10 Places To Eat Seafood In Memphis During Lent

Friday Lunch Idea: 10 Places To Eat Seafood In Memphis During Lent

Whether you're observing the no-red-meat-on-Fridays rule for Lent, or you're just looking for some tasty lunch on Fridays, here are ten restaurants in Memphis the serve up a seafood-friendly Friday lunch or dinner.

Where's your favorite place for seafood in town, on Fridays or otherwise? Let me know in the comments.

Calvary Waffle Shop

Since 1928, the Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis has sold lunch in their basement on weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. This year, it's every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch, plus 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Wed. nights. Try out this Memphis tradition this year—their seafood staples are fish pudding and shrimp mousse, but they also have waffles, chicken salad, tomato aspic, and lots of daily specials Read more. 

Fish 'n' Chips at Celtic Crossing 

You might think of Celtic Crossing Irish Pub as a place for pints, brunch, or late night shenanigans, but the restaurant offers up some great lunch specials. They, of course, have the Irish and Lenten favorite, fish 'n' chips. They're in Cooper Young at 903 S. Cooper. Bonus: their sister restaurant Bog & Barley is also a great spot for fish 'n' chips.

Lobster & Shrimp Bruschetta at The Half Shell

The Half Shell offers rotating weekly specials at each location that you can check out here. One week (just as an example) a few of the specials are shrimp & crawfish étouffée, redfish atchafalya, and bbq shrimp & grits. They have two locations: 688 S. Mendenhall in East Memphis and 7825 Winchester in Southwind.

While you can have pretty much any seafood you can think of (including oysters prepared any way you like) let me give you an appetizer suggestion: the lobster and shrimp bruschetta is a longtime Half Shell favorite, with lobster meat and shrimp tossed in a mayo-based Cajun dressing, served with toasted bread.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Catfish Plate at The Genre

The Genre downtown opened in 2021, and they're serving up giant fried catfish filets for lunch with your choice of sauces. I went for the Cajun Hot on the side, but you can go Honey Gold, Lemon Pepper, or whatever you like. Check out the video to learn more about The Genre:

Catfish at Soul Fish

Get your catfish grilled, blackened or fried at Soul Fish's four locations around town. Get a platter with greens and mac 'n' cheese, get em in tacos, get fish on poboys, on salad, basically any way you want! You can find Soul Fish in Cooper Young, East Memphis, and Germantown.

catfish platter

Grilled Fish Platter at Flying Fish

Downtown's Flying Fish has a special place in my heart: it's casual, dependable, healthy, and the walls are covered in (thankfully muted) Billy Bass talking fish. While you need to try for the fish tacos at some point, I like the platter because you can choose your fish and get super healthy veggie sides that will cancel out the inevitable hush puppies. Read more about Flying Fish here and here.

Fried Shrimp Po-boy from Fresh Gulf Shrimp

One of the OG Memphis food trucks, Fresh Gulf Shrimp was started in 2012 by Jacqueline Johnson. She's brought us fried-to-order shrimp delivered straight from the Gulf since then. The menu varies, but there are usually poboy and platter options, sometimes grilled options, fries, oysters, or catfish. You can find her in the food court at Oak Court Mall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Fish & Shrimp Tacos at Babalu

Babalu serves tuna tacos, grilled shrimp tacos, and plenty of other seafood-friendly small plates. They have two locations: 6450 Poplar Ave. in East Memphis and in Overton Square in midtown. Read more about Babalu here.

seared tuna tacos
Seared tuna tacos. Photo courtesy of Babalu.

Chilean Sea Bass at Coastal Fish Company

This coastal-themed fine dining restaurant has endless seafood options. A favorite choice is the chilean sea bass. Don't forget to order some oysters too. Located at Shelby Farms Park along Hyde Lake (a perfect dinner at sunset spot).
 

 

Scallops & Mussels at Dory

Another fine-dining option with delicious seafood options. Scallops & mussels is my go-to dish at Dory who recently transitioned into a full service restaurant vs. a strictly tasting menu. The red fish is also a great choice. Located in Brookhaven Circle. Read more about Dory here.

scallops and mussels dish

I'm hungry now. Gonna go find some fish. Where else has great seafood in Memphis? Let us know in the comments.

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Beth Brock
Amerigo serves Lake’s Catfish on their Catfish Friday’s! Earl Lake can be found selling his awesome catfish at the Memphis Farmers Market beginning in April when the market opens. His catfish is delish! ❤️
March 15, 2019 12:43pm
Ali Butler

You forgot that Soul fish has a 4th location near Wolfchase.

March 9, 2022 9:48pm