AMAZING job by Stacy and Travis! Best food in town! Catfish is our favorite when feeding a crowd!

Good food, large servings, great value. Family friendly Christian business. Service was excellent, very friendly.

Great catfish and great service

Great food and very friendly staff. Definitely will be back. If your looking for a good place to eat while in Athens this is definitely a good choice

Catfish and shrimp were absolutely delicious. The wait staff is very courteous oh, and the owner is an absolute delight. This is definitely my new favorite place in town.

Ate there Friday night and it was great. Had all you could eat and fish was very hot and waitress kept it coming. Waitress was very friendly and price is right.

This place was awesome!! The food was delicious the portions were huge and the prices are great! I highly recommend this place.

Stopped by for lunch for the first time. Loved the catfish! Loved the coleslaw and hush puppies! Keep doing what ya doing cause it's good!

Wife and I ate lunch there and it was delicious. Had the fish and baked potatoes. Coleslaw and hushpuppies were really good. Will be going back soon.

I love catfish and found this to some of the best I've had. The sides are good too such as the homemade green tomato relush, hush puppies, and coleslaw. It comes out quickly fresh and hot. Servers are friendly. Same owner for 37 years. I was just passing through and will go out of my way to come back.

The fish was fried perfectly. Most places fry the batter too much. Fried calamari appetizer was good. Apparently they put special juju in when they make the cole slaw. This batch was the best slaw I've had so far. Usually slaw is just so so. Maybe my taste buds are different. Generous portions. Over all very good.

I like to say..brad is a good buisness man...he hasnt owned this buisness too long but has really changed the food and atmosphere of what u get....he will gonout if his way to help anyone and make sure what u order is best to perfection....if athens texas thinks of catfish palace as old place...well...listen to me ...he has worked and redone alot and the kitchen...its all new owners and people...i highly recommend anyone go back and see the difference of clean place and owners....fish is out of this world....and yes its usa fish...and the homemade hushpuppies are to die for...along with the fixings......

Customer service was great!!! Catfish is still really good, since the new management took over, and so is the coleslaw. Yippee. Plus the pecan pie was amazing. Good news is, they are now open on Wednesday. Whoot Whoot

I have been to Catfish Palace several times. I love the friendliness of the owners and staff. Food is great. All u can eat Catfish, popcorn shrimp and chicken planks. They also have the BEST Coleslaw around.

Great service, delicious food!

The best fried catfish anywhere. Hush puppies are delicious. Always fast speedy service. Go to this place sometimes once a week if we can. Highly recommend it!!

I saw some really good reviews on Facebook and stopped in for lunch with my mom. The waitress was very nice and the food was amazing!! I will definitely be going back.

I will ALWAYS recommend Molly's Catfish Corner! Buy the tartare sauce. Put it on everything. Seriously. Crispy, perfect seafood. I'm still voting for one of those food shows to come highlight this place. An absolute local GEM!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Awesome and friendly. Best food around!!

We just moved here from oregon and wa. Coastal area and have never had catfish this good. The service was great. Waitress were very nice to everyone we saw. Hushpuppies were greAt. Coleslaw to. Really good prices. So far best we have ever had in tx. We r taking company there next Fri. The fish was not greasy at all. Light

We stopped at this restaurant on a whim. There was only one car in the lot and you know what that usually means....but I couldn't have been more wrong. We were immediately greeted by the friendliest, cutest, most cheerful waitress, Nicole. She was very efficient and attentive the entire time. We ordered fish and shrimp. While we waited Nicole brought us the most delicious coleslaw and a hush puppy and our drinks of course. When our food came, the portions were very large and appeared appetizing. The fish had a great crunch but was tender inside. Shrimp were large and well seasoned, cooked to perfection. The fries were coated, which I always love. If I lived in Athens I would definitely be a regular. Actually considering a road trip to bring my husband. This is definitely a hidden gem in Athens.

