Top O' The River

Lately, I've been REALLY craving catfish. It's hazy whether or not I've ever eaten it in 35 years on the planet, but I wanted some just the same. Dad, in his wisdom, suggested Top O' The River at Lake Guntersville. It was indeed a good suggestion, especially on a less busy Tuesday night.

Top O' The River is just simple, good, country and seafood cooking...and we'll start with the cornbread. I'm not a cornbread guy. Corny? Yes. Corn bread? No. Even so, the butter and jalapenos made it tasty...and made me a convert. Washed down with sweet tea, and we're already on an upswing. Less than 5 minutes after ordering, the folks got their combos and I got The River Boat Special of fried catfish and extras. The modified Tartar sauce really blended well with the breading and taste of the fish. Breading was subtle and tasty, without being over-powering. Also tried a curious mix of pineapple and horse radish suggested by our server Aaron. As wacky as it sounds, the two flavors really do work in an unexpected way. Fruity with a twinge is the only way to describe it. You just have to try that mix and judge for yourself.

Atmosphere feels like fishing cabin meets family cookout. Simple and layed back. We sat in some high back varnished wood booths that were surprisingly comfortable. You're given tin plates for cornbread, cold slaw, and pickled onions to start. The meal comes out on ordinary white oblong plates that fit the theme very well. Yep, baked potatoes come in tin foil too. During dinner we were treated to a pretty view of Lake Guntersville reflecting the evening sun. Was cool to see people pull up to the boat dock and come in off the lake for dinner too.

Service was excellent. Aaron took good care of us...and he gets bonus cool points for looking like a red-haired Shaggy from Scooby Doo. He was a good balance of attentive without hovering or being pushy. Aaron, you'll remember, made the suggestion about the pineapple dipping sauce for the catfish. Did I mention only 5 minute wait on our dinner order? He was also genuinely happy and smiling. In short, good attitude, especially when being a server can be a very tough job some days. We also were able to completely finish the meal before even the mention or bringing of the check. It really was nice not to be rushed, and it reminded me of how restaurants used to be. Needless to say, he got a good tip and our gratitude for a job well done.

Was my catfish craving satisfied? With gusto. And to Mr. Phil Woodall, you were correct sir. ;)

Hungry yet? You can catch even more country goodness here - http://www.topotheriverrestaurant.com/

As you can see, Top O' The River does several things right, from food quality, to theme, to service. Thank you to those folks for a really good meal! We'll be back.