Catfish Parlour South Reviews

We were six adults with one two-year-old and two infants and were seated in a large room next to the main dining area, which was perfect. We could hear each other and the toddler could be, well, a two-ear-old! Entrees ranged from the catfish to shrimp to salmon. Suggest sticking with what they do best as the salmon was dry and overcooked, but the other selections were really good. Our server was great.

I visited this restaurant with my aunt - it was my 1st time and I was pleased with the food and service! They specialize in catfish but the jumbo Gulf shrimp is excellent. I was surprised to find it on the menu. I live near the coast and jumbo Gulf shrimp is something you often see on menus but sometimes the description is not what you get! This place delivers!!!!! I had shrimp cocktail which was reasonably priced. All the food was really great and tasty. Prices are pretty good as well. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in Austin!

Hotel management recommended this place. Good call as the food (catfish) was excellent along with the appetizers. The price was very reasonable and I would definitely go back there again. Close to the hotel which made this a great dining experience as Austin traffic is horrendous!

I wanted to write this review for the restaurant and the staff as my family has been dining here for over 25 years and this year we decided to host my Dad’s 75th Birthday here. We had approximately 80 guests in the Big Cat private room and from the moment we walked in until all of our guests were seated, the staff was unbelievable. So professional and speedy. Our group ordered off the menu and the quality of the food along with the quickness of the kitchen in getting everyone’s food order out was remarkable. The entire team exemplified what service should look and feel like. I was so impressed and wanted to say thank you for making my Dad’s event a memorable experience and we look forward to dining with you again very soon.

We went to have lunch and the experience was wonderful. My father in law goes often and I can see why, the personnel is super friendly and made us feel like at home. We had fried catfish, fries, hash puppies, desert and everything was great. Mary, Trish, Tony and everyone we encountered were profesional, friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back.

My brother suggested this place during our last visit to Austin. Once I looked at the menu, I had no idea what I wanted since everything sounded so delicious. I was truly satisfied with my meal & the service provided by our waitress. She was very patience with us & to time to make sure to answer all of our questions. I recommend this place to anyone looking for some great fried Catfish

Catfish / fried seafood are the specialties... very good restaurant been here (NW Austin, on 183N) probably forever. Would rate between "average" and "very good", because the catfish is good but the sides (served family style), are a "lettuce only" salad (well, you get croutons), and unseasoned pinto beans. Slaw good, great ice tea... very good service anytime I've been. Authentic "bubba" atmosphere, not the re-created kind, so always interesting. Very friendly staff .

Ive been eating there intermittenly since 1995. It used to be a really good place. Food was always fresh and available. The cole slaw is good. The past coupld of times the place is dead. We went thought the line and Unlike times in the past they didnt have catfish cooked and made available. We had to order with the cook. Bull-crap We were seated and we filled up on hushpuppies and french fries for nearly 20 min. before our catfish was brought out. Ridiculous. And I dont know C.P. has lost its touch. The hushpuppies tasted old. I dont thinks me going back.

Pretty funky looking from the outside and even funkier looking inside. Don't let the looks deceive you, the service was excellent and the dishes we had were very good. We were seated immediately and a server appeared quickly with hush puppies and took our drink order. To start: the hush puppies were unlike any other hush puppies we'd ever had. They were delicious sort of "stick" hush puppies with just the right amount of crunch and inside flavor (unlike some of the "ball" type ones that can be very mushy inside). Served with a delicious jalapeno tartar sauce so good the two of us quickly went through a bowl. They were refilled immediately. For entrees, we ordered a Parlour platter that was good mixture of different seafoods (all fried so probably not the healthiest meal) and a salmon salad with a side of fried oysters. Very tasty! Reasonably priced house wine too. A star of the meal was the server, Suzanne, she was one of the best servers we have experienced in years. A smile, efficient, constantly scanning her tables to see what was needed, be it water, more hushpuppies or sauce. Would go again in that territory again.

Love the catfish at this restaurant.

Fried Catfish and shrimp are great but I really enjoy the cooked vegetables. Makes for a delicious meal. You can put away a large amount of food here if you are so inclined.

First time coming to this place and I must say it was so delicious! The staff was great the restaurant pretty spacious and the food even better! On Monday's it's unlimited fish and popcorn shrimp with fries so you can I got a little to much full. Lol awesome place to eat. My family and I loved it. We are from Dallas so when we come to Austin again we will make sure to stop here again!!!

Everything was fresh and delicious! Hushpuppies were probably the best we have ever eaten and the catfish and shrimp were perfectly seasoned and prepared. We will definitely go back when in Austin.

I ate here on my first trip to Austin and fell in love with the place. One of the best places to enjoy seafood. Drinks and food, both are affordable and serving sizes are Generous to say the least! I ate 2 dinners and 1 lunch so far and have never been disappointed. The sides - beans & slaw are bountiful and delicious! Plenty of parking outside and service is quick and cordial. You pay up at the cashier on your way out.

