Pappy’s Catfish & Oyster Bar

I’ve ben coming here for over 20yrs.
It’s a local mom/​pop family catfish restaurant.
This is nothing fancy, it’s like siting in your grandma’s kitchen.
Albert is on the grill and fryer, he’s been around for over 20yrs I’m sure.
He knows how to batter and fry some catfish AND he makes a good hamburger.
It is a little overpriced, but it’s good tasting fish and I’ve never gotten sick. (always a plus).
They have some pretty good sweet tea. I’ve taken my family here when visiting from out of town, they enjoy the food as well.
If you’re every in Irving looking for some catfish, this is your spot.

A little pricey for portions. You only get 1 side with meal that’s labeled a dinner. Catfish strips not that big. This should be considered a lunch spot only. Not sure that their menu is tempting enough for me to come back.

Food is good but a little overpriced! Glad it’s a non smoking restaurant now because you would come back to work smelling like a pack of Marlboro’s if you came to lunch here!

Should you find yourself in the most randomest area in Irving, Texas then go ahead and stop by this little restaurant. I have to admit it’s in small shopping center next to a sketchy place I think called Slap house and a Barber shop. The outside isn’t very appealing but once you enter it’s actually nicely decorated with ocean themed signs and pictures.
We weren’t really sure at first where to sit or if we sat ourselves. As soon as we got a table, our service said What do you want to drink? He wasn’t very friendly but he wasn’t rude to us. He seemed to be just there and yelling loudly about the TV not showing his game. Which we later found out while he was talking to another group of people that he doesn’t normally work there but covering the store for his grandfather. Either way, I would give the service 2 stars.
The prices here are super cheap for seafood and I have to admit I was a little scared to order anything. My bf and I shared a half dozen oysters which were $ 8, he ordered a bowl of gumbo and I got 3 catfish strips, fries and coleslaw for around $ 9. Oysters were actually really good and large. A dozen is $ 16 which is a bit pricey in my opinion. Catfish had to be the best thing there. It was lightly battered and fried to a golden color. Amazing! I was so glad we got the catfish there and not at some fast food joint. Coleslaw was sweet and full of flavor. For my fish basket I give it 4 stars.
I wouldn’t go back to dine-​in again, however, I would order to-​go. Also, they do allow smoking inside. Which is a turn-​off for me.

Was looking for a good catfish place close to my job. The food is good the staff is friendly.

It’s not fancy, it’s not in the midst of great night life but is a wonderful place my husband and I have been coming to for eight years. Anytime we are in DFW area we come in. I get the lemon pepper grilled shrimp and he gets the catfish.

Tasty food, friendly service.
I thought it looked a little sketchy, but it was actually a very cool spot. The service was good, the table was clean and the food had a good taste. I had the two piece catfish and shrimp plate. It came with fries and hushpuppies. I would go back again.

If you looking for a basic spot for some good Catfish, Shrimp & Gumbo this is your place. No it’s NOT fancy at all, but I had some good Blackened Grilled Shrimp with some hush puppies and fries. It was a good quick meal. Can’t complain.

Nice fun place to go out with the family with very nice staff. I have been to this place several times. If you a pure fried catfish connoisseur, this place does not begin to come close to Topcat (another Irving catfish place) for fried catfish. Its like comparing Chili’s to McDonalds. The fried catfish is a little on the small side. I think they are pre-​breded frozen fish where Topcat fried catfish is fresh hand battered. Some of the employees at Pappy’s look like they were battered. Just kidding. In saying that Pappy’s is still decent, the dinner atmosphere (part of the atmosphere is like being in a hole in the wall or a backwoods bar) and menu choices are better at Pappy’s. They have blackened catfish which is not an option at Topcat. Of-​course Pappy’s is in Irving, a city which has really «run-​down» in since the 80’s (esp the south side) so be careful when traveling in the area. Also the Irving PD is known for poor decision making. You should be totally OK but if you have an CHL, its a good safety precaution. Pappy’s is one of the few Irving restaurants that has stood the test of time and has not moved or shut down.

Ships Ships Everywhere!
Walked into Pappy’s for the first time this weekend. Wow, this had all the makings of a dive. Baby Blue paint and tons of model ships and plastic ship facades on the walls. Most of the furniture was probably bought around the time the place opened in 1985.
The service was great, the waitress was awesome, always keeping an eye on us and making sure we had everything we needed. She told us all about their fresh catfish and how they de-​vein the shrimp, so upon on her suggestion we tried the Fish and Shrimp combo.
At first glance the basket of fried fish and shrimp was fine, two small sauce containers one with tartar and the other cocktail sauce. The breading was light and crispy but had no real taste to it. More disappointing was the cocktail sauce, it tasted mostly of ketchup with no real tang to it. The tartar sauce was the better of the two. My fries were a nice crispy cringe cut, but when I reached for the ketchup, it was Great Value Wal-​Mart ketchup, disappointing. You can’t have all bland taste, I need a little bite!
The biggest problem I had is that I think this place has great potential to be a great restaurant. I could tell that they are proud of their food and restaurant just from the way the waitress spoke about it. If they just put more effort into their sauces and/​or maybe add some spice to their batter I would give them another star. Now if they repainted and updated their nautical theme we are looking at 5 stars.
Take us about ensign and set sail!

Pappy’s is one of those dives that deserves a visit because it is, well, a great dive. Frank, the crusty but likeable proprietor, has been here for more than 25 years and can’t be confused with a slave to fashion or a shrinking violet. He’ll offer his opinion on just about anything, including his unwillingness to ban smoking in his dining room. Normally, this would be an issue with me, but smokers are fewer in number these days, so it hasn’t been a problem in the many times I have eaten here.
At Pappy’s, it’s all about the catfish. It’s fresh, never frozen, and the fried variety is breaded with a superb cracker meal concoction that Frank invented. It’s wonderful – among the best I’ve ever had. Some friends like the grilled catfish, but I can’t get past the fried stuff. Another favorite is the grilled shrimp; try the spicy or lemon butter varieties.
Pappy’s is just what it is – a dive – but a place where you can get good food for not a lot of money. That’s a winner for me every time.

I was very excited to try a oyster bar that’s local. They weren’t getting any oysters til the fall because of mirky water. (ya right!) Catfish not bad, I’ve had better. (ex: Luigis in Arcadia, LA) Their shrimp was pretty fresh but I thought boiled meant somewhat warm. Tasted like freezer
shrimp that’s already cooked.