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Fishing for a Good Meal
Catfish Hotel serves up fried catfish and fond memories
The Catfish Hotel in Shiloh isn’t the kind of place you’d stumble upon during a leisurely drive. Hidden away in a no-frills shack-turned-restaurant at the end of Hagy Lane on the banks of the Tennessee River, it’s the kind of place you have to seek out to find.
But those who make the effort are glad they did.
If you’ve eaten at the Catfish Hotel before, chances are you heard about it from one of the locals in nearby Savannah, who proudly claim to live in the “Catfish Capital of the World.” And that claim has merit, considering some of the largest catfish on record have been caught in the area, as well as the fact folks in these parts know how to cook catfish like it’s nobody’s business.
The Catfish Hotel has been cooking up buttermilk-battered
fried catfish and crispy, golden hushpuppies since 1938.
“Some people drive two hours to get here, so we take a lot of pride in what we do,” says Jim Hagy, who co-owns the restaurant with sisters Melody and Molly. Their grandparents, Norvin and Dorothy Hagy, started the restaurant 70 years ago.
“He had this great catfish recipe and he’d have fish frys there on the river,” Hagy says of his grandfather Norvin. “All his friends would end up camping out for the night, so they nicknamed it the Catfish Hotel. And the name stuck.”
It became a bona fide restaurant when former Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning came to visit. When he tasted Norvin’s catfish and hushpuppies, Browning encouraged him to open for business.
Eventually Norvin’s sons, Jack and Rob, took over the business, adding four dining rooms to the old shack. At one time, the Catfish Hotel was big enough to seat 400 people. But just when it seemed to be at its prime, a fire burned down the building in 1975.
“It was really devastating for us, but my dad was determined to reopen it,” Hagy recalls.
A year later, the present structure opened, and the Catfish Hotel was back in business.
Today, it’s one of Tennessee’s oldest family-owned restaurants. The same Hagy family recipes are used daily, and Hagy reports the restaurant is busier now than ever.
“One unique thing we do is our cole slaw recipe, which my grandfather started. It’s cabbage, dill pickle and carrots topped with homemade French dressing,” Hagy says. “My grandma’s Lemon Rub Pie is also still on the menu.”
Hagy credits the restaurant’s success to the people who’ve worked there for decades and the loyal customers. Managers Joey and Barbara McAfee have been at the Catfish Hotel for 30 years.
“We enjoy our regular customers and meeting new customers visiting from other areas,” Barbara McAfee says. “We’ve made a lot of friends.”
Following his grandfather’s footsteps, Hagy is now operating
his own restaurant and catering company, Chef’s Market, in Goodlettsville. But he always makes time to return to his roots by visiting the Catfish Hotel.
“It’s a great place to sit and watch the river, and the Shiloh area makes
a great day trip,” he says.
Attractions near the Catfish Hotel include Shiloh National Military Park and the Tennessee River Museum and historic Cherry Mansion in Savannah.
Story by Jessica Mozo
