Eat Waffles and Fish Pudding at the Calvary Waffle Shop

By
Jalyn Souchek
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365 Things to Do in Memphis #65: Have a Waffle (But Only During Lent)

Get ready for waffles, tomato aspic and fish pudding, people!

You may be giving up chocolate, caffeine, or swearing for Lent, but there's no reason to give up waffles. 

What Is The Memphis Calvary Waffle Shop?

Calvary Episcopal Church's Waffle Shop and Lenten Preaching Series is actually more than a tradition, it's an institution. Since 1928, the Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Memphis has sold lunch in their basement on weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

Many of the recipes (and some of the people in the entirely volunteer-run kitchen) have been the same for years. The Memphis Lent waffle shop is open now through March 27th.

sampler plate at Calvary Waffle shop
Jalyn Souchek
Calvary Salad Plate

Calvary Waffle Shop 2026 Details

  • Waffle Shop dates: February 19 - March 27, 
  • Open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
  • The Waffle Shop is at the church, 102 N. Second Street
  • On Wednesday evenings, you can enjoy a community dining experience from 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. before the live podcast recording. Learn more here. 
people eating at tables for Calvary Waffle Shop
Jalyn Souchek

Calvary Waffle Shop Menu

The menu changes daily, but there are some staples you can expect. There's always pie and waffles made to order from the Waffle shop's secret recipe.

And then there's the chicken hash, chicken salad, tomato aspic, shrimp mousse, and fish pudding (on Fridays). Yes, fish pudding. These vintage recipes sound like they're straight out of one of those 50's cookbooks where everything is a weird color, made of gelatin, and garnished with a curly kale leaf—but people love these dishes.

We popped by on a Friday to give some of these old school recipes a try and the fish pudding was good. We also ordered the Calvary Salad Plate which is a great sampler platter for the staples like chicken salad, tomato aspic, shrimp mousse, and pear with cottage cheese. Another reason to plan a Friday visit.. the delicious chocolate bourbon cake.

Check it out below: 

If you're not brave enough for aspic, that's okay, there are always waffles in some form and more everyday church lunch plates like spaghetti with rye bread, seafood gumbo and cornbread, or spring vegetable soup. 

See the 2026 menu schedule on the Calvary website.

Go there: 

Calvary Waffle Shop

102 North 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103

calvary shrimp pudding
Jalyn Souchek
Shrimp Pudding!
chocolate bourbon cake
Jalyn Souchek
Chocolate Bourbon Cake
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About the Author

Hey, I’m Jalyn Souchek! Director of Content for the I Love Memphis Blog and a full-time Memphis hype woman. I’m proud to call the 901 home, and when I’m not sharing the best of the city online, you’ll probably find me repping the Grizzlies, taking coffee walks down South Main, catching live music, posted up at a dive bar or brewery, or chasing down my next favorite bite to eat. Come explore Memphis with me. I’ll show you why this city is easy to love.

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Betty Burton

Read about Calvary Episcopal Church/waffle shop in the DAILY MEMPHIAN.  Planning visit soon.

 

 

 

 

 

March 1, 2024 12:50pm

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