I ended up here by chance, after driving 150 miles out of my way to visit another restaurant THAT WAS CLOSED. LOL. Glad it happened that way. The restaurant is perched on the short of the Mississippi, having hired an architect that was smart enough to make it so every table had a view of the outdoors. They also have an outdoor patio which would be pleasant in warmer weather. We ordered our favorites, bluegills for me, with fresh cut fries and creamy slaw, and bone-in catfish for her, with fries and steamed vegetables, which turned out to be seasoned green beans which were a delight. Both of our fish entrees were done to perfection, a light breading, fried perfectly. Fries were great. The food was delicious, the experience made better by an outgoing server, Jessica, who made sure the drinks were refilled without asking, and checked on our food consumption a couple of times. They have a very long menu, with great apps, and a section for ankle biters. I'd go again in a heartbeat. read more

Catfish Charlie's - Bone-in whole catfish - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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Went with a group. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. I had the whole catfish which was delicious. Their house beer was also good. Only drawback is that their gluten free options are very limited. We were taking a sightseeing cruise on their associated cruise boat so the location was what brought us here. read more

Went this Friday, terrible service for a 4pm meal, large portions doesn't make up for the lack of quality in any of the food, very disappointing experience. Too expensive for the lack in effort and quality do not waste your time or money I've been more impressed with the McDonalds Filet-O-Fish, over the sad excuse for catfish and most sad and limp fries I've ever seen. read more

My wife and I went on a Friday night for their all you can eat fish and shrimp. It was good, nothing spectacular. BUT THE ONION RINGS were amazing! It's been a long time since I've had a good onion ring and these were fantastic! The service was good, the atmosphere was nice. read more

Service was good and I loved the outdoor seating. Alligator bites and the blackened catfish were delicious. The three cheese mac n cheese was really bland. The seafood pasta wasn't bad but it advertised scallops and there weren't any in there and it said crab but it was imitation crab. read more

Salads awful. The quality and amount of a full size salad had declined over the years. The old Fashioneds we ordered were terrible! Gary snd waiter great and manager did not charge for our drinks we returned. Overall fair experience. read more

The. Best. Food! From the moment we walked in we knew we were in the right place. The smell was a heavenly mix of bbq sauce and the house I used to visit in Michigan as a kid. The gifts items were well priced and I got my son a fun t-shirt. Lunch was amazing! Everything was so yummy. He has a very Cajun style meal. I have a huge fish sandwich (that I took home and got two more meals out of). He had a river water green cocktail. And I ordered a quart of the amazing ranch dressing to go. And even all that was less than $60! Incredible. Our waitress was new and still learning the job, and she killed it. She was kind and funny and she quickly found answers to our questions (like: "can I buy some ranch dressing to take home?!"). Back to the gift shop cuz I just had to have my own Catfish Charlie's t-shirt. Everyone from start to finish was so kind and friendly. We almost went back two days later for more! Oh! And the view! We sat outside and dined on a huge deck overlooking the Mississippi River. I mean, it really doesn't get any better than that! read more

Catfish Charlie's - This is a photo of the very bold bird who thought it could get some food by hopping right onto our table. - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

I'll start with the The bar staff, when i visited for a take out order there were 2 young ladies, not busy at all. One was not very knowledgeable about recommendations and the 2nd just wasn't very good at service. I ordered a soda to drink while i waited for my food order, I had just spent 3 hours outside and was very thirsty, I was never offered a refill even though I drank down the glass of soda almost right aaay. I asked for a take out of water and was told catfish Charles doesn't offer a glass of water for a takeout. This left me unsatisfied. The food. The fries are top notch and also is the Mac and cheese! I had large order of ribs. They are very heavily dry rubbed and not tender. The sauce is not sweet at all. I ate at catfish Charlie's about 18 years ago and thought it was just okay, This time I will say i didn't care for the place. read more