It was close to our hotel near the airport and the food was excellent. I would definitely visit again or try another location. One of our dishes was slightly colder than we'd like it to be, but overall, the food was tasty and the service was great.

As a frequent visitor to Southern Louisiana and it's many great places to enjoy catfish such as Pont Breaux, Middendorf's, Oak Alley Plantation, and others, living in Austin means that my choices are more limited. Not that I am ready to pull up stakes and move to hurricane alley; but instead I love to sit down to a great lunch or dinner at Catfish Parlour! The Catfish Parlour has two locations in Austin, one North 183, and one South on Ben White (71). Here you will find a down home Southern atmosphere, friendly staff, and red checkered tablecloths. Great shrimp and catfish, fries, hush puppies, and slaw. There are other choices as well and prices are moderate +. The Catfish Parlour is family friendly and perfect for large groups. Wait times are minimal and reservations not necessary! This review is dedicated to Joe Green, my brother in law, who insists on eating at the Catfish Parlour when he flies in from Chicago! Tim High Austin, TX

There's not a whole lot I can say about their food other than its average. We showed up for the lunch buffet. You can order a 3, 4, or 6 piece plate with as many sides as you want. I'm not a huge fan of fried food so I was pleased to find that they have black eyed peas, carrots, and steamed veggies on the buffet table. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I ordered the 6 piece plate. What is worth mentioning is their homemade jalapeño tartar sauce. This stuff is great with their hushpuppy sticks. Service here is good, not great, but good. They never did come back around to refill my water glass. Would be a 3 star rating but the jalapeño tartar sauce gets them a 4th star.

We were wasting an hour waiting for our room to be ready and it was lunchtime so we went in search of anything other than fast food. My husband turned into the first restaurant we saw, but the name was enticing and parking lot was full. We could tell at a glance this was not your ordinary lunch stop. The decorations were eclectic and included old Burma Shave signs a swell as decorative bar serving trays. It just put a smile on your face enjoying bits of Americana. The food didn't disappoint. My jumbo shrimp were as big as my palm and I am average size. My husband had the catfish, but we could have kept going back for more, fried oyster platter, seafood combo, grilled shrimp. All meals included all you could eat of seven side dishes. And our waitress, obviously used to the busy lunch rush, managed to be pleasant and efficient. If you enjoy something a little out of the ordinary, then Catfish Parlour is a good place to stop. And our room was ready when we got back to the hotel. Keep it weird, Austin.

Great Catfish, unlimited sides, cold beer, no frills just good old fried stuff. The Catfish and shimp are fresh and tasty for an extra kick try the jalapeno tarter sauce and spicy catfish. The corn sticks their version of a hushpuppy are addicting and you could eat your weight in them.

Returning to the airport with plenty of time to spare, I pulled over on the highway and went into a catfish restaurant. Oh my gosh! Like catfish? Like seafood gumbo? GO HERE! What a gem! You'll see.

The wife and I took her sister and brother-in-law out to lunch here because he likes fried catfish. We’ve been here before and not all days are created equal. This was a very good day. The crowd not too crazy, the food crisp and tasty. The service was quick and frequent. A really nice day. The catfish was very good but the fried okra was divine. The family loved the salad. A really good day in all.

fried catfish. good jalapeño tarter sauce

I hadn't eaten here probably since the 1980s. Loved it back then and it's still pretty tasty. Husband ordered medium catfish; I ordered a small popcorn shrimp but got a medium instead (for the small price...which was cool because it was my birthday). Husband loved the fish and fries. I loved the sweet potato fries and the hushpuppies. Mash potatoes weren't that memorable.

We went to Lunch I got the small Chicken Fried Steak and My Brother all You can eat Catfish both Orginal and Spicy and Shrimp and it came with all You can eat Sides of Mac and Cheese, Hushpuppies, Black-eyed Peas, Coleslaw, Beans, Corn, and a few other Sides I could not get too. All were very good, not crazy about the Mac and Cheese. We really enjoyed Our Lunch. Would like to come back again to try some of their other foods. Iam glad My Brotjer recommend the Small because the other sizes would have been to Much Food. I Loved the Atmosphere which I had taken pictures of it, so had a enjoyable Meal.

We tried a lot Great corn fritters, catfish, shrimp, and okra. The bread and banana puddings were tasty. Large menu. Also the salad was a nice size, with good vegetables with entree. I think this is a great choice for fried catfish and shrimp. Relaxed atmosphere.

