Lenten Preaching Series and Waffle Shop

The Most Unlikely Lunch Reservation in Memphis

Waffles, Fish Pudding, and Big Ideas at Calvary Church

Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 17, 2026 – At a time when lunch is usually eaten over keyboards or in cars, downtown Memphis still makes room for something slower—and stranger. Each Lent, Calvary Episcopal Church opens its doors for a midday tradition that blends old-school Southern cooking, public conversation, and spiritual reflection. Locals call it simply: the Waffle Shop.

Returning Wednesdays through Fridays from February 19 through March 27, Calvary’s Waffle Shop marks its 98th year of feeding Memphians waffles, chicken hash, and the famously polarizing fish pudding—recipes that have changed little since the tradition began in 1928. Served by volunteers and eaten shoulder to shoulder with strangers and friends, the meals draw longtime devotees, first-timers, office workers, students, artists, clergy, and curious passersby.

What sets the Waffle Shop apart from any other lunch counter in the city is what happens at the same hour upstairs. At 12 p.m., Calvary’s Lenten Preaching Series begins in the church, continuing a noontime preaching tradition that dates back more than a century. The preaching and the Waffle Shop run concurrently, allowing people to choose one—or to move easily between the table and the sanctuary.

The Preaching Series is known nationally for its eclectic lineup, welcoming voices from across religious traditions as well as writers, activists, and cultural figures whose work reaches beyond church walls.

“This is food with context,” said the Rev. Scott Walters, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church. “Some people come for waffles, some come for preaching, and many come for both. Together, it creates something larger than a meal or a sermon—it’s a shared moment in the middle of the day.”

The Waffle Shop operates Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with preaching beginning at 12:05 p.m. Preaching services are also livestreamed, but the heart of the tradition remains on site: shared tables, familiar dishes, and a downtown space where people are welcome to linger.

In addition to noontime preaching, Calvary offers DIALOGUE: THE LENTEN PREACHING SERIES PODCAST RECORDED LIVE each Wednesday evening, including moderated conversations with selected Lenten Preaching Speakers. 

A full schedule of preachers and daily menus is available at calvarymemphis.org/lent.

Founded in 1832, Calvary Episcopal Church is located in the oldest building in continuous public use in Memphis and remains a hub of downtown life during the Lenten season.