If you go
› Where: Ellie’s Catfish Café, 260 16th Ave., Dayton, Tenn.› Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Friday; 4-9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.› Price range: $7-$13 entrees.› Phone: 423-570-0620.
Orders are served with "fixins" at Ellie's that include slaw, hush puppies and beans. (Photo by Gilbert Strode)
"Where do you want to go for lunch today?"
Every day at about 11:30 a.m., I get a text from my wife wondering where we're going to get lunch and take a mini date away from our offices, if only for an hour.
We have our favorite spots in Dayton, Tenn., but we are always ready to try something new. When one of my wife's co-workers said Ellie's Catfish Café was a great place to get seafood and Southern food, we knew we had to give it a try.
THE SPACE
Ellie's Catfish Café has a sizable space in Richland Park Shopping Center on Highway 27. The restaurant is spacious and light, with downhome touches to match the menu. Diners should know they are in for good, Southern food when they walk in the door and see the red-check tablecloths and kitschy fishing decorations.
THE MENU
With few exceptions, most of Ellie's entrees are fried, but that doesn't translate to greasy. The staff wields a deft hand at the fryer, and the food comes to the table crispy and delicious.
Ellie's Catfish Café's seafood, especially the catfish that made Ellie's famous, dominates the menu. The fillets are lightly covered in seasoned cornmeal and then fried quickly in hot oil to keep them crispy and light.
Sides don't come with every menu item; however, every meal is served with "fixins" - white beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, pickles and onions that hit the table shortly after you sit down.
Diners can also choose shrimp, including the Howling Hot variety doused in hot sauce, grilled salmon and trout. Steaks, fried chicken and pork chops are worthwhile dining options, too. For those who can't pick just one of Ellie's favorites, there are combo plates that include catfish, chicken and shrimp.
THE ORDER
My wife opted for the fried catfish, along with turnip greens and green beans. The fillets were light and delicately seasoned, and the sides hit the spot as well.
I went with the country-fried steak and mashed potatoes, which were savory and rich. The white gravy that covered both was rich with just the perfect amount of pepper. I also had creamed corn, which was pleasantly sweet and creamy.
THE SERVICE
The wait staff was attentive and pointed us toward some great food based on our questions about the menu. The good service is one reason we'll return to Ellie's.
THE VERDICT
Ellie's Catfish Café is among the best restaurants I've tried in the year I've been working in Dayton. It's a great place to get satisfying, comforting Southern cuisine, and I will make this part of my regular rotation in Dayton. It has enough variety to tackle most of my cravings, the portions are generous and the dishes will keep me coming back for more.
I am already planning a return trip to try the fried chicken. Maybe I'll even pair it with the homemade macaroni and cheese.