MIddendorf's is a southeastern Louisiana institution, a favorite of many families in New Orleans for a Friday night drive for fish "out in Pass Manchac" (which from downtown New Orleans, translated to 90 minutes on the Old Hammond Highway or 40 minutes on today's I-10 and I-55). In the 1970s, a second dining room with the vibe of a rest-area Shoney's was added. Some preferred that as the setting was more modern. Storm surges from Lake Pontchartrain did in both the original dining room and the annex, and the restaurant was closed for periods after the storms. Today the 70s annex is gone, the old dining is restored to its 1940s glory, and a new and much more appealing dining room has been added on the other side. Better yet, an outdoor dining area that fronts directly onto Pass Manchac is available, weather permitting. More on that below. Middendorfs is famous for the thin catfish, shards and fillets of catfish fried to perfect temperature and crispness. Most people seem to prefer "thin fish," but for me the "thick fish"--same breading and seasoning, but with a substantial slab of catfish below the crust--is better. The oyster stew is delicious and exactly as local New Orleanians might remember their mama fixing up on cold nights after going out to see Mr. Bingle on Canal St. Also available is a proper gumbo that's unremarkable (unless you've never had a proper gumbo; if so, be sure to order it. ) In late 2020, Middendorfs was advertising outdoor dining, it was indicated as available on Yelp!, but after driving up on a warm December afternoon the reception maître'd seemed surprised we asked for that. On that particular day, the Omicron variant of COVID19 was breaking records both in cases and hospitalizations, and yet very few people wore maskes. Sadly we had to forgo our catfish because our party had individuals who could not risk bringing the disease back to vulnerable family members. Be sure to check with the restaurant before making an assumption that the outdoor patio is open. read more

We had a great lunch today. Was seated on the closed in porch. We enjoyed a beautiful water view. Our waitress was great. I ordered the small thick fried catfish and it did not disappoint. It comes with 2- slices of thick fried catfish, fries, 2- hush puppies and coleslaw. It is one of my favorite coleslaws. We also had the 2- stuff crab plate. The stuff crab was very dry. It has more bread and veggies in it. Also had the thin fried catfish which I am not a fan of anymore. Nothing but crust. My daughter loves it. We will be back! read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Thin Fried Catfish - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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The food was excellent! Service was fast and very friendly! Off the beaten path, but totally worth it! read more

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I've heard so much about this restaurant from multiple people. So my mom and I decided to go try it out. It was about an hour drive for us. We got there pretty early, so it wasn't too busy. It's such a cute place! I love the tree and the mural inside. Our waitress was so nice. We ordered the thin catfish and it came within like 5 mins it seemed. I loved the fish. It was so good. And our waitress checked on us a good bit. I think it was worth the drive to come eat here! read more

We go to Middendorfs almost every time we are driving through LA. It's one of our favorite seafood restaurants in the world.

I had given Mittendorf's only four stars, because in addition to the thin catfish, I wanted an à la carte softshell crab. My server told me that that was not available, but after I posted my yelp review, the manager reached out to me and told me that I could've gotten one and that this was an error on the part of the server. I'm going back again on Sunday night, and I'm sure that I will be able to get a soft shell crab, as well as the thin catfish. Always leave Middendorf's stuffed. read more

Years ago, this place was great not so much today. Even the catfish is just OK. The stuff Crab was absolutely terrible and the turtle. She was weird with a lot of spinach in it. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

While this location will never have the sentimental appeal of the Slidell location, it was shockingly good. If you want a great fried seafood meal, get yourself here quickly. The other night a co-worker and I met a work contact here for dinner. He had just flown in and was driving to BR and my co-worker suggested we meet here. I have driven by this location hundreds of times and figured it just lived off of its reputation. Wrong. This place is great. I decided that since I was in a place known for thin-fried catfish, that is what I should try. I got the shrimp and catfish plate for good measure. Both the shrimp and the catfish were cooked perfectly and brought out minutes after we ordered. The catfish was spectacular. I don't know if I would pay $94 per piece or anything but damn it was good. Making matters even better were the containers of cocktail sauce and tartar sauce on the table. No need for a pesky ramekin that is good for two dips. A whole freaking container was available. That is what I call knowing your customer. Service was great and the ambiance is perfect south Louisiana charm. Get to Middendorf's as soon as you can. read more

There were definitely some plusses and minuses to our visit. It was my husband and I's first time. The good- We were seated right away. The waitress was very nice, friendly, prompt, and knowledgable. The food came out quick. Some of the food was delicious. The crawfish cakes were phenomenal. The broiled catfish and oysters were good. The house made tartar sauce is on point! Absolutely loved the german potato salad! The Christmas decor was beautiful! The not so great- My broiled seafood platter was very small for the price I was charged. I was very disappointed to get shrimp there were clearly the cheap frozen type shrimp that you get out the freezer Wal-mart. Not what I expected for the price I paid. The stuffed crab was huge but under seasoned. The fried fish were good but could have also used some more seasoning. I would like to give this place one more shot in the near future. read more

