Catfish Parlour

Catfish Parlour

Written by Pitt Garrett Wednesday, 07 February 2007

Tasty catfish and fun ambience in the parlour

For the inaugural issue of Community Impact Northwest Austin, it was our pleasure to visit Catfish Parlour, an area mainstay for more than 20 years. Fresh seafood, along with the freshest vegetables we’ve had in a long time, make this a must stop for those seeking fun, quality and value.

Dave Kerbow, whose nametag reads “CEO, CFO and Janitor,” was actually behind the counter taking and filling orders. His resume is Austin-flavored. He was 15 when he began his career with the legendary Holiday House. He learned from the ground up how to offer good food, excellent service and how to make his customers happy. He opened the first Catfish Parlour in South Austin in 1973.

Lunch at Catfish Parlour is a real treat. Just walk up to the home-style vegetable table, grab all the vegetables and salad you want and then saunter over to the counter to order your entrée and pick up all the French fries and secret recipe hush puppies you can eat. It’s quick and easy.

Whether it’s Catfish, Shrimp, Oysters, Gumbo, Red Fish or Chicken or fried, blackened, grilled or Dave’s favorite “swamp style” (covered with gumbo), you are in for a real delight with all the offerings.

The catfish is farm-raised, grain-fed and never frozen. All of the fried items are flash- fried in pure canola oil and are trans-fat free. The tarter sauce is homemade and with prices starting at $6.75 there’s no better value.

Even though dinner is served family style, each person can order individually. The hearty eater can get All You Can Eat while others can order the lite plate or the Senior Citizen lite plate.

All come with unlimited refills of hush puppies, cole slaw, fries, pinto beans and Caesar salad. Or you can choose from a selection of other seafood treats and combo dinners.

There are also weekday specials and a children’s menu that offers popcorn shrimp, catfish, chicken strips or steak fingers. Children three and under eat free.

Family Ties

The south location has reopened after the completion of road construction on Ben White Boulevard.

A new Catfish Parlour in Georgetown is scheduled to open in the fall and will be owned and operated by Dave’s son, keeping the family tradition alive.

Catfish Parlour, 11910 Research Blvd., 258-1853 • www.catfishparlour.com, Mon - Sat 11-10pm, Sun Closed, Take-out and party packages available