Hagy's Catfish Hotel Restaurant, Shiloh, TN

Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant, Shiloh, TN is located a few short miles from Savannah serving up delicious meals. Savannah being renowned as the catfish capitol of the world it is not surprising that they serve delectable catfish as their primary entrée. Housed in a handsome building exuding hints of far eastern architecture the restaurant sits in the bottomland on the banks of the Tennessee River. The main dining room is dominated by a large stone fireplace, and additionally there are two private dining rooms and during summer a large porch for dining alfresco. The house specialty is served fried, braised, broiled and in tacos. My wife had the lemon pepper catfish whole with vegetable medley and strawberry salad and I the Cajun catfish whole with baked potatoes (baked potato was memorable, I suspect was rubbed with Crisco before baking giving the skin a mild sensuous taste) and cole slaw. The servings were generous with four whole young catfish, potatoes and salads.The cole slaw was not too finely cut combining a sensory experience of texture and taste augmented by the thick creamy honey-mustard dressing served on the side. The strawberry salad was impressive with no shortage of fresh cut strawberries ringing the perimeter of the salad bowl. The piece celeb, of course, was the whole catfish. I know catfish, as my brother and I would catch them every Sunday, my father helping to skin them and not get stung, and my mother braising them in an electric skillet. And I attest that this is fresh young catfish masterfully prepared with a light dressing of herbs and spices cooked to a golden brown. Of course we just had to try the desert and the lemon rub pie and German chocolate pie did not disappoint; servings so large we had enough to take some home.

And so we just had to return on a rainy day for lunch. My wife ordered the Cajun catfish filets and I the barbecued baby ribs. Again we were not disappointed. The catfish filets were large and well seasoned, moreover not hot as my Louisiana wife commented on their mildness. The ribs were perfectly cooked, tender, ready to fall off the bone and moist; the apple jelly barbecue sauce complimenting the flavoring of the ribs. 

The Takeaway: Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant is the real deal with home cooked fresh catfish served in generous portions and in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The barbeque baby ribs are exceptional attesting to the versatility of the kitchen in preparing quality meals. Go to  www.rickpicks.com for other reviews, critiques and essays with links to area attractions and a more detailed review of this park as well as reviews of restaurants, etc.