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never thought to cut fish that thin but man its good and crisp along with the fries great the only thing i can say negative about them is you should be anle to get the thick and thin catfish as a combo without buting both orders great service and a outdoor managerie of ducks aome huge turkeys and if you lucky the train passes right behind the property also the bread pudding is what makes me go back read more

Passed this place most of my life and finally stopped. Catfish seems to be the star on the menu and it was. Everything else was average. The kids enjoyed the train and the ice cream treats. The hot boiled potatoes were good. There is a kids sand pit but there was cat poop so they could not play in it. The docks outside were nice to enjoy the view. Nothing to return for read more

I don't usually leave reviews, but Middendorf's has always been a favorite place of mine to eat and maybe this review will be seen by the right person. I have always ordered the thin catfish for years, the last few times nothing but batter, come on I know it 's thin catfish but this is terrible, the price is getting high also, i will pay that if the fish is good. Please impress me my next visit read more

Updating my previous review to allow for the Oktoberfest menu. If it's October or early November, then it's most definitely worth going out of your way to eat here. Come early so they don't run out. The entree menu changes every week during Oktoberfest, but the appetizer menu stays the same. I had the Vesper Teller appetizer and the stuffed veal shank entree. All reminiscent of my (limited) travels in Germany. I will now endeavor to be back every year for this menu. There is only one word for this: WUNDERBAR!! (For the seafood -my original review still stands.) read more

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Middendorf's is a fun experience! Very cool to be surrounded by Maurepas on all sides. Inside there are cool decorations and even a tiny gift shop. The catfish is truly great, thin and crispy. They give you a lot of food too. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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If there was 3.5 stars, that would be this review. It gets 3 for food, however the service by Michaela would be a 4, hence the 3.5. An early afternoon visit on a Friday netted a decent lunch. Sweet tea, Bloody Mary (ok, not great), crawfish cakes - more "cake-y" than "crawfish-y," potato salad and a fried shrimp basket dinner. Everything just left us wondering if there was something better we should have ordered. Our nephew told us later the catfish is the best, so if we find ourselves in the area again and craving catfish, we will return for a 2nd chance. read more

Stop. What you're doing. Now! And go get yourself the Mittendorf Special! I grew up in Louisiana but had never been to Mittendorfs. Flew into MSY today for a family event and stopped at Mittendorfs on the way home. I had the house special - thin fried catfish. Excellent! I had the large. I'm a big guy with a big appetite and I couldn't finish it. Thin fried not your thing? They have thick and other seafoods like oysters, shrimp, etc. Awesome place. Highly recommend read more

Great food and wonderful service. pull your boat right on up. Look at dat soft shell! Always looks and feels the same inside very comfy. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

This was our first time dining here, and the food was pretty decent. We sat down right when we walked in and were immediately greeted by our waitress. She was super sweet and helpful when deciding what exactly we wanted to order. The only item that was not as tasty as the others and we probably wouldn't order again is the potato salad. Very different from the southern potato salad that is so popular in New Orleans. Otherwise, everything else was tasty! read more

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Went with the family this weekend. My sister and husband now live in Cincinnati and this is one of the places they try to visit when they're in town so we drove the hour from Baton Rouge for a family dinner. Got the fried catfish and shrimp platter and for appetizers, gator bites and Italian oysters. Everything that was served to us was lukewarm. Very disappointing. It all came out quickly so maybe they cook in mass quantities and let it sit out. My brother-in-law said that even his gumbo was cold. Don't know what was going on - they said it's usually better. Aside from that, nice ambiance. Prefect location by a body of water and we had a nice family day out. The waitstaff was also top notch. Really on the bell. The temp of the food can't be overlooked though. Really disappointing for such a fun place in every other aspect. Four stars. Worth checking out just hope you catch them on a better day. Unless you like lukewarm food, then it's the place for you! read more

What an experience. It's a staple so we had to stop. Didn't really eat much, just came to check out the scenery. Country place.... Odd menu. We ordered, one cocktail, one appetizer and one dessert. For cocktail: Sneaky Tequila, for appetizer: frog legs with a side of tequila (first timer, so anxiously was high) for Dessert: a chocolate cake with ice cream. Frog taste like a salty tilapia fish- so the tequila helped. The Sneaky Tequila- sweet, but sneaky. The dessert- can't go wrong. The Waitress, Mc...? oh I forgot her name- but super sweet girl. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Frog Legs (2 Pair) - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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I didn't get a chance to really sample this place, but what I ordered was really good in many aspects. We shared some appetizers, onion rings and Italian oysters, and I also had crab gumbo. They were all good, but what stands out is that the gumbo was strong flavored and salty like what a real seafood gumbo is supposed to be. Onion rings were very tasty on its own with delicious oil taste, if this makes sense. Crispy and light but with flavors. Oysters were good too. Unfortunately, I was in the mood for a burger, so I ordered a cheese burger. I think the appetizer menu is pretty good, and there was some other interesting menu items I wanted to try later. My local friends have been telling me about this place for years, and they were right on. read more

