We ordered an appetizer, their special thin fried catfish and a kids plate. After waiting almost an hour, all of the tables around us who arrived after we did had all of the same items we ordered at their table. Our waitress was no where to be found. I hope her other two tables behind us who were still waiting to order figured it out sooner than we did! We literally only had bread and water at our table, so we left! Did inform the waitress at the bar (who my daughter swears was our waitress) and the hostesses that we were leaving. Cannot recommend. Terrible service.
Layton Roubique
I’ve been coming here for at least 45 years. I love it. There is no other catfish in the world like Middendorfs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddy Roger Parker
Alright y’all, Middendorf’s in Manchac has been sittin’ out there between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain since 1934, fryin’ up catfish so thin you could read the Bible through it. Louis and Josie Middendorf started the joint, but let’s be real — Josie was the brains behind the batter. She figured out that if you slice catfish paper-thin and drop it in hot oil, it’ll come out crisp as a dollar bill and twice as satisfying.
Picture it: a little wooden shack by the bayou, breeze blowin’, fryers hissin’, and that fried-fish perfume floatin’ through the cypress trees like a love song. Back in the day, fishermen would pull their boats up right out back, track in a little mud, and still get served with a smile — long as they didn’t bad-mouth Josie’s fry oil. It wasn’t fancy, but it was honest, and that’s about the best compliment a Louisiana restaurant can get.
Now, hurricanes have thrown everything at this place — Katrina, Isaac, probably a few uninvited gators — and it still keeps right on fryin’. You can’t kill a good idea, especially one that smells like catfish and hushpuppies. These days, Middendorf’s still does it the old-fashioned way: first come, first served, no reservations, no nonsense. You stand in line, breathe deep, and let the grease do the talkin’.
They start you off with warm French bread, crusty on the outside and soft enough inside to make a grown man rethink his life choices. Then comes the shrimp and crab gumbo — dark, rich, and smoky, like it’s got secrets. And just when you think you can’t take another bite, here comes that German chocolate cake with coconut-pecan frosting that’ll make you forget your name and possibly your spouse.
But the real showstopper? That thin-fried catfish po-boy. Lord, have mercy. It’s the holy grail of fried food between bread — fish sliced thinner than a politician’s promise, fried to golden perfection, and served on a Leidenheimer loaf with just enough mayo to qualify as a condiment, not a crime. You take one bite and the whole world just… stops. The catfish melts, the bread holds strong, and for one beautiful moment, you forget your bills, your ex, and that cousin who still owes you gas money.
By the time you’re lickin’ your fingers and starin’ at that empty wrapper, you’ll swear you just had a religious experience. Folks at the next table will nod ‘cause they know — they’ve been baptized in the same fryer. And let me tell ya, that’s not gluttony, friend. That’s just good Southern judgment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M B
Great, honestly I broke down on i-55 and was closed when I pulled in. Let me know how much I owe you for the water! Like 2 gallons from the hose on the back of the building. Will call tomorrow l.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thom Schwabauer
A must every time, I'm in SE Louisiana
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joshua Bell
Food and service are always amazing. Check out their October fest menu until November each year for German options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Harry Gong Jr.
Best place for Thin Fried Catfish. Have some of the biggest soft shell crabs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jon Finger
Audrey was an excellent server. The food is remarkably unique. Love this place!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Thin Fried Catfish and French Fries, House Made Turtle Soup, Spicy Crawfish Poppers, Shrimp and Crab Gumbo
Rick Rash
Wonderful service and food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steve Pendley
If you haven't been here, you should go!! Awesome thin fried catfish AND Octoberfest food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Fried Onion Rings, Thin Fried Catfish and French Fries, Shrimp and Crab Gumbo, Cake
Adjusting Review: Middendorfs is usually great, but on multiple occasions have orderd the thin fried fish and recieved more batter than fish. Fish thin as a Kleenex and this weekend just thin fried batter. Not even fish inside. Very dissappointing.
Food: 3
Bill Belton
Best catfish anywhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angelika N Bezmalinovic
best prepared, most famous recipe on the world for breaded thin sliced catfish file........to die for,,,,,,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Weems
We arrived on October 1st, the beginning of October fest! German specialties all month! Stuffed flounder was on the menu, it was wonderful! We had the apple strudel for dessert.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Stipp-Bethune
Stopped at Middensorf's after a couple of folks said it was the best fried shrimp you'd ever eat in your life. The fried shrimp was awesome! Fried oysters, hush puppies, and french fries, too. The slaw was absolutely delicious! Will definitely stop again when I pass by this way!
