What began as a vision to create an even more welcoming outdoor experience for our guests has become one of the most unique features on our property. The finished pond area offers a peaceful place where families can relax, kids can have fun, and everyone can enjoy a little slice of Louisiana charm.

Guests can now stroll out onto the pier and feed the fish while taking in the beautiful waterfront views. Around the pond, ducks, turkeys, and guineas roam the grounds, adding to the fun and creating an atmosphere that feels both rustic and inviting.  We even have baby ducks right now!

Want to see the pond being built?  Go behind-the-scenes with Middendorf’s Owner Horst Pfeifer as he turns his vision into a reality.  Click here to watch this special episode of “Hangin’ with Horst.”

The completed project adds even more to the Middendorf’s experience. Enjoy a great meal on The Porch and unwind with great views of the pond plus a pleasant breeze.  The kids can also burn off some energy in the sand play area with tiki huts, fountains and palm trees.

We’re so proud of how of how our little outside oasis has turned out, and we can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself.

Come spend the day with us at Middendorf’s Slidell — where great food, family fun, and Louisiana hospitality come together.

]]> http://middendorfsrestaurant.com/the-maurice-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-maurice-story Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:08:25 +0000 https://middendorfsrestaurant.com/?p=2166 Continue reading The Maurice Story]]> Maurice — The Middendorf’s Gator

Did you know the adorable stuffed alligator “Maurice” you’ll find in our gift shops is named after a real gator?

That’s right—Maurice was an actual baby alligator who showed up in the pond at Middendorf’s Manchac back in 2017. He quickly became a little local celebrity. Cute, curious, and full of personality, he was always a joy to watch as he spent time in and around the water.

Eventually, Maurice had to be re-homed so he could continue growing safely in the wild. We like to think he’s still out there thriving somewhere in the Manchac Swamp, living his best gator life.

We were lucky to enjoy visits from him—along with the other animals in our animal enclosure (the ones that are actually supposed to be there… LOL)—and those memories are exactly why “Maurice” lives on today. Now, every stuffed Maurice in our gift shop is a small reminder of the real one we all came to love.

For the first time in its 91 year history, Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant, a true Louisiana icon, is heading to the Louisiana State Capitol.

This March, Owner and Chef Horst Pfeifer will bring the unmistakable flavors of Middendorf’s to downtown Baton Rouge with a two week pop-up at Passé Restaurant. The special event is a full kitchen takeover by the “Home of the World Famous Original Thin Fried Catfish®,” offering Baton Rouge diners a rare opportunity to experience a legendary Louisiana restaurant without making the drive to Manchac.

“We get asked all the time to build a Middendorf’s location in Baton Rouge. Well, this is the next best thing,” said Middendorf’s Owner Horst Pfeifer. “This is really exciting to be doing a pop-up at Passé restaurant. We hope to see our regulars who travel out to Manchac, along with plenty of new faces who can finally get a taste of our Thin Fried Catfish. It’s going to be a true adventure, and we’re ready for it. Look out, Baton Rouge. Here we come!”

The pop-up will be at Passé Restaurant, March 17-20 and March 24-27, 11:00am-7:00pm. Middendorf’s will be serving lunch and dinner with a limited menu featuring many of the restaurant’s favorite dishes, including their signature Thin Fried Catfish.  On pop-up days, Passé will be serving breakfast only, 7:00am-10:30am.  It’s conveniently located inside the Origin Hotel.

“We are thrilled that Middendorf’s is finally coming to Baton Rouge and that we have a big part in making it happen,” shared Origin Hotel General Manager Courtney Wesley. “We know our city will make them feel very welcome – perhaps, so much so that they’ll never want to leave. And you better believe that I’ll be making daily trips from my office to get my Thin Fried Catfish fix.”

Middendorf’s first introduced its Thin Fried Catfish to Louisiana in 1934, when the restaurant opened as a small roadside diner in the heart of the Manchac Swamp. Over the decades, it has grown into a beloved destination with two locations: the original Middendorf’s in Manchac and a second in Slidell, opened during the restaurant’s 85th anniversary year.

Through hurricanes, changing times, and 91 years of history, Middendorf’s has remained committed to its traditions. The recipe for its famous Thin Fried Catfish remains unchanged, and while the buildings may be larger today, the restaurant continues to operate as a locally owned small business — just as it has since the beginning.

