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    Mandina's Restaurant

    4.0 (990 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Mandina's Restaurant Photos

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    MANDINA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Mandina's Restaurant

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    Orlando L.

    Serving New Orleans residents and tourists since 1932! I've been eating here since I was kid. When folks ask where to get good Old school Italian and fried seafood I send them here. It's where the locals hang out. The service is always impeccable. If you dine in the main room be sure to checkout the signed Harry Connick Jr Jazz Fest poster. The staple meals here are the Spaghetti and Meatballs, Parmesans, Onion Rings...be sure to ask if they have soft shell crabs when in season. Eat local and enjoy!

    Pasta with meatballs
    Kylie B.

    This place is such a classic New Orleans spot. The portions were big and the service was great. My group had the fried shrimp and catfish platter, the spaghetti and meatballs, and, the eggplant Parmesan. The fried shrimp and catfish was sooo delicious and the marinara sauce in the spaghetti and meatballs was some of the best marinara sauce I've had in NOLA. The eggplant Parmesan was big and filling. Overall the vibes were excellent and the food was great!

    Mandina's Menu
    Michael C.

    In town for a meeting, a good friend and local to New Orleans suggested I needed to experience Mandina's. Obviously a local's fave, it has been around since 1936 just outside of the downtown business district (and a few miles from the infamous French Quarter. Housed in a noticeable and well maintained pink building, the place is definitely New Orleans and feels like a very popular neighborhood spot! Crowded on a Friday night, reservations can be made, but even as busy as they were, we got seated after a short wait. The bar and main dining area are all in one room, in a well-lit, nostalgia/New Orleans memorabilia decor. Not a fancy place, but a warm, friendly atmosphere. There is a smaller more private dining area just off the main, up a few steps. The bar is part of the original fixtures, as noted in a photo on the wall from a 1945 newspaper article. It's mostly standing room, with 5 or 6 stools, but a great place to visit or people watch while you wait for a table. One thing I will note are the prices; very affordable for the area, and for a place with as much history and reputation as Mandina's have. You can have a larger group to dine and not bust the bank. On to the food. We were regaled with their pre-app bread, butter soaks and so fluffy and delicious, while we purused the menu. For starters, you have to try their onion rings (but be careful--a Half-order for two is more than enough!). The highlight of our dinner was the other app we had, the Crab Fingers. The meaty crab claws were in a delicious souffle of new orleans spice and bread crumbs that was in itself absolutely wonderful. The aforementioned bread, which on its own was fantastic, is made truly heavenly by dipping into the sauce, after you've ravaged the crab fingers. While we really wanted to dive into more seafood, we were advised that Mandina's has some of the best Italian food in the city, so we opted to forgo the etoufee and redfish options and instead went with the Eggplant Parmesan. The enormous dish was split for us into two and still represented two very large plates. Candidly, we're probably old school New York Italian, so the sauce, while tasty and plentiful, was a bit too sweet for our taste. And the eggplant, which again was not skimped on, was cut into larger slices than our preference and a bit heavier batter. So all in all, the eggplant parm was good, but not our favorite style or part of the meal. We have a lovely young woman server, who was attentive and helpful (she did share the portion size as we were contemplating 2 entrees, after our appetizers...so thank you for sparing our waist line!!) Bottom line; for a visit to a true New Orleans local treasure, Mandina's should be on your list.

    Seafood Gumbo
    Omar S.

    Mandina's menu is a New Orleans "Greatest Hits" list of turtle soup, gumbo, fried seafood, and a variety of home-style Italian and Cajun-Creole dishes. The food is seldom great, but I'm always happy to be there. I visit Mandina's when I want to eat a good meal, surrounded by people who don't know I'm not New Orleanian. At Mandina's, I've sung "Happy Birthday" and bought first-daters their dinner. I've joined local friends, knowing I'd enjoy an evening filled with arcane references to long-gone people and businesses and buildings. And I've eavesdropped on lunchtime conversations at the bar, between folks who, as they got sloshed, shed their reserve without losing their dignity. These things, plus the menu, are all a part of the New Orleans Way.

    Gerald J.