Cynthia Valadez-Mata Jr. On Saturday, July 13, 2013 at approximately 3pm, we decided to take Gloria (my special needs sister) who is sometimes loud and energetic, to eat at Catfish Parlour on Ben White. She was laughing loudly and communicating the only way she knows how. Knowing how my sister can sometimes be, we made a point of coming to the restaurant at a time when it would be nearly empty. Of course, it was. After getting our drinks and ordering our food the owners, Jay and Carol McKinney, came up to our table, did not introduce themselves, and asked if we could keep her quiet because we were disturbing the few people who were in the restaurant. I immediately asked if they were the owners and they responded they were. I then explained my sister is special needs, her brain is demyelinating, and that this is her only way of communicating. They did not care and were only interested in us leaving. I told them her behaviors were a result of a medical condition and we made a point of coming when a fewer number of people would be present. Many years ago, we made the decision to take her with us to as many places as possible, not only for her benefit, but so that others in the community would be exposed to a diverse population. I explained they also needed to be more tolerant and accepting of those who were special needs or could not walk, speak or understand what was being asked of them. He replied, "Well, people just want to eat in peace". I told him, "So does my sister". Mom said we were going to let everyone know how we were treated and how they treat the special needs population. Jay then said, "You shouldn't have said that" and walked away. As you know, my sister is very intuitive and could feel their hatred, so she started getting a little more excited because of the tone of the conversation. Carol stayed and tried to say they were being tolerant, but we needed to leave and not come back. At that point, mom told her we ordered our food and we were going to eat it. My sister made a higher pitched noise because she didn't want Carol at the table anymore. Carol threw her hands in the air and walked away to the office. As she walked away, I responded this was discrimination and I prayed to God and was glad they did not have children with disabilities or behavioral issues because this shows how they would treat that person. Jay was not to be seen again, but Carol would walk back and forth from the office to the bar waiting for us to leave. This is shameful behavior for any restaurant - especially restaurant OWNERS. I suspect they treat families with small children this way as well. What a disgrace to Austin - normally a very tolerant place to visit!

We were camping at McKinney Falls and wanted a place close by to grab some food. I'm not a fan of fried seafood so I went hoping that they would have other options. I was very pleasantly surprised that grilled and blackened prawns were very good and cooked perfectly. They were a very good size (versus shrimpy sized prawns). There's also a decent selection of beers and wine. I had the house Cab and it was good. Our waitress was really on top of it and gave us great service.

I ordered grilled oysters, it came our oysters cooked in a spinach cheese sauce, it was ok but was not grilled, my friend ordered steak fingers, they looked like they were frozen, was not very good. Service was not good, had to find napkin and get them ourselfs.

Catfish, oysters and shrimp...Think FRIED!! Cold beer and fried fish, does it really get any better than this? OK, add some jalapeno tartar sauce and dig in.

We stopped for lunch on our way to the airport. Wish we had stopped earlier in the week because it was so good. The catfish was prepared perfectly and then you serve yourself for all the unlimited sides. Good food at excellent price.

Lunch was served cafeteria style though there are waitresses to serve drinks and bring you meals prepared to order. Collect tickets for you meals and drinks, pay on the way out. Pick up tray and sectioned plate as well as napkin-wrapped fork and spoon. Serve yourself sides include hush puppies, potato and sweet potato fires, hot salads, mashed potatoes, cole slaw plus pump containers of tartar sauce, jalapeño sauce, salsa. Mains are deep fried catfish, shrimp dishes and chicken dishes. Various hot sauces and ketchup at your table. Waitresses were attentive and the food was good. Ambiance was dive bar cool like many iconic Austin eateries.

We had been working hard and the restaurant was packed. It was great to get complimentary hot fried small corn sticks with green sauce and tartar sauce. I had a tasty grilled catfish salad. My husband enjoyed the big bowl of Cajun gumbo with rice. Our daughter liked the crawfish étouffée. My other family members really liked fried catfish meals with other vegetables.

1st time here, Waitress was helpful with good service. Food was average family dinner style. Portions was kind of small, but priced well.

Visiting Austin for the wkend. and came by this place. Reviews here were good, so went to try it out. You can't beat the food for the price. We live in the Dallas area and you'd never find the prices there for the food we got! Shrimp cocktail, and oysters on the half shell were great, especially for the Happy Hour price of less than $4 each. We split a plate of fried shrimp, fried oysters, scallops, fried catfish, fries, beans, slaw. And margaritas were good as well. Next time we're in the area, we'll be back. Service was good, with everyone there speaking and taking care of us.

Funky place with good fried catfish for catfish lovers -- best thing on the menu. Lots of fun memorabilia on walls.

Catfish fried to darkly. Best part of meal was the coleslaw and fresh cooked carrots. Was filling, but do not think I will be back.

Stopped in on a Friday night with no reservations and were seated immediately. Service was excellent even though there was a large party in the next room. The crawfish boil was super. I loved the "décor" the old Burma shave signs brought back some childhood memories.

Fantastic flavor, not stingy with portions. Staff is top notch. Hush puppy sticks, catfish and fries did not disappoint. Sauces were unique.

