Being out of town, I asked my client for a good seafood recommendation, and she pointed me to this absolute gem of a place. What a great find! I ordered the seafood combo and a bowl of gumbo, and both hit the spot. Fresh, flavorful, delicious, and simply prepared the way good seafood should be. No unnecessary fuss, just really good food. The prices were fair, the service was excellent, and the overall experience was outstanding. Sometimes the best recommendations come from the locals. This place definitely did not disappoint. Highly recommend! read more

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The place is BUSY!!! There was a 25 minute wait, so we sat at the bar and ordered. The servvice was quick and the staff was cool, just extremely busy, but they did check on us frequently. We tried the 4 bean soup and the turkey burger bc a couple of friends suggested we give it a try. The soup was good, didn't need the corn, but it was good, especially if you lo e beans. The burger was not a patty, it was real ground turkey and it was a nice size, tasty also. I got it on wheat bun or whole grain, idr...but the burger itself was a little dry, could have added a little more mayo Other than that, everything was good. If you don't like noise, that's not the place for you bc like I said its busy, people talking and its just a place where people are comfortable and fellowship with friends and family. read more

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Good gumbo. Good burger. Good onion straws. This place run by Viet Nam vet is very welcoming. A full house of regulars at 2pm on a stormy Sat attests to both the good eats and the great hospitality put forth by a multitude of good looking gals running the floor. Interesting side note: the walls are packed with framed pictures of local vet's of all ages. If we lived nearby, we'd be here every time we decided to go out to eat. read more

Skip this place--it's overpriced and severely underdelivered. We chose takeout to sit at their outdoor tables, but the service was a mess. After a 45-minute wait, they forgot our chicken fingers (another 10-minute wait) and completely left out our fries. Food quality was mediocre at best (3/10 flavor for the salmon salads, sandwich, and kids' meals), which is unacceptable for LA standards. To top it off, takeout with juices ended up costing more than a nice sit-down meal elsewhere. AI and Yelp completely got this one wrong; we wish we had stayed downtown in New Orleans instead. read more

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Family Favorite - Always a GREAT experience at Southside!! Something delicious on the menu for everyone, the staff is AMAZING, and the "culture vibe" - atmosphere screams FISHING and true AMERICAN PATRIOTS! Love this place!! **While you're there, be sure to pick up your FREE copy of "MARSH & BAYOU MAGAZINE"!!! read more

Southside Cafe - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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The food and service here is absolutely amazing and the staff are so lovely, we come here as much as possible read more

Southside Cafe - Seating outside ! - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

I came across this restaurant while traveling through Louisiana. This is one of those places that feels like everyone knows each other. The vibe was upbeat and the service was great! There was a game playing and most of the people were cheering as they watched. The food was good and fresh overall. One if my table mates stated that they wished the seafood platter had more seasoning. Aside from that each dish was a solid 4/5. Please see the attached images. They do have a veterans discount. Oh yes this restaurant was owned by a veteran which is evident by all of the decor. I loved seeing all of the decor. Our total after the discount was $60.07. The do have a cash and non cash price. Give this place a try if you're in the area. read more

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Best fried seafood and onion rings in the area. Worth the wait... As they are real busy just about all the time.

While doing an overnight stay in the area we were looking for a place to have dinner and found Southside Cafe - after arriving and finding the parking lot full we quickly came to the conclusion that this is a local favorite. We were fortunate to get seated immediately without a wait. Our server Leah greeted us and welcomed us to the restaurant while handing us menus and asked for our beverage order, there are so many delicious options to choose from. We started out with a cup of chicken and sausage gumbo and french onion soup both were delicious although the gumbo was a little thicker than I'm used too it is something I would order again, the french onion soup was amazing. As busy as the restaurant was Leah provided outstanding service she checked on all her customers to ensure everyone was well taken care of. We ordered fried catfish fillets and a hamburger steak with mashed potatoes and brown gravy both were delicious and there was plenty to share and still have enough to take back to the camp ground. This is a great restaurant although the place was packed it wasn't as loud as we thought it might be after entering near the bar. The parking lot was a little chaotic and only dimly lit so navigating was a little challenging after dinner service. All in all we loved our experience here and definitely would return when back in the area... read more

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Consistently good, local food. Can be loud but that just means its packed with happy people! Great service too! read more

The best variety, everything on the menu is splendid. The onion strings is my favorite. The muffaletta is absolutely delicious and packed with meat. read more

Southside Cafe is amazing . Chris has been our waiter several times and what a delightful person. Great food, excellent service, highly recommend. Chris is excellent and always has a smile. Stop in and ask for Chris You will have the same Great experience we have had. Awesome food. We just moved here 2 months ago and this is our favorite restaurant. read more

Nice spot to grab lunch! It has a touristy feel but in a good way. The atmosphere was fun and lively. The menu is extensive so lots of choices for all tastes. I got the pork sandwich that had bbq sauce Swiss cheese and coleslaw on Texas toast. It was delicious! We also ordered the alligator balls, which consists of cheese, jalapeños and I assume ground gator, served with this spicy mayo sauce. It was good and the sauce was good but very spicy! Nice meal, great service! read more

