The Friday night fish fry is a staple of the Lenten season when so many choose to skip meat on the last day of the work week. Wander through Wisconsin and a person can't throw a walleye without hitting a church basement fish fry during Lent. Around here, these restaurants are serving the goods that will leave your finger tips salty and a big smile stretched from ear to ear. Whether eating seafood for religious reasons or just love the smell of fresh fried seafood, there's a restaurant waiting with a fat, hot basket of battered fish.
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12 Delectable Fried Fish Baskets
The best fried fish found outside a church basement

1. The Anchor Fish & Chips
Minneapolis, MN 55413
The massive fried cod inside this English pub in Northeast are the size of a hefty forearm. Settle in with a giant appetite, proper chips and a bottle of malt vinegar.
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2. Mac's Fish / Chips / Strips
St Paul, MN 55113
With two locations serving crusty, fried fish and saltwater taffy, Mac’s remains an institution in the Twin Cities. From the low fuss interior design to the quickly prepared, salty fresh fish.
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3. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Likely the toniest fish fry in the market, fancy pants Oceanaire is perfect for downtown workers looking for a seafood feast. Beer battered fish tastes even better with linen napkins.
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4. The Local - Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Served at the downtown bar and the location inside the Shops and West End, is a righteous battered cod in an Irish setting.
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5. Urban Growler Brewing Co.
St Paul, MN 55114
This brewery in Saint Paul batters up perch for its fish fry. The little crispies are served up with coleslaw, fries and pumpernickel rye bread.
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6. Red Cow St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Red Cow is normally known for burgers at its locations across the metro area. However, during Lent the battered whitefish with fries goes on special, available by the basket or bottomless.
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7. Tavern On Grand
St Paul, MN 55105
The giant neon walleye sign in the front window does not lie. Tavern on Grand has made a reputation on perfecting the unofficial state dish: fried walleye. Get it battered or blackened, on a bun or on its own. It’s all good.
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8. Cardinal Restaurant and Bar
Minneapolis, MN 55406
This bar is known for burgers, but serves up a filling fried cod dinner right alongside the light rail stop.
9. Groveland Tap
Saint Paul, MN 55105
This little pub is known for being budget and family-friendly grub. Go full-on all you can eat along with fries, coleslaw and a pile of fish.
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10. Bennett's Chop and Railhouse
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Bennett's uses Finnegan's beer for its cod batter and the baskets are an all-you-can-eat basket available for lunch or dinner. This West 7th supperclub is one of those hidden neighborhood gems you ought to know about.
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11. Octo fishbar
St Paul, MN 55101
A paragon of fresh, sustainable seafood, James Beard Award winning chef Tim McKee’s Lowertown restaurant also knows how to get down on some crispy battered fish. Only available on Fridays during Lent Octo fishbar has Alaskan cod, served with malt vinegar steak fries.
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12. Iron Ranger
St Paul, MN 55105
Iron Ranger recently expanded its seating and now there’s a fish and chips basket full of fat, crispy fried fish fillets and chonky fries.
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