For Catholics, the season of Lent is a 40-day season to challenge yourself before Easter. Many Catholics practice some form of fasting during this time, whether that’s sacrificing small pleasures like chocolate or eating smaller meals and abstaining from meat.

The tradition of avoiding meat during Lent, especially on Fridays, generated the tradition of fish fries on Fridays in church basements across the Midwest.

The Catholic Spirit compiles a yearly list of fish fries and Lenten meals at Catholic churches in Minnesota. Its list includes one in Southwest Minneapolis, Church of the Annunciation, on April 11, and a downtown fish fry at St. Olaf on April 4.

Thankfully, Minneapolis is home to a lot of fried fish and we have compiled where you can find meat-free meals at restaurants during Lent, which ends April 18, and all year round.

Restaurants with fish fry specials during Lent

Bûcheron, 4257 Nicollet Ave.: Crispy walleye with brown butter, capers, cornichons, fingerling potatoes, broccolini & lemon crème fraîche every Friday through Lent

‍Buster’s on 28th, 4204 28th Ave. S: $19.95 for all-you-can-eat Hamm’s beer-battered cod with a side of chips and coleslaw every Friday through Lent

Earl Giles, 1325 Quincy St. NE: $22 for battered walleye, served with fries and remoulade, every day through Lent

Gluek’s Bar & Restaurant, 16 N. 6th St.: $21.95 for unlimited beer-battered cod, fries, hush puppies and coleslaw served Fridays from 12-10 p.m. through Lent

Mara Restaurant and Bar, 245 Hennepin Ave.: $24 for beer-battered walleye with espelette pickle spice, tzatziki and a baby gem salad served Fridays starting at 5 p.m. through Lent

Red Cow, multiple locations: $17 for a plate of beer-battered whitefish, served with fries and coleslaw, every day through Lent.

Smack Shack, 603 N. Washington Ave.: $22.95 for beer-battered cod with Cajun fries and slaw every day through Lent

Restaurants with fried fish year-round

The Anchor Fish & Chips, 302 13th Ave. NE: $16.50 for a fish and chips meal, with a hand-battered wild Alaskan cod filet

Brit’s Pub, 110 Nicollet Mall: $25 for cod or $28 for walleye, lightly battered and fried, served with chips, slaw and tartar sauce

‍Creekside Supper Club, 4820 Chicago Ave.: $28 for beer-battered cod or $35 for beer-battered walleye, both served with tartar sauce, coleslaw and rye bread

The Freehouse, 701 N. Washington Ave: $22.49 for the Wisconsin fish fry entree with your choice of baked or beer-battered Icelandic haddock. Served with corn fritters, loaded baked potato, coleslaw and tartar sauce

George and the Dragon, 813 W 50th St.: $17 for fish and chips, with Alaskan cod served with fries and homemade tartar sauce

The Local, 931 Nicollet Mall: $20 for one piece or $27 for two pieces of beer-battered cod with chips

The Lowry, 2112 Hennepin Ave.: $22.49 for a Wisconsin fish fry with your choice of citrus butter-baked or beer-batter fried Icelandic haddock. Served with corn fritters, loaded baked potato, creamy slaw and house tartar sauce

Merlins Rest, 3601 E. Lake St: Battered pollock served over chips, available as a two-piece meal for $11.50, three-piece meal for $17.75, or family size

Monte Carlo, 219 3rd Ave. N: $24.95 for a fish and chips dinner, with beer-battered Atlantic cod and french fries, plus Caesar salad and baked potato or coleslaw

‍Morrissey’s Irish Pub, 913 W. Lake St.: $20 for a fish and chips dinner, with beer-battered cod served with chips and a housemade tartar sauce

Nighthawks, 3753 Nicollet Ave. S: $19 for fish and chips dinner, with hand-battered walleye, served with fries and tartar sauce

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub, 2716 E. 38th St.: $20 for the fish and chips plate, with beer-battered Alaskan pollock and seasoned hand-cut fries

The Prodigal Public House, 25 E 26th St.: Beer-battered wild cod served with fries and and coleslaw served as a two-piece meal for $11 or three-piece meal for $14

Community spaces with fish fries for Lent

Ukrainian American Community Center, 301 Main St. NE: $15 for a fish and pierogi dinner, available dine-in or to go Fridays from 4:30-7:30 p.m. through April 11

The Church of St. Albert The Great, 3204 E 29th St.: $15 for adults, $7 for kids 6-12.  Baked and fried fish, potatoes, coleslaw, pasta with marinara, bread, and an array of desserts. Fridays from 4:30-7:30 p.m. through April 11

Church of the Annunciation, 525 W 54th St.: $12 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12. Deep fried pollock fish, coleslaw, baked potatoes, bread and cookies. And grilled cheese for kids. April 11 from 5-7 p.m.

‍Our Lady of Peace, 5435 11th Ave. S:  Adults are $17 and children 3-12 are $11. Fish, coleslaw, mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, rolls, carrots, and cookies. March 14 and 28 from 5-7 p.m.