Newberns Catfish

CHEERS ON THAT !!!!I have never got a bad plate of fish from there....

Oh, gosh... I miss Newbern's catfish.

I try to eat there whenever I come back to Florence!

I wonder what kind of oil they use too cook the fish in?

I don't know about the oil but whatever it is is addictive! One week without Newberns and I go thru withdrawl!!

From what i hear Peanut Oil does not burn as bad and MUCH healthier for you than other oils.

I dont think they use Peanut Oil because I have a family member that is allergic to anything peanut, but can eat Newberns with no problems.

I know the family that owns and runs it -- Ms. Campbell used to teach math and was an amazing teacher -- have known them for years -- they are a great asset to the community as well as good eatin'!

I haven't been there in about 2 years. We always had great service and the food was excellent. The only thing I didn't like was that there are soooo many chairs packed in there and everyone is soooo close. But, it is worth getting good fish!! I'll have to go back soon.

If you will scrow down there is a Newbern's sight with a lot more information...

I like their fish too but HATE the atmosphere. Way too small and hate all that religious stuff thrown in your face. Those religious dolls on the counters give me the creeps.

I keep trying to give them a chance to impress me. I went several years, back it was awful. I eat the Whole Catfish. It was overcooked and you couldn't get it off the bone. So I waited a few years and went back again. Same thing, Overcooked again. I miss Jr. Whites catfish. Closest thing I have seen is Big Mike's. Newberns comes no where close when it come to whole catfish.

It's been some years since I ate there. I was with family who wanted fish and I ordered chicken. It came with some kind of sauce that tasted beyond bad. I asked for sweet and sour and was told they didn't serve it. I then asked for honey mustard and was told what I had been served was honey mustard. I just ate the chicken sans sauce.

What I like about Newberns:

Ms. Campbell knows my wife and always enquires about her - (wife has asthma and doesn't hear well in noisy places, so doesn't go to restaurants much), she seems to care about her customers.
It has the right price/quantity ratio for most people in the area.
It's clean.
It has plenty of parking.
It is no-smoking.
They serve Coke products.
It use to be very close to home.
Food is consistent. It is always just-cooked.
It's noisy enough that I don't have to listen to other people's conversations.
Can't remember ever having to wait for a table.
The wait people don't try to chat you up.
They actually have real plates and silverware.

What I don't like about Newbern's:
When it's crowded, it feels crowded.
Everything is fried, except for the bbq chicken which isn't very good - but it IS a catfish place.
Extremely religous theme, but no one pushes it on you beyond the decor.
I'm not a native of either Florence or AL, and I got to tell you, their catfish is mediocre, and of a less expensive quality. And quite frankly, what is up with the slice of onion on my slaw? Do people around here really eat raw onion?
The wait people are rarely cheerful, and visit your table only once after the food is brought to the table, hopefully for a refill on my drink, but not always.

Real people do eat raw onion! I hope I get to sit by you so you can give me your slice! it comes on top of the slaw so the wait person does not have to go back and get it for you!!!!

I agree Newberns is a good place as far as enviroment but the fish does lack something but it's not grease! There fish has always been to greasy tasting for my liking.

We try to make the fish fry at Underwood/Petersville fire department every other month or so and I get my fill there.

quote:

Originally posted by David L.:
Those religious dolls on the counters give me the creeps.

Agreed, David. The G.I Joe's dressed up as Jesus are so incredibly tacky that a velvet Elvis would blush. I generally make it a point to not do business with any business that uses bible versus to drum up business.

Despite that, I tried it to see what the big deal was. It wasn't. It's just fried catfish. -- salt, corn mean and cooling oil. Good enough to eat but nothing special.

I do believe the owners belong to a church that preaches against graven images!!!!

Earthmomma,
I'm pretty sure the owners go to Faith in Florence, which I am also a member of, but I do not know them personally. Having a G.I. joe doll dressed up like Jesus is not an Idol or a graven images.

