Embracing Lent’s Meat-Free Fridays: Your Guide to Houston Seafood

Lent is a religious holiday that lasts 40 days before Easter, and is celebrated by Catholics and other Christian sects around the globe. Part of Lent involves fasting on Fridays during Lent, which means no meat on Fridays. Luckily for those taking part in this celebration, Houston has many great seafood spots and dishes.

Here’s my take on some of Houston’s best seafood restaurants: 

Amazon Grille
Part of the Cordua chain, which owns Churrasco’s and America’s, Amazon Grille is the more casual version of both of the nicer restaurants owned by the chain. The fish tacos at Amazon Grille are a favorite. 

Goode Company Seafood
Goode Company Seafood is a Houston staple. No matter what kind of seafood you like, GCS is sure to have it. My favorite is the simple grilled fish with a Campechana to start.

La Fisheria 
La Fisheria is a cool restaurant that specializes in ceviche with seafood of all kinds. There are a variety of seafood options. As an added bonus, the interior of the restaurant is interestingly decorated and colorful - perfect for pictures.  

Treebeard’s
If you like Cajun food, Treebeard’s is known for the Cajun twist they give seafood, with etoufee, shrimp, fried fish and dirty rice. Save room for dessert: the butter cake (a Southern tradition) is wonderful. 

Mambo Seafood
Mambo is a chain (with a few locations in Houston) that serves American, Latin and Pacific seafood dishes. The frozen drinks are delicious, as are the many entrees. I recommend the shrimp empanadas to start and the fried fish entrée. 

Ibiza
With Chef Charles Clark (who competed on Iron Chef America) running the ship, Ibiza is always a win. Known for Mediterranean-style seafood, Ibiza boasts delicious entrees such as grilled octopus, classic shrimp and grits, and my favorite, the fried catfish (do you sense a theme here?).

Velvet Taco
Velvet Taco is a taco shop on Washington Avenue. Known for its quirky taco combinations, Velvet Taco is a fun take on classic Mexican food. I like the fish n’ chips taco, and you absolutely cannot leave without getting a slice of their famous red velvet cake. 

Osaka 
Osaka is a sushi restaurant with a couple locations in Houston. Sushi is a great option for those celebrating Lent, since there are many vegetarian and fish-only options. Osaka is nice because at the end of every meal, free green tea ice cream is offered! 

Berryhill
Berryhill is a Mexican chain that offers “baja”-style food, including their fantastic fish tacos. I also enjoy their quesadillas, which can easily be ordered without chicken. 

Prima Pasta
Italian food is another good option when looking for meatless entrees. Lent is a great excuse to try out some different pastas and pizzas. Try the wonderful pasta at Prima Pasta!

Lent is meant to be a time of reflection and sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your meatless Fridays too. 

See more on Houston dining here, and see Buzz recipes here if you want to try your hand at making seafood at home.