Fat Cat — Review by Brennen Taylor
Dallas, United States — Seafood, Southern Fried
Fat Cat is a newly opened catfish specialty restaurant in a converted building with a rustic, sketchy appearance. Despite its rough exterior and limited menu, the fried catfish and okra impress with excellent seasoning and quality batter, though the limited sauce portions and slimy fish texture are minor drawbacks.
What was great: Excellent seasoning on the fried catfish and fried okra, good batter quality, friendly staff, creative use of the fish in sandwich form with signature sauce
What could improve: Insufficient sauce portions, catfish had a slimy texture, limited menu variety, sketchy appearance and run-down exterior condition of the building
The Dishes
Fat Cat specializes in fried catfish, with the main options being full fillets, smaller popcats (chopped up fillet pieces), and sides like fried okra and French fries. The reviewers ordered a number two meal and popcats. The French fries came well-seasoned with a nice crispness, while the fried okra stood out with a light Cajun-type seasoning that added a subtle kick without overwhelming the palate. The catfish itself featured an impressive batter with excellent seasoning that really shined through. The meat was a bit slimy, which the reviewers attributed to catfish being a bottom feeder, but the flavor and seasoning made it enjoyable. The standout moment came when they made a sandwich with the catfish and the signature sauce, which proved to be a game-changer and highlighted how the restaurant could benefit from adding sandwiches to their menu.
The Experience
The restaurant operates out of what appears to be a converted old Keller (burger place) that previously looked like a car wash. The exterior is extremely sketchy with various items scattered around the property including a luggage cart, smoker, food truck, old fryers, and a one-legged bench, suggesting the building has seen better days and may have experienced fire damage at some point. However, the kitchen area was notably cleaner when the reviewer peeked inside while ordering. The staff member was exceptionally friendly, sweet, and accommodating throughout the service. The restaurant had only been open for 2 months but was already attracting steady customers and doing good business despite its rough appearance.
Value & Pricing
The meal was very reasonably priced at $9, making it an affordable option for fried catfish in Dallas. The portions were decent, though the single sauce container provided was clearly insufficient for the amount of food served, requiring creative solutions like using the fish in sandwich form to make the limited sauce go further.
Notable Moments
This right here is why we do this series. And you cannot get mad at us when we go into a place and we don't like it. We give honest reviews. This is something I can definitely get behind and say it's actually pretty fire.
I think they need to throw something on their menu that is a sandwich because this is like Jake said earlier to put a little bit of variety on that menu.
The Verdict
Despite its sketchy exterior and run-down appearance, Fat Cat delivers impressive fried catfish with excellent seasoning and quality batter that earned genuine praise from the reviewers. The main complaints center on insufficient sauce portions and the slimy texture of the catfish itself. The friendly staff and reasonable pricing make it worth a visit. The reviewer highly recommends trying the catfish, especially if prepared as a sandwich. The restaurant would greatly benefit from expanding its menu to include sandwich options, as this creative preparation method transformed the dining experience and showcased the potential of their excellent protein and seasoning work.