Second time eating here.... Great place - Great Service!!! Had a wonderful spinach dip, served in a bread bowl with tons of chips. Catfish strips were prepared just right. Not over cooked and well seasoned with a wonderful dip! Reasonable prices for the beverages as well. I will for sure come back on my next trip to Dubuque!! read more

Went there after a great bike ride on the trail. We sat outside on a beautiful night with a full moon. The waitress was pleasant. Our food was just average. I was a bit disappointed. I had the bluegill dinner and unfortunately the breading was really thick. The cheesy potatoes as a side were tasty, but could've been a bit warmer. Friends had the catfish and they pretty much said the same thing. The coleslaw was fairly standard. Hubby's Bayou platter. Well, let's just say this he didn't say he didn't finish anything. . He said nothing was really hot and nothing really really tasty. He did enjoy the ham potato soup! If you want to sit outside at a beautiful night it would be fine. Just don't have really high expectations or make better menu choices than we did. read more

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Good atmosphere and friendly service. Food was better than expected. We will be back in summer to enjoy the outdoor dining area

The food was really great, i had the pork tenderloin and it was cooked to perfection. the staff was friendly and they had ordered our drinks very shortly after we sat down. only complaint was the flies in the restaurant made it a little harder to enjoy my meal. great meal. read more

Catfish Charlie's - pork tenderloin - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Three of us had lunch there today. No plans to return. The fish and chips is made with a very soft fish - mush, and all three of us had soggy flavorless fries. One of us had a bbq burger that was load too many item and most of them had no flavor. read more

New server was eager to answer questions, but did not know the menu at all. The food was fully inedible, the server did not come back and after 30 minutes of having it set to the side, I I went up and asked for my bill, told the manager of my experience, paid and left. No one offered to remedy anything or even box up my food. The best thing about this experience was the sunshine and the pickles. read more

Food was great, waitress was friendly and very attentive. Very welcoming and worth stop. We Recommend: Ribs, shrimp, chicken and bacon cheese burger. read more

It was busy but we were seated quickly outside with a great view and everyone loved their dinners

If you are looking for the best dining experience in Dubuque, this is the place. Indoor and outdoor seating, food and drink selection. We had a big group, and our server was on top of all of orders. Just a super fun place to eat, drink and hang out! read more

My wife and I are urbanites from Chicago.  To assuage our urge for the bucolic, we spent a few daze in the "Galena Territory."  While touring the nearby-ish lock/damn, a worker at the facility said "Catfish Charlies is the best local spot for craft beer. " Say no more!   Deckside, we had a "flight," fish, fries, and a side of "steamed vegetables"  (per the menu - which turns out to be just [tasty]) roasted pea pods.  I tasked our server about the brewery, and touring options.   "I'll check and see," she said.   She returned a few minutes later and said "The owner will give you a tour."   The brewery is spartan.  Charlie is full-of-life, and particularly engaging - spending ample time with us.  Post-tour, he plied us (me) with well over five samples of his "home brew,"  and to top things off, I was treated with some champion rye.   "I guess  this is how celebrities are treated," I said to my wife (and driver)!    Good time Charlie.   We enjoyed ourselves.   Om Akwamu read more

Service by Lexi was amazing. Food and the location was awesome! Will be back Lovely restaurant read more

Catfish Charlie's - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

We were passing through Dubuque and camped at the little campground on the island. Five of us got four different main courses. Catfish, bluegill, seafood Alfredo, and shrimp. The main dishes were incredible, french fries and potato chips were very good. Not crazy about a few of the sides. The cheese soup was a no. Mac & cheese was kind of spicy, but I'm sure some people would love it. we also didn't care for the mashed potatoes. Since we were camping, we all tried everybody else's dishes. Consensus is we will be back! read more

The portions were humongous and the flavor was on point. First you MUST get the alligator nuggets. They were so tender and the red pepper aioli just really set them off. I got the catfish creole and it was just spicy enough to have the flavor with zero suffering (I'm a medium spicy girly and that was right about a medium). My boyfriend got the Charlie's Catfish and that was also just perfect. The hand cut fries I stole from his plate were cooked to perfection. read more