This place is delicious. We came with friends because they had been before and it was a great experience.The wait staff are amazing and the owner is so nice. He was in the kitchen cooking but came out and checked on everyone and thanked us for stopping in. This place is a jewel. Best seafood I have had in years. Recommend to anyone that loves seafood and the price is such a great deal. We will definitely be back next time we are in town.

Everything fresh and taste! We will como back for sure! I am back after 2 years and it is still the best!

We ate lunch there today; the food was great! The catfish and shrimp were lightly breaded with cornmeal, more fish than breading. Huge baked potato! Yolanda, the owner waited on us, as they had a server call in. Good service. We will be back!

Nice Christian atmosphere. Good Christian music playing. Everyone one there was nice and friendly. All around a good place to go .More Food then you can eat for sure. I got full when the waitress set our meals down in front of us. I thought there's no way I can eat all this‼️

The restaurant was very clean. The food was delicious and our waitress was awesome, but each of the 3 ladies that were working asked if we needed anything, as they passed our table. The food was delivered quickly and our glasses were always filled. Thank you so much for such a pleasant lunch experience.

They can't count. ! If you order a 2 piece plate you get at least 3 , and if you order a 3 piece well you get 4 or 5 . The fish is always delicious, not greasy or cooked too long . Hush puppies and baked potatoes very good . Service is always good and friendly . If you are a catfish lover , you need to make the trip to Athens to eat at the Catfish Palace .

The new owners have done a lot since they bought this place. Besides being squeaky clean now, the owners are very personable and care about their customers dining experience. They have made improvements to food quality without significantly altering the menu. So, all of our old favorites are still here, only better, plus there are a few new things that are great too.

Awesome food!! Service was great! Brad and his wife Yolanda are incredible people! Yall need to go and check this one out! Drove up from Houston, passing thru, all you can eat catfish and the gumbo is FANTASTIC!

Catfish palace is a fantastic place to eat. When you walk in to this diner it takes you back to a simpler time. The food was great, the tea was sweet, and the staff was welcoming and kind. They played Christian music which was a huge plus. The food was very reasonably priced and our waitress was very sweet. I will be returning regularly!

My family and I pass by here a lot on our way to our lake house on weekends, and have been wanting to eat here. Finally today i stopped but it was closed. A very nice gentleman reopened and served me. My kids and wife and i absolutely loved their catfish and fries. Excellent customer service. So happy I went there today. Highly recommended. And i will definitely be coming back!

Food is very good, hot and fresh! For the price, the portions are good. The entire staff was so nice, attentive and welcoming. The restaurant is clean, has a cozy home like feel.

We hadn’t been to Catfish Palace in years was never impressed. Saw the new management sign and thought we’d give it a try since I Really wanted catfish. The change is super great! The staff was exceptional and the restaurant was super clean, the food is Excellent! We will definitely be going back! Am so glad to have another choice in Athens, we need it! Can’t wait to take my BFF there next week as she’s from Germany and loves catfish! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

This is the absolute best catfish restaurant I've been to in this area. The fish is outstanding and the people working there are so friendly. I now order the regular size dinner because if I order any of the other two dinners, I have to take a doggie bag home. And that's okay too! You will not be disappointed...

Great catfish, fries, hush puppies, and we also had a stuffed baked potato with Brisket. We also tried the Gumbo, only $3.99, everything was awesome. Best fish and value in Athens.

We've never had a bad meal here. The waitress is friendly. The fried catfish is the best we have eaten in years. It's always hot and fresh. The only way you won't like this restaurant is if you don't like catfish! The fried chicken is good too.

I stopped here for lunch and it was an AWESOME experience. Everyone was friendly and professional. I got The supreme catfish with okra and it was cooked to prefection! I wish I didn’t live a hour away or I would come weekly for sure maybe daily 😂. Also, Bathrooms were well kept as well which is a added bonus!

Everything in this place is delicious! The catfish, the hush puppies, the fries, the chicken, the coleslaw, the sweet tea, will be back we're back in town!

