Calling all fish lovers! Here are 12+ must-try Louisville restaurants to get fish for Lent
It's fried fish season! If you're looking for fish outside the church setting, here are some Louisville area restaurants where you can get your fill during Lent 2023. Each offers a variety of dine-in, carry-out or drive-thru options.
Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar
WHAT: Utilizing ingredients grown on the 683-acre farm, chef Seth Kinder introduces dishes that tell a story from farm to table. The menu at Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar offers white Riverence trout, red snapper and black risotto.
WHERE: 10500 W. Highway 42, Goshen
WHEN: Wednesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.; Sunday, 4-9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Additional specials and dishes may be available through Lent, check social media for details. hermitagefarm.com.
Bonefish Grill
WHAT: Bonefish Grill is offering a new seasonal favorite Baja scallop and shrimp scampi pasta, tender Bay Scallops, tossed with shrimp in a garlic scampi sauce, topped with fresh tomatoes over linguine. Also Alaskan Sablefish (aka black cod) a delicacy that many liken to sea bass, topped with creamy spinach and jumbo lump crab. Served with a choice of two signature sides.
WHERE: 657 S. Hurstbourne Parkway
WHEN: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: 502-412-4666; bonefishgrill.com.
Brendon’s Catch 233
WHAT: The upscale seafood restaurant features prime seafood, steak, shellfish and more than 100 of Kentucky’s finest bourbons. Menu includes an oyster bar, king crab, shrimp, lobster, salmon and more.
WHERE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown, 505 S. 4th St.
WHEN: Tuesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: 502-909-0053; bcatch23.com; open table.
Brown Hotel
WHAT: The Brown Hotel's Lobby Bar is offering several menu options that would be great for Lent, including shrimp and grits featuring gulf shrimp, Weisenberger grits, local cheddar cheese, pepper and scallion crudo with Creole sauce; an seared scallops with parsnip puree, swiss chard, mushrooms, zucchini, bacon, peppadew, and herb oil; Verlasso salmon with whipped potatoes, broccolini, pesto and tomato-fennel coulis; and their veggie dish with Frondosa Farms mushrooms, garlic roasted zucchini and squash, braised quinoa, tomato coulis, basil pesto with crispy potato strings.
WHERE: 335 W. Broadway
WHEN: Sunday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m. for dinner; their late night menu is offered from 9-11 p.m. The bar is open from 4 to 11 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: brownhotel.com.
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Culver's
WHAT: The Midwest-based chain is serving a Northwoods Walleye dinner, hand battered and golden fried; butterfly jumbo shrimp dinner, lightly breaded shrimp served with their own special recipe cocktail sauce, a lemon wedge; both are served with two sides. Also, North Atlantic cod dinner, hand cut, hand battered and golden fried, served with a classic Culver’s family recipe tartar sauce featuring olives, capers and sweet relish, your choice of two classic sides and a dinner roll.
WHERE: 4630 S. Hurstbourne Parkway; 11801 Interchange Dr.; 1555 Veterans Parkway, Jeffersonville, Indiana; 240 Federal Dr., Corydon, Indiana
WHEN: Hours vary
MORE INFORMATION: culvers.com.
Cunningham's Creekside
WHAT: Cunningham's is known for its hand-breaded cod, fried to a golden brown. It also serves grilled white fish, shrimp, salmon, pan-fried oysters and more.
WHERE: 6301 River Road, Prospect, Kentucky
WHEN: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine in or carry out. 502-228-3625; cunninghamscreekside.com.
The Fishery
WHAT: This seafood restaurant in St. Matthews offers a variety of meals ranging from its signature Icelandic cod to clams, catfish and shrimp. Also crab cakes, lobster rolls, salmon croquettes and more.
WHERE: 3624 Lexington Road
WHEN: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in, carryout, and curbside pickup. 502-895-1188. thefisheryky.com.
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The Fish House/Café Beignet
WHAT: This seafood restaurant serves fish platters, sandwiches, New Orleans-style beignets and weekend breakfast.
WHERE: 1310 Winter Ave.
WHEN: Fish House: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Café Beignet: Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon; Sunday, noon to 2 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in, carryout, and curbside pickup. 502-568-2993; fishhouselouisville.com.
The Hungry Pelican
WHAT: The family-owned home-style restaurant is known for its fresh seafood. It hand cuts and hand breads most items on its menu, rolled oysters and white fish. It also offers Boston Scrod, shrimp, snow fish, crab cakes, rolled oysters, New England clam chowder and more.
WHERE: 5412 Bardstown Road
WHEN: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in and carryout. 502-239-7145; hungrypelicanlou.com.
