Here’s what you should know about Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent
Here are some interesting facts about the season of Lent.
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It’s time for Friday fish fries. The occasion is Lent, which this year runs from February 14-March 28, marking a 40-day period of meditation, almsgiving and fasting for many Christians. Some observe Lent by abstaining from various things, whether it be social media or meat, as is the biblical tradition.
According to the Bible, fish does not count as meat, a traditional loophole that leaves plenty of room for delicious foods. Nashville, meanwhile, has a surprising array of restaurants with incredible seafood, and we’ve listed some of our favorites below.
Spicy Boys
This casual New Orleans-inspired restaurant and bar in East Nashville is the place to go for shrimp po’ boys and fried catfish platters with Cajun fries and comeback coleslaw. Look out for specials, including chargrilled oysters every Wednesday with all the buttery, garlicky goodness served from 4 pm until the restaurant sells out. And since it’s mudbug season, keep an eye out for the totally messy, always hilarious crawfish boil on the patio, which should be paired with a drink from a full bar. (924 Mcferrin Ave., spicyboysnashville.com)
Red Perch
We love this casual Charlotte Avenue hot spot for fish and chips, fish sandwiches, poke bowls and absolutely stellar clam chowder. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram page to keep up with the specials, which can include anything from paella to a hearty bowl of warming shrimp congee. It’s one of the few places in town where you can find fresh, head-on shrimp, which you can cook Vietnamese style or toss with garlic butter or lemon, and certainly with a glass of beer from a small but smart selection. Just be sure to check the menu before you go to see what’s on the board. (4101 Charlotte Ave G120, redperch.com)
Aloha Fish Company
This excellent seafood market, located just South of the city proper, is the perfect place to buy fresh, straight from Hawaii seafood to cook at home. If you prefer to go that route, pre-ordering at www.alohafishcompany.com/order is recommended.
Don’t want to cook at home? No problem. Aloha Fish Company hosts regular pop-ups Thursday-Saturday from its brick-and-mortar location, where you can get super-premium poke bowls, sashimi platters, sushi, lobster bisque and, every Saturday, lobster rolls. (370 Herron Dr., suite 5, www.alohafishcompany.com
Henrietta Red
The more upscale, breezy but cozy Germantown option is loved for its local vegetable-forward menu and, while there’s meat on the menu, the star of the show is the seafood. The raw bar menu usually includes a wide selection of East and West Coast oysters and some shrimp cocktails and crudo-type offerings. Beyond the raw bar, you’ll find a smartly edited menu of small to large plates, including octopus with cranberry beans and whole trout dishes with olives, pistachios and fennel. The wine list here is excellent. (1200 4th Ave. N., www.henriettared.com)
The Optimist
Also in Germantown, The Optimist is very seafood-centric. On the raw bar side, expect about ten varieties of oysters, including shell and meal, ceviche and fish dip. You can and should order them all in the seafood towers, which always feel like a celebration. The regular menu includes seafood classics; think shrimp a la plancha, lobster rolls, whole flounder with brown butter, and seafood chowder. Don’t forget the cocktails. They are also great. (1400 Adams St., www.theoptimistrestaurant.com.
House of Marsh
There’s an “Oyster Happiest Hour” from 5-6 pm Monday-Friday, where you can find $5 bubbles and market choice oysters for $1.50 ― that’s a steal in an age where $4-5 oysters are becoming the norm. We could stop there, but it would be a shame to skip the raw bar offerings, which include ceviche, shrimp remoulade, tartare, fish dip and crab. Small plates include mussels, grilled oysters, charred Spanish-style octopus and more. Among the mains are rock shrimp gnocchi and entree-sized fish dishes. In other words, there is a lot of seafood to eat here. (401 11th Avenue S., www.marshhouserestaurant.com.)
Sea Animals
This bright and gorgeous modern restaurant is in Franklin, but it’s worth the trip to enjoy fresh East and West Coast oysters, crudos, ceviche and seafood platters including king crab, shrimp and lobster. The crab agnolotti is exceptional, as is the scallop and pancetta linguini. Other seafood entrees include Faroe Island salmon with pine nuts and lemon butter sauce and whole branzino with lemon and thyme. Those who skip meat in favor of fish would do well to visit this relatively new restaurant. (99 E Main St suite 190, www.bestiamaretn.com.)
Joe Muer Seafood
If you’re looking for a debone-the-Dover-sole-at-the-table seafood experience, this Capitol View restaurant will be your vibe. Classic old school American seafood dishes take center stage on the menu, and here you can dine on Crab Imperial, crack on chilled king crab legs and bite into Crab Louie. Among the dishes you’ll find crab-stuffed Atlantic flounder and spicy shrimp and grits, all served in a rather luxurious dining room with service that lives to entertain. (500 11th Ave N., joemuer.com)