This is a locally owned family restaurant. Not fancy, but the food is very good. The staff mentioned that they get very crowded on the 4th Saturday night of the month when they have some Southern Gospel singers present to entertain. Also, that soon they were planning to add barbeque to the menu.

Soo yummy!!!! They have the best catfish, coleslaw, and tarter sauce!!!!

The only thing I can complain about is the stuff on the table, always sticky (but they are busy, I understand). However it is one of our fav food spots. They know what we want when we walk in, and are always friendly. New management is great and God loving ! ✝️🥰❤️

Mary Scott

Very good. We at the fried fish, taters, coleslaw and hush puppies. Everything was delicious. Hush puppies were huge.

Emily Rhodes

First place we went to after moving to Athens. Everything is great! From the down home atmosphere, to our hard working waitress, Stacy, to the perfectly seasoned catfish. We always leave full, happy and satisfied. One of those places you always take family and friends when they visit.

Brenda Goode West

Great food. The staff was very friendly. They had K-Love playing on the radio, and I KNEW that I was in the right place.

Stan McCurley

Man this place was really good. I knew the owners were fairly new from the last time I had eaten here. Stacy was a great waitress. They had hush puppies the size of baseballs! Everything was perfectly cooked. Best fried catfish you will find.

John Bailey

Great food and lots of it! Plates are loaded full and taste great. Service was awesome!

Madelyn Attaway

Great place with delicious food and the hush puppies are the best in county!!!!!!!!!I definitely recommend!!!!!!! So good!!!! If i could rate it 100 stars i would!!!!!!!

Ed Cotton

Amazing lemon grilled cat fish and shrimp

+2

Sherry DeLuna

When we first walked in, we were the only ones there. That quickly changed. People started coming in and the dining room was filling up. Our waitress/hostess Stacy was so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. This place really delivers on their fried fish and shrimp! Everything tasted good! I was really impressed by the hush puppies! They had a hint of heat and they were soft.... not rock hard like most places. Stacy was working the room effortlessly, waiting on everyone while keeping my tea glass filled. To anyone who has read my reviews before, they know I do not like waiting on refills. Stacy did not disappoint! The tea tastes good and not weak. That too is a plus! The restaurant itself has a laid-back atmosphere, which I love! It was my first time visiting. It will not be my last time! Give this place a try. You will not be disappointed!

Mary Vickery

Catfish restaurant with a buffet. Also has a menu. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Recommend checking it out.

Bearded Jimi

I walked in, unknowingly, right at closing. I turned to leave, and the nice lady asked me if I would like an order to go. She saved me from motel Ramen. And the food was great. The shrimp were tasty. The chicken was moist. I may go back tomorrow.

TJ Weber

Wow! Can’t beat their prices and service. You get A LOT of food you have to take it home. I don’t pass through here often but this is my #2 favorite catfish restaurant in all my travels through the south. #1 place is in Arkansas. So this would be the Best In Texas! Their first original menu is hanging on the wall (photo attached) along with their current menu as of April 2024.

+1

Chely Gtz.

Great food. Great customer service. Clean environment.

Fried catfish without all the grease, we usually get it to go but have eaten there. It's a little dated but we tend to overlook it, after all some of the best places to eat are just like Catfish Palace.

Food was delicious, the service was great. The waitress needs a raise. She was doing the work of two people.

Everything was delicious. Service very good. The restaurant just needs some TLC cleaning. Tables were either dirty or very sticky. I'm going to start talking my own clorox wipes like did when covid was all over the place. Not that I think covid was as bad as they say nor did I want to wear masks..but I did carry the wipes just in case for this very reason. Good hometown eats. I wish them well with the new management.

Good food will comeback

Only reason I dont give this place a 5 is because the fries arent crispy enough for me. (TIP)Soak in cold water after cutting to take starch out and theyll fry up crispier! Still doesn't stop my weekly commute from tyler to get some catfish palace.🥴🥴 P.s. their hushpuppies are made with real corn

Catfish is one of those comfort foods. And this place in Athens Tx was pretty good, nothing fancy. In fact not the cleanest but it was mostly old tables and chairs otherwise it was ok. But the fact is the catfish was good 👍. Would eat there again when I come back through town.

Wife and I like this place . Fish and shrimp baskets. Tried the fried oyter love there cole slaw. Great waitress working hard and being polite . Thank you. 😊 I'm trying the Mexican shrimp cocktail next trip. 😋

Good fish good service good price...don't take my word for it, go see for yourself.

Food was good and hot, but no frog legs!!!!

Terry Faircloth

Excellent food great fish large hush puppies very good Good salad bar Good place to eat.

Marx Madison

Overall the meal was great. I had the seafood platter. Fish and shrimp were great. The crab was good but a little small. Hush puppies definitely a HIT! I also tried the gumbo but it doesn't stand up to New Orleans style. Would love to see whole catfish added to the menu!

Lisa Callaway

Newly renovated inside. Service was great, and the grilled fish and shrimp were delicious . It's still a little dark inside, so sit near a window.

Jeremy Bumgardner

The catfish was crispy & served hot. I had a baked potato 🥔 as my side & it was yummy. The Tea was sweet, just how I like it & my server is a hard working blonde 👱🏻‍♀️ haired woman.

Mina Tanaka

With the $12.99 all you can eat deal, you get bottomless cole slaw, hush puppies, shrimp/fish/chicken (all or any combination of the above), baked potato/french fries, green tomato relish. They have other very affordable a la carte/platters as well, e.g. fish and chips platter with sides for $6.99. It's not fine dining by any means, but you can expect a good meal and great service.

Food was ok but was overpriced in my opinion. They were also short staffed so the wait was more than most places.

Don't let the exterior appearance fool you. I eat here regularly and the food is very simple fare (fried oysters, catfish, etc) but consistently good. Brought family from out of town here and they liked it too.

I had their all you can eat catfish popcorn shrimp and chicken. I will say that their popcorn shrimp and chicken we're good. Their fried catfish was kind of dry and not enough flavor. Their tea tasted watered down they put a lot of water in their tea then tea. The atmosphere was okay. They need to update the inside of their restaurant.

We placed our order ( 4 ) of us and when it came out nothing was how we ordered it. The waitress started to tell us what we ordered which was wrong , when she went back to kitchen, her and the cook got in a shouting match we could hear in the dinning room. Food finally came out right . Food was good none the less

an all u can eat catfish place, you assume you're getting catfish which I did but not just cat. all you can eat was catfish, was a plate of 3 fish 10 are 15 shrimp bit size, 2 chicken strips french fries and coleslaw which looks like an awesome plate but my point was I went to catfish no problem was the fish in the shrimp was overcooked too tough let the fries and the chicken were good enough to eat that wasn't the point

John Howell

Catfish palace, the name is catching, however the fish is not catfish, it is SWAI ! , imported fish from Indonesia and Vietnam, if you like SWAI, its fried up good, hush puppies are good also, but there is no American farm raised catfish!

Jim P

I was super excited about this visit. Not what I was hoping for. The service was good. If you're going to eat here, stay with the fish. I tried the all-you-can-eat. The catfish was ok. It should have been outstanding. The chicken was tender; but, dry and lacking in flavor. The shrimp was chewy. The sides were good. My 1st basket was the last, and I couldn't eat the shrimp. The facilities are aged and in need of a good cleaning. I'll try a different restaurant on my next trip to Athens.

RIP to the review I had back in June😩 fish over cooked chicken strips as well...nothing tastes the same except the tomato relish...had to take away a few stars..😔 my kids did love the new fries though 😋

Wait staff was good, courteous, and checked on us constantly.....the food on the other hand was not great! The fish had been cooked awhile, seemed to have kept under a warming light. Hushpuppies were soggy with grease, and baked potatoe was not fresh either....not my choice of coming back.