    This is my favorite New Orleans restaurant by far-- and I was there last week for 4 days and I went to eat here 3 of the 4 days and took a huge to go order back home for me and my family that wasn't with me! That says everything I need to say! - Consistency is top tier and service is as well. Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Location 5/5 Gumbo 10/10 Atmosphere 5/5 Staff 5/5 Return Factor 5/5

    Acceptable?

    I've been going to Mandina's for decades, so this review is disappointing to write. Rainy Wednesday around 6:30 PM, not very busy, staff and waitress were excellent as always. Most of the meal was fine aside from slightly overcooked onion rings. The issue was the dinner salad. The iceberg lettuce had browned edges and some of the lettuce and red onion were becoming translucent. In my opinion, this was clearly not freshly cut produce. I sent the plate the photo sent back. She handled it well. What surprised me was management's response (Marshall), apparently no comment, and the untouched salad was still left on the bill. Restaurants make mistakes. That's normal. But longtime customers usually expect at least some acknowledgment when something that obvious gets sent back untouched. Still a longtime fan of Mandina's, but this visit felt unusually indifferent compared to the hospitality I've known there for years.

    Fried shrimp
    Kristi S.

    My friend took me here as her choice for a "locals favorite" and it did not disappoint! The food was so flavorful and the portions were huge. Also our server was great, he brought me multiple sauces to dip my shrimp in - mmmm SO GOOD! The restaurant itself is very large, bright and would be a great place for groups. I really hope I get a chance to go back and try it again!

    Italian Salad
    Tabitha C.

    Mandina's earned our loyalty fast. We visited for lunch and liked it so much we returned the next day. Something we rarely do while traveling. We started our first visit with Abita Boot beers and spicy Bloody Marys. The Bloody Marys had solid seasoning. The complimentary bread deserves special mention. Light texture, full flavor. Day one, my husband ordered the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich with a cup of Turtle Soup. I went with the Soup & Salad combo, choosing the Turtle Soup and Italian Salad. The sandwich satisfied my husband. The Turtle Soup delivered rich flavor and generous portions of meat. The slice of egg was a pleasant surprise. The Italian Salad stands out for olive lovers. Green olives dominated the bowl, with black olives playing a supporting role. Artichokes, a tomato wedge, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncinis and anchovies rounded out the mix. It's a tasty combination. Our server Sue provided excellent service throughout the meal. We returned the next day and started with Bloody Marys again. My husband upgraded to a bowl of Turtle Soup. I ordered the same Soup & Salad combo. We shared the Italian Salad. If what we got is the small size, I can only imagine how big the full size is! Two days, two solid meals. Mandina's delivers consistent quality and generous portions. We'll be back the next time we're in town!

    Fried Catfish
    Terry J.

    Great atmosphere and friendly staff! There are so many great menu options to choose from, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. While waiting for my order, I looked up the history of the restaurant -- highly recommend doing this, it's really interesting! I ordered the fried catfish and fries, and from the very first bite, I could tell this was unlike any fish and chips I've had before. Wow -- perfectly seasoned, tender, and absolutely delicious. This is definitely a place I'll be returning to!

    Didn't get a good picture of the meals, but boy was it good!
    Sherry P.

    The BEST Chicken Parmigiana! I was in NOLA a couple of weeks ago as part of a cross country train trip/vacation. A friend wanted to take me to dinner, but knew I do not like seafood. Him and his daughter took me to Mandina's for dinner. My friend and I had bread, chicken parmigiana, and a glass of cab. Then he ordered one of each of the three desserts (white chocolate bread pudding, king cake cheesecake, and a chocolate candy bar pie of a thing) and coffee. We all shared the desserts, but my favorite was the cheesecake. The restaurant is cute, and was PACKED. The service was spot on (I can't remember the waitress' name now)! The food as plentiful and delicious! I have bragged to a lot of people about the meal. The chicken Parmigiana was the best I have ever had!!! If you are in NOLA, you have to stop in (on an empty stomach!)

    Shrimp Side Salad (includes the meat!) yay!
    Kate O.

    Found this place while visiting, and it's so nice and just is part of the neighborhood. Seemed like mostly locals, not many tourists, if that's what you're looking for. Server seem to have their regulars, but if you are just visiting like me--you quickly feel like you've been coming here for years. Big portions and good prices. Lunch or just daily specials under 20$ is great. The soup and side salad (no extra for the shrimp), was $15.95, I believe, what a steal! Will be back if I'm ever in New Orleans again.

