For a delicious old-fashioned hamburger and all-you-can-eat catfish, head to Stu’s Grill in Merryville. Stu Benoit is the owner. The restaurant is at 11459 U.S. 190, next to the Merryville Truck Stop.

Parking is easy and plentiful. The dining room seats about 50, and a room is available for reservation for large groups.

The most popular items ordered are the fried catfish dinners and the hamburgers. Catfish is served Friday and Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. and on Sunday after 11 a.m.

A small catfish dinner is $9.99. The large is $13.99. All-you-can-eat is a dollar more. Dinners include a drink and choice of side: French fries, baked potato, sweet potato fries, potato salad or side salad.

I ordered the hamburger and fries. Patties are made fresh daily. According to the waitress, it’s time consuming. However, this fresh, not frozen approach makes a difference in the taste. Ground beef patties are a little over 6 ounces in weight.

Iceberg lettuce on the hamburger served was plentiful green, fresh and crispy, not wimpy, white and shredded. The tomato slice was about 3⁄8 inches thick. Pickles were dill. Just the right amount of mustard and mayo were added. Overall the burger was good and juicy, but not messy.

One of the reasons it wasn’t messy and stayed intact until the last bite was that it was carefully and tightly wrapped in sandwich paper. That’s something I haven’t seen in a long time. The taste, the smell and the presentation were old-fashioned scrumptious. 

Stu’s serves breakfast, wraps, salads, po’boys, sandwiches and dinner combos, including a hamburger steak served with grilled onions, bell peppers and brown gravy. Kids meals are available. Desserts include homemade pecan pie with ice cream on top — if that’s the way you like it. 

Stu’s Grill at 11459 U.S. 190 in Merryville. (Rita LeBleu/American Press)

To find out more, call 825-0707. 

The hamburger patties at Stu’s Grill in Merryville are made fresh daily. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)