Middendorf’s Pop-Up

• March 17-20 & March 24-27, 2026
• 11:00am-7:00pm
• Limited Menu
• Passé Restaurant, 101 St. Ferdinand St. (located inside the Origin Hotel Baton Rouge)

• Watch our fun announcement video

]]> http://middendorfsrestaurant.com/a-short-history-of-middendorfs-from-1934-to-your-plate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-short-history-of-middendorfs-from-1934-to-your-plate Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:28:03 +0000 https://middendorfsrestaurant.com/?p=2144 Continue reading A Short History of Middendorf’s: From 1934 to Your Plate]]> Middendorf’s didn’t start as a destination.
It started as a place.

A place where people stopped, lingered, ate well, and felt welcome—long before “road trips” were a thing and long before anyone thought about posting their food online.

Back in 1934, the world looked very different. But one thing was already true: good food, served honestly, brings people together.

Humble Beginnings by the Water

Middendorf’s began as a small roadside diner along Lake Maurepas in Manchac, serving locals, travelers, and anyone passing through with an appetite. There were no frills. No rush. Just good seafood, cooked right, and served with care.

The lake was always part of the experience. Boats drifted by. Trains rolled past. Conversations lasted longer than the meals themselves.

From the very beginning, Middendorf’s was about more than food—it was about slowing down.

Finding Our Signature

Over time, one dish quietly became the reason people returned again and again: Catfish.

Sliced thinner than most, fried crisp and golden, and served hot, it was different from anything else around. Light, crunchy, and incredibly satisfying, it became our calling card long before “signature dish” was a phrase anyone used.

People didn’t just like it.
They talked about it.

And just like that, a simple plate of thin-fried catfish became a tradition.

Generations at the Table

Decades passed. Families grew. Children who once sat at these tables returned with children of their own.

Through it all, Middendorf’s stayed true to what mattered: consistency, quality, and hospitality. The menu expanded, the buildings changed, but the heart of the place remained the same.

This wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about honoring what worked—and what people loved.

A Place That Feels Like Home

Ask anyone who’s been here long enough, and they’ll tell you: Middendorf’s doesn’t feel like a restaurant. It feels like a memory in the making.

It’s where birthdays are celebrated without fuss. Where weekend afternoons stretch into evenings. Where first-timers become regulars faster than they expect.

There’s comfort in knowing that some things don’t need reinventing.

Still Cooking the Same Way, Just for You

Today, Middendorf’s continues to do what it has always done best: serve simple, honest food that speaks for itself. Nearly a century of tradition goes into every plate.

If you’ve been dining with us for years, thank you for being part of our story.
If you’re visiting for the first time, welcome. We’re glad you’re here.

Want to learn more about our history?  Click Here

Registration is now open for the North Oaks and Middendorf’s Manchac Run!

Saturday, November 7, 2026.

5K, 10K and 10 Mile races

Start/Finish at Middendorf’s Manchac

Proceeds benefit the North Oaks Foundation

We’re absolutely thrilled that the Manchac Run is back!  It’s like Manchac Run 2.0.  This time around, we’ve teamed-up with the North Oaks Foundation to make it happen.  The original race lasted for 10 years, raising a total of $127,700 for charities in Tangipahoa Parish.  We hope we can surpass all fundraising goals for the race’s new beneficiary — the North Oaks Foundation.

Want to see what the race is like?  Click Here for a short video.

This week, we’re super focused on finishing the Chicken Coop which has a whimsical Hansel and Gretel vibe, just like the one at the Manchac location.  We’re using cypress wood that washed up in Manchac during Hurricane Ida to go along the coop’s exterior.  It’s really beautiful.

The pier looks great.  It’s fun to stroll out there and take a closer look… plus feed the fish!  That’s right, we already have fish in the pond.  We hope they’re loving it. There’s no doubt that they will be very spoiled.

So, on our to-do list… finish the coop, build huts and shelters for the animals. add more plants and paint.  The best part will be when we bring all of the animals to their new home.  We’re planning on having chickens, geese, ducks and guineas. We can’t wait!

Stay tuned for more project updates.  When it comes to projects by Horst Pfeifer (Middendorf’s Owner), you never know what’s in store.

Click Here to see the quick video we made this week.

Fun fact:  This commercial was part of our annual Christmas video.  For December 2025, we did a game show with commercial breaks.  It was fun.  Click here to watch the full video.

For Mardi Gras, we’ll be closed as usual on Monday and Tuesday, but we’ll be back in action on Ash Wednesday with regular hours, 10:30am-9:00pm.

See what’s coming up anytime on our event calendar.