The catfish at Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou tastes as if they flopped out of the water that morning, already tender and breaded to perfection.

The sauce on top is listed in the menu as being spicy, but isn’t very much. Instead it has a sweetness to it that this reviewer loved.

Mamou, a fixture in Downtown Springfield for over 12 years is small, but not cramped. The feel is cozy, and the art on the walls and murals give it a welcoming friendly vibe.

Owner and Chef Wayne Hooker, appeared to be one of the most approachable small restaurant chefs I’ve seen. When not in the kitchen making the delicious eats, he was seen sitting with guests at their tables and laughing, and standing and chatting with people on their way out.

“It had a great atmosphere,” remarked Kathyria Beltran, a senior English major at AIC. “It feels homey.”

The menu is admittedly a bit pricey, with dinner entrées ranging from $10 to $20, so I recommend the lunch menu. At $8 to $10, the lunches are more affordable for a college budget without sacrificing any of the remarkable flavors.

My companion, Beltran, chose the more familiar dish of pulled pork, while I ventured into newer territory with the spicy catfish po’boy served with jambalaya.

My sole past experience with fried catfish once in Brooklyn was decent, but too salty. This catfish was crispy, tender and seasoned well without a heavy dependence on salt. The sauce on top was slightly disappointing as it wasn’t spicy at all, but was absolutely wonderful anyways.

The jambalaya was excellent and added contrasting but also complimentary flavors to the catfish.

“The pulled pork was amazing… There was a slight spiciness that wasn’t overwhelming and left a pleasant tingle,” Beltran commented.

Dessert was a new spin on an old classic with the five-flavor pound cake which was the most interesting selection of the night: the five flavors which included coconut, lemon and vanilla as a few of the flavors was an explosion of deliciousness. The flavors were all different but complimented each other well, the flavors dancing on my tongue.

But don’t take my word for it.

This restaurant’s reputation is well known. Trip advisor lists Mamou as the second best restaurant in Springfield and the Google reviews and Yelp reviews are both 4.5 stars out of 5.

My final verdict: The wait staff was friendly, and attentive, and readily answered questions about the menu. The restaurant is small and parking is hard to find, but the excellent food and service more than compensate for it. Take a trip down to 63 Liberty St, Springfield, MA. You won’t regret it.

About this column:

• I consider myself a foodie in the making.
• I have always loved foods others considered unusual, and my favorite thing is trying new cuisines. And being that I have no food allergies and will eat almost anything, that leaves a whole world of delicious food available to me.
• However being a student on a limited budget and not living in a large metropolitan area, the pickings on interesting foods become much more limited. This isn’t New York, and there aren’t a dozen foreign or fascinating restaurants around every corner.
• As college students we tend to subsist on fast food, things that can be microwaved, and delivery. I think it’s time that money goes to something better than ramen and more interesting than pizza.
• That’s why every month I will be reviewing a different restaurant. They will be in the Springfield area, and affordable. I hope you seriously consider visiting one.