We were in the area for the day and Yelp lead us here for lunch. At first impression it was a cute casual restaurant with a very laid back almost country atmosphere. I was really digging it. We were greeted and welcomed with a smile by the girl behind the register. After perusing the paper menu we made our selections with the cashier. This was a late lunch for us after 2 so they were not very busy. The fried pickles we ordered as an appetizer came out after just a few minutes. They were awesome as fried pickles can be and their house made ranch was the perfect condiment to dip the pickles in. My jive bird sandwich was awesome since I love spicy food! I asked if they could do grilled chicken instead of fried and they happily obliged. Again, their buffalo and ranch did not disappoint. The service was great and very helpful. Even though you order at the bar, they bring the food out to you and asked a few times if we needed anything. The drinks are self serve and we noticed they were out of unsweet tea and within minutes they were putting more fresh brewed tea out. I like the casual vibe and old time feel of the restaurant and this part of Mandeville. If I am in the area again the Rusty Pelican will be on my list to revisit. read more

A cold Abita and a tasty cheeseburger covered in delicious fried pickles? A perfect way to celebrate a successful trip across the Causeway. Cute beach club decor. Casual and crowded. Make and pay for your order and then bring your number plaque to your table where you will have your food served to you. The ranch dressing is delish. It was a perfect dip for both my sweet potato fries and the mountain of fried pickles on my cheeseburger. When I ate the pile of pickles down to a height where I could get my mouth around the pickles and oozing cheese and burger, I poured the rest of the ranch on top for good measure. I would have usually gone for seafood, but the smell of a good burger makes the Chicagoan in me trump the fact that I'm in po-boy country...and I'm glad it did--one fine burger. I definitely will be back. read more

I've lived in Mandeville for over 14 years and I have always seen this place near the lake front, but have never gave it a chance (up until the other day) and boy was that mistake. This place is amazing and I mean amazing. The food and service was outstanding and the menu was quite diverse! It took me a while to decide! I ordered the hijacked burger (because I love pepper jack) and it was delicious. Pepper jack was literally oozing out of my burger..it was heaven read more

Jordan is a fry master. I've never put such perfection in my mouth before. Before I came here my taste was gone due to COVID, but Jordan fixed that for me. My senses are now better than ever read more

This was my first time coming here and it was amazing. Our waitress was helpful in suggesting the blackened shrimp tacos!! I believe her name was Gabby!! Thanks and I will be back! read more

Great neighborhood lunch spot. Pros.. Burgers, fried chicken sandwich, roast beef poboy, fish tacos, fried cheese, potato salad, fried seafood Cons.. Burgers occasionally have a little too much char. read more

I love when at work we all agree on the Rusty Pelican because it never disappoints. I love this place.

Favorite place for our family to get fried seafood and burgers. Especially good fried catfish and shrimp. Real close to the lake for nice walk around Old Mandeville after eating. At peak hours getting food can take longer than usual and you may have to eat outside. read more

Bat: I had the blackened shrimp and avocado salad. The veggies were fresh, the shrimp were jumbo, there were plenty and they were not overdone. The service was quick. It was a good dining experience all around. I'd return. (5 stars) Goat: This place is just about the perfect casual dining spot for me. The food was excellent, atmosphere was good, service was quick. I got the blackened chicken sandwich with added bacon and it was a flavor explosion. Great seasoning and the chicken was nice and juicy. It's affordable - prices are about what you'd expect for any casual dining (my sandwich and fries was under $10). There's nice outdoor seating with shade and fans. The only addition I'd like to see is more beers on tap. I'll definitely be back. (5 stars) read more

Great local place. Food was delicious! The staff is all extremely friendly and helpful. Everything (fish tacos, crab cakes, fried catfish, fries) were all great. I would come back in a heartbeat. read more

I like this place! If I could make one recommendation, my favorite dish was the Mahi Gras sandwich. It's the tiniest bit pricey, but well worth it. Once I got the fried pickle burger and while it was really tasty, I could only get halfway through because it is REALLY heavy. Nice place, good atmosphere, gone a few times and never been let down. I was told once years ago when I first discovered it to try the crab cakes, they're the best, but with so many other fun things to choose from I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. read more

You can't miss this place if you drive through Mandeville. You'll see the Pelican statue out front and then cars lined up and down the street. I always say that's a sign of a good restaurant and in this case, it's very accurate. One would think that would equate to a long wait (for seats and food), you would be wrong however. The management and staff of Rusty Pelican are so on point that if you eat there enough you start to miss the efficiency if you dine somewhere else. Every item on there menu, and I do mean every item, is delicious. Want the beat catfish you've ever had? Rusty Pelican. How about the best burger on this side of the lake? Rusty Pelican. On top of great food, if you are a music lover, you won't be disappointed. Everything from Elton John to Pink Floyd to Led Zeppelin. All the real hits while you eat. read more

My husband and I shared a seafood platter and it was more than enough for both of us. The platter was delicious and the tartar sauce was quite different. Maybe a hint of horseradish? Yum... My husband had to sample all the hot sauces on the bar which was a fantastic experience for him! He loves to sample hot sauce. read more