Southside Cafe - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Search assist stated Southside was adding 10% credit card charge. The business manager reached out and said this wasn't true. Another friend of mine went in and used. His credit card reported back to me that the service charge for credit card usage was the standard under 4%. I think the manager for his timely response and my friend for verifying. I'm glad because it's one of my favorite restaurants.. read more

Busy night after Tropical Storm Arthur. One of the places open and very busy. Very loud but no matter I was there for the food. Chicken wings, fried chicken dinner, side salad. All very good. I would have liked a selection of stronger beers and I know they exist in NOLA cause I bought them at the store. Food was really good and so was the service. If I'm back in the area I'm stopping here again. read more

If Southside was in my hometown, I would be in trouble!! Absolutely delicious food--very large servings! Amazing lunch experience read more

Southside Cafe - Delicious onion rings! So fresh - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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I was in Slidell and starving. I did q search for restaurants and this was 1st on the list. They had great reviews and fried mushrooms, which sounded good. My server was Sydney and she was super helpful and friendly. I got the mushrooms which were very tasty with a little kick. I then ordered a half fried shrimp poboy dressed with onions. It was huge, the shrimp were a good size too. It was delicious. The dining area was clean and my plates were cleared as I finished them. I would definitely recommend this place and will eat here again. read more

Start with the crabmeat stuffed mushrooms. They are topped with parm and pair oh so nicely with a Bloody Mary from the bar. But....only eat one because they are huge and you need to save room for the gumbo (seafood or chicken and sausage) and the fried shrimp and oysters and the muffaletta! Worth the 30 minute wait and the drive from Texas via Orlando! LOL read more

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I've ate there many of times in the last 25 years. Can't ever say any of the times was a meal worth paying for. Menu way has way to much on it for anything to be cooked the way it should be. Way to noisy because people drinking and thinking the food is good. read more

Southside Cafe has the best Seafood in the Slidell area. every dish I have eaten at this restaurant is and always awesome. Service is so wonderful. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who ask where can I get some good Seafood? Answer is always Southside Cafe. I frequent Southside Cafe often. Just the best. read more

I love this place! Paige and the Jed chef are amazing. Down home place and the food is amazing! Best Rueben's in Slidell! My mom would be so proud! read more

Great food and service! The seafood gumbo is always good, the French onion soup is excellent, and the muffuletta is a must have.

This place came highly recommended by my daughter who lives in Slidel. So we went on a Sunday afternoon and it was crowded. To me it felt like a dockside restaurant. They had televisions all over the place and it had a lively atmosphere. We had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated... worth it! There were so many options on the menu that it was tough to decide. I finally chose the Big Mo Jamma, my wife had the classic club and my daughter had the open face tuna melt, no one was disappointed and we all left with to-go boxes. You have to try the smoked fish dip, and even the fries were fantastic. The service was a little slow but again, it was very crowded so not bad considering. Yes, I highly recommend. read more

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The service is great the food is delicious you can't find a better place this is one of a kind place to eat everybody knows each other great family restaurant. read more

Southside Cafe (Slidell, LA) 3154 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell, LA 70458 Visited: January 19, 2026 Southside Cafe was a great spot for a Monday night in Slidell. The place was packed, the ambiance was excellent, and there were TVs everywhere, making it a perfect place to catch a game and enjoy a lively crowd. Service was very good--friendly, attentive, and most importantly, everything came out quickly, even with how busy they were. Food-wise, the highlight of the meal was easily the red beans and rice... a strong 9/10 for me. Full of flavor and exactly what I was hoping for. I did try the 1/2 and 1/2 po'boy (half fried shrimp and half fried oysters), and while it was decent overall, I was a little disappointed in the bread. In my opinion, it just wasn't up to the standard you expect in south Louisiana, so I'd rate the po'boy about a 6/10. To top it off, I had a Bloody Mary ($8.00) and it was excellent--one of the better ones I've had in a while. Overall, this was a very nice experience, and I'd absolutely come back again the next time I'm in town. read more

Southside Cafe - 1/2 & 1/2 Seafood Combo poboy - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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- Vibes: classic southern vibes. Homey, bustling - Crowd: full on a Sunday night, only emptied out near closing - Menu: lots of options- appetizers, salads, entrees - Value for price: 5/5. Portions were HUGE with generous servings of protein - Service: 4/5, a bit slow but likely because of the crowds - Parking: plenty of lot parking Stopped at southside cafe as we were passing through Louisiana on a road trip. Even though we got there around 8pm there were plenty of families/sports teams celebrating. Waitress was nice and answered our many questions, and the food came out within 20min (fresh!). The tuna salad was giant with a hefty slab of fish- a bit salty but otherwise great. The fresh fried mushrooms were juicy and satisfying (if you like mushrooms, that is). We also shared the seafood platter which was honestly enough for 3 people- my favorite parts were the softshell crab (2) and oysters. The classic BLT was also heaped with healthy servings of turkey and beef. French onion soup was good with huge croutons, but not our favorite item on the table. I could tell everything was fried fresh and came out piping hot! Good ambiance and good food. read more

