Bob’s Catfish-N-More • Georgetown

Bob’s Catfish-N-More • Georgetown

Written by Kara Vaught Friday, 09 May 2008

 

Georgetown — Inside and out, Bob’s Catfish-N-More has the feeling of your grandfather’s favorite fishing lodge. Located at the entrance to beautiful San Gabriel Park and just a couple hundred feet from the San Gabriel River, patrons can pretend they caught their own dinner with one of the fishing poles adorning the walls.

The menu is simple and straightforward — catfish and more — just like the sign says. ‘More’ includes oysters, shrimp, clams, crab, chicken fried steak, chicken tenders, hush puppies, cole slaw, beans and French fries.

I ordered the Fisherman’s Platter: two filets of catfish, two jumbo shrimp, stuffed crab, fried clams and miniature shrimp ($13.79). The platter comes with French fries, jalapeño hush puppies and either cole slaw or beans. Nothing on the plate was greasy, and each item had the appropriate texture, be it crunchy, chewy, tender or flaky. Though sprinkled with peppers, I was glad to find the hush puppies not spicy at all.

My husband tried what owner Bob McMinn called the “gourmet’s delight,” the Chicken Fried Steak ($7.99). He’s picky about his chicken fry, and this was a good one, he said.

Bob’s son, Brian, who has worked in the restaurant for 18 years, served us. His first job was washing dishes, a task he claimed to be better at than cooking, though he is one of the three family members who knows Bob’s recipes. “There’s not one written recipe here,” Brian said.

Bob’s has been a family affair since 1979, when Bob and his wife, Susan, bought the Yellow Cat restaurant, which served similar fare with the addition of barbecue. The McMinns offered barbecue for a time, but found the fish sold better.

As for the recipes, Bob just made them up, he said, experimenting with his cornmeal batter, cole slaw, tartar and red sauces until he and his customers were satisfied with the taste.

Bob’s secret to success during 29 years in business is simple: just have a good product and be friendly. If you do that, you’re going to be all right,” he said. “I have to give most of the credit to God, and I don’t say that superficially. We’ve been through hard times, and the Lord carried us through them. We’ve had so many good people work with us. I don’t like to say people work for us; they work with us.”

A Bible verse, John 3:16, is painted above the front door, prompting me to ask Bob if he leads the Harvest Baptist Church housed under the same roof in the rear of the building. “No, I’m a cook, not a pastor,” he said.

How Bob’s was born

In 1979, Bob and Susan McMinn came to Georgetown to assist his parents in their move to the area. They ate at the Yellow Cat restaurant and learned it was for sale. Bob was interested in the restaurant business, so the couple took the opportunity and moved themselves. Despite owning a catfish business, Bob’s family rarely goes fishing, said his son, Brian, noting just a handful of trips over the years.

Hours: Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-8 p.m.