Seafood LTOs pop up on menus

This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 26 and runs through Thursday, April 9. Since many Christians abstain from meat during this six-week period, restaurants are busy introducing limited-time seafood specials and vegetarian dishes. Here’s a roundup of the latest chain menu additions.

Meat-centric Smashburger is launching its first-ever fish entree, the Beer Battered Pacific Cod Sandwich. It features wild-caught cod dipped in a batter infused with Yuengling beer and fried until crispy. It’s topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the chain is running a single-day promotion, offering guests one free cod sandwich with the purchase of another for $7.99.

Rubio’s Coastal Grill is debuting a Norway Lobster Burrito and returning its Wild-Caught Red Argentinian Shrimp for those seeking Lenten alternatives to red meat and poultry. The former includes cooked lobster meat drizzled with garlic herb butter and wrapped in a warm flour tortilla with fresh guacamole, citrus rice, black beans, romaine, creamy chipotle sauce and salsa fresca. The shrimp are menued in a Wild-Caught Shrimp and Mexican Street Corn Bowl, on a bed of citrus rice with lettuce, black beans and fire-roasted corn and topped with two sauces, cotija cheese, avocado slices, cilantro, onion and chile lime Tajin seasoning. Both are available Feb. 26-May 26.

Shrimp Nibblers are returning to White Castle along with a new seafood item: the Panko Breaded Fish Slider. The crowd-favorite Nibblers are tossed in buttermilk-flavored batter and fried, while the slider is made with wild-caught Alaska pollock that’s coated with crispy panko breading and topped with American cheese.

Fish City Grill is a destination for seafood, but the full-service chain is revving up its selections for the Lenten season. New on offer is a New England Style Lobster & Shrimp Roll, flavored with Old Bay tarragon mayo on a split-top brioche roll. Two other new seafood selections are launching as well: Garlic Caper Grilled Salmon and Seared Scallops & Applewood Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.

Although chicken is part of its name, Golden Chick is going fishing for Lent. Fried Butterfly Shrimp ($8.99 for nine pieces), Southern-Fried Catfish ($7.99) and a Catfish and Shrimp Combo ($9.99) are featured on the menu from Feb. 24-May 10.