The crab cakes were good but you can't give them too much credit- I saw them open the box & throw some into the fryer. The remoulade sauce made them! & I'm pretty sure it was homemade. :) My husband & I ordered burgers- the Ponchartrain pickle & the pelican- & we couldn't get past the first bite. We must have gone on a bad night or something, because they were the worst hamburgers ever. Something was sour & we couldn't put our finger on exactly what it was. Nevertheless, we substituted our burgers for some more crab cakes & told them we'd have to try them out another time (the hospitality is still kickin'). read more

Really good! A great find and well worth the trip off the beaten path. I would certainly make this a lunch stop if you're in the area. Parking can be limited if it's busy read more

This is our first visit to the restaurant. The fried shrimp and catfish were very tasty. The fries were very good. Not the biggest fan of string fries, but they were cooked right. The bottled beer was very cold. A "very" cold beer is a must for a seafood platter. The atmosphere was nice. Service was good. You have to order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The price for a seafood basket was a little high for the amount of seafood that you get. Overall we were satisfied with the restaurant. read more

Love, love, love this place! We sat and chilled at the bar and got to chat with the staff. Friendly and personable, and their group dynamics were so comfortable. I'm a fried pickle spear lover and found the first place I'll order fried pickle chips again (thank you Gaby)! Matt, thanks for the info and the laughs. See y'all again soon! read more

Several months ago I placed an online order, waited 30 minutes, then headed over to pick up. When I arrived, my order had not even been started. I went back home and came back 20 minutes later and it still wasn't ready. Since I already paid I had no choice but to wait. Tonight I decided to try Rusty Pelican again. I used the online ordering system, paid with my credit card and received a confirmation email. I waited 30 minutes and went to pick up. The place was packed with dine in patrons and those waiting in line to order. There was a take out pick up spot but it was serviced by the same person taking the orders. My order was not in the waiting pick up orders so I waited in line to check on it. I was told it wasn't ready yet. I waited 15 minutes longer. Meanwhile I received an email that my order was cancelled. No reason given by the employee when I questioned him. The only solution offered was to put my order in again. I chose to leave and I won't be back again. I'll be checking my credit card to make sure I wasn't charged. They are understaffed at the checkout/pick up counter. They can't seem to keep up with the take out orders AND the dine in customers. If it's too busy to handle the take out orders then don't let me order and pay ahead of time. **In response to Daniel - I understand the staffing issues. This is not my complaint. This is the second time my order was taken and after waiting at least 45 minutes - there was no food. This time I chose to walk away. It's not just "longer than expected wait times" for my order. I would have waited longer to pick up if I had been given an accurate time. The order was taken and then 45 minutes later randomly cancelled and I waited for nothing. If the restaurant is too busy (a good problem to have during COVID) with walk-in customers - then perhaps you shouldn't accept the extra takeout orders. read more

As an employee of the St Tammany school system, we have a lot of meetings and trainings to go to at the Treen tech center. Luckily, Treen is about a 5 minute walk to the Rusty Pelican. In the past 6 weeks, I have gone there three times for lunch. On my first visit I ordered the buffalo chicken salad with bleu cheese dressing. The salad is huge. They give you so much chicken. The buffalo sauce is actually pretty spicy. The onions and croutons are also plentiful. The next two times I went back I ordered the exact same thing. Except last time, I ordered grilled chicken in the salad to attempt to be a tad healthier. It's such a great salad, I'm not sure if I will ever order anything else lol. Being a school system employee, I get a free fountain drink which is great! My friend really likes the chicken tender meal and the sauce that comes with it. read more

We love Rusty Pelican. It's a neat place, everything I've ever had here has been delicious and the prices are extremely reasonable. Looking forward to trying the new Terra Bella location, read more

The food here is so good that I must give this place five stars despite them having pissed me off by making me pay AND TIP in advance. (It was on my credit card receipt, felt like i had no choice). I was so shocked by the presumptuous attitude that i just kept glaring at the cashier but no words came out. Yes, you have to get up and pay at a cash register. But they will bring your order to the table... So we sat down, i bitched about the credit card receipt, when the food arrived -- within 7-8 minutes of our order. My salad was fresh and came with some special house dressing they make there, which was quite awesome. It also came with a very good crab cake. Normally i'm not a fan, but i took a bite and was pleasantly surprised. Same with the fried fish platter, another thing I don't normally eat but I tried someone else's and it was not like any other fried fish I've had. Not sure if it was the breading or the tartar sauce but there was a hint of some kind of sweet spice that made an already good quality dish stand out even more. So it turned out the tip was well-deserved and the quick service and good food earned this place several new returning customers. read more

The Rusty Pelican is really good. They have great burgers and other sandwiches. They are consistent and fairly fast. It's a good value for your money and you can get in and out quickly for lunch. The folks there are super nice and work hard to keep your business. That always goes a long way with me. read more

Good food. Cool vibe. Rustic wood and old industrial feel to the decor. Cute little led color lighting. Not fine dining, but nice and cozy sit down quick meal. Would go back again. read more

