Farmers Catfish House, Salida, CA

I don't really know how long this place has been the Farmer's Catfish House or what the history of the building is. It appears to be an old service station of sorts.

It is a mile or two outside of the Modesto city limits, a couple of miles from our house, in the middle of farms and orchards. There are no other businesses nearby. But every Friday and Saturday night it opens for business...and is busy. We have been there, once. It is very cramped and warm inside. Your seat is literally inches from the where the food is cooked (fried), so the atmosphere is quite rustic. Their limited menu specializes in fried catfish and hushpuppies. I would imagine you can find a lot of places like this in the south.

It's not one of our favorite places to dine, but I drive by it almost every day. Five days a week it sits empty and quiet. Friday and Saturday nights, it's difficult to find a parking place.

I always daydream about having a little California cuisine bistro in a location such as this...maybe open four days a week for dinner only. Of course, I am always daydreaming. What's new?