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They have really gone downhill since their first year. Today (07/28/25) we went there with a party of seven. The service was great, but the food was not so great. Their three-scoop triple cheese real mashed potatoes that use to be the best, are now two small scoops of dried out instant spuds that didn't even stay together once forked open; very disappointing. The Walley was old tasting and dried out like freezer burnt old. My daughter's triple cheese mashed were even worse looking than mine. The alligator bites were tasty, but sadly the food I ordered from this once great restaurant has caused me to cross this place off my list for good. read more

Great food, service, and vibe. Would go again next time we are in town. We enjoyed sitting outside under the eaves.

Everything! #1. Cleanliness. Place needs a good cleaning. Front porch area and entry area not to mention dining area just looks dusty and really not kept. #2. Greater/Host. Not very personable. We arrived pretty early on a Friday. 2 adults/2 kids ages 11 and 9 at around 4:30. Asked specifically for a table vs. a booth told there wasn't any available however saw many in an adjacent dining area. Didn't even offer a wait for a table. It was a booth or really nothing from his attitude. We were wedged into a very small booth. Very noticeably uncomfortable for my larger husband. The host didn't seem to care at all to try and ensure our experience was a good one. #3. Our waitress was absolutely the worst we've ever experienced! No smile. Really didn't talk besides what she had to say! She basically threw the menus down and walked away. I asked about kids menus I saw online and she said it's a paper one. Didn't offer us one however. She didn't pick up our used appetizer plates which were obviously in our way when she delivered our dinners. We had to ask her to take them away and she said she would come back later. What? #4. The food was wow. Can't even give it one star. Fish was cold, rubbery, fishy tasting, and all around bad! Fries were cold and undercooked. One of us also ordered the charbroiled chicken Alfredo. The chicken was I would say boiled not broiled. The Alfredo was more like Mac and cheese. Had absolutely no flavor and was crusty looking when served. For the very high price it was awful! Could of at least served with a bread stick I'm thinking! Will NEVER return or recommend to anyone. read more

We experienced terrible service, undercooked food, and very long wait times in a nearly empty restaurant

Food was tasty. We had the catfish dinner and fried shrimp dinner. Both were lightly fried, was crispy and very good. Asked for a cup of gumbo. Also very good. Server was nice and attentive. Would come back when in town again read more

Food was delicious a service was on point.. the restaurant was very clean and the option to set outside was given.. read more

Catfish Charlie's - Alligator Nuggets - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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I went in with such high expectations given the setting and the seemingly diverse menu, but much to my dismay I was incredibly let down. While the setting was still nice and the server was fairly attentive, saying the food was disappointing would be an understatement. At the expense of providing too much detail, I'll just say the (lack of) quality of the ingredients and the (lack of) care of preparation need to be completely changed. It's unfortunate to say, but if you want a family friendly lunch with views of the river, you are better off picking up McDonald's and going to a park. read more

Great location and the staff was very attentive and friendly. Had the alligator bites to start. The pork tenderloin sandwich was the highlight of the meal! read more

Catfish Charlie's - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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We stopped in for a late lunch. Ended up with the shrimp and crab dip with the Armenian toasts. Very good and more than 2 of us could eat. Though after a bit it was just too salty. It was $15.50 but a really generous portion. We also got the New England Clam Chowder. It was Okay, not great, but super salty! The waitress was fairly young, but this job is a challenge for her. We asked for a container to take the left over dip and bread. She brought us a white square sandwich box. I asked for a to-go soup cup, and she brought 2. Oh well. I'd give them a 3 1/2, but the atmosphere is nice . read more

We stopped in for our date night and ordered a strawberry lemonade ice tea to share which was a tasty and reasonably priced. The fried shrimp were delicious, the portion sizes were on the bigger side. The seafood alfredo was scrumptious, the sauce was on the lighter side but still amazing nonetheless. The service was great! The girl who served us was helpful and very personable. We ate outside, the patio was set up very well. We really enjoyed the Mississippi River in the background, it added to the ambiance and feel of the restaurant. We plan to return in the future! read more

