Hick's birthday was a couple weeks ago. The Pony wanted to take him out for dinner. We waited until The Pony's day off, and headed to the local catfish restaurant. The only other option was going after The Pony got off work, which would not have been time enough before closing for us to do justice to the ALL YOU CAN EAT option that we so enjoy.
Being elderlies, we preferred to go a bit earlier in the day. Not as crowded, and a few dollars off before dinner prices!
We were so engrossed in our feeding frenzy that I FORGOT TO GET A PICTURE! A picture of the piled-high platter of fried catfish, chicken breasts, shrimp, potato wedges and hush puppies!
This is after we had already ravaged that platter! I love the fried chicken breasts. Now they are cutting them into smaller pieces, but that doesn't fool me! I am shocked to see so many shrimp still on the platter. That's usually what Hick and The Pony go for, thought I don't eat them, since I feel like I could get the same thing out of the freezer case in a box.
Hick's plate is in the background, with his un-sweet tea, and a bowl of fried okra that he picked as a side dish instead of his usual baked beans. I'm not a fan of fried okra. Nor their beans. You can get as many sides as you like, but we only ask for our favorites, because we don't want to be wasteful, and want room for the main meats.
This is my plate. As you can see, Val likes her sauces. Half my plate is taken! Of course I had to put my generous portion of slaw with the sauces. I've got ketchup up top, and tartar sauce to the left of it, and the delicious sweet tangy chicken sauce at the bottom. I've got a piece of the cornmeal-battered catfish ripped in half, and chicken, and a potato wedge that now has a groove-y kind of cut. Oh, and if you look closely at the center, there's a single strand of fried onion, a new appetizer that The Pony wanted to try. There's my jar of water, and a shrimp escaped from the platter, trying to make its way to my plate.
That's our bowl of slaw, and tartar sauce behind it. I thought we might need a refill on the slaw, but the other stuff filled me up too fast. You can glimpse Hick feeding in the background.
The onions were $5.99, but The Pony and Hick and I all declared them worth it! So crispy and FRIED to go with the rest of our feast!
The Pony was ready for some refills on his plate. He was already on his second jar of Sprite. The white stuff on the right is one of two containers of ranch dressing that came with the fried onions. Hick and I liked ours plain.
The waitress came by to see if we wanted more of anything. We asked for some catfish, which was particularly good that day. She was a good waitress, friendly and attentive, yet not intrusive. Brought us a wooden wedge when Hick complained at the beginning because our table had a wobble. That fixed the situation.
As you might imagine, we left there stuffed! I have a feeling we shall return for my birthday, and The Pony's as well. Dang it! I just realized that I forgot to eat a hush puppy!
That meal looks like it was worth the price. I don't know of any place around here that is comparable with the same type of buffet selections otherwise for sure I'd make a visit:)
ReplyDeleteThe name of this place is Catfish Kettle. They bring a platter (plus sides) of what you want to the table. If you don't eat it all, you can take leftovers home. BUT, once you ask for some more to be brought to the table, you can't. There has only been one time when we were done eating, and had some of the original platter left. I guess we must have had more side dishes that day.
DeleteI have been known to have another fried chicken breast instead of dessert. It all looks delicious and FRIED. A jarful of water is just the thing since I need lots to drink with my food.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken sauce is perfect for that crispy chicken! You have to ask for it, because it is refrigerated, and not sitting on the table with the ketchup and cocktail sauce for the shrimp.
DeleteThey have whole pies in their display case out by the register. You can get one to take home, or order a slice after eating. I don't know who would have room for that! Besides, I don't like pie. I am always the last one still eating, because Hick and The Pony eat fast. I'm usually gripping a piece of chicken, dragging it through the sauce.
OMG! Now I am SO hungry. I love fried catfish and I can't understand why some people scorn it just because it's a bottom feeder.
ReplyDeleteThis catfish is just right! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, doesn't have that "fishy" taste. It's farm-raised, not like it comes from a river in New Jersey (shout out to blog buddy joeh)! I imagine the fish farmers feed them with something better than toxic sludge or decaying corpses.
DeleteI was never a fan of catfish until I had it at a restaurant off the Missouri River. It was so tasty!
ReplyDeleteYes, it just depends on where they get it, and how they prepare it. The catfish used to be good at the casino, but then it wasn't. It tasted fishy, and was thin, like just a chunk of the meat, and then a bunch of skin they battered. Of course I might still give it one more try...
DeleteIt looks like great value for the money, and delicious too, but I have to say it's more fried food than I would eat in a year! Mostly because A: I don't eat out very often and B: frying stuff at home makes a mess of the hob and I don't want to have to clean it! Mmmm, shrimp :)
ReplyDeleteWe cut our teeth on fried foods! It's in our blood. Literally! We had so much shrimp, you could have joined us and we wouldn't have missed it.
DeleteOur favorite Friday night fish place had a gas explosion! The fish there was really tasty, so HeWho went dow the road to a similar little cafe and got orders to go one night and it was not good. I am hoping they will reopen. Yours looks delicious. My problem is that my belly gets full too fast! No "all you can eat" for me!
ReplyDeleteOh, no! I hope you can find a good fish-eating hole! I can pack it away, but I DO have the assistance of Hick and The Pony to help me eat all I can! Our platter does not go to waste.
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