Butler County fish fries continue to draw crowds week after week
BUTLER TWP — St. Conrad Roman Catholic Church sees a line of customers out the door on Fridays even well into Lent’s 40 days.
Volunteers say there’s a sizable demand for fish dinners at the Butler Township church, the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and elsewhere across Butler County as some residents recognize Lent and others simply seek a seasonal dish.
St. Conrad and its volunteers have seen well over 1,000 customers at each of their Friday fish fries during the first few weeks of Lent. On at least one occasion, 1,300 meals were served — despite the church no longer having the option for dine-in dinners.
“We see so many people who are regulars, and I try to go around and thank them and appreciate them,” said Debbie Zbuckvich, an organizer of the church fish fries.
Meanwhile, the Slippery Rock Fire Company serves about 400 people every Friday for its meals, which feature a main course of fried cod tail or chicken with a choice of cheesy potatoes or french fries for a side served with coleslaw, a dinner roll and cake.
These dinners run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the fire company’s hall on Elm Street in Butler Township. They charge $15 per meal, but children younger than 8 years old eat for $8.
This event allows supporters to sit and eat with family and friends.
It’s a weeklong event for the volunteers who make St. Conrad fish fries happen.
The preparation for every Friday starts early in the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for desserts; Thursday starts the coleslaw; and Friday is for packing up the homemade, gluten-free scalloped potatoes and coleslaw. The fish defrosts all week to be ready to cook when the time comes.
“I need all four days to thaw this stuff,” Kevin Goettler, affectionately known as “the fish guy,” said about their fish deliveries.
While the group does take walk-in orders, online orders can be picked up in a makeshift drive-through. This gives their teenage volunteers a responsibility to get names and run food out to customers’ cars while other volunteers direct traffic to the correct areas for pickup or parking.
Ryan Hanchosky, chief of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company, heads the area fish fry as well, and said its fish fries require the community to pitch in. For instance, the cake offered in their meals is donated by local churches every week. Other donors provide the rest of the food.
Hanchosky said this ensures that profits from the dinners go directly back into the department to pay for equipment and gear for the company as a whole, including new trucks, one of which was recently purchased thanks to fundraisers like these.
The coordination between the volunteers lets them all pitch in as they work around schedules and take turns working and putting together meals. They spread out in the kitchen in units, getting the fish out, frying it and getting it boxed up for the next customer.
Several volunteers who work the fish fries at St. Conrad are involved in the church in other ways. Volunteers include members of the Young Adult Ministry to Sunday school teachers. People from all parts of the church come to pitch in and help serve guests.
“I love every minute of it, I don’t come out here dragging my feet. This is one of those things I look forward to,” Matt Nichols, who’s a part of the Young Adult Ministry, said while directing drivers in the parking lot.
The time with friends and community makes every Friday during Lent a good time for volunteers, which leads to many of them returning every year during Lent with newcomers joining as well.
“When you go to church and you see someone, they’re not just a face. I know them by name, and they know me,” Zbuckvich said.
The fish fries across Butler County are plentiful. Across every corner of the county, restaurants, churches and fire departments partake in the traditional meals.
North Washington’s Volunteer Fire Department’s Friday fish fry runs from 4 p.m. until they sell out. Their choices for customers are fried fish dinner for $18, an oyster dinner for $22, or a half and half for $20. The child’s portion is offered for $10.
All dinners are served with an option of mac and cheese or scalloped potatoes with green beans, coleslaw, dessert and a beverage. A third option, while it lasts, is their homemade oyster stew served in $10 bowls, $10 pints and $20 quarts.
The Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary organizes the fish fry for the fire company from 4 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday until Lent is over.
Offering fried fish or fried chicken as a main dish with either a baked potato or french fries with green beans, coleslaw, a roll and cake, they will also have the option of oysters on March 25 and April 1.
The profits made by the auxiliary benefit the fire company as a whole, including the fire and ambulance services, creating a smooth collaboration as well as keeping the buildings in good condition.
There are countless others as well, all working to ensure Butler Countians can find a fish fry every Friday through Easter, and giving everyone, including non-Catholics a chance to enjoy some seafood.
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at St. Conrad Church in Butler on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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People pack at St. Conrad Church in Butler during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cheryl Ankrom serves fish fry meals to patrons at St. Conrad Church in Butler on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers at St. Conrad Church in Butler prepare meals during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers at St. Conrad Church in Butler prepare meals during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Sue Shedio serves dessert at St. Conrad Church in Butler during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers at St. Conrad Church in Butler prepare meals during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Richard Roos, right, helps pack and deliver fish fry meals at St. Conrad Church in Butler on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Fish is fried at St. Conrad Church in Butler on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kathy Kollister helps pack fish fry meals at St. Conrad Church in Butler on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Volunteers at St. Conrad Church in Butler prepare meals during a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
