Located off Airport Boulevard, this spot blends soul food with live music.

AUSTIN, Texas — In a city that’s constantly changing, Mr. Catfish & More remains an Austin original. The restaurant has been serving up crispy, golden catfish and all the fixings for nearly three decades.

“I can come out here and bus the table for you. Even though I own the place, you would never know it if I didn’t sit here and tell you. You’d think I’m just a regular employee,” owner David Lott said. 

He may be reserved, but Lott always puts in the work and lets his food speak for itself. His restaurant, Mr. Catfish & More, serves up southern comfort food, and locals know you don’t leave without trying “The Big Cat.” 

“It’s a whole catfish. We take it, we butterfly it and we bread it and then we drop it in the frier and we fry it to golden brown perfection,” Lott said. 

Lott has made a living in the restaurant business and comes from a family of entrepreneurs.

“I was a manager for my uncle and he had a restaurant, Catfish Station. And so I became the manager and worked for him for some years and then I went out and did my own thing, and I went into nightclub business,” he said. 

Lott’s father ran The Aristocrat on East 12th St., a popular spot known for its blues and soul music.

At Mr. Catfish, Lott blends his love of music and food to create an experience that’s as soulful as it is satisfying. With live music to keep things fun, the stage is always set for good times and great flavor. 

“We have gumbo. We have collard greens, we have red beans and rice, coleslaw and potato salad,” Lott said.

“I do everything pretty much from scratch and I don’t cut corners and none of that so…I try to use all the top ingredients,” he said. 

His food keeps the regulars coming back and the newbies wanting more.

Mr. Catfish & More is located off Airport Boulevard in the Eastland Plaza Shopping Center. Currently, DJs play the blues at the spot on Mondays and R&B performances happen on Friday nights.

PHOTOS: Mr. Catfish & More serves customers in East Austin | Foodie Friday