GoFish, Having a Bible Verse is not trying to drum up business. I profess to be a Christian, I have bible verses thruout my store. But I know that more people will condemn u for it rather than go there because yr Christian. God is more important to me than my business, so this is my way of putting him first and my way of sharing what I think is very important. But also, like Newbergs, I will NOT confront you to demand to know if yr a Christian or not. I will not beat u over the head and tell u that u need to go to MY church. My main purpose in life is to be Loving and Kind, though not always easy.

CrustyMac
I'm from Chicago, lived there 49 years and I love raw onions!
Cindy

I have known Ms. Campbell for years. Believe me -- if she quotes the verse -- she believes the verse and she is a very devout Christian -- as is her family, but they do not push it in your face or anything other than what is on the sign or the images in the restaurant. She was never pushy when it came to her faith you just could tell it -- it was written all over her. She went through a lot of health issues several years ago and that strengthened her faith a lot. THey are very good people and the food is usually great. I don't eat catfish just anywhere so I'm a little partial in that respect.

David L, GoFish - I take it you don't like to eat at Thai or Chinese restaurants, either? With all of the Buddha's, Dhosa Kiridhorn, Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara, lions, dragons, and don't forget the little altars at which to worship Buddha. These type of little table displays (like you will find at Phuket and Surin and Charm Thai) are actually altars to pray, reflect, and give offerings to Buddha:


If you are going to be offended by religion, I hope it is an equal opportunity type of situation.

TSC: You want a bigger spoon to still this pot with?

Step away from you keyboard and walk away, you know where this will go so lets keep this about Newberns!

Gosh, I was just trying to make sure everyone was equally offended! And I wanted to see if we could drag religion into every single topic on the forums! Now if this isn't proof that we need a RELIGION or THEOLOGY or whatever section, then I don't know what is.

I'm going to put my spoon away now...

I liked the flavor of the catfish there, but I always thought the fish needed to be a little bigger or have a little more meat on them. It was a lot of breading for not much meat.

quote:

Originally posted by earthmomma:
Real people do eat raw onion! I hope I get to sit by you so you can give me your slice! it comes on top of the slaw so the wait person does not have to go back and get it for you!!!!

You would be welcome to my slice, but I'll have to ask you NOT to sit next to me.

Crusty...
I agree with you on the quality of fish at Newberns...but..you did not have to tell me you were not a Native of this area and probably not of Mississippi, La, Georgia either...How do I know?
Because it is common Southern thing to serve raw onions with catfish, along with white beans, slaw, Fries, Hushpuppies with onions,corn, Jalapeno Peppers, at most Southern Catfish Place...

Hm-----! This got me to thinking, I am headed to S&R Catfish in Moulton...for my plate of Catfish there are none better...

quote:

Originally posted by mug.com:
I have bible verses thruout my store.

Please take them down and put them in your house where they belong. Really. It's tacky.

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
David L, GoFish - I take it you don't like to eat at Thai or Chinese restaurants, either?

I don't see any GI Joe's dressed as Jesus there, TSC. I ate just underneath one of the statues at Newburns. I nearly choked on my catfish every time I looked up and guffawed. It's that baaaaaad. And they are all over the place: Jesus walking on water. Jesus with a lamb. A couple of Noah's. All GI Joes. Gaaag!

Besides, that oriental stuff is cool looking and decidedly untacky.

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
Now if this isn't proof that we need a RELIGION or THEOLOGY or whatever section, then I don't know what is.

I agree.
Maybe we could put a warning in our title's if religion is allowed or not.

I love catfish but it's hard to find really good catfish. Did someone say Big Mike's serves catfish?

"QUITEPlease take them down and put them in your house where they belong. Really. It's tacky."

Sorry u feel that way, but I have to go with my own convictions! Whats tacky to one person is anothers healing!!!!

quote:

Posted 19 January 2008 12:29 PM Hide Post
I love catfish but it's hard to find really good catfish. Did someone say Big Mike's serves catfish?

I really loved Big Mikes when they were in Muscle Shoals, but since they moved to Florence, well it's just not the same!

quote:

Originally posted by Taciturn:
I love catfish but it's hard to find really good catfish. Did someone say Big Mike's serves catfish?

They do. Don't waste your time.