Catfish Charlie's - Fried Shrimp and Seafood Alfredo with the Strawberry Lemonade - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Liked the location and ambience of the place which was the positive. Our server did not drink as she said up front and could not provide any drink recommendations. We ordered the Barbecue Sampler Platter. Ribs were extremely dry and tough to get off the bone, seemed old/over cooked. Wings and sausage ok. Would not order again read more

Ambiance was great service was good food was ok nice view of the dock needed more flavour and spice

a little bit of paradise right off the Mississippi very relaxing great selection of beer if time allowed food would have been ordered what I saw looked amazing read more

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My family & I come to Dubuque 1-2 times a year & this was our first experience here. I would say the location & ambience is why I am giving it 1 star. The patio area is worth waiting for a table because the water & views are nice. The fish & chips & alligator bites were also good. Our first negative interaction was with the bartender. She was extremely rude & seemed very overwhelmed. Horrible customer service. The server also lacked customer service skills. I'll refrain from posting names because this is a public review, however, back to back horrible interactions really made this a poor experience. We actually watched her take a seat at a nearby table with a group of younger gentleman & chat. Also, the bathroom was disgusting & the toilet had feces & toilet paper all over the seat & floor. read more

My husband and I went to CC for our 24th anniversary after a great 38 mile bike ride. We ordered a lot of food, too many sides to eat but the Cole slaw was good, the three cheese smashed potatoes were great, the "steamed vegetables";corn on the cob(1 piece), not really something you want to eat in a restaurant with corn getting caught in your teeth with every bite. BUT we both had the twin lobster tails and a medium well sirloin and let me tell you, it was good and we were full! Drinks: beer for him and "The Captain" for me, yum yum!! Our server was very polite and smiled, which makes for a good tip! Almost forgot, the side of macaroni and cheese was very cold and bitter when first arrived at the table. Appetizer-cheese curds, very good also. read more

Food was good. Service by Eva was awkward. As my husband was walking to the men's bathroom she handed him the bill. He shook his head no and said to please bring it to the table. She is very soft spoken and hard to hear. Restaurant itself needs a good cleaning. The door from the patio to inside the restaurant doesn't look like it's ever been cleaned. Just afraid to touch the handle. Bathrooms were cleaner than the restaurant. What a shame read more

Great food great service beautiful view. Love the location! Highly recommend this place. read more

I was In the area for business and I wanted some good Mississippi river food. Looked online based on reviews.... I thought it was a great idea to go get dinner here. That was a mistake. Now with that being said, I want to complement the staff based on service because it was good... Ordered a couple beers and for some reason the taps weren't working correctly so they had a pitcher of a flat beer in the cooler that they would use to pour the beer I wanted to drink. Then I proceeded to order food and decided on the whole catfish for $21.99...Perception is reality so when I went to go order the whole catfish, I got a 8 inch catfish minnow that was 75% bones.... To be honest, if you're gonna have catfish in the name and you serve the smallest whole catfish in the world you need to reevaluate your marketing technique... it was pathetic and then I got the bill which was way way more than than I expected after the "managers discount" because the waitress was even embarrassed how small it was.... If we're going to promote southern food in Iowa, the whole premise of Southern food is getting large portions and big flavors. You might as well served a minnow that was deep fried.... I could've gone to Culver's for 1/4 the price for the same amount of food.... It's unfortunate for the staff because they did good but man someone needs to talk to the owner ASAP! read more

Catfish Charlie's - Seafood Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

The chicken Alfredo was supposed to come with charbroiled chicken. It was not charbroiled, it was dry and tasteless. The sauce was soupy and presumably from a giant can. The pasta was overcooked and the price was what I pay in NYC. Many flies sitting outside on the muddy riverbank and the table and menus felt dirty. But the service was good and I hope the seafood is better. read more