People Travel From All Over Arkansas For The Outrageously Delicious Catfish At This Old-Timey Restaurant
I could tell I was getting close when the road narrowed and the river came into view. The parking lot was already full with pickups, dusty SUVs, and even a few cars with out-of-state plates.
That’s always a good sign. I had been hearing about this catfish for years.
Friends swore it was worth the drive across Arkansas, and a couple of them even planned day trips around it. I figured it was finally time to see for myself.
When I walked in, I caught that familiar smell of fresh-fried fish and hushpuppies. The place was buzzing but still easygoing.
Families were talking loud, servers were calling out orders, and chairs scraped across the floor. It felt comfortable.
Then my plate hit the table, with golden fillets, crisp edges, and steam rolling off the sides. One bite in, I understood the hype.
Some spots are popular, but this one earns the miles people put on their cars to get there.
A Beloved Riverside Gem In Des Arc
The dining room leans into the view with big windows that make your shoulders drop an inch. Pulling up to this little spot feels like you’ve reached a place where time is measured in suppers and sunsets, not screens and schedules.
Inside, everything nods to the river. There is wood everywhere and little touches that suggest a boat might cast off at any minute.
You sit down, hear the low hum of conversation, and suddenly the pace matches the water outside, steady and easy.
The plates mirror the setting. Catfish arrives crisp and golden, sides come hot and honest, and the hushpuppies carry that toasty, cornmeal warmth that makes you reach for one more.
It all lands like a promise kept. Come for the view, stay for the food, leave with a contented quiet you can still hear on the drive home.
There is no pretense here, only practice. The staff keeps things moving without rush, and the river keeps doing its part.
Sit near the windows if you can, then let the evening light help you decide to order extra hushpuppies. A good plan on the White River tends to start and end with that, and all of this happens at Dondie’s White River Princess, located at 203 E Curran St, Des Arc, AR 72040.
Serving Arkansas Since The Early Days
Some restaurants chase trends. This one tends its roots.
The story here stretches across decades, woven into weekends, family gatherings, and the kind of celebrations that turn into well told tales. You can feel that history in the way the menu refuses to lose its center and in the easy rhythm of the dining room.
There is comfort in continuity. Plates look like they did when grandparents brought their kids, and now those kids bring theirs.
The fish is still hand prepared with care, the batter still crackles, and the seasoning tastes learned rather than guessed. That kind of consistency does not happen by accident.
I like to think the river remembers it all. People arrive, catch their reflection in the windows, and settle into a ritual that rarely changes.
Order the catfish, add sides that make sense, talk for a while, and watch the sun tilt. The best traditions hardly need explaining.
Longevity brings a special kind of confidence to the table. The kitchen trusts its methods, the guests trust the kitchen, and the whole place hums with quiet assurance.
That is what pulls folks back year after year. Not flash, not fuss, just a steady hand and a plate that delivers the same true story again and again.
Why The Catfish Is The Star Of The Menu
There is catfish, and then there is catfish that converts skeptics. The fillets here land at the table glistening under a blistered gold crust that crunches just enough before the flake.
You get that clean river aroma without heaviness. One forkful and the texture tells you everything.
The meat is tender, moist, and seasoned to lift, not mask.
Technique matters. The batter clings in a thin, even coat that stays crisp to the last bite.
Oil is hot and fresh, which keeps the fish bright and never greasy. The seasoning rides the balance line with confidence.
Salt arrives kindly, pepper whispers, and a faint herbal note winks without showing off.
Order it regular or extra crispy depending on your mood. A squeeze of lemon wakes the edges.
Tartar adds creamy tang. Pair it with hushpuppies, coleslaw, and fries and you are set.
Every piece tastes like someone watched the clock and listened to the sizzle for cues.
I keep a simple rule here. If catfish is the headline, do not bury it.
Start with a full platter, share a few bites if you must, then guard the rest politely. There is a reason road trippers recalibrate plans around these fillets.
Once you taste that crisp to flake handoff, you start thinking in return dates rather than days.
A Classic Old-Timey Atmosphere You Can Feel
The room gives you clues before the menu does. Paddlewheel touches, weathered wood, and framed river maps put you right in the story.