Went here based on the reviews I read on Yelp and I was not disappointed. It was a hot day but we sat outside at the picnic tables they have for their outdoor seating. I had the crab cakes and the Hotsy Totsy burger while the other half had the fried catfish and onion rings. The crab cakes were awesome and loaded with tender crab. The Hotsy Totsy was juicy and so flippin' good! I love having a burger come out covered in fried jalapeno slices (and I mean covered!). The other half said that the fried catfish was some of the best he'd ever eaten. The onion rings were also hot and crispy with a great batter (beer battered, not that breaded crap). We both ordered beers and that is where my only complaint lies. You order at a counter and they bring you your food but you have to go back in to order another beer and pay again. I'd rather have a bill at the end but it's not enough to keep me away! I can't wait to try something else next time we go! Oh! And don't trust the Internet menu they provide, the menu there is much more extensive. 5/01/13- I had to update my previous review. I had given it a 4 star because I had to go in and order beers separately but now I know you can buy a BUCKET of beers (you choose your selection of 6) for a super reasonable price (it was around $12 when I was there). This was all I needed to take it to a 5. Excellent food, good prices, wonderful choices of beers, and a great atmosphere...I'm a fan for life! read more

What a fun little restaurant ! Fresh foods, delicious burgers, and seafood is great. I got the 'Mahi Gras' sandwich and my wife got the fish tacos, AMAZING. If you are close by, they are worth the visit, BUT get there early, the locals fill it up quickly! We were in town for a soccer tournament and we will be back! read more

Always enjoy my meal here. Start off with the crab cake appetizer, wonderfully done with way more crab than breading, then finish off with one of there many to choose from burgers. Locally owned and it shows. read more

Bring your own seasonings! This is the worst restaurant I have ever been to. The food, if you can call it that, had literally no taste. It was like I was chewing but you would never be able to identify the food in your mouth. Awful! Also, the order taker was completely rude. If she really doesn't want to help anyone that badly then she should start looking for another job, like doing filing. ** As a side note, the respectable and helpful owner of this restaurant contacted me today in order to rectify the problem I had when I went to eat here. I accepted his refund and turned down his gift card. However, because he handled it so professionally I know I will give this restaurant another try and can hopefully write a better review next time! read more

We were visiting from Houston and stopped in because it caught my eye, and i am so disappointed. I ordered the crab cakes and being that this restaurant is so close to the water you'd think they'd be fresh , but that's not the case at all. They are pre made and pretty much all breading. My boyfriend ordered the burger with the fried pickles and nothing about that burger was fresh or handmade in house. The patty is frozen and rubbery and honestly the worst burger I've tried in a very long time. I hate leaving bad reviews, but this place needs to 'freshin' up their game big time! Don't claim to be a restaurant owner and/or chef when all you do is heat up frozen pre made food. TERRIBLE! read more

Great lunch or dinner. Recommend the crab cake dinner with fries. The chicken basket is great as well, and so is the burger. Happy to support this local business., read more

What a delicious little place old Mandeville has to offer! Great food, great atmosphere and great people who work there! Definitely recommend the rusty Pelican for anyone looking for great food. read more

Best burgers and grilled chicken sandwhiches around. Big enough to eat leftovers for lunch the next day. I never liked Ranch till I had it here, craved it during my twins pregnancy and now they literally lick the lids clean. I order salad over the french fries just to get the ranch! My kids love the chicken fingers. The cheese fries are an indulgence just for special occasions, the amount of bacon on them is heart pounding. read more

I like the rusty Pelican. Here you order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. Their menu has a really good variety from hamburgers with shredded roast beef debis on them to oysters. Tons to choose from. And the good news is that anything you get will taste Amazing. The owners are usually there. It's a pretty friendly atmosphere. And there is indoor seating and nice outdoor seating as well. read more

Issues with food and timing. Took longer than anticipated, figured 15 was more like 30-45

Fun, little place with good food and great location. The Buffalo Shrimp is a personal favorite and they have some tasty burgers.

Chicken and shrimp basket was really good. Great dipping sauces! No complaints. I'll most likely be a regular. read more

Rusty Pelican - Surf and Chirp - Sandwiches Near Me - Mandeville, Louisiana

We ordered 3 Poboys. 2 shrimp and 1 catfish. They were perfect and traditional. Not too much lettuce and Mayo but enough to know it is there. Overstuffed like the ones we used to get in New Orleans pre-covid on Annunciation St. At the same time, good local brew on tap. Wish they had more like this. The world would be a much better place. read more

Good prices on good food. Very fast service. Quiet, Neighborhood vibe. Prefer oysters fried a lil more crispy. Will remember next time.

Great beer selection! Burgers amazing! Great place to hang out and watch sports or just to pass through!

Stopped in for a late lunch, I had surf n chirp- shrimp and chicken basket. Wife had crab cake basket with sweet taters. Food came super fast and hot. Sweet potatoes were done just right, not soggy or to crisp. Crab cakes were good, shrimp good but on the small side. We got a beer each and bill was $35. A bit high but you order at counter and dump your garbage so tipping not needed. This is a neat area and prices are probably in line with other close establishments. I would recommend it and return if in the area. read more

Great food and service. Went to the Mandeville location this weekend and the seafood platter was outstanding.