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player ready...From a Knights of Columbus feast to a spot for fish with an unlikely name (Meatheads) there are plenty of fish to fry this Lenten season. Here are five must-try fish fries.
Villa Park VFW Post 2801, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park, www.VillaParkVFW.org
Thursday night is wing night at VFW Post 2801 in Villa Park and Tuesday is Bingo night, but there is nothing like Fridays, which is when the post makes their popular double beer-battered Icelandic cod fish fry. Recently, the members of Post 2801 added a new side of homemade macaroni and cheese. The fish fry comes with a choice of baked potato, French fries or homemade potato chips. But the best part of all is that it’s one of the few fish fry spots where members of the local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts serve and clean up the dinners. During Lent, $1 from each fish fry will be donated to Villa Park First Responders.
Scratch Kitchen and Lounge, 7445 Madison St., Forest Park, www.ScratchFP.com
There’s something about a fish fry at a place that prides itself in making just about everything from scratch. At Scratch Kitchen and Lounge in Forest Park, the Friday cod fish fry is made with house IPA beer batter. “Our customers go crazy for our fish fry because it is perfectly seasoned, crispy and served with Scratch-made tartar sauce and fries,” Chef-owner Patrick O’Brien said. Coleslaw is also available and of course, is also made from scratch.
Elmhurst Knights of Columbus Fr. McDonald Council No. 1911, 537 S. York St., Elmhurst, www.ElmhurstKofC.org
There’s nothing quite like a good old Knights of Columbus fish fry. And there’s a good one to catch in Elmhurst. The Fr. McDonald Council No. 1911 offers an Atlantic cod fish fry on Fridays during Lent. The fish is frozen fresh right after it is caught on the ship. Then Knights of Columbus team hand-dip each piece in a beer batter (typically a pilsner). The batter is made with flour, baking powder, kosher salt, Old Bay and a little touch of cayenne pepper. They also make a baked macaroni and cheese using three cheeses — cheddar, Monterey and Parmesan. “It’s the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had,” said Grand Knight Sean O’Leary. “Thanks to Bill Dudek’s cooking, Lent leaves me five pounds heavier.” And there’s something even stronger than the quality of the food that keeps this tradition alive. “It’s the sense of community,” O’Leary said. “You see three generations of families at our fish fry. People can come to a place and eat and have a night out with people in their community.” Last year, they donated funds from their fish fries to five different charities.
Healy’s Westside, 7321 W. Madison, Forest Park, www.HealysWestside.com
Healy’s Westside in Forest Park has been open since 1954 so it makes sense that the menu features a traditional fish fry. The team makes a fish fry every Friday all year and adds a special fish fry on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10. The fish is freshly battered Guinness cod. “Our numbers of fish fries jump during Lent,” said General Manager Mark Hosty. Special treats are the house-made coleslaw and tartar sauce.
Meatheads, 143 N. York St, Elmhurst, www.EatAtMeatheads.com
With its undoubtedly carnivorous name, a place called Meatheads may seem like an unlikely spot for a good old fish fry. Well don’t judge a fish fry joint by the name. There’s more here than burgers and fries. Starting Ash Wednesday, every Friday through Lent, Meatheads will dip their toe in the fish fry pool — making crispy beer-battered cod. A special touch is that the fish at Meatheads gets some extra flavor with their signature cucumber wasabi sauce. Regular tartar is available for traditionalists.