder to start, and a mini key lime pie for dessert. 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, 847-517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
