This Delicious Kentucky Hidden Gem Should Not Stay Hidden

On a recent jaunt to southwestern Kentucky, we all got hungry for catfish. When you're surrounded by Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, the Ohio River, the Tennessee River, and who knows HOW many boat dealerships up and down I-24 and I-69, you just can't control certain cravings.

Well, to say that we lucked out would be a massive understatement. On day trips like that one, fast food establishments--well...ANY national chain, for that matter--are off the table. We want LOCAL restaurants, and they dot the landscape in and around the Purchase. This one got our attention, and we couldn't have been happier about our luck in finding it.

What a Discovery -- Willow Pond Catfish in Eddyville KY

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I should have shown you the OUTSIDE of the restaurant. But since the bricks and the parking lot likely don't taste NEARLY as good as this catfish, those beans, those hush puppies, and that cole slaw, I decided to cut to the chase.

Willow Pond Catfish in Eddyville is the find of the year, thus far. Consequently, we can't wait to think of a reason to get back down there. Well, scratch that. WILLOW POND is the reason. We'll figure out what else to do after we eat. By the way, I had my catfish blackened and it was simply superb.

You know what else they do at Willow Pond? They bring a bowl of hush puppies--CRAZY good hush puppies--for the table. A BOWL OF HUSH PUPPIES. I'm currently in tears thinking about it.

And Willow Pond's Facebook post is correct. You can't eat just one. Oh maybe you can, but you won't. They're perfect. And look at that...you can make your own.

Of course, if you don't like catfish, Willow Pond has other selections, but "catfish" is in the name of the restaurant for a reason. You can check out the menu here.

And listen, if you need to be in Paducah, there's a Willow Pond there, too.

Also, I have to include this. And this goes for any restaurant--not just Willow Pond--because they all do it. We have this extraordinary meal, and then we're asked if we saved room for dessert. Well, the answer was "no". But that doesn't stop Willow Pond from cranking out taste-tempting treats like these:

I could lay waste to ANY of that, but not after a lunch like the one we had. A bowl of hush puppies trumps dessert any day of the week and twice on Sundays for me. Come to think of it, we WERE there on a Sunday.

But Willow Pond is open seven days a week. I suggest you pick one, don't eat anything for several hours, then go dive in.

You're welcome.