Catfish Parlour

Wife and I went here for the 1^st based on reviews. We were seated immediately and our waiter «Logan» greeted as soon as we were seated, great start. Brought our drinks and hushpuppies out and the hushpuppies were delicious. Then came the entrees, wife ordered Catfish/​Jumbo Shrimp Combo and I got Catfish/​Fried Oysters Combo. Mine was so good, made me want more and wife loved her meal as well. If you ever get the chance to go here, you won’t be disappointed, loved it.

very yummy. tried the Cajun fried catfish. Perfect with jalapeño tartar sauce and hush puppies service was exceptional.

I have been eating here since the early seventies. This is the best catfish restaurant in the country.

One of the friendliest people we have come across in already friendly Austin. Everybody greets you with a smile and are quick to serve, refill (ujsweet teas was awesome) and answer any questions.
The food is great. Medium Fried catfish and shrimp plate were delicious and plenty food. The complimentary hush puppies, long and thin instead of traditional round, were great as well. The jalapeño tartar sauce was a highlight as well. Included ceasar salad bar was refreshing and the included coleslaw and beans.
My wife had a blast being able to eat Gluten free hush puppies and fried catfish with no fear. The server even brought another order of hush puppies fried separately to minimize cross contamination.
Will definitely come back, try more food and maybe dessert. We were so full my wife took half her plate and had it for lunch the day after.
The interior is filled with quirks and vintage signs that make the place feel like decades ago. Such a pleasant and cozy place. We even got mint candy canes as we left.

I’ve been going to Catfish Parlour since I was a baby — my family went there a lot when I was growing up. I recently took my boyfriend here and we had such a good experience! Our servers name was Pat (Patrick) and I have to say he was probably the best server I’ve had at any restaurant. He was very polite and attentive, never interrupted our conversation, and he is just all around amazing. I ordered a draft shiner beer and when I got close to the end he showed up with a new frosty cold pint glass and poured the rest of my beer in without saying a word. Anyone who drinks beer knows that the last few sips are so warm and nasty, so this was so great! He also offered lids and appropriate to-​go containers for all the sides and sauces, and brought extra Ranch dressing, etc. Really exceptional service and of course the food is always great!

Had a lovely lunch with a friend today. As usual I was very pleased with my selection. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal here looking back on the dozen or so times I’ve dined here. I had the large catfish plate (catfish & shrimp), my friend had the all you can eat spicy fish. Both were served fresh, hot and quickly. I love their cole slaw, beans, and hush puppies as well. Also, the jalapeño tartar sauce is a fave. We were both stuffed.
Service here is always personable and friendly. Our server made sure we knew of the specials and helped us make suggestions. The manager also stopped by the table to check in, and ask for feedback as well. All of this, plus the kitschy décor gives CP a homey feel.
Always a good time.

Had lunch here Saturday, it had been a while since I’ve been here and as always a great time and great fish. Keep up the good work

I hadn’t been here in about 15 years, but I pass by twice every day and often think, I need to go there again! So I had mentioned it to my kids to gauge their interest, and it seemed worth a try. My 7 year old daughter decided this is where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner based on what I told her, so we did, and she was rewarded for it.
First and foremost, the staff were all so amazing! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. Once she told them this was her birthday dinner, she got several visits, a song, a hat, bubbles, and of course all the little fried shrimp she can eat (which is a lot). She particularly liked the cole slaw too (so did the rest of us), which is vinegary and not mayo style (yay). The kids also each got a ticket for being well behaved and at check out, they redeemed them for little prizes (this was a big hit). Our waiter was super in every way. I can’t say enough about how great all of the staff were.
This place hasn’t changed in 15 years, nor in the 18 years prior to that, which is the other time I had been here. Shame on me for this. We loved the old school everything about it. You can pretend to be in Austin 40 years ago when this place was WAY out there on 183.
Between us, we had the catfish, cracker jack shrimp, and the sides of cesar salad (which my daughter scarfed down), pinto beans, cole slaw, also corn and sauteed cabbage w/​bacon. The kids especially loved the shrimp, just keep in mind these little buggers are little. Fries and hushpuppies are good too. The cole slaw was the best side by far, the others were good though. The adults really enjoyed the catfish. The spicy and regular are both good. Tasted really fresh and well prepared.
I truly want to come here often. I just don’t eat out much to keep costs and my waistline in check. But Catfish Parlour will certainly be near the top of my short list for when we do.

