Ellies Catfish Cafe

I haven’t eaten here in 3 or 4 years. We finally got a chance to go back. I’m glad we did. I honestly believe that was the best restaurant meal I’ve had in a long time. The shrimp was as good as any I’ve had on the coast, the catfish was spot on and the chicken was so good. The unending beans, slaw, hush puppies, pickles and onions are worth the trip by themselves. My son had the 4 piece fried chicken. He wouldn’t even let us sample it because it was so good. If you leave hungry, it’s your own fault. You really should give this a try.

A solid, clean, hometown-​styled diner in Dayton, Tennessee. Ellie’s would fit well on main street Hooterville, or Mayberry — it’s that kinda place.
You gotta understand two things about Ellie’s: Fried & Friendly. From my perusal of the menu, EVERYTHING except steak is FRIED. This is not a bad thing, as Dayton IS on the northern end of South, after all.
About ‘Friendly’: It wasn’t uncommon to hear folk yelling out a «Hello!» to friends as they passed through the door, leading to extended conversations regarding births, marriages (sometimes in that particular order), deaths, hospital visits, the state and condition of pets, the Union, gardens, etc.
I ordered the catfish/​shrimp combo and a side of mac ‘n cheese. This brought me two perfectly breaded catfish filets and a armada of small, breaded shrimp. The catfish was very good; evenly done (not chewy or crunchy), lightly seasoned and breaded, and delivered to our table ‘piping-​hot’. The numerous shrimp were somewhat over-​breaded, and honestly, over-​cooked, although they retained a decent, if heavy breaded shrimp flavour. My mac ‘n cheese portion was a tad lacking for the price of $ 1.00, but provided a decent accompaniment to the meal.
During the dinner hours, country slaw and white beans and baskets of hush puppies are included with your meal and they’ll keep refilling the bowls as often as they’re emptied.
Ellie’s, while not slow food, isn’t fast food: It’s cooked when ordered. Our meal was aprox 20 minutes to our table, as one of our party ordered ‘bone-​in’ chicken. The wait was very tolerable, filled with several baskets of puppies, glasses of iced-​tea, a very attentive waitress, and the viewing and hearing of life, as practiced in small-​town America.
Please notice their hours, as they observe a mid-​afternoon shut-​down.
ADA is excellent, as is table and restroom access.
I like Ellie’s. It’s not fancy, nor the best catfish I’ve ever eaten, but the over-​all experience left me with a good feeling, and isn’t that what dinning out is all about?

Nice enough for a local spot but not worth the drive! Coleslaw & white beans were good, hushpuppies really good! I have to say I have had better catfish!

That’s embarrassing that this place has 5 stars. It’s practically inedible. I went once, had the catfish, didn’t want to finish it.

First time here and they have the «fixins» (white beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, onions and pickles) that they bring to the table and refill as needed. You order your main item and you can order a extra side if you want. I ordered fried catfish! So good! Service was great! Will definitely go back!

If you are looking for Catfish this is the place to go.
The fish is cooked after you order it.
Actually it is too hot to eat when it is first brought out.
All you can eat ‘fixins’, White Beans, Slaw, Hush Puppies, Onions, Pickles.
Atmosphere is simple country, clean, friendly and fast service, plenty of close parking. Going back and would recommend to others.

Love the food, and love the laid-​back diner atmosphere. The hush puppies are some of the best I have ever eaten and white beans are fantastic.

this is the best catfish place. The service is great. You get all you can eat white beans and slaw as soon as you sit down. The fried shrimp is great if you don’t feel like fish.

Each time I’m in TN we go here. Love the fish! The serving size is good, the white beans they give you are good. I normally don’t eat hush puppies but, there I like them.