There is a soft glow to the lighting that flatters both plates and faces. Conversation settles into a friendly hum, and kids point out details that adults pretend they spotted first.
I like the booths along the wall for easy people watching. There is comfort in the heft of the tables and the way chairs sit solid.
The decor never feels like a theme park. It is more like a respectful nod to a working river that shaped daily life.
Nothing tries too hard. Everything feels lived in.
Sit by the windows for that dusk show when the river decides to look cinematic. Or grab a central table if you prefer the full chorus of clinks and laughter.
Either way, the room tilts relaxed. It invites second helpings and unhurried plans.
Old timey here does not mean stiff. It means manners without formality and charm without winks.
It means you can lean back after dessert and let the evening glide. When a place makes you feel both looked after and left to enjoy, you tend to remember the details later, like the gleam on the wood and the slow fold of the river.
Worth The Drive
Every table tells a travel story here. You hear accents that zigzag across Arkansas and a few that rolled in over the state line.
Folks swap directions like recipes. I met a couple who rerouted a weekend just to stack hushpuppies on a platter beside that famous catfish.
By dessert they were mapping the next visit on a napkin.
There is a pull that does not rely on billboards. Word of mouth does the heavy lifting.
A cousin talks to a coworker who tells a neighbor, and now a whole carload is headed toward the river. The promise is simple.
Predictable excellence in a place that feels like a destination rather than a detour.
Timing can help. Early evenings are friendly to those who like a shorter wait, and the line moves with purpose even on busy nights.
Parking is straightforward near Curran St, with side streets pitching in when the main spots fill. The walk to the door feels like part of the ritual.
Road trips are about the conversation on the way home. That happens easily after a meal here.
People compare crisp levels, argue pleasantly about slaw styles, and agree on one thing. The drive made sense.
When plates echo the river’s steady pace and the staff keeps the flow calm, the miles melt like butter on a biscuit.
Southern Favorites Done Right
Yes, catfish leads, but the supporting cast deserves its bow. Hushpuppies arrive hot with a toasty shell and a tender, slightly sweet center that carries real corn flavor.
Coleslaw keeps things crisp, fresh, and lightly creamy for contrast. Fries come golden and straightforward, the kind you absentmindedly finish while insisting you will save room.
Do not skip the shrimp. They hit the fryer and come out snappy, not soggy, with seasoning that pairs neatly with a dunk in tartar or cocktail.
A baked potato can step in for fries if you are playing the long game. Add pickles and lemon to keep the palate bright.
Everything reads classic with a practiced hand.
Plates feel balanced. Nothing shouts.
Each piece clicks into place around the fish, like well placed commas in a sentence that reads cleanly. Portions lean generous without turning unwieldy, which is nice when you are eyeing dessert and pretending you are not.
Variety here feels intentional. You can put together a platter that suits a lean lunch or a full on supper.
Bring someone who wants shrimp, someone who wants fries, and someone who only eats hushpuppies. Everyone leaves content.
That is the trick. Plenty of places fry seafood.
Fewer manage harmony that tastes this steady and sure.
Planning Your Visit To Dondie’s White River Princess
The address is easy to plug in and even easier to love once you pull up. Downtown sits right by the water, so the walk to the door doubles as a quick scenic break.
If the weather is kind, arrive a little early to watch the river catch the light. That small pause sets the tone for everything that follows.
Peak times land on weekends and early evenings. If a line forms, it moves with reassuring purpose, and the wait buys you extra appetite.
Dress casual and bring a good mood. This is a family friendly room with plenty of chatter, so lean in and enjoy the soundtrack of plates and laughter.
Ordering is straightforward. Catfish is the move, sides are the backup singers, and dessert tempts if you have room.
First timers should try a full platter for the proper tour. Regulars have their own combos, but the classic trio of fillets, hushpuppies, and slaw never steers wrong.
Parking is typically available along Curran St and nearby cross streets. If you are exploring the area, leave time to cruise the riverfront before or after supper.
The drive home feels easier when you carry that view with you. A simple plan works best.
Show up a little hungry, order the catfish, and let the river quietly finish the pitch.