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A plate of Vietnamese-style whole fried Gulf fish with spring onions, asparagus, and a side of cilantro rice sits on a colorful tablecloth.
A whole fried fish special from Red Fish Grill.
Red Fish Grill

Where to Find the Best Restaurant Fish Fry Specials in New Orleans This Year

Top 2023 restaurant picks for the popular Lenten special

by Clair Lorell Updated
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A whole fried fish special from Red Fish Grill.
| Red Fish Grill
by Clair Lorell Updated

Whether for Lent or just because, eating fried fish on Friday is always a good idea. But between now and Easter, New Orleans especially celebrates the Southern staple, with everyone in town looking for the best plate on offer when the work week comes to an end. While churches are the classic option and often the best value for a plate, this guide focuses on the city’s restaurants serving up particularly enticing riffs on the special.

If we missed a great restaurant fish fry special for Lent this year let us know; this list will continue to be updated.

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Gabrielle Restaurant

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Creole stalwart Gabrielle can be counted on again this year, as for most holidays, to provide an on-point meal with which to observe Lent. This year, it’s a to-go-only $19 fried fish plate with vegetables, potato salad, tartar sauce, and a cookie. Order online here, but get in early, as these sell out.

2441 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 603-2344
(504) 603-2344

Also featured in:

Li'l Dizzy's Cafe

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Li’l Dizzy’s is an institution when it comes to frying chicken or seafood, so it’s a sure bet for Fish Fry Fridays. The corner Treme shop serves a delicious catfish Jourdain, fried catfish topped with lemon butter crabmeat and shrimp sauce, along with two sides, for $18.99. Beyond that, the restaurant has another favorite Lent-friendly dish, Trout Dizzy, which is as good as it looks.

1500 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 766-8687
(504) 766-8687

Also featured in:

Bao Mi

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Aside from Bao Mi’s many Lent-approved options, this awesome Vietnamese grab-and-go spot downtown is offering a number of specials every Friday during Lent, including a fried catfish banh mi (and could even include green curry shrimp and grits). Dine-in only.

2000 Tulane Ave Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70112

Also featured in:

Luke

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We love Luke for all things seafood, and its Friday fish fry special is no different — a cornmeal-fried catfish plate is served with blue crab mac and cheese, potato salad, Texas toast, dill pickles, and dipping sauces, available for dine-in only during dinner.

333 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 378-2840
(504) 378-2840

Also featured in:

Café Reconcile

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For a dinner-worthy meal at lunch prices, stop by the delightful Cafe Reconcile every Friday for various Lent special — so far, there’s been a crispy crabcake po’ boy with topped with crawfish sauce on a pistolette, but keep an eye out for different specials, like catfish amandine.

1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 568-1157
(504) 568-1157

Also featured in:

The Avenue Pub

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The food at the new iteration of this longtime pub favorite is better than ever, and it’s offering a classic special during Lent: fish and chips, spiced to perfection. Keep an eye out for other special offerings throughout the season.

1732 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 586-9243
(504) 586-9243

Also featured in:

Mister Mao

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It’s dine-in only at Uptown’s most exciting new restaurant, but you want to dine in at this fun, self-described tropical roadhouse. Chef Sophina Uong’s 2023 Friday night special is fried masa harina fish with spicy shrimp and coconut milk sauce, red palm oil, and fresh coriander served with seasonal accompaniments for $25. 

4501 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 345-2056
(504) 345-2056
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

Miss River

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The splurge-worthy Alon Shaya restaurant in the new Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is an outstanding Lent-friendly destination, from seafood on the half shell to blackened Gulf snapper. During the 2023 Lent season, the restaurant has also added fried redfish to the menu, sure to be a crunchy, crispy standout.

2 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 434-5701
(504) 434-5701
Seafood on the half shell platter from Miss River. 
Sam Hanna/Four Seasons New Orleans

Also featured in:

The Commissary - Market + Eatery

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This awesome restaurant and market hybrid is a reliable source of seasonal goodness. On Fridays during Lent, the Fish Fry Friday special for dine-in or takeout is a fried catfish plate with bean salad, mirliton slaw, cornbread, and remoulade for $15.⁠⁠

634 Orange St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 274-1850
(504) 274-1850

Also featured in:

Alma Cafe

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This Honduran hotspot in Bywater has brought back its popular redfish tacos for Lent, fried in a beer batter escabeché served with homemade mayo with lemon, cilantro, and jalapeño.

800 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 381-5877
(504) 381-5877

Also featured in:

Francesca Deli, Pizzeria And Catering

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Family favorite Francesca’s in Lakeview, sister restaurant to Katie’s, is handling the Friday Fish Fry specials this year — choose from a fried catfish platter with potato salad and vegetables or a seafood platter with shrimp, catfish, oysters, and hush puppies.

515 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 266-2511
(504) 266-2511

B Sweet Bistro & Bakery

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B Sweet’s is already selling out on Big Fish Fridays, serving fried fish and shrimp plates alongside next-level sides and sweets. Get in early!

704 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 224-3906
(504) 224-3906

Also featured in:

Blue Oak BBQ

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Blue Oak’s specials are always top notch, whether it’s Monday’s red beans and rice or the crowd-pleasing Big Ol’ BBQ Baked Potato. For Friday during Lent, fried fish specials are on the board, like the Firecracker shrimp po ‘boy (Bang Bang sauce, red cabbage and jalapeño slaw, and mayo on a hoagie) or the spicy catfish sandwich with spicy glaze, white barbecue sauce, and pickles.