Cajun Catfish is EXCELLENT!!! Service was fantastic! Couldn't have been more pleased with our visit!

Delicious! Generous portions and just as I remembered. Construction made it hard to get to but well worth it.

Was driving by and we had to stop to check it out. Friday early evening and it was pretty packed already. They immediately bring you complimentary hush puppies with two types of dipping sauce; tartar (white) and jalapeno (green). No worries, the jalapeno sauce is not spicy. I asked for the blacken spicy catfish. It was nice and tender however; it lacked in taste and not spicy at all. I liked the fries that came with it as well as their special made cole slaw. Drinks were on special (before 6pm). Their decoration is a little too busy but, I guess that's what they intended to do. It's a good walk from the hotels near the airport (about a 20 min brisk walk). My son had their Friday special and that was delicious with their shrimp étouffée.

Wasn't very good. The shrimp has a really strange flavor, the catfish was subpar to say the least. Just wouldn't recommend this joint. I went based off of a recommendation, didn't exactly enjoy the experience.

My friends and I went to Catfish Parlour and enjoyed traditionally prepared fried catfish and nontraditional hush puppy fries. We also tried the AYCE combo with two types of fried shrimp. All the food was well seasoned but a little dry. We also tried the crawfish etouffe. It was ok. None of the "spicy" dishes were spicy and the sauces weren't that flavorful either. We also tried the blackberry "cobbler" which was really pie. It is a large space so great for groups and families, but the food isn't that great. The pricing is also a little high for what you get. There is plenty of parking and the staff is really great.

I could not decide what I wanted as I am a seafood fanatic and there were so many good choices. I decided on a large combo of fish and shrimp. The fish came in 4 strips, 2 hot & spicy and 2 mild. It was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. I really did not have room in my stuffed belly but I ordered Banana Pudding for desert anyway. It was to die for. I also enjoyed a spoonful of apple cobbler from my neighbor... I am going again before I return home. Yumm

They do a kind of buffet at lunch - don't know if it is the same at dinner. They charge you by the number of pieces of fish you order and the staff puts those on a plate for you. After that, you are free to load up your plate with fries, hush puppies, and fried okra from the hot section. They also have beans, salads, and sauces on the little buffet serving device. The sides and sauces that I've tried so far are good. The fish is OK. I'm not a fan of the spicy fish. It comes out of the grease much darker than the regular fish and has a grainy flour texture on the coating that is hard for me to overcome. The regular fish is better, but not the best I've had. I would suggest getting the small plate unless you have a giant appetite.

We loved the catfish, shrimp and the country fried steak was wonderful. I was really impressed with the all you can eat sides and the fact that we could choose steamed broccoli was a nice change from all this heavy Texas eating. If I lived here I would just fill up on the sides and take my fish home but sadly I have no where to take it when traveling so did not make a pig out of myself.

Looked nice on our way to Patsy's just down the road - walked up some wood planks and opened the door and kabaam - they must be using half the lighting in Austin - Felt like we were walking into a high school cafeteria. The place was pretty empty, a few tables of obvious tourists - a few barfly's hanging at the bar - no on really greeted us - we asked if it was o.k to sit at a table.... Should have left - - anyway we were there, figured we would stay - I got the Grilled Catfish - I think it may have been frozen - but I was hungry, have had worse (when I cook frozen at home sometimes) - My wife had Jambalaya or Gumbo (I forget) - She was very disappointed - The Rice was cold and old... We got the check as quick as possible and left - wished we ate at Patsy's down the road

Full disclosure: I do not eat seafood. Period. How did I end up here then? I was with a bunch of coworkers who wanted to try it. From all accounts, the seafood was fantastic. I can't confirm that, but the looks on their faces and the time we spent discussing the food leads me to believe that they were indeed very satisfied. As for me, I had blackened chicken and rice, which was very good. Very reasonably priced as well. The exterior and interior met many of the stereotypical views one may have about Texas eateries, but in a good way. The staff was friendly, and helpful. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

I feel awful for writing this. I am certainly not trying to hurt this establishment or the owner but felt the need to honesty review the food we just ate. It was truly disgusting. The catfish was tasteless meaning the breading had very little seasoning. The shrimp was also tasteless. The hush puppies looked and tasted like they came out of a box and belonged on a plate in the elementary school cafeteria around the corner. I am truly amazed that this place gets the reviews it does and am sorry to post this bad of a review. If you specialize in fried catfish then it better be damn good. We honesty ate in disbelief and got the hell out as quickly as we could.

We couldn't find many options near the airport as we awaited a friend to land, but this place was fun! Very woody and down-home type joint, they brought hushpuppy strings to the table and I got the catfish buffet. Good stuff! I would definitely go back there the next time I'm in Austin or near the airport.

They have really good food and the service was ecellent. Flavorful and filling. I would definitely go back!