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My daughter and I went for the first time yesterday. Really cute place and the waitress was great. I ordered the whole catfish, spicy red potatoes and cold slaw. The fish was fried to perfection but had no taste. It's like the chef forgot to add salt. The potatoes were okay. The best thing was the cold slaw. My daughter ordered the crab gumbo. She said it was okay but I did not like it at all. Won't be back. read more

Location; on way back to our home base from New Orleans trip stopped at my friends favorite spot, super cute scenery from our table inside. You can see the water, the view is gorgeous. Huge restaurant, rustic feel and clean. Menu; I tried the "Fried Thin Catfish" it was pretty darn good, cooked just as it is described. The Cat Fish was thin and cooked to perfection, french fries crisp and hot, the Slaw was really good crisp and not too saucy. Cole Slaw as you know is different everywhere you go, so I like to try everyone to see how they have changed it up. Yummy Hush Puppy! Ice cold adult beverages! Service; LeAnne was very nice, always made sure we were happy! read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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What a way to finish off the day in New Orleans at the aquarium than stopping off to eat some good seafood. Fried catfish and shrimp dinners for all. We made sure to save some room for dessert. Banana bread pudding with rum sauce, banana split and strawberry ice cream. Service was great and food was just right. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Geandson enjoying his popcorn shrimp. - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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Not as good as I remember. Ordered the bacon wrapped catfish. It was ok. The bacon really wasn't flavorful. The veggies were terrible. It was clear they were the frozen bagged veggies. The broccoli was mooshy and the sweet potatoes were hard. Something you would get at Applebee's. However, the turtle soup was wonderful. Service was great! The environment is always very welcoming. read more

. Middenhdorf's is unique, a bit peculiar, but excellent. It is widely known for special fried thin-strip catfish w/ or w/o fried shrimp. Those are what to order! This is a specialty place with fond clientle from all over the South, order their famous specialty. Plenty parking, some views, full bar. Check website before embarking. Although near a major highway, and b/t two historic lakes, it is not really close to anything else, and you won't want to be driving if place is not open. Never anything bad here, Y'all do come ! Rick . read more

I ordered the seafood platter.. the best part was the catfish and hush puppies. The shrimp and oysters were just ok and I was sad about the stuffed crab. It was all bread.. no crab whatsoever. read more

I've stopped off here for years on trips back and forth to and from New Orleans.  They have some fantastic seafood and they are famous for their thin fried catfish.  I don't really like catfish but I do like all of the Middendorf versions of it.  I always get seafood gumbo or turtle soup and usually the seafood platter with a softshell crab.  I think I've liked pretty much everything I've ever had here and they also have a broiled seafood plate if you want to avoid the fried stuff.  They have a pretty extensive menu with lots of options and good po boys to round everything out.  Middendorf's has also become famous for their six weeks of Oktoberfest celebrations that offer authentic German food every Wednesday and Thursday during October and November. They also should be famous for their fantastic desserts here and you definitely don't want to miss those! Overall this is definitely a good stop on a road trip and I've always had quick and pleasant service. My video review of Middendorf's is here: https://youtu.be/T7PoiXP4bsQ read more

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We have been to Middendorf's many times. Each time the food is good, especially the thin fried catfish, but the service would be improved. I've never had a bad experience but the service was never proactive but rather responsive to requests. This time we went for Father's day and there was an hour wait (with little to no social distancing or masks being worn by those waiting). Once we got inside, the servers were wearing masks and the tables were distanced apart. we ordered the onion rings as an appetizer, which were good; and for the main course ordered broiled catfish, thin fried catfish, house salad and seafood cakes. the fish were good and plentiful and came with sides; the salad was basic and good but expensive for what was provided, and the seafood cakes were also decent read more

Their famous thin cut fried catfish didn't disappoint. Our family has been going here for years.

Rode our motorcycle on a wonderful cool day. Found this great place to eat. Great place inside & out. Food so deliciously done.