    Sandra K.

    My husband would say we had to go try Mandinas every time we passed it, so we decided to have our Anniversary dinner here. It was an underwhelming experience. There's nothing fancy about this restaurant. Very bare with old wooden table and chairs and cement floor. Our first negative was our Server who didn't give her name and her first words were: do you have any questions; do you know what you want? We were never told any specials or asked if we wanted anything to drink other than the waters that were brought to us when we sat down. I ordered a drink from the bar that never came. The best thing of the night was the onion rings that we got as an appetizer . They were fried to perfection and crispy and not greasy. Our entrees were a meatball sub, meatballs and spaghetti and the stuffed shrimp special. Everything was good; however everything lacked seasoning and spice. For a New Orleans restaurant that has been around for a long time, you would expect more flavor. Definitely a one and done for us. We never knew our Servers name until we got our bill. So Sheila you really need some friendliness to be a server!

    Distinctive pink building
    Janine D.

    When in Rome.... When you are in Louisiana on a Monday, it's Red Beans and Rice for lunch or dinner. Mandina's is an old school NOLA restaurant, around since the early 1920's! Mandina's specialty is local seafood and Italian cuisine. Located on Canal Street, they are a local favorite for home style cooking. Service is friendly and efficient. The atmosphere hasn't changed much in the last 100 years. For a taste of traditional New Orleans...Mandina's is a must!

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    Love Mandina's for great service and food. Reasonable prices too. The selection of Italian food and seafood is my favorite.

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    Mandina's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mandina's Restaurant

    Is there outside seating still if traveling with small dog?

    No, sorry

    Do they take reservations?

    Walk on in and see what's available. Reservations required 8 people or more

    Do they offer gift cards/certificates?

    Will you be open Christmas day?

    Not usually.

    Shrimp etoufee at Mandina's?

    Yes! They could accommodate

    Easy'ish find parking?

    They have a huge parking lot!! Also they have security guards outside at night

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hot N Cajun

    Hot N Cajun

    4.3
    (185 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    OMG!!!! This place was sooo freaking good!!! The seasoning and sauce was perfect for what we asked…read morefor. I came with a friend who had never had a seafood boil. I've never had crawfish and seeing it was crawfish season we were destined to be here. We built out our own seafood boil, which included, 1lb shrimp head off, 2 soft shell crab clusters, 1lb crawfish, corn, potato, and sausage. Let's just say we left with a pretty big leftovers box We ordered the hot house flavor and do not regret it one bit! Our server was so kind to show us how to peel and eat the crawfish and honestly it was so fun!! I will definitely be back next time in New Orleans!! One quick note I will say that I learned from a local that I wish I knew before this feast (And you should double check with staff if this info is correct). Most seafood boil places in the area when they have headless shrimp it is farmed and brought in from outside retailers where if you get head-on it's from local ships in the area/fresh caught. Apparently they've been struggling and if you want to support New Orleans local fisherman then go for the head-on shrimp. Again double check with staff if their head-on shrimp is local cuz I learned this information after visiting.

    Hot N Cajun With no seated tables available when I arrived…read moreat Hot'n Cajun Boil House on Iberville Street in New Orleans, I happily accepted a seat at the bar. Behind the bar, Sandy mixed me a Summer Peach (Absolute Vodka, real peach, sweet tea, fresh lemon, $14) and provided the bib and gloves I likely would need if in fact I wanted to enjoy a crawfish boil. Of the dozens of restaurants I've visited in New Orleans, rare is the menu that includes a crawfish boil. Hot'n Cajun has it. I asked the barkeep Sandy B. if it was still crawfish season, and she assured me that it was. So I ordered 3 pounds of boiled crawfish (including potatoes and corn on the cob, $25.99), asked that the seasoning be "medium", and Sandy brought me a Model ($9) with a neat Maker's Mark ($12). The experience was pretty close to what I remember we'd find if invited to a neighbor's crawfish boil. Three pounds sounds like a lot, but the yield is more like half a pound, at most. So I put the gloves and bib on and started in on the crawfish. Nice presentation, and very good, fresh crawfish.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Dungeness crab cajun
    Dungeness crab cajun
    Fried Seafood Basket

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    Fried Seafood Basket

    Mandina's Restaurant - cajun - Updated June 2026

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