Knights of Columbus Fish Friday: Fellowship, Food Served Weekly

A sense of fellowship smacks visitors in face once inside the doors at the Dunedin Knights of Columbus Hall on Fish Dinner night every Friday.

The hall is bustling with hungry Catholics from around Dunedin, especially during Lent, when fish — baked or fried — is at a premium. Even local priests dressed in street clothes are occasionally spotted in the crowd.

A woman at the side entrance sells dinner tickets for $8 and hands patrons a separate ticket for dinner and dessert. A man seated next to her sells 50/50 raffle tickets. The woman tells a regular that she won about $80 last week.

"I've always wanted a grown, gray-haired woman with money," the man replies with a playful laugh. 

About 20 loyal volunteers serve between 250 to 300 people every Friday night during Lent. Non-Lenten season Friday nights see between 100 and 200 people, the door woman explains.

Inside the dining room, which doubles as a bingo hall, are regulars Ray and Kay Horn.

The Horns have already visited the buffet line, where jovial volunteers dish even portions of baked flounder or fried Pollock, and side choices of coleslaw, hush puppies, scalloped potatoes, French fries, and bread on a foam plate. Plastic ware, napkins and condiments are ready at the tables.

You can't beat the price, says Kay Horn, a 10-year Dunedin retiree transplant from Connecticut. She recommends the scalloped potatoes, even if they aren't quite like the ones she used to make.

Drinks can be purchased at the bar, coffee comes with the dinner price.

Kay searched through her pockets looking for a misplaced dessert ticket. She was really looking forward to a piece of cake for dessert.

The volunteer workers are strict about tickets, Kay explains.

Kay and her husband Ray, both in their mid to late 70s, have been married for 54 years. They had five children together and a sense of humor to match.

"He winked at me," Kay says with a mocking incredulous tone to Ray as she points to a gray-haired man walking by. 

Ray, a former police officer, pretends tighten up with jealousy, and starts to get out of his chair like he's got the firm intention of introducing the guy to his closed left fist, then relaxes, sits back down and lets out a playful laugh.

"You gotta be careful with these old goats," Kay says.

Kay was eventually able to locate her missing ticket.

She finished her meal with a big slab of Sam's Club chocolate cake.

"You just can't beat this," she said.

Want to Go?

• When: Every Friday night from 4 until 7 p.m.
• Where: Knights of Columbus Hall, 1251 San Christopher Dr
• Parking: Plenty of parking available for free at the Knights of Columbus Hall
• Menu: Baked flounder or fried Pollock, and side choices of coleslaw, hush puppies, scalloped potatoes, French fries, bread and cake for dessert; $8 (eat-in or takeout).
• Tips: Accepted at the bar

Follow Dunedin Patch's weekly journey to various Friday night fish fries, or find one of your own Friday Fish Dinners to attend:

• Week 1: 
• Week 2: