Many restaurants claim to treat clientele like a second family, but only a handful actually make good on that promise. Cherry Creek Catfish is one of the few that does. With an entire hallway dedicated to customers' fishing pictures (your meal is free if you bring one in), and a steady stream of "regulars," this casual restaurant is the kind of place where diners feel right at home.
But Cherry Creek Catfish might never have existed if its owner, Shari Braly, hadn't fallen in love with Austin in the first place. A Phoenix native, Braly was no stranger to working in the restaurant business. Still, she was skeptical when two acquaintances tried to convince her to come to Texas to open a catfish café. Putting negative stereotypes of the Lone Star State aside, Braly landed in Austin and immediately changed her mind. "I never thought I'd want to live in Texas, but I just fell in love with Austin," says Braly, who is now the sole owner of the restaurant. In 1994, Cherry Creek Catfish opened its doors, and catfish connoisseurs have been stopping by to order hearty helpings ever since--some even come in twice a day, once for lunch and once for dinner.
In particular, the fried green tomatoes are a savory way to start a satisfying meal. The tangy green tomatoes encrusted in a crisp, spicy batter are so good you may want to skip the main course and polish off the appetizer by yourself. Instead, resist temptation, split the tomatoes with a friend, and sample Cherry Creek's crown jewel: the catfish plate. The generously sized lunch plate pairs farm-raised catfish (prepared grilled, blackened or fried--my favorite) with tartar sauce, crisp coleslaw, pinto beans, spicy French fries and moist-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside hush puppies. Although the restaurant is, of course, best known for its catfish, the ribs, shrimp and gumbo (with roux made from scratch) are also popular menu items. Since everything at Cherry Creek is made-to-order, rest assured that your meal is as fresh as it gets.
But as good as the food is, it's the maritime décor that completes the Cherry Creek experience. From a rope ladder hanging overhead to wooden fish and skis adorning the walls, each accent seems to have some story to tell. Most of the décor has been salvaged from antique stores, auctions and estate sales, but a few pieces have been donated by loyal customers. One Air Force wife, who had collected shells from the South American coast when her husband was stationed there, willed the colorful collection to the restaurant. A rustic painting of a fish, given by another patron, hangs at the front of the restaurant.
Of course, with its summer lake house feel, Cherry Creek Catfish is not the kind of place where you'll have to worry about using the wrong fork or buttoning that top button. "We're a lot of things," says general manager Aarin Walston, "but we're not pretentious." Servers, many who join Cherry Creek as high school students and stay throughout college, don tie-dyed T-shirts and are on a first-name basis with much of the clientele.
While I was dining, I overheard an older woman tell Walston, "Aarin, I was just telling my husband, we've been eating here since before Beaux [Shari Braly's now five-year-old son] was born!"
Walston smiles. "That's what I mean when I say our customers are like a second family," she tells me. "We wouldn't be here without them."
QUICK INFO:
Name: Cherry Creek Catfish
Two locations: 5712 Manchaca Rd.
Type of restaurant: Seafood
General location: South
Parking: Medium/Large lot
Kid Friendly: Yes
Suggested Order: fried green tomatoes and the catfish plate
Specials: On Mondays, take advantage of the $9.99 all-you-can-eat special, where a waiter will bring fried catfish to your table 'til you pop.
