10 Tasty Louisville Restaurants for Fried Fish During Lent
Can’t go wrong with the fish and chips at the Irish Rover. Photos by Kevin Gibson
Lent has arrived, and the Friday fish frys are back up and running. But there are plenty of restaurants around town with some tasty fried fish anytime of the week, any time of day. Or, heck, any time of the year in most cases. Here’s a quick list of 10 with brief descriptions, along with a few more name drops.
The Irish Rover: Ah, the Rover. Always my first choice for fried fish. Huge portions, cozy atmosphere and real, Ireland-sized imperial pints. What’s not to love? Oh, and if you aren’t sticking to fish, the whole menu is pretty darn tasty, from the Scotch eggs to the lamb burger to the Guinness stew. A can’t-miss.
Mike Linnig’s: For nearly 100 years, Louisville-area families have been heading out to Pleasure Ridge Park for the never-ending fish fry at Linning’s. The whitefish sandwich is the time-honored classic, but you can get catfish, tilapia and tons of other seafood options. Sit outside if the weather is nice, and wait to hear the enthusiastic loudspeaker shout-out when your order is ready. “Kevin, come on down!”
PassTime Fish House: You want a big fish sandwich? Like really big? Head out to Jeffersontown and order the cod sandwich, which is like two meals in one. Lightly coated in a peppery batter, it will have you drooling as soon as it arrives. And if you can’t handle that bad boy, try the fish bites appetizer. Just as good, but with less commitment.
Rumors: Well worth the drive, Middletown’s little gem has a grouper sandwich that will keep you coming back. I’m also a fan of the grouper bites, which make for a great shareable or a fun lunch if you can’t quite get your jaws around that sandwich. Of course, there’s also wings, oysters, shrimp, sandwiches and all the hometown hospitality you could ever ask for.
The Fish House: You like a Green River-style fish fry, you say? The Fish House is where it’s at, over at the corner of Barret and Winter. The selection is vast, with scrod, catfish, tilapia and haddock all swimming around on the menu, and plenty of other seafood options as well. By morning, it also doubles as a New Orleans-style coffee house, including fresh beignets.
Fish platter from Floyd County Brewing Co.
Suburban Fish Fry: Seasonal like the church picnics, Suburban Fish Fry has been around for more than a century, opening every Saturday from March to November in its spot on South Third. The offering is pretty basic, with a dinner featuring Green River-style fried cod, fries, coleslaw and marinated onions or sandwiches on your choice of bread. You can also buy fish by the pound and take it go. It’s cash only, and when it runs out, it runs out. (Note: Opens for the season on March 2.)
The Fishery: This quaint fish house in St. Matthews is another example of the neighborhood eatery that exhibits remarkable endurance. Situated at a busy intersection in St. Matthews, it quietly excels, specializing in Icelandic cod and catfish with homestyle sides. And if you’re having a fish party for Lent, the Fishery caters.
Moby Dick: A friend recently asked me if Moby Dick was local or a national chain, and I actually had to look it up. This mini-chain has been around since 1967, when it began serving “a whale of a sandwich,” or so goes the slogan. Wild-caught Icelandic cod is the name of the game here, along with shrimp, clams, pan-fried oysters and more. With more than a dozen locations, there’s a chance there’s already one in your neighborhood.
Floyd County Brewing Co.: Just a short ride down I-64 from Louisville, this downtown New Albany brewery and pub has a best-kept-secret-level fish and chips basket all year round. Crispy Atlantic whitefish is served with either one or two pieces, Battle Fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce in a basket lined with newspaper-print parchment paper. And, hey, craft beer.
Check’s Cafe: Talk about a Louisville classic. Last time I was there, I ate so many chicken livers that I had to be carried out of there. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but if you order the signature Check’s Fish Platter, you better wear loose pants. You’ll get two huge hunks of flaky, lightly-fried fish with a pair of sides. Happy Lent, indeed.
Other places around town where you can find fried fish (outside of the church fish fry) include Spring Street Bar & Grill, Four Pegs Smokehouse and Bar (Fridays during Lent), Lucretia’s Kitchen, Kingfish, The Dock Seafood, 'Blue Bay Seafood and Sushi, H.M. Frank’s, O’Shea’s, Bungalow Joe’s, Sharks Seafood, Seafood Lady, Fireside Bar and Grill, Mary & John O’Bryan’s Tavern, Shirley Mae’s Café, Franco’s Restaurant and Catering, Three Brothers Restaurant, Bambi Bar (through Lent), Nally's (during Lent), The Corner Cafe (Fridays), Monnik Beer Co. (Fridays during Lent), Great Flood Brewing in Middletown (through the end of Lent), Elks Lodge #8 (through Good Friday) and Webb’s Market. (If I’ve forgotten your business in this list, feel free to contact me through this contact form, and I’ll be happy to add it!)
