Bountiful helpings at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Arlington
ARLINGTON — The jolly St. Vincent de Paul Fish Fry Fridays began on Feb. 16 and will continue through March 22. The SVdP Men’s Club prepared an elaborate drive-thru lane bordering the Arlington parish’s Johnson Activity Center and boasted a large gathering of experienced volunteers skillfully brandishing their Lenten cooking abilities. The SVdP Men’s Club celebrated the start of their 27th annual fish fry like a well-oiled machine.
The Catch of the Day: Atlantic whitefish. “Real good stuff,” said the gentleman serving the meal. “We’ve had to raise prices because we get jammed. For 10 bucks, it’s not a bad plate.”
Meals run $10 per plate, and kids under five eat free.
The Vibe: With about thirty men milling about, attending grills, and carrying supplies, the drive-thru displayed a flurry of fellowship and cheerful energy. Four to six dedicated chefs manned the portion serving, and they served generously.
“The mac’n cheese lasted longer than I thought it would. We usually run out pretty early,” our server told us. To replace sold-out mac’n cheese, the attentive gentleman offered to replace it with a double serving of coleslaw, hush puppies, or fries.
The dine-in experience featured a warm environment on a dark evening — amicable laughter and friendly banter.
The SVdP fish fry begins at 5pm and lasts until 7pm, while supplies last.
A dog-friendly drive-thru: A benefit of stopping by is sharing the love of a well-behaved pup with your church community, even if only for a couple of minutes via the drive-thru.
“We need extra hush puppies for that one!” cheerfully called one of the gentlemen, upon seeing a friendly yellow lab in the back seat.
Taste check: Accompanied with high-quality packaged cutlery, the Styrofoam plate of assorted fish fillets, French fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies was hefty, weighty, and aromatic.
With one bite of the Texas-sized helpings, one tastes a world of good humor and joy.
Expect leftovers for Saturday dining.
Note: Fellow spice-lovers should make sure to keep their favorite chunky salsa handy for an elevated dining experience.
St. Vincent De Paul is located at 5819 W Pleasant Ridge Rd, Arlington, TX 76016.