Mandina's Restaurant Reviews

Food and atmosphere make it a favorite place when visiting NOLA

Bottom line: if you're an out-of-towner like me, and you're seeking "the real deal", it doesn't get "realer" than Mandina's. I'm not going to feign expertise - simply check out the history section on the 1st gen website for a thorough backgrounder.



Mandina's is not an elegant restaurant - focused more on the people and their good tastes rather than the altogether acceptable haught and pretense of white-linened establishments of equal or lesser culinary merit. In short, it is the People's restaurant.

Signature dishes are either Italian or seafood based, although there are plenty of alternatives too.



Mandina's - in regular rotation for subsequent NOLA escapades.

The food here is so good. The portions are crazy big.

The burger was the best burger I have had in my life! The customer service was also amazing! 5 stars from me every single time.

Great place to eat on Canal. Service was great and food was delicious. We even saw a few prominent faces.

Great food, will be there again this week, a must go to place on NOLA!

Waited a little longer then usual for food but the red beans and rice was worth it

Food was good, service was not. Waitress was not friendly & she was also sarcastic.

A local pointed us here and we couldn't have been happier with the delicious seafood and friendly service.

Great service and fantastic food. Been going here since 1975 and the service is still above reproach and the quality of food is still fantastic.

Food is always incredible, and service is always wonderful!

Food delicious. You get a lot of food. Definitely will go back!

Came here from out of town. Restaurant was recommended by a friend who is local. The service was good, which is the only reason I am giving 2 stars. We ordered the fried oyster plate and the fried shrimp plate. The oysters were burnt and the shrimp was flavorless to say the least. Not sure what they added to the tartar sauce, but it was horrible. I DO NOT recommend this place to anyone. I have had better quality seafood at Captain D's.

Mandina's is a very popular long-time family restaurant in downtown New Orleans - short wait times if there is one and well worth the time with its offerings of traditional New Orleans appetizers, seafood plates, po-boys etc, and excellent service.

Had gone here several years ago and was not very impressed. Decided to go there again tonight and glad I did. Had the gumbo and the oyster and artichoke soup, both were very good and hot. My wife and I split the veal parmesan over pasta, it was more than enough for both of us

Eat at Mandina's regularly, both north & South shore.Great New Orleans food.Southshore location across the street from Schoen's funeral home .

Everything is delicious and the gumbo is above and beyond.

Wait staff were very nice. Very generous portion. Fried seafood was cooked very well. Could have had more seasoning.

Great food, great prices, a little out of the way with little crowds.

Lunch today ( stuffed bell pepper ) was very good ! Will recommend Mandina's to all my friends for a great consistent meal !!

We ordered an appetizer and never came out . We had our entree first. We declined the appetizer since we are almost finished with our dinner. Food was delicious, service and atmosphere was mediocre.

I would recommend mandina's any day of the week when you're in New Orleans

Exceptional and exceptionally friendly wait staff. Rich desserts, soft shelled crab topped with shrimp etouffe, and onion rings as big as your face. Try it all!

Always excellent. A lot of food. Two can eat off a single order if you get an appetizer. Service is also excellent...

My favorite place to eat when I am in the big easy!!! Always worth the wait

Very attentive wait staff. Fast service considering how busy they were. Huge portions.

You want a traditional bowl of Gumbo without having to pay an arm and a leg? This is your place. The gumbo @ Mandina's sets the standard for what a Gumbo should taste like. Best in the city? Too many choices to crown just one place, but you ill have a hard time doing better for $10 a bowl.

Best seafood gumbo I've had here! Food was very delicious!

Service awful, drinks appetizers then no one for 40 minutes and a manager who seemed to care less! Done with Mandina s

Wonderful place for meeting friends, always a lot of locals enjoying lunch

My $12 sandwich had very little meat on it. The turtle soup was excellent though. The prices are on the high side for what I received. The waiter was very attentive and fast.

A true New Orleans neighborhood restaurant. What's not to like?

Cold ! Dry! Pasta! My husband ordered the seafood platter it taste like frozen fish !

Awesome food and service. I ate dinner here with a group of 14. We all loved the food and wait staff was awesome. Prices are very reasonable too. You won't be disappointed if you dine here..

I go here every time I'm in New Orleans. Great place

Smaller menu but that s ok because what they make they do it well. We did the seafood gumbo, fries, PO boy and Chops.

Everything came out really well. The service is awesome. It s the true definition of mom and pop local spot at its finest! We marked this one on the map and will visit another time.

Down the other end of Canal St, but oh so worth it!

This is what REAL New Orleans seafood gumbo looks like people. I would put Mandina s against anyone s, it s that good. Also, their lunch and dinner specials are the way to go. The servers have been there forever, follow their lead! Mandina s is on the Canal streetcar line, easily accessible from downtown.

Always crowded because the food is somewhat good. Was a little disappointed with the server making us feel like it was our fault that we wanted the check separated. 9 out of 10 restaurants I go to ask me if this is together or separate before bringing the bill. I suggest this restaurant start asking before they take orders if it is such and inconvenience to separate the check after it has been presented to the table.

Fried oysters, shrimp and scallops. Fresh lightly breaded and delicious. Want a perfect Manhattan or great turtle soup, this is the place to go. Not a major tourist destination, mostly locals. Always good.

I went to give mandina's a 4-star rating. And then I thought what would make it better to give it a five? And I came up with nothing would make it better, so it gets a 5-star rating from me. I haven't been to Mandina's in years.I had my father's memorial service at Jacob Schoen across the street so the tradition is to go over to Mandina's and eat once it's over. I ordered the most traditional meal I could think of from Mandina's. It was the Gulf Fish Almondine. It delivered.The buttery sauce with almonds that I remember from years ago was replaced by a more gravy sauce but was altogether wonderful. Fried oysters, the onion rings, the potato salad, the meatballs and spaghetti, and veal parmesan that others in my party ordered each were so delicious that no one left a bite on their plate. I am already anticipating a quick return for a meal at Mandina's. I can't go that many years again without enjoying the deliciousness that they offer.

Good, authentic food. Try the Softshell Crab Menuire or any of the other seafood dishes.

Had the one of the best po boys of my life here. The gumbo was also good.

Amazing food! Great staff and the service was the best. Don't order the beef but anything Creole or sea food is the best in the district.

What s there not to like about this place? It has the feeling and charm of an old world Italian restaurant. I loved the Thursday special Bruccialone. But I don t see the daily specials online anymore, has something changed? Great food and plenty of it. Always come here when in town from Texas.

Spaghetti and meatballs really hit the spot. Ordered online and meal was ready when I arrived. Customer service was superb.

Service was beyond slow and food was overpriced compared to quality.

Most delicious shrimp remauluade any where. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. Favorite place to eat when we go to New Orleans.

An old New Orleans favorite that has been wonderfully restored after Katrina. Open on Mardi Gras day, which is great! Go for the oyster artichoke soup.

Neighborhood Resturaunt with excellent Cajun menu. Not fancy. Wooden chairs, crowded because it is so good. Parking around back. Upstairs dining available.