Cajun Catfish House - Jefferson City

Get ready to join me in St. Martins, Missouri, near VFW Post 35, as we visit the legendary Cajun Catfish House! You might initially glance at the establishment and think, "Hmm, it seems like a tiny hole-in-the-wall." But believe me, you won't want to overlook it!

I visited this restaurant for the first time and had an amazing experience. It's a charming small-town spot with delicious food, and the service was great too.

The waitress was excellent, and the food was good overall. However, the coleslaw has changed; I preferred the previous version as it had more flavor. Additionally, the cashiers were not very friendly—an older woman was there during both of my visits last month, and her demeanor was the same each time.

The service was dreadful. We waited 45 minutes and ultimately had to request our food to go while standing in line behind several other customers. When we got home later that evening, of course, the food was cold. I opened the boxes to find that my order cost over $14, but the portions were ridiculously small—I could fit both side dishes in the palm of my hand, and the main course was about the same size. The cornbread was barely a child's portion, measuring only 1 inch by 2.5 inches and 0.75 inches tall. It's hard to assess the taste of the food after reheating it in the microwave. We had to leave for an appointment, or we would have stayed longer. However, I will say that the red beans and rice were quite good.

Good people and great food. A hidden gem of the beaten path. They get all the little details right. Unique approaches to different sides and entrees. Very satisfying cajun fare experience. We will be back for sure.