Phil Vettel recommends

Lenten specials abound across Chicago area

Phil Vettel Food critic

March 1, 2012

Talk about your faith-based initiatives: Lenten season is here (has been, for a week now), and through April 6, observant Catholics are not permitted to eat meat on Fridays. With Catholics being rather abundant in the Chicago area, quite a few restaurants make an effort to put more meatless dishes on Friday menus, host Friday fish fries and offer Friday fish specials, as this brief list indicates:

John Barleycorn:

Both locations of this pub will offer Friday Lenten specials that include all-you-can-eat fish and chips ($8.95), fried shrimp ($12), fish tacos ($9) and more. 3524 N. Clark St., 773-549-6000; 658 W. Belden Ave., 773-348-8899.

Moe's Cantina:
Fridays in Lent, will offer shrimp taco salad ($9) and tuna tacos ($10), along with drink specials. 3518 N. Clark St., 773-248-0002.

Butcher & the Burger:
Doesn't sound like a place to find meatless options, does it? But for Fridays in Lent, chef Alan Sternweiler offers an array of meatless burgers. Build your own, choosing vegan veggie, portobello mushroom, salmon or shrimp patties, adding one of five buns and various seasonings and toppings. Burgers range from $7 to $9. 1021 W. Armitage Ave., 773-697-3735.

Frontier:
Will feature a $10 Lenten special of fried whitefish with homemade tartar sauce, and fries with malt vinegar; and a $22 "fish and frites" of whole-fried loup de mer with yuca fries. The "fished" section of Frontier's new menu also features grilled oysters, barbecued shrimp, redfish with shrimp and corn grits and more. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322.

Markethouse:
Every Friday in Lent, Markethouse will feature Bell's ale-battered fish and chips ($20), plus a sustainable fish special that will vary with availability. 611 N. Fairbanks Court, 312-224-2200.

Phil Stefani's 437 Rush:
On Fridays, the River North restaurant will feature zuppa di pesce (clams, black mussels, shrimp, fish and octopus in spicy tomato sauce) for $39. There also will be regular-menu items, including Atlantic salmon ($27), Lake Superior whitefish ($21) and ahi tuna ($32). 437 N. Rush St., 312-222-0101.

Nana:
Fridays in Lent, Nana will offer a Bridgeport Baguette ($12), a pepper-and-egg-inspired sandwich that includes Monterey jack cheese and onions on a baguette, served with a mixed-green salad and fresh fruit. Available breakfast, lunch and dinner. 3267 S. Halsted St., 312-929-2486.

pvettel@tribune.com