I wish there was some redeeming qualities for this dumpster fire of a restaurant. Everything was simply swamped in Greece. The fish was a soggy greasy mess. You can have better fish from a bait shop. Their pathetic attempt at homemade french fries was nothing but an undercooked soggy mess of potatoes and they’re so-called hush puppies might as well have been called a grease soaked roll. Our visit was February 20, 2026. Save yourself the disappointment and go somewhere else. if you want fish go to Captain D’s.

Place is disgusting. nothing more needs to be said.

I was there and to one wait for the table k I had sent my self mother. Food was awful I will not be able to eat there anymore I miss BJ the previous owners

Went for the first time. I will not go back. Fish was hot but taste like the grease fried in was old and it was like rubbery and really skinny filets.

Very bad experience. Waitress spilled water in my lap, fish wasn't hot, popcorn shrimp was hard. Plenty of food but I've had better.

Worse fish ever. Came out soogy soaked in grease. They made me fresh & the crust is not crispy. Under New Management but fish isn't the same but I won't be back

Hushpuppies were burnt, everything is now served with plastic forks in Styrofoam cups and in fast food paper baskets. The tea was soured, soda was flat and served without any ice. The inside was hot and it smelled of burnt food. The service was bad and we had to ask to see a menu. This place used to be great but now it has gone down hill. We will not be eating there again.

Food was awful!!! Like made everyone sick to there stomach with the little bit we did eat. Tasted like old grease with rubbery meat. And the waitress filled my lap with coctail and tarter sauce. Never came by to refill drinks. Literally one of the worse places i have ever been to.

The food is fine, however when they over charge people so that their business makes more money that’s fraud! The online menu reflects one price and when you go inside the restaurant they charge more than what’s prices on the website. This is the second time it’s happened so I went back to their website and saw they are over charging patrons. I won’t buy anymore food at this restaurant.

My family and I stopped by at exactly 1:15pm on Sunday June 15, 2023 and sign said open and close at 3pm. We were yelled at and told we could not enter building because they are under staff and they are not taking any more customers. We had family that drove from Fort Worth to eat here and the the greeting we received. Then they wouldn't answer the phone so I could complain to manager.

service was great. food not so good. seafood right out of the freezer. Greasy spoon special. I had a baked potato, wouldn't melt my butter, didn't try my cheese. By the way not a cheap place either. If your in Athens Texas, keep looking for a place to eat.

Door was sticky: should have left! Lunch time Saturday was empty: should have left! Table as stick and dirty: should have left! Food was was just as bad! Wasted my money on food I didn’t eat!

READ BEFORE YOU GO!!! We went today for the first time & last. Sat down salt and pepper shakers were gross. Health department should have seen them. The fish is breaded with chicken fried steak batter. Coleslaw crunchy but no flavor. Hush puppies so dense they should be on a fairway, but they'd slide into the cup because of being so greasy. The loaded Texas size baked potato with BBQ you have to search for the BBQ. My baked potato was plain Jane but good and the tea and service was good. But spent $32 and was severely dissatisfied with the food. Will go to the catfish place in Palestine next time.

Terri Hall

We visited for the first time ever on a night that they had people singing gospel music. The music was the only thing good that I can say about the place. The food was absolutely horrible to the point of inedible. We didn't even finish our meal. The wait staff was just as bad as the food. We couldn't get their attention to take our order. When we finally did get to order, the food was not good at all and when the lady brought it to us she asked if we needed anything else and also gave us our ticket right then and NEVER RETURNED to our table to check on us. Both waitresses walked right by our table several times and we literally could not get their attention. At one point they completely disappeared from the dining room for about 20 minutes. We had to go to the kitchen door to ask for a refill on our drinks. When the lady FINALLY came to refill them she asked if we were doing ok and we told her no we were not ok and she had the nerve to tell us that "sometimes it is valued to not be ok". I have to wonder why you would EVER say that to a customer that you are supposed to be taking care of and probably expecting a tip from. Needless to say I don't think we will be back. The photos I am sharing are of the food that we didn't finish. You can see where a piece of chicken was burnt and some of the fish was almost burnt and too dry to eat. This meal was just not worth the $28 and change that we had to pay for it.