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Aunt Jenny's Catfish
"All you can eat Catfish served family style, featured in Southern Living Magazine"
1217 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS (228) 875-9201
There is an abundance of overly hyped pseudo-historical lore surrounding the site of Aunt Jenny's. If you are Gulf Coast child of the 50's or 60's, you have probably heard the stories of the days that Elvis hung out in the lounge of what was then King Williams Center. This story does have a bit of credibility as "The King" did stay only a few hundred yards across the bay at the Ranch at Gulf Hills. Those with a larger sense of history may prefer the stories of the Biloxi and Pascagoula Indians meeting under the oak trees to trade goods and sign treaties with the French. Whether fact or fiction, these stories do add to the atmosphere of Aunt Jenny's.
Aunt Jenny's has a gift shop which, although not as obnoxious, always brings to mind that horrible store in front of every Cracker Barrel. Aunt Jenny's is separated into 2 large dining rooms nicely separating the smoking preferences. There is a smaller overflow room and banquet facilities upstairs. Each dining room has a large expanse of windows that nicely shows off the oaks, the bay, and one of the nicest sunsets on the Coast.
Building and historic context aside, what about the food? In the age of casino buffets on the Coast, Aunt Jenny's offers an alternative. Be forewarned, unlike the casinos, Aunt Jenny's does not try to be everything to everyone. First and foremost, Aunt Jenny's is a catfish house. The catfish served at Aunt Jenny's is fresh, seasoned well, and with the high turnover rate, is always hot and fresh. Those of you not inclined to eat the fish with whiskers on its face have 2 alternates. They offer fried shrimp or chicken. The shrimp tends to be well prepared and appears to be fresh year round. Be warned, you will not see the large 16-20 count shrimp served here, what you will find instead are smaller 30-40 count butterflied and fried with tails. I have enjoyed the shrimp in the past but would much prefer a spicier seasoning mix in the coating. The final option, the chicken, is frankly below average. The chicken plate appears to serve as appeasement to the land lubbers and the lack of effort in its preparation belays the lack of enthusiasm for the dish.
There are several options in side dishes. By far the best are the biscuits, sweet potatoes, and fried okra. The onion rings have never impressed me. I find them greasy and bland. The most disappointing side dish is the cole slaw. This is without a doubt, the worst coleslaw I have ever placed on my tongue. I keep trying it and it never improves.
If you enjoy "all you can eat" deals and predictable foods are attractive to you then Aunt Jenny's is a superior choice than to the casino buffets. If you eat for new experiences and want to see a restaurant evolve, then you should probably only visit Aunt Jenny's once a year or so.
Each of the "all you can eat" choices are available either single or in combination plates ranging from $10-13. A family of 4 can dine comfortably for well under $60.
Accept VISA, MC and Discover
Mon-Thurs 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Fri-Sat 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Sun 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Reservations for 8 or more
Banquet facilities
Julep Room - Lounge located in the cellar
of the restaurant
Last Updated: 5/18/02
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