Fish camps are one of Virginia’s most comforting food traditions, and they still fill plates with fried catfish, crispy hushpuppies, and sides that taste like a family reunion. Some sit right on the river where the fish once swam, while others have been feeding hungry families for decades in small towns most people drive right past.
If you grew up eating this kind of meal, one bite can bring back a whole childhood. Here are nine spots across the state where that tradition is still going strong.
1. Riverside Restaurant, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Sitting right along the Rappahannock River, this longtime Fredericksburg spot has built its name on old-fashioned fried seafood served without fuss.
Catfish shows up fried and generous, paired with the golden hushpuppies that regulars come back for. The riverside setting gives you something to look at while you wait for a heaping plate…