Port Au Prince

This is not someplace you are likely to find by accident, but it is worth the effort. Sitting overlooking Lake Claiborne near Homer, LA, Port-​au-​Prince has the ultimate in basic menus: You can order the fried catfish, or you can order the steaks. While fried catfish places are a dime a dozen in the mid-​south, Port-au-Prince’s catfish is something special. Really, this is the only catfish I have ever had that tastes like the fish fries my family would have when I was a kid. Corn meal coated, salted perfectly, fried to golden brown but not overcooked. The sides include cole slaw, which tastes homemade; french fries; which taste homemade; pickles and pickled peppers; onion slices; and hush puppies, which taste homemade. See a trend here? It is like going to your uncle’s house, if your uncle could fit 100 people in a dining room that has large pane windows affording a view of the lake for most of the tables. I have had the steak, tastes great, tastes like my father use to make them. But have the catfish.
Only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. No alcohol.

After a day at the state park we decided to take in the local restaurant. It was crowded at the time we showed up. You seat yourselves. When busy you need to be patient. We had to wait about 10 minutes to get our drink orders. The wait staff is all young, but hard working. After another short wait, the side items were delivered (pickles, onions, cole slaw, hush puppies, an a terrific bean soup). The cole slaw was sweet with a bit of spice, I ate an entire bowl of it. It took another 10 minutes for the fish to finally arrive, but it was worth the wait. The plate full of fish disappeared quickly. Normally I can’t eat but 2 – 3 pieces as the grease tends to limit me, but these were not greasy and I could eat twice as much. For dessert we had pieces of chocolate and lemon icebox pie. The meringue was very thick on top and the flavor was good, not great. I will eat here again in the future and recommend to others.

Along White Lightning Road, perched on the southern bank of Lake Claiborne, Port au Prince restaurant serves some of the best catfish in North Louisiana. Famous locally and in existence since the 60’s, the menu is simple, catfish or steak, and homemade pie for dessert. No booze served, and mostly just locals at the tables, it is well worth seeking out. One of the few back road restaurants still around and worth visiting. I suggest the all u can eat catfish over the steak. Their crispy golden fillets are the best. Open only 5 — 9 pm, and closed on Sunday and Monday.