This was my go to place when I was doing a pescetarian diet and worked near 183. I really enjoy the blackened catfish. It’s nicely seasoned and amazing with the jalapeño tartar sauce. I normally don’t like the smell of fish but there was no smell here. The hush puppies and fries are good too. Cole Slaw is okay but I’ve never really been a fan of that to begin with. Not a fan of the beans. It was a little pricey but most fish dishes are pricier than their chicken counterparts so that’s understandable.
They are really patient over the phone and explain the choices and options so appreciate the polite service. And lastly, I like the décor. They have unique decorations on the wall and it really adds in creating some Texan ambiance.

For what it is, this place wasn’t bad.
What it is not. a nice sit down restaurant with gourmet food. What it is. a down-​home kind of place with good fried fish. Hush puppies were yummy, cole slaw was dynamite, and fish tasted fresh. Blackened fish was drenched in butter, which kind of kills the reason for ordering something healthier, but still tasted okay. «Cesar Salad» bar was some romaine lettuce in a bowl with some cheese and dressing next to it. Not sure what the point is other than not having to serve it but next time I would pass.
Plenty of parking, nice waitress, decent food for the price. DON’T dress up! :-)

My friends who grew up in Austin have been telling me for months about how awesome this place is when you’re really hungry. However, I thought the only things going for this old folks’ paradise were the catfish and tiny salad bar.
The sides are unlimited, but the quality is lacking. I love cole slaw and have never tasted one as bad as that vinegar-​ridden bowl of grass that they gave us. 2 stars
The service was GREAT though– left a $ 15 tip on $ 60 worth of food. +1 star
3 stars… Catfish Parlour was just meh for me.

This place is awesome and so are the people that work there. From the moment we walked in to walking out, everyone was so helpful and friendly. The service is quick and excellent in all areas.
I had both the catfish and popcorn shrimp with hush puppies and fries. The food was fresh and delicious. Both my husband enjoyed the food and the friendly people.
They also have a selection of vegetables and other side dishes to choose from as well.
This place is worth stopping in to try it. Let them know it’s your first time and they will fill you in so you don’t miss out on anything.

Happy Birthday America!!! It’s the Fourth of July! This was the day our forefather’s declared their independence from the tyranny of the British… and earlier today I declared my independence from the horrible mediocrity of frozen catfish! The fillets served at Catfish Parlour have never been frozen, and you can taste the difference my fellow Americans.
Boston to Austin! It feels fantastic to be traveling our great country again (it’s all gold). I’ve been here for only a few days, but I can unequivocally say, Austin is one of the best food scenes in the country, perhaps across the globe. I’ll have many reviews to write for you guys!
I went to Catfish Parlour (CP) with a few clients (now buddies). I’ve been trying to eat healthier this year and include more fish in my diet. When the guys suggest we go to CP, I said, «I don’t care for the taste of hornpout». It turns out hornpout is a species of catfish only common to the East Coast. Once we cleared that up, I was all in! Yeehaw! I was surprised and very pleased when I was handed a cold draft beer as soon I walked through the dang door. That’s hospitality! We were promptly seated in a cozy corner of the place. The walls were covered with authentic Americana. Perfect for the 4^th! I was just getting adjusted in my seat when bowls of delicious hushpuppies started to arrive. Can someone give me an amen?
While we were studying the menu, little bowls of a mysterious green sauce were also placed on the table. I dipped a puppy and gave it a try. Bam! Fireworks went off in my mouth! Somebody give me a hell yeah! I ordered the Big Cat Plate, mixed (which means it had fillets with both spicy and original batter). It was scrumptious! One of my friends let me have a few of his fried oysters. Wow! I thought New England fried clams were good! I rarely give out five star reviews, but CP earned it. Places like this make me even prouder to be an American…
We left the restaurant in a festive mood, so I stopped by Party City to buy some decorations and plastic horns with my pals. In fact, I’m blowing one of them as I write this!
Happy Fourth of July, Unilocalers!

After a couple of lackluster visits to the South Austin location I had written off the Catfish Parlour but then I started working a few blocks from the North Austin location and a few of my co-​workers like to go for lunch so I will occasionally tag along. This review is based solely on the lunch buffet.
I appreciate the fact that they let you choose the amount of fish you would like and its served by the kitchen staff and not just a picked apart free for all like most buffets. The spicy isn’t all that spicy but it adds a nice kick to the corn meal breading. The cole slaw is good but its pretty standard, if you like a well made slaw you will like this one. Hush puppies are meh but you don’t come here for those. The sides change regularly but you will generally find corn and a couple of green items. These are generally ok but definitely need to be seasoned to taste.
One of my favorite things here is the Caesar Salad, specifically the dressing. The dressing is thick and the right flavor. Not too much bite and not too much anchovy paste. A real winner. Also what would fried catfish be without a glass of sweet tea, luckily that is pretty good as well.
You cannot beat the value for lunch and because of the setup it is ideal for a quick in and out lunch.