My husband, two friends and I went to Catfish Parlor on a Wednesday night. My husband and I ordered the senior 3 catfish platter. The platters came with brown beans, slaw, french fries and hushpuppies. Everything was tasty and delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Our waiter was average. The restaurant appeared to be clean.

We always eat here when in Austin, Awesome Music Awesome Staff The Best Food, No One Misses out...Grand Daughter had Steak Medium Rare, not tough, excellent au juice made each cut...

I went there with my family for the first time a few years ago and it was awesome! We moved and haven’t went there for awhile. So today we finally went there again and we were disappointed because it’s not the same catfish we had the first time? This time the catfish was dry and smaller? But the sides were very good! We had Mac n cheese, real mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Nice taste of the bayou! the food was great and the service was equally awesome! They give you free fish stick appetizers with your meal. and nice size portions.

We love to stop by Catfish Parlor anytime we are going through Austin. They usually have pretty decent food and always great service. Well this last visit was very disappointing. We came by on a Friday night and it was extremely busy but we were seated quickly..service was great as usual but the food. To put it bluntly-was just BAD! Their hushpuppy sticks were old..like stale. I order Blackened Catfish and it was soggy. The waitress took the plate back but by the time my family had finished she said my new fish was just getting started. Yeah, so I left hungry and bummed out. Probably will give it another shot in the future

Traveling through town and looked on TA and found this gem. It is very quaint with super duper service. The food was good and you gotta try the hush puppy's.

We have seen this place as we come into town and said we "ought to try this just as a change". Now that we've tried it, we will stick to our usual favorites when we come to Austin. The corn fritters were the best part of the meal, and these were pretty sad.... The chicken fried steak entree was pretty sad... the catfish was abit better, but this is stretching it... One down, many to go when we come back.

We were looking for somewhere to have dinner that was close to the airport. We happened to drive by Catfish Parlour. It didn't look like much from the outside but was darling inside and wonderful food served family style. Great service! Tshirts only $10.00.

We took the family for a drive and some great catfish. They have a full line of seafood. When you sit down you are served hushpuppies and 2 dipping sauces. I really enjoyed the jalapeno tartar sauce. We shared oysters on the half shell. They were fresh and tasty. I have grilled shrimp (only 4 to an order). I that very surprised that the 4 shrimp were super jumbo they equated to 8 regular shrimp. They were served with yummy buttered rice, and family style they brought you pinto beans and cole slaw. The cole slaw looked a bit wilted but when I tasted it oh it was so good. The pinto beans were fresh and deliicious. We also ordered grilled salmon it came with cottage fries and steamed broccoli. Grilled catfish was also ordered and it was done to perfection. Lastly a combo plate of 3 fried catfish and 2 very large coconut shimp. I like the dipping sauce for the coconut shrimp sweet and tangy.

If you are in the mood for fried catfish or shrimp, this is a great place. We went at dinner time and did not have to wait to be seated. They have an early buffet, but we decided to order off the menu. We started with the free hush puppies, which were very good. The jalapeno tarar sause is a nice touch. My fried catfish was a little over cooked, but the fried shrimp was perfect. My coworked loved his balckened catfish. The fried okra is also very good.

I ordered the small lunch combo which comes with 2 catfish filets (regular or spicy), a basket of popcorn shrimp, and plenty of all you can eat sides. The spicy catfish is delicious, the shrimp is delicious, the hushpuppies are the worst I've ever had, the fried okra was very good, and the pinto beans were tasty. If you leave here hungry it's your own fault. The sweet tea was just about right. I also had the blackberry cobbler for dessert and it was good. The service was fast and friendly. The prices are reasonable. The setting is neat.

I've visited here several times, and each I'm befuddled that people actually love this place. They serve hushpuppy sticks; an acquired taste is required. In my humble opinion, the food here is very greasy, tasteless, and overrated. Fried fish is my absolute favorite meat. I was quite disappointed each time I visited here. Why did I return? I wanted to ensure I really didn't like and that it was not just one bad experience. The fist several times I ate fried fish. Two weeks ago I ate the chicken fried steak and potatoes. The mashed potatoes were cold when they arrived to the table. I hate returning food because you just never know what ppl do to your food, so I just didn't eat it. I ate most of the chicken fried steak but vowed to never return. The waitress was polite and attentive; the food just wasn't good.

We decided to try this place because our son is a catfish freak. We sat down and we're served hishpuppy sticks with regular and jalapeño tartar sauce. They were very good. Our food come out quickly and was hot. My wife and I split a big combo platter. It had 3 JUMBO butterflied shrimp, 4 fillets of catfish, fries and sides of pinto beans and coleslaw, vinegar based. Our kids ate the chicken stripes. The chicken strips were very well seasoned and juicy. The decor is a reminder of a 50's style diner. My only critique is at the fillets were a little small. We will definitely return when in Austin!!