Second time coming to Middendorfs. I got the bloody Mary Miller light. The Beautyberry was awesome, spicy! Platter and it was huge hush puppies were OK and the french fries were song. Coleslaw for a side salad, and we receive a little cup of hamburger toppings. Very sad salad lol I attached a picture but our server was sweet! And we loved talking a walk and looking at the scenery! It's summer and hot, but outside isn't open read more

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This place as recommended by Freniers Landing because I was searching for someone who had turtle soup on their menu. This place is very easy to find as it's on the road to Slidell. It was quite busy at the time but the service was very prompt & I ordered the turtle soup along with shrimp & oysters. I ordered the grilled (plus $1 extra) & was a little surprised because the shrimp was quite small, though still tasty & fresh. The soup was good as well, the basic gumbo with small bits of turtle as a protein. read more

As my girlfriend and I wind down our holiday break in Louisiana, we thought about going to a well-known spot located over 30 miles from New Orleans. We visited here 10 years back based on local reviews and came back twice after leaving the state. Great food to enjoy with great service. And this visit was no different. Before we ordered our entrees (seafood platters), we ate a hot serving of French bread with butter. Now you know you can't go wrong with local bread. Crisp and buttery.....definitely a great way to start. Minutes later, our platters came out. And boy was it plentiful. Thin fried catfish (Middendorf's specialty), crispy just as I remembered. Fried shrimp, well cooked. Fried oysters, well cooked also. Stuffed crab, big and full of flavor. Add some fries, hush puppies and homemade tartar sauce and you have a party on your hands. We were so full we both had to-go boxes. As usual, Middendorf's delivers. Hopefully when we come back next year, we'll stop by. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Fried seafood platter. Look at all that catfish. - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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We were there on this last Sunday around 4. We ordered a seafood platter which consisted of 3 shrimp, 3 oysters, fried thin catfish and a stuffed crab. We received all of it over cooked. The tarter sauce and cocktail sauce was served in bottles not refrigerated. The fresh lemons were appreciated. There was no cat in the meal. Tasted like card board. read more

Started with a cup of turtle soup was eagerly anticipating and was moderately satisfied. The turtle flavor was ok the seasoning was lacking and they gave you extra sherry but it didn't help so i give it a 5 out of 10. The fried alligator 2 out of 10 alligator was chewy not seasoned. Batter didn't taste fresh or homemade. They tasted prebattered then frozen. I'm sure that's not the case but that was the taste it gave off. And for $10 you don't get much. The seafood platter was a 6 out of 10. The thin crispy catfish was the highlight cooked perfectly great crunch but could have been seasoned a bit more. The shrimp and oysters were pretty much the same crispy and under seasoned. Fries had no salt and stuffed crab had a lot of meat but it had big chunks of nearly raw green onions. Overall meal didn't impress me much. Not sure if I'll be back read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - House Made Turtle Soup - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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Ordered a side salad as my meal as I don't eat gluten. Disappointed the ranch wasn't home made. I said "this salad isn't hitting on much." Looked down picking through it and disgusted that I had a whole a** stink BUG in my SALAD! read more

This place is in the middle of nowhere but offers great views if you sit on the patio (weather permitting). Off the beaten path is this little seafood shack with good food and good service We decided to enjoy the weather on the patio and it's pretty much self serve (walk up and order and get a buzzer/find your own seat). You can watch people come in and out on their boats. The seafood tasted really fresh and the one person I encountered was very nice and helped me order. Take a little drive as it's worth it. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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Very good The thin cut catfish is more like the thickness of a potato chips it's that thin The bread is a French baguette Not poor boy bread It's good overall It's not a new Orleans poor boy The place is super clean The staff is friendly You have to ask for straws and lemons Overall it's a good place to eat read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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This is a classic for many southern Louisianans. On the bayou, you can drive your boat right up to the dock, and eat right there outside. There are fans and mist on hot days like today, which cooled us off under the shadey pavilion. Or, you can eat inside. It is spacious and they have a bar. It can and will get busy, but that's okay. Just expect it and account for it before you go. In the meantime, get a bucket of beer and look at the boats. We went today on Father's Day, so of course it was busy, but we had a lovely time together on the bayou. The food was good. Their catfish (I prefer thin) and gumbo are my favorites. Today I tried the lemon butter shrimp, but didn't taste much lemon, and it didn't come out as hot as I'd hoped, but it was still nice! I wouldn't order it again but I know their fish and gumbo is where they shine. Prices are another issue. I feel that over the years, prices went up along with the popularity, which is unfair considering the quality of the food has not changed. Strictly speaking about food, I would much rather go somewhere else for the same food. Bottom line: I wouldn't call this place a must. But. It is solid food, and if you really like the outside vibe, then give it a go. I've been here all of my life since my dad loves it, but high prices on simple entrees keep me from personally dining there. read more

Middendorf's - Manchac - Broiled Shrimp with Lemon Butter - Seafood Near Me - Akers, Louisiana

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