900 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 822-2583
(504) 822-2583

Also featured in:

Red Fish Grill

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A celebration of all things seafood takes place daily year-round at Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill, and for the seven weeks of Lent that celebration focuses on the fried varieties. Ever-changing Friday options might include crispy redfish served with crawfish mac and cheese, corn hush puppies, and Ravigote sauce or a Vietnamese-style whole fried Gulf fish served with ginger, spring onions, asparagus, cilantro rice, and lime fish sauce, available at brunch and dinner.

115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 598-1200
(504) 598-1200

Also featured in:

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Gabrielle Restaurant

2441 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Creole stalwart Gabrielle can be counted on again this year, as for most holidays, to provide an on-point meal with which to observe Lent. This year, it’s a to-go-only $19 fried fish plate with vegetables, potato salad, tartar sauce, and a cookie. Order online here, but get in early, as these sell out.

2441 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 603-2344
(504) 603-2344

Li'l Dizzy's Cafe

1500 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116

Li’l Dizzy’s is an institution when it comes to frying chicken or seafood, so it’s a sure bet for Fish Fry Fridays. The corner Treme shop serves a delicious catfish Jourdain, fried catfish topped with lemon butter crabmeat and shrimp sauce, along with two sides, for $18.99. Beyond that, the restaurant has another favorite Lent-friendly dish, Trout Dizzy, which is as good as it looks.

1500 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 766-8687
(504) 766-8687

Bao Mi

2000 Tulane Ave Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70112

Aside from Bao Mi’s many Lent-approved options, this awesome Vietnamese grab-and-go spot downtown is offering a number of specials every Friday during Lent, including a fried catfish banh mi (and could even include green curry shrimp and grits). Dine-in only.

2000 Tulane Ave Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70112

Luke

333 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

We love Luke for all things seafood, and its Friday fish fry special is no different — a cornmeal-fried catfish plate is served with blue crab mac and cheese, potato salad, Texas toast, dill pickles, and dipping sauces, available for dine-in only during dinner.

333 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 378-2840
(504) 378-2840

Café Reconcile

1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113

For a dinner-worthy meal at lunch prices, stop by the delightful Cafe Reconcile every Friday for various Lent special — so far, there’s been a crispy crabcake po’ boy with topped with crawfish sauce on a pistolette, but keep an eye out for different specials, like catfish amandine.

1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 568-1157
(504) 568-1157

The Avenue Pub

1732 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

The food at the new iteration of this longtime pub favorite is better than ever, and it’s offering a classic special during Lent: fish and chips, spiced to perfection. Keep an eye out for other special offerings throughout the season.

1732 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 586-9243
(504) 586-9243

Mister Mao

4501 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

It’s dine-in only at Uptown’s most exciting new restaurant, but you want to dine in at this fun, self-described tropical roadhouse. Chef Sophina Uong’s 2023 Friday night special is fried masa harina fish with spicy shrimp and coconut milk sauce, red palm oil, and fresh coriander served with seasonal accompaniments for $25. 

4501 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 345-2056
(504) 345-2056
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Miss River

2 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

The splurge-worthy Alon Shaya restaurant in the new Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is an outstanding Lent-friendly destination, from seafood on the half shell to blackened Gulf snapper. During the 2023 Lent season, the restaurant has also added fried redfish to the menu, sure to be a crunchy, crispy standout.

2 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 434-5701
(504) 434-5701
Seafood on the half shell platter from Miss River. 
Sam Hanna/Four Seasons New Orleans

The Commissary - Market + Eatery

634 Orange St, New Orleans, LA 70130

This awesome restaurant and market hybrid is a reliable source of seasonal goodness. On Fridays during Lent, the Fish Fry Friday special for dine-in or takeout is a fried catfish plate with bean salad, mirliton slaw, cornbread, and remoulade for $15.⁠⁠

634 Orange St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 274-1850
(504) 274-1850

Alma Cafe

800 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117

This Honduran hotspot in Bywater has brought back its popular redfish tacos for Lent, fried in a beer batter escabeché served with homemade mayo with lemon, cilantro, and jalapeño.

800 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 381-5877
(504) 381-5877

Francesca Deli, Pizzeria And Catering

515 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124

Family favorite Francesca’s in Lakeview, sister restaurant to Katie’s, is handling the Friday Fish Fry specials this year — choose from a fried catfish platter with potato salad and vegetables or a seafood platter with shrimp, catfish, oysters, and hush puppies.

515 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 266-2511
(504) 266-2511

B Sweet Bistro & Bakery

704 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

B Sweet’s is already selling out on Big Fish Fridays, serving fried fish and shrimp plates alongside next-level sides and sweets. Get in early!

704 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 224-3906
(504) 224-3906

Blue Oak BBQ

900 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Blue Oak’s specials are always top notch, whether it’s Monday’s red beans and rice or the crowd-pleasing Big Ol’ BBQ Baked Potato. For Friday during Lent, fried fish specials are on the board, like the Firecracker shrimp po ‘boy (Bang Bang sauce, red cabbage and jalapeño slaw, and mayo on a hoagie) or the spicy catfish sandwich with spicy glaze, white barbecue sauce, and pickles.

900 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 822-2583
(504) 822-2583

Red Fish Grill

115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130

A celebration of all things seafood takes place daily year-round at Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill, and for the seven weeks of Lent that celebration focuses on the fried varieties. Ever-changing Friday options might include crispy redfish served with crawfish mac and cheese, corn hush puppies, and Ravigote sauce or a Vietnamese-style whole fried Gulf fish served with ginger, spring onions, asparagus, cilantro rice, and lime fish sauce, available at brunch and dinner.

115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 598-1200
(504) 598-1200

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