This place is GREAT! I got the All-U-Can eat catfish and fried shrimp. The catfish was light and the tartar sauce was very tasty. They had a jalapeño tartar sauce that had a kick but not was not too hot. I grew up in the Midwest eating catfish and know what it should taste like. You can order catfish with spicy breading. I tried it and it tasted very good without being too hot to eat. It had a nice bite. That along with the jalapeño tartar sauce went down well with my beverage. (It was happy hour that took $1.00 off of my pint(s).). "The mash potatoes and creamy coleslaw were flavorful, too! I was served promptly. The bartender (I was sitting at the bar) was friendly and attentive. By 6:00 pm, the place was filling up quickly. Oh, one more thing... I had the key lime pie and it was THE BOMB!! Not frozen or old from sitting around in the fridge. The lime flavor really came out and the crust wasn't too sweet. I would eat another slide but the catfish filled me up. (Sorry.. I couldn’t wait and had to take a bite before I took the picture.) Bottom line: This place is a hidden gem that I don't think anyone should miss! It's 'that local place' you are always looking for because the locals already know it is GREAT!

We went as a group and had a good time, great food and enjoyed it all. Good service as well - just try it.

Everytime I go to the Catfish Parlour I always leave a little dissapoint. I feel like the prices are high for what you get. You will leave full but it's mostly on the hush puppy sticks, beans and coleslaw.

Their catfish french fries, and pinto beans were also very good. I told the cashier that I really enjoyed their cole slaw, and she gave me a copy of the recipe, which really surprised me! They also have reasonable prices and large portions.

My wife and I returned to dine at the Catfish Parlour South and still looked the pretty much the same with its country style appearance with wood which looked like it came from an old barn. Inside there was a small bar with seating and we were escorted to a table. Everything here is pretty much catfish but there are some other options. Our waitress returned with hush puppy fingers and two varieties of tartar sauces where one was regular and the other jalapeño. The puppies were good especially with the jalapeño tartar sauce which was not spicy hot at all but had an excellent flavor. I ordered the Grilled Catfish Dinner which came on a bed of rice. The catfish was nicely cooked and seasoned, but was a bit spongy perhaps due to it being farm raised. This is a very family friendly place where half the customers had kids with them. I explored this place to find a mid sized party room and large party room to reserve. It was another great time and still raving about the jalapeño tartar sauce.

Arrived in town and on way to hotel seen this place so decided to stop and grab some lunch takeout. Place was uniquely decorated. Food was reasonably priced. The catfish and fried oysters was good. French fries and hush puppies were eatable. Not sue what the stuff was they were calling coleslaw, other than it did have cabbage in it. Pinto beans were good. Would go back for the catfish and oysters.

If you wish to have fried food , this is the place. I am not a fried food fan. Prices seems to be ok if you choose the combo because there is a free bar with different sides to complete your order. I loved the maccaronni and the salad. Shrimp is ok but fish was not my favorite. Only if you really want fried, then go there.

Catfish and Jumbo Shrimp were delicious. Two of us had a Pitcher of ice cold beer to cool down from the 100 degree Austin temp. Their hush puppy fingers are so delicious. They have a jalapeño tarter sauce that is really a must try! Portions were great. My wife had chicken strips and Cracker Jack Shrimp (popcorn shrimp). She said the chicken finger strips were tender and juicy. The place gets busy but closes about 8pm.

Visited here after a track meet. Relaxing atmosphere and friendly service. I ordered Baked & fried oysters. Husband ordered shrimp. Both orders Came with family style servings of coleslaw, pinto beans fries,Hush puppies and 2 types of homemade tartar sauces (one was jalapeño.) Food was cooked perfectly and price reasonable.

Nice restaurant - clean; rustic décor; vintage signs and memorabilia; good, attentive, friendly service; 50's music; and reasonable prices. My wife had the blackened tilapia and I had the catfish plate. Neither of us liked the coleslaw, but everything else was pretty tasty. We would definitely eat here again.

Saw all the cars outside and couldn't resist an alternative to roadhouse B-B-Q. Fast buffet service with choices of sizes for catfish or combo with shrimp. I went for large combo. It was more than enough food when you consider all the available sides - spinach, french fries, cole slaw.... The staff was friendly and courteous. One of the better "finds" in Austin.

This has been one of my favorite places to eat Catfish. Used to stop on way to airport to eat before heading off somewhere. I will say the fish was pretty much the same but the coleslaw and beans were not. Slaw was missing something, beans were more like a soup. When ask when paying how was everything, my response was 'disappointing' the reply back was oh wow, have you been coming here a long time, to which I replied yes probably more than 20 years. That was the end of the conversation. Plus the last time I will stop for Catfish.

Food was good and decent priced, but mostly fried. They have a very good cole slaw - it doesn't have carrots or mayo in it, so it's not creamy. Tried the catfish and shrimp platter - the small is the same size as the medium, just with less pieces of fish. Tasty.

