Aunt Catfish's On the River — Restaurant in Port Orange

Horrible treatment of a disabled patron. Absolutely disgusted with the way the staff ( specifically the manager that doesn’t know a thing about hospitality management or even how to show an inkling of actual human decency to say the least). My girl friend and I had a night out with out the kids so we decided to eat at her late grandmothers favorite spot. We had never been there together so a 35 minute wait I figured why not….. squeeze our way to the bar and grab a drink while we waited for our names to be called. The ladies upfront were trying their hardest with 50 people creating an extremely hazardous situation if there was an emergency but that’s just a sliver of all the terrible things that were beyond off putting about the way this restaurant is being ran. We finally get our names called because their system of calling people to their tables was to have the manager yell over an over crowded room and shuttle a group of 5-10 people while yelling through the dining area. As we were walking through I couldn’t help but to think that this place had seen better days in years past. My how things have changed…… we sit down at our table only to realize that 4-5 lights just in our general vicinity were blinking out of control. As I looked up I noticed it wasn’t just above our table it was through out the entire dining area. Now I am a disabled veteran and have a brain injury and was immediately effected by the two bulbs that were strobing above my head. As I stretched up and tightened one bulb it stopped and then started right back. I could barely reach the light as the manager that was too busy bussing the table beside us so they could seat the patrons that were waiting next to him (I guess that parties table wasn’t ready after all) looks up and says “you can just unscrew it” as if I’m an employee or handy man…. So as I do so (there’s still a hand full of other lights strobing) this gentleman (the so called manager) looks at me and says “oh and after you are done here YOU WILL screw them back in” I was kind of thrown back at what I was hearing so i explained to him that I was disabled and have a brain injury among other physical issues from the war. The person waiting to be seated spoke up and explained that he too had a tbi and he too is effected by strobing lights (I’m glad no one had seizure though). Not allowing the gentleman that was speaking up to finish and speaking over everyone the manager leans over the partition pointing a menu at me saying “oh don’t worry about forgetting I’m going to remind you you will be fixing them before you leave” at that point I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t want to cause a scene as I have issues with large social gatherings due to my disabilities. Thank god I was there with my girlfriend because she took over and explained that it was extremely rude how he just spoke to me and that we were leaving from that point on this “man” could only say “have a blessed day bye bye” on repeat as if he were a young child trying not to listen to what someone was saying. We left the restaurant and had an amazing meal down the street at Down The Hatch which I highly recommend less than 5 minutes away and seated immediately by a friendly staff. As we were dining I couldn’t help but to think that if that establishment continued to operate in that manner. Someone will have a seizure and with it being ran by someone like that it could end extremely bad. When I called back the lady at the front answering phones apologized for what happened as I was explaining that I needed to talk to someone that was in charge of that person. I told her that it was far from her fault and I felt bad she had to work for people like that. I was assured that someone would contact me so I could explain why the situation needed to be remedied. I just dont want someone that already suffers enough to suffer more or possibly die because of the ignorance of one “man”. It has now been 3 days and I haven’t heard anything from this horrible establishment. Hopefully someone will read...

Service is always good waitress waiter wise. but not worth 60 with chaos between shifts for a kids burger with round unsure what in middle and not fully de pooped shrimp. I Had to add a meal cause my child took one piece of corn bread and carried salty grits for me I didn’t eat.

What turned into let’s relax before busy not not feeling well for a small fast bite with 22 left over gift certificate and a bit more than, turned into loud dunlawton motorcycles and cars with birds on table and no relaxing. And 60 bucks.

I just wish I looked inside her burger when she told me was a round hole and I see it, as nice waitress was bringing box I said “it’s probably ground meat which I can’t stand to look at. “ she bit it but now that I think about it, it looked like a worm and I wish I took it from her and dissected it but at that point I wanted to get out of there over heated and stimulated.

$50 for a couple coconut shrimp had crunchy stuff in my creamed spinach, I spit that out didn’t eat that. I went to fixing bar once But manager made me buy a child dinner or 11.99 for her having one piece of corn bread And my cin roll. Despite a soup which is fishy this time (normally the clam chowder I love) , drinks and a 24 dollar plate at 330pm. That’s almost 40 plus tip alone.

I ate a couple shrimp took three home had cornbread two bites of grits, she had half a kids questionable hamburger and 1 french fries for 60 with tip.

My older parents like it come all the time we stick to casual. it’s more my kind of food. This is more for older southern people and people who find nostalgia in it. I won’t be back after that experience.

Also, the a c ductwork *really needs to be tended replaced. black mold is in and on all the vents so I had to sit outside That’s a serious health hazard. It’s a very old building, but the money is definitely there instead of buying new property please get new air ducts and clean your vents. Nobody wants to sit underneath black molded vents just because they don’t pay attention to it doesn’t make it any better. I’m dizzy and I can smell it and so can my sister and fam. It’s a health hazards just like the lights the blinked forever. Needs a whole remodel. It’s seen its days for sure. Once c vid and salad gone not that I loved fried or salty blah food much ever but it’s now I’d rather not eat. At All.

my friend worked here and hated it so much. She would cry and call me, and it actually ruined our friendship I couldn’t handle it anymore. her grandmother used to own A riverfront restaurant it’s no longer a grandmothers, but it’s way better and actually relaxing. Sans mold. Yuck. Go...

There have been a lot of rave reviews posted here for Aunt Catfish's and I don't want to simply repeat what others have already said. It would be remiss of me though, to not mention the All-You-Can-Eat Fish Camp Food Bar. These items aren't mere "throw-ins" to make the dinner deal seem sweeter - they're legitimate food items and they're all very good. I particularly enjoyed the cheese grits, broccoli salad, and (of course) the cinnamon rolls, which are continually being made and served before your eyes. The food bar is certainly part of the great experience of eating here. We were a party of 4 and each ordered a different entrée. One had fried scallops, one had blackened scallops, another had the catfish sampler (with catfish prepared in 3 different ways), and I had the chicken shortcake (because fish isn't my preference). The other 3 in my group all loved their seafood. The only somewhat negative comment was that the blackened scallops were on the small side (and it's true, they were noticeably smaller than their deep-fried cousins) - not that anyone could possibly leave this restaurant hungry. If you're a seafood lover, my dining mates would all give you a hearty recommendation. I won't rave about the chicken shortcake (pictured). It's not that it was bad; it was, in fact, good. But while I can't speak for the restaurant owners, I doubt this dish is really what they were going for. I can understand trying to create a signature chicken dish to offer alongside your many seafood options. And it makes sense that you'd put together something no one has ever had before to add interest. But I think they'd be well-advised to go back to the drawing board. The combination of cornbread (a mild flavor), boned chicken (another mild flavor), and hollandaise sauce (yet another mild flavor) produces a rather lackluster taste. I found myself wishing there were something more to it. I'm confident it's not the gastronomic alchemy they were hoping for when they combined these ingredients. So, I would recommend they keep trying to find that signature chicken dish. But as I said it was not bad, but good (or at least okay), and I certainly wouldn't deduct a star from my review over it. But I do wish I had gone for the roast tenderloin. Next time - and there will be a next time - that's what I'll do. Don't miss Aunt Catfish's when...