KingFish
WHAT: This locally owned and operated seafood restaurant since 1948 offers a variety of seafood including fish, shrimp, crab cakes, scallops, clams, frog legs, tilapia, cod, scrod, salmon and more.
WHERE: 3021 River Road; 601 W. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana
WHEN: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Zorn); Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Indiana).
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in and carryout. 502-895-0544; 812-284-3474; kingfishrestaurants.com.
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Long John Silver's
WHAT: The nation's largest quick-service seafood restaurant since 1969 is serving its classic fried fish and chips (wild Alaska Pollock), shrimp and Pacific Cod. Long John Silver's also has grilled seafood options and $6 shrimp baskets (grilled, popcorn and batter-dipped shrimp) with one side and hushpuppies (fried).
WHERE: Multiple locations
WHEN: Hours vary
MORE INFORMATION: ljsilvers.com
Mike Linnig's
WHAT: Serving seafood since 1925, Mike Linnig's is famous for its large fish sandwich. The fish may be ordered individually with French fries and coleslaw on the side or, as a platter with a little bit of everything, including salmon, oysters, shrimp, scallops, cod, crab cakes, alligator and frog legs. For those who don't want fried food, there is grilled salmon and tilapia.
WHERE: 9308 Cane Run Road
WHEN: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in and carryout. 502-937-9888; 502-937-1235; mikelinnigsrestaurant.com.
Moby Dick
WHAT: The family-owned seafood restaurant opened in 1967 and is one of Louisville's fast food favorites. The best value, Whale of a Sandwich, features two North Atlantic cod fillets hand-breaded in cracker meal breading. The top seller is the box for two with four North Atlantic cod fillets, fries and two hush puppies. Moby Dick also serves baked fish, clams, and shrimp. Onion rings are hand-cut, hand-breaded in cracker meal and made to order, plus you can order sides including breaded mushrooms and cauliflower, coleslaw, hush puppies and more.
WHERE: Multiple locations
WHEN: Hours vary
MORE INFORMATION: Hours, menu availability and pricing varies by location. mobydickrestaurants.com.
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North of Bourbon
WHAT: Chef Lawrence Weeks puts his unique spin on dishes from across the deep south, including plenty of seafood (and vegetarian) options. During lunch, all the salads are vegetarian including a vegan Caesar or choose from catfish nuggets, shrimp po'boys, catfish po'boys, shrimp and grits, or the bourbon grilled cheese. In the evenings, the crab fondue, mushroom meunière, seafood Clemenceau, crab rice dressing and shrimp yakamein.
WHERE: 935 Goss Ave.
WHEN: Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Additional specials are planned throughout the Lenten season, check social media for specifics. Reservations are available at opentable.com; facebook.com/NorthofBourbon
Porcini
WHAT: Porcini's seafood-centric menu is crafted by longtime executive chef and fisherman, John Plymale. Featuring Pesce Alla Grigli, grilled halibut with a lobster beurre blanc sauce; Linguine Con Vongole, linguine, with littleneck and baby clams, white clam sauce, garlic, crushed red pepper, and flatleaf Italian parsley; and Fettuccine Con Capesante, a black pepper fettuccine, pan-seared diver scallops, pancetta, fontina cream sauce and scallions.
WHERE: 2730 Frankfort Ave.
WHEN: Monday-Saturday, 5:45 p.m. to close
MORE INFORMATION: These and other seafood dishes are commonly available but check social media for additional availability and specials. Reservations are requested. porcini502.com.
River House Restaurant & Bar
WHAT: Louisville's premier riverfront dining destination serves regional cuisine with a Southern flair. Featuring fresh seafood daily. The raw bar includes peel-and-eat shrimp, king crab legs, jumbo shrimp, and oysters on the half shell. Also, mussels, fish and chips, seafood salad, oyster and shrimp po'boy; Maker's 46 Barrel plank smoked salmon, seared diver scallops, Hawaiian Ahi tuna, fried seafood platter, and more.
WHERE: 3015 River Road
WHEN: Monday-Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Dine-in and curbside pickup. 502-897-5000; riverhouselouisville.com
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Seafood Lady
WHAT: Enjoy the creole flavors infused into the steamy plates of crab, lobster, crawfish, and veggies. Seafood Lady also serves fried fish, shrimp, alligator, crawfish, lobster tail, seafood tacos, oysters, and more.
WHERE: 3201 Fern Valley Road; 601 E. Jefferson St.
WHEN: Wednesday-Friday, noon to 3 p.m. and 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 2-11 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (Fern Valley); Tuesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. (Nulu)
MORE INFORMATION: seafoodlady502.com.
Reach news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.