Been going here for years (like... 25 or so), and it's a favorite "casual" dining place up in NW area... right off 183 (Research). Recently ordered 2 lbs. of fried catfish "to go" and it disappeared quickly! Good hushpuppies, and service is always friendly. It's "old school" decor, and you can be casual. If you like Catfish, pretty sure you'll like it here. (they have grilled also, and shrimp). Not open Sundays though .

A little daunting for a newcomer, but if you look lost, you'll quickly get an explainer. Head to the back and order your food. You add the sides and sit down. Waitstaff will bring a drink. Decent catfish, okay sides.

Wasn't disappointed. Went looking for gulf oysters and fried catfish. Both were good, as well as the service. Quick visit to Austin so don't have a lot of dining experiences to compare.

Very disappointed in this restaurant. My fiancé and I had the fish and jumbo shrimp and the blackened catfish meal. The catfish meal came with rice, it was Rice-a-roni straight from the box. The jumbo shrimp also taste store bought, a box of Gordon's shrimp. The staff were friendly. Finally, if you are ever hungry and want great seafood, this is NOT the place!!!!

Visited south Austin location on Ben White for a late lunch 10-4-12 about 130pm. What a mistake. I have visited this location for years and never had this kind of service. Went though line got my food to sit down. Waitress was Hispanic woman who obviously did not not want to be there. I had to ask for tea. She never came back to my table even though she had nothing else to do. I finally got up to get more tea but she then said "oh you want more tea?" She poured it in my glass hot with no ice. Forget his place. Do not waste your money. I left a very small tip. If you offer little service expect a little tip! Check out I had to wait for someone to help cashier trying to take a to go order. I will not be back. Small catfish and tea. $10.53 is too much for this poor service.

You just can' t go wrong if you are looking for some good catfish. This is a great place to eat catfish and the best hush puppies in Central Texas.

I wanted to like this place. The waitress was super sweet and the tea was always full, but I have nothing else good to say. The food had no flavor at all, fish, rice, hush puppies... The broccoli only had enough taste for me to know it wasn’t good. This place was probably great in its heyday, but that seems long past.

I had lunch here while on business in Austin and had a good meal at reasonable prices. The spicy catfish was flavorful and I added fries, pinto beans, and the excellent vinaigrette cole slaw. Added in a few onions and jalapeños, and tea for a good experience. Servers are attentive and keep your drink filled.

Good food, great atmosphere and very reasonably priced. Easy to find, about 2 or 3 miles west of the Austin airport. Look for bright neon sign on south side of highway 71. Bowl of hush puppies and tarter sauce came with our menu. The place is well lit and Beatles, Beach boys and Motown music plays in the background. The food we ordered was simple, fried catfish "fresh - never frozen" with beans and slaw. DO NOT leave without ordering the banana pudding.They must add the vanilla wafers when serving because they're crunchy. Could've spent the entire evening checking out the funky stuff on the walls. Try not to act like a city slicker.

If you like catfish, you just can't go wrong here. From the senior plate to the All-you-can-eat they got ya covered.

Incredibly overpriced for the poor quality food. Four fried shrimp $13? For real? The buffet style sides are lukewarm to cold when you bring it to your table yourself. It was busy at lunchtime (incredible) because the food is pretty lackluster. The coleslaw had no mayo so I wouldn't call it that.

Had lunch there and usually it's wonderful and the service is great. Didn't do it for me this time. I hope it was an isolated incident because it has always been great. It's always had great food so I will reserve my right to try it again!

I would not drive out of my way but if you are in the neighborhood this is a solid place to enjoy fried seafood. I had the fried oysters and they were good. I also really enjoyed the fried corn appetizer they give you.

This is just what you expect when it comes to a fried catfish restaurant. Simple food, friendly waitstaff, decent pricing for what you get. Nothing fancy. Walls are covered in interesting memorabilia.

The Catfish is King here. Very nice, tasty, crisp coating and moist flaky fish. A nice array of sides, including Hush Puppies, Traditional and Homestyle Cole Slaws, Green Beans, and other Vegetables. Great atmosphere and nice servers. Reasonable prices. Plenty of Parking.

We met some friends on a Friday night to check out The Catfish Parlor in South Austin. We lived North when we had children and used to eat at the one on Hwy. 183 a lot. I was very pleased that the hush puppies or Cole slaw hadn’t changed a bit. My husband and I shared a catfish and shrimp combo and it was plenty. The service was very good and the staff is very friendly. Our visit brought back a lot of good memories. I’ll definitely be back soon!

Great for lunch had the small plate but was lots of it, you can start off with three pieces and go up. Lots of sides and the price is right so take a friend there and pay for their lunch. The service was great too, thanks ladies you do a great job.

