Big helpings, big hospitality

Harper’s Catfish still making a splash after more than 40 years

Story by JEN CALHOUN | Photography by MATT LEDGER

There’s a secret recipe at Harper’s Catfish that keeps people coming back to the Scottsville, Kentucky, eatery. But it’s not just the perfectly seasoned batter.

“I think a lot of people come here for the atmosphere, to be honest,” says Rhonda Harper, who now runs the 42-year-old restaurant alongside her husband, Eugene “Rusty” Harper Jr. “We’re family run, and we believe in treating everybody the same. We don’t care who you are. We’re going to treat people the way we want to be treated.”

LOCAL LEGEND

That mindset got its start with the restaurant’s founder, Eugene Harper Sr., who opened the spot back in 1978. He and his wife, Sherlie, would run the restaurant at night after their factory shifts, serving the dinner rush crowds and the next group of shift workers.

The couple’s six children — three daughters and three sons, including Rusty and Allen County Judge-Executive Dennis Harper — worked at the restaurant, too. “Eugene and Sherlie are the king and queen of this whole thing,” says Rhonda Harper, who started dating Rusty when she got a job at the restaurant as a teenager. “Now, most of our family still helps out, including our own four children. It’s always been that way. A lot of that is because of the values that they passed on.”

Last year, the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce honored Eugene Harper Sr. as a Hometown Hero. He earned the recognition because of the generations of people he employed and inspired with his work ethic, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Rhonda and Rusty Harper keep tradition alive at Harper’s Catfish with heaping plates of catfish and other dishes.

LURING THE CROWDS

Over the years, the eatery has gained a loyal following of customers who travel miles for a heaping plate of battered catfish strips, a choice of potato, hush puppies and a serving of coleslaw. “I’d say 50% to 60% of our business comes from Tennessee,” says Dennis Harper, who, despite his full-time gig with the county, still pulls shifts at the spot on weekends. “We’re definitely out of the way. You always hear location, location, location. But this is the exception to that rule.”

The friendly, laid-back atmosphere and giant portions are a big draw, but the catfish itself is the main hook for return customers. The restaurant also serves steaks, pork chops, hamburgers, shrimp and many other items.

But no matter how good the food is, Rhonda Harper believes the driving force comes from the foundations Eugene Sr. and Sherlie built. “We’re very strong in our faith,” she says. “We put God first, family second, and everything else will fall into place. A lot of our blessings come from what we have been taught ourwhole lives.” 

Head out to Harper’s

Harper’s Catfish is at 3085 Old Gallatin Road in Scottsville, Kentucky.

The phone number is 270-622-7557.

Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page. Catfish meals cost under $10. Other menu items include steaks, seafood, hamburgers, pork chops and more.