We ordered an appetizer, their special thin fried catfish and a kids plate. After waiting almost an hour, all of the tables around us who arrived after we did had all of the same items we ordered at their table. Our waitress was no where to be found. I hope her other two tables behind us who were still waiting to order figured it out sooner than we did! We literally only had bread and water at our table, so we left! Did inform the waitress at the bar (who my daughter swears was our waitress) and the hostesses that we were leaving. Cannot recommend. Terrible service.
I’ve been coming here for at least 45 years. I love it. There is no other catfish in the world like Middendorfs
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alright y’all, Middendorf’s in Manchac has been sittin’ out there between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain since 1934, fryin’ up catfish so thin you could read the Bible through it. Louis and Josie Middendorf started the joint, but let’s be real — Josie was the brains behind the batter. She figured out that if you slice catfish paper-thin and drop it in hot oil, it’ll come out crisp as a dollar bill and twice as satisfying.
Picture it: a little wooden shack by the bayou, breeze blowin’, fryers hissin’, and that fried-fish perfume floatin’ through the cypress trees like a love song. Back in the day, fishermen would pull their boats up right out back, track in a little mud, and still get served with a smile — long as they didn’t bad-mouth Josie’s fry oil. It wasn’t fancy, but it was honest, and that’s about the best compliment a Louisiana restaurant can get.
Now, hurricanes have thrown everything at this place — Katrina, Isaac, probably a few uninvited gators — and it still keeps right on fryin’. You can’t kill a good idea, especially one that smells like catfish and hushpuppies. These days, Middendorf’s still does it the old-fashioned way: first come, first served, no reservations, no nonsense. You stand in line, breathe deep, and let the grease do the talkin’.
They start you off with warm French bread, crusty on the outside and soft enough inside to make a grown man rethink his life choices. Then comes the shrimp and crab gumbo — dark, rich, and smoky, like it’s got secrets. And just when you think you can’t take another bite, here comes that German chocolate cake with coconut-pecan frosting that’ll make you forget your name and possibly your spouse.
But the real showstopper? That thin-fried catfish po-boy. Lord, have mercy. It’s the holy grail of fried food between bread — fish sliced thinner than a politician’s promise, fried to golden perfection, and served on a Leidenheimer loaf with just enough mayo to qualify as a condiment, not a crime. You take one bite and the whole world just… stops. The catfish melts, the bread holds strong, and for one beautiful moment, you forget your bills, your ex, and that cousin who still owes you gas money.
By the time you’re lickin’ your fingers and starin’ at that empty wrapper, you’ll swear you just had a religious experience. Folks at the next table will nod ‘cause they know — they’ve been baptized in the same fryer. And let me tell ya, that’s not gluttony, friend. That’s just good Southern judgment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great, honestly I broke down on i-55 and was closed when I pulled in. Let me know how much I owe you for the water! Like 2 gallons from the hose on the back of the building. Will call tomorrow l.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A must every time, I'm in SE Louisiana
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food and service are always amazing. Check out their October fest menu until November each year for German options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best place for Thin Fried Catfish. Have some of the biggest soft shell crabs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Audrey was an excellent server. The food is remarkably unique. Love this place!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Thin Fried Catfish and French Fries, House Made Turtle Soup, Spicy Crawfish Poppers, Shrimp and Crab Gumbo
Wonderful service and food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you haven't been here, you should go!! Awesome thin fried catfish AND Octoberfest food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Fried Onion Rings, Thin Fried Catfish and French Fries, Shrimp and Crab Gumbo, Cake
Restaurantji Recommends
Adjusting Review: Middendorfs is usually great, but on multiple occasions have orderd the thin fried fish and recieved more batter than fish. Fish thin as a Kleenex and this weekend just thin fried batter. Not even fish inside. Very dissappointing.
Food: 3
Best catfish anywhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
best prepared, most famous recipe on the world for breaded thin sliced catfish file........to die for,,,,,,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We arrived on October 1st, the beginning of October fest! German specialties all month! Stuffed flounder was on the menu, it was wonderful! We had the apple strudel for dessert.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped at Middensorf's after a couple of folks said it was the best fried shrimp you'd ever eat in your life. The fried shrimp was awesome! Fried oysters, hush puppies, and french fries, too. The slaw was absolutely delicious! Will definitely stop again when I pass by this way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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