First off. TA please implement half star rating capabilities. TY. I came just after 11am for an early lunch prior to flying home. I was surprised that there were already 6 tables. At 11:30 there were at least 10 more people waiting to order. I would agree with some of the other reviews- the catfish could use some flavor/seasoning but other than that I thought the Parlour offers good food at a very reasonable price point. I will be back.

I ate here on two consecutive nights. Had to try the catfish the first night. Grilled was excellent. The next night was shrimp night, and the shrimp were large and delicious.

In the unofficial category of "fried seafood away from the coast" this place takes top marks. The catfish was perfectly done with a nice flavor. (Is catfish really a seafood?) One of the most difficult fried sea foods to do well is oysters - here they are excellent! Mildly crunchy outside and tender inside. The decor is very casual "old advertising sign chic" and a pretty good collection of them. Very basic tables and booths, fast table service and sides served home style at the table - eat a bowlful! All You Can Eat specials several days each week.Call ahead and ask about happy hour - meaning discounts on oysters and other goodies. Definitely not romantic but a fun date spot for something down home in Austin.

Catfish was ok as was the crawfish. Fries were straight out of the freezer. Overall, an average meal but great atmosphere. Unfortunately the food didn't match.

Catfish Parlour always has great, consistent food. The hush puppies are the best, and the Cole slaw is amazing. Add the catfish in and you can't lose. A cold beer really finishes the whole thing off!

I have ate at this location several times and it was never as good as the north location. This time there was a breakdown in communication for the seating and wait list. They made it right though. Catfish was fresh and hot. The best. Popcorn shrimp were ok. Best hush puppies ever! I will be back. Added bonus was Earl Campbell was eating his catfish there. Got to be good if Earl eats there!

Visiting Austin with a vintage car rally group for a week and tried this restaurant because of the way it looked, and the large number of cars in its lot. We were glad we did, and dined there again at the end of the week. The servers were patient and attentive with a great sense of humor. The food was very good, especially the shrimp cocktail and the cole slaw. A large group of Austin police officers arrived for dinner our first night there, which we felt reinforced Catfish Parlor as a good dining location.

No fancy food here, just good, mostly fried, but also grilled and blackened seafood standards. Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Catfish. Loved the band, Silver Wings! Loved my grilled salmon. Hubby loved his fried shrimp. The hush puppy sticks that they bring when you sit down were yummy. Definitely seemed like a place frequented by locals and not tourists. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of not feeling like tourists.

My wife and I were told not to miss this little gem on our weekend in Austin. We were there at opening time on the 4th and were the first ones through the door. I must say it was well worth the trip. The food was spot on and the atmosphere was great. The only drawback was our waitress. She was either sitting at the bar or at a table in the back. When we needed refills and some extra tarter sauce we had to flag down another member of the wait staff. It left me wondering why she was the only one not busy. When we got up to leave I tossed a buck on the table and she walked over and in a sarcastic loud voice said thanks a lot. I wanted to say is was ,99 cents more than she deserved, but it just wasn't worth it. If you're in Austin and have a hankering for catfish this is the place.

The fried catfish was very dark, that indicates old oil. The sides were OK and the hush puppies were pretty darn good! Sorry to hear about the family with a special needs child that was totally disrespected. Even if it is an internet hoax, I won't even get a to go order of puppies!

I sites for first time with family. My wife said she used to come here as a UT student years ago. I guess student quality parameters are different (lower) because the food was average at best. The beer was cold and the service good, but that a good restaurant does not make. They should have it down after all these years.

Me and my family were visiting from California and heard that this was a good place to stop and eat. It looked nice and the prices weren't bad at all. The service was ok and we got the feeling like we were being rushed. Now I have read about this place on Facebook and heard that they discriminate against special needs people but we wanted to try it anyway. I didn't see any discrimination going on but the food was just ok and I'm sure there are much better places to eat in the Austin area. Shame, as a Californian all I've heard was how great Texas's beef and fried foods were. I was so looking forward to both. The beef didn't disappoint. But this place was a let down. The seasoning was bland, the catfish seemed slightly undercooked on the inside and we didn't even get a refill on our drinks until I waved someone down and asked. Yeah, they were nice enough to accommodate after I asked but it wasn't that busy in the first place and why should I have to request a refill. Isn't customer service the business this place is into to begin with? I don't know if my reviews will help at all. Maybe I'm just being a picky "Californian" because if I'm going to spend hard earned money I at least would like decent service and good food. Maybe my standards are just different. This experience was not a good one and I truly hope that this representation isn't one of the beautiful city of Austin itself. I know the next time I'm in town I won't be going there again. After our mediocre meal (at best) I simply paid in cash because it was quicker to leave that way, took my family and left. Not even a "thank you for coming, enjoy your day" or anything. I urge people to just pass this place up and not waste your time and money. Just not worth it.

Love the hush puppies. Had combo platter of catfish and small shrimp. Really liked the shrimp with cocktail sauce. Catfish was a bit salty but ok.