Out, About: Lent is the best excuse for seafood

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Lent’s marketing is pretty abysmal. You either learned about it at church or from your elementary school friend who was sad at early spring birthday parties because they’d “given up” chocolate.

One of the priests at my parish in college put it better though, “It’s not about what you give up this season, but what you gain.”

I think about this when I’m volunteering more (almsgiving is also strongly encouraged during this season), but hilariously, I think about it most in how much more seafood I consume leading up to Easter. Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday between the two are fasting days, and ones that require no meat in your diet. But The Vatican’s idea of meat is interesting — fish don’t count, and the expansion to aquatic animals has certainly broadened since I was a kid (RIP alligators, beavers and capybaras).

I’ve been meaning to weigh in as a coastal Florida native for some time on the city’s seafood options, so what better time than now?

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish

Rachel Iacovone WPLN News

Hot fish with baked beans, mac and cheese, and pecan pie from Bolton’s

I resisted the urge to highlight Bolton’s last week in my mention of our Black-owned Nashville restaurants list — but only because I knew the opportunity would come again soon enough. Bolton’s is what turned me on to hot fish, and just as quickly taught me I need to order mild. But the meat-and-three-like serving style here is what keeps me coming back. It’s fish, but a lot more too, which is great when this is your one meal of the day.

Red Perch

Rachel Iacovone WPLN News

Fish and chips from Red Perch

You know a fried fish is legit when you can hear that first bite. Red Perch’s crunch and fresh, flaky fish is the perfect combo, whether you’re eating it for religious reasons or for a religious experience.

The Optimist

Rachel Iacovone WPLN News

Head-on shrimp at The Optimist

This one is admittedly on the pricier end, but offers some fish you can’t find easily elsewhere (swordfish, whole flounder, or these huge peel and eat shrimp). If you’re an oysters person, the list of varieties they offer is pretty much as big as the regular menu. 

Locust

Rachel Iacovone WPLN News

Razor clams at Locust

Now this is a birthdays and anniversaries type place. It’s certainly expensive, but the experience is worth it at least once in my opinion — for their razor clams alone. They change what they’re dressed with seasonally. Most recently, they were put on the table with a “Have you ever had Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream chips? OK, cool, yeah, they taste like that. Enjoy!” They were right, in the best way possible.