I’ve driven by this place time and time again over the past 4 years and finally had a chance to stop in with my infant son after work. I felt like I was in some sort of roadside attraction with all the old signs and fun stuff on the walls. And I oddly felt like I was back home in South Dakota!
We were greeted by our wonderful waitress Celia and received a basket of hot hush puppy sticks and dipping sauces. Mmm! I ordered the mixed Big Cat, which was like 5 fillets of catfish served with fries, the Fixins’ of corn, beans, coleslaw. It also came with the salad bar, but since I was alone with my baby I couldn’t get up and get salad and leave him alone… but waitress Celia insisted and she sat at my table and watched the little guy for the 20 seconds it took me to go through line and get back.
I was more than satisfied with my fish and the portion servings were definitely to my liking. We topped it off with a slice of key lime pie for dessert. The cashier even gave a foam ball to my son to play with on the way out… nice of them.
I’m not going to give it a 5-​star review because the food wasn’t mind-​numbingly amazing, but it was definitely very good, filling, and worth the money, and the place was eccentric enough that it stood out as a memorable experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back when family comes to visit.

Definatley a hole in the wall. Food was not seasoned properly, however the fried catfish was fresh. It’s great for the simple eaters, like children.
Another downer was that the food was over priced and portions are small. Glad we tried it for the catfish fix, but will not be revisiting.

A true family style restaurant.
Start off with hush puppies and cups of tartar sauce and jalapeño tartar sauce. Both are good, jalapeño is better. It wasn’t too spicy and not bland, just right for me!
Every meal comes with a free salad so after ordering, you get your small salad from the salad bar. It’s basically a Caesar salad bar but they have a ranch dressing option for those non-​Caesar fans. Nice surprise since I had forgotten all about it.
Family style sides are delivered to the table before the meal… beans and non-​mayo-​based cole slaw. Yum! The beans were a bit more peppery than I like but the cole slaw was to die for!
I ordered the small portion of the grilled catfish. So, so good. Tender and flavorful. Came with rice and veggies. They were tender and perfectly cooked. Rice was super tasty!
We came here to celebrate a birthday so they gave the birthday ‘boy’ a hat and sang him a song. It was very cute and very fun. Wonderful waitstaff. Thank y’all for a wonderful night!

It’s Lent, it’s Friday, therefore it’s…Fish Friday! We were both craving catfish and, being recently relocated to Austin, I was excited the first time we drove by Catfish Parlour a few months ago. So I was even more excited when we decided to go tonight!
The décor is pretty cool — vintage and unique signs and posters. The atmosphere was what we expected for a Friday night — busy and loud. Lots of people waiting to be seated but at least there’s a bar right inside the door and you can get a cold soda, beer or glass of wine. Wine selection is limited but, then again, I’m snobbish when it comes to wine.
The jalapeño tartar sauce is bomb! I wish now that I had bought a jar of it when we were leaving — I can see using it for everything. The hush puppies also rocked — I could have eaten just them.
The catfish itself was okay. Not outstanding but not horrible. The cajun spice tasted a little odd and was just more spicy than anything else. The sides were okay — the cole slaw was not your standard KFC cole slaw — I loved it!
3 stars for okay food but I’m honestly not sure we’ll be returning. It was a good experience but I don’t know if the prices are worth the food. Slightly disappointing :/

Catfish at this place is not bad… not as good as the Boathouse Grill, but not bad. Spicy catfish just has an odd texture and color, not my favorite, for sure. Hushpuppies are really good, and they come with the meal.
My problem with Catfish Parlour is the price. You get some beans and cole slaw as sides, and a rather pitiful excuse for a salad bar with each meal. That’s your options, like them or not. For over $ 10 a plate, you really should have more options than that.
Atmosphere is kinda cool, lots of odd signs and pictures. Seems pretty dated, but still kinda fun. Not bad, but there are much better places in Austin to get catfish.

Jalapeño tater sauce is a must. We tracked this place down late on a Saturday night. We were hungry after early dinner at a wedding. Ordered Shrimp, spicy catfish, CFS, CFC and it came with a bunch of sides. It fed four adults and still had to toss out untouched sides and sauces.
When the place specializes in catfish, you know it must be good. The restaurant is large, great for group and casual. Easy to find, right off the freeway — if you can call Austin’s freeways easy to navigate.
Our order was ready in 15 minutes and we took it back to the hotel. The owner was there, making sure all was going well and was happy to chat and quick with a smile.
Gosh I hope I get a chance to go back.