His restaurant, Catfish Parlour, which has been located off US 183 since 1973, has achieved this feat, he said.
“[When it opened] there was nothing out here. There was Texas Instruments and a beer joint behind us and that was about it,” he said.
Forty-five years later, as the nearby area has grown into a residential and business hub, Catfish Parlour’s dining room is on its third set of hardwood floors.
“The other two [sets of flooring] got completely worn out from the foot traffic,” Dave said. “We’re on our third floor, and five years from now we may have to put in a fourth.”
When he started the restaurant, Dave said his focus was on quality ingredients and quality service. He said he credits Catfish Parlour’s continued success and growth to three area locations on that focus.
“You have to be stubborn, take one day at a time, keep your standards up and insist on them,” he said.
Dave extends this philosophy from his homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce to his breading made with a secret blend of spices, he said.
His son, Tommy Kerbow, who worked at the business as a teenager and returned in 2002, said the source of the farm-raised catfish matters just as much as its preparation.
“It comes from Mississippi and Alabama—the heart of catfish in America,” Tommy said.
Although Dave admits he is stubborn about his standards, he said he has also adapted to interests of his guests. Over time, Catfish Parlour’s menu has expanded to include salads and grilled and gluten-free dishes. Regardless of menu changes and expansions to South Austin and Georgetown, Dave said his priority is to keep both guests and staff coming back.
“That’s one thing that hasn’t changed in 45 years,” Dave said. “Look around; people are happy here.”
Catfish Parlour
11910 Research Blvd., Austin
512-258-1853
www.catfishparlour.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Sun.
