Winner: Soul Fish Cafe

Catfish — it’s what the young and hip are eating?

You bet, says Soul Fish co-owner Raymond Williams, who notes that while the lusted-after fried fish may be associated more with hushpuppies, slaw and rural dining, there’s plenty of room for fresh vegetables and a Cooper-Young location for this staple of Southern cooking.

“We really lean toward fresh vegetables every day,” says Williams, who says Soul Fish is filling a much-needed catfish niche in the heart of the city.

There’s no typical customer at Soul Fish, says Williams, who notes that the crowd is a true reflection of Memphis, with regular customers from every race and income level coming back for the catfish, smoked chicken, hand-tossed salads and easy-on-the-pocketbook pricing.

862 South Cooper, 725-0722; open 11 a.m. — 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. — 9 p.m. Sunday.

Finalists: Yazoo’s, Catfish Cabin