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Wow! We're here from North Carolina and primarily eat a carnivore diet. Southside Cafe did not disappoint. We splurged on some non protein items seafood gumbo, the best French onion soup I've ever had and a hamburger steak with everything on the side for me and their brisket burger steak for my husband. He said it was the best he had ever had. This place was packed but the service was amazing. read more

After the great morning spent touring the bayou we felt like we needed to stop and grab something to eat before heading back to New Orleans. We found this place online and it had some great reviews so we swung by. There were 8 of us so we had to wait about 40 minutes to be seated inside, but there were some nice tables to wait at outside, so we just grabbed a drink and relaxed a bit. I ordered a ln espresso martini which was delicious. The drinks were very well poured and amazing. I ordered the strawberry spinach salad and fried eggplant and the food was fresh and very large portions. Great prices and great service. Everyone else at the table was able to take full advantage of all the wonderful food that was available (I was limited being vegetarian). Huge sandwiches. Huge bowls of gumbo. Wonderful drinks. Fun decor and cool theme. The potato salad was amazing also (although I think there was bacon in there that I was not aware of but caught)! I would 100% recommend this place and we will definitely be back. 9.1/10 read more

Southside Cafe - Strawberry Spinach Salad - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Five stars because of the military ownership & decor. The server was very kind & helpful. The gumbo was delicious. read more

Southside Cafe - Buffalo shrimp - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Great Food for Adults and Children with a large variety of choices on the Menu for adults and children! The Service is always friendly and very accommodating especially with small children! It is open and friendly and everyone was very satisfied through our encounter... I can hardly wait to go back!!! read more

Wonderful choice for a little family reunion. Although it was a busy time, they got our large group settled and seated quickly. Ambiance is great, nice and clean facility. Service was great and fast despite the crowd. Food excellent, prices surprisingly economical, big serving sizes. Overall I would highly recommend this place. read more

This place is awesome !!! Our party of 5 was seated promptly. Server came right over and got our drink order. We ordered the hamburger steak, country fried steak, grilled pork chops and open face roast beef. All of it was delicious. And reasonably priced. Prepared perfectly and we had food left over !! Our server kept the glasses full and we enjoyed visiting and chatting with everyone !! This place would be perfect for a date or a meal with friends or family !! I will definitely be going back there !! read more

Best fried mushrooms on the planet ! bushwakerrrrrr is bling Ching Strawberry salad is amazing, added chicken to mine and wow just great read more

My poboy was humongous! I'd suggest getting a half sandwich unless you want leftovers. Nice spot to watch the game and have a good time. read more

Southside Cafe - American Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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I have not found a meal that I haven't been pleased with. Sandwiches, Gumbo, Soups, Seafood, Meatballs and Spaghetti it doesn't matter they've all been Great! The Service is Good Also! Pleasant Folks! Love The Respect For Our Military and First Responders!!! read more

The food is good EVERY time. Been coming here since I was a kid. 10/10 recommend. I absolutely love the crabmeat stuffed mushrooms! The chicken melt is always great also. read more

We moved my son from El Paso to Tampa as he just got out of the Army. One stop was in Slidell. We found this place and I am sure glad we did. Very patriotic and military oriented! We very tired from driving and we were able to sit down and enjoy some southern comfort food. The restaurant was very cool on the outside and inside. A sports bar with a comfy feeling. My son and I both had the gumbo with the potato salad levee!!!! The portion was large! It was awesome! He had the French dip sandwich which was one of the best I have ever tasted. My husband had the chicken fried steak and the portion was so big he barely put a dent in it. Any time I am in Louisiana I have to have the boudin balls and they had crawfish ones which were delicious! I am hoping not to make any big road trips any time soon but if you are in the area definitely check this place out!!! Oh and the service was very good as well. read more

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Good service Great food Awesome drinks The portion sizes? Legendary. You're getting max flavor for your Full bar, lively crowd -- the kind of place that stays buzzing from open 'til close (a rare gem in Slidell!). Military-owned & proudly hanging photos of our troops MUST TRY: Fried Bread Pudding Slices (yes, fried. you're welcome.) I prefer the regular, though Reuben Sandwich & Seafood Gumbo - folks rave about 'em! Real-deal kids menu with actual mac & cheese (no Kraft box blues here Lots of options (including décor) - not your nasty fast-food Fish Sandie here. Y'all... even my super picky mom gave their roast beef sandwich a glowing review That gravy hits different. read more

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Fantastic Everything on the menu is good and delicious You won't regret it Iall the fried stuff is wonderful Good service Good management read more

Southside Cafe in Slidell is definitely a spot worth checking out. I stopped by here whenever I'm in town. It was a really good experience from start to finish The food menu offers a lot of great options, and everything I tried was well-prepared. The shrimp poboy was tasty, with perfectly cooked shrimp. Their gumbo was rich and flavorful, and the tortilla soup was a pleasant surprise - very satisfying with a nice cheese pull. For appetizers, both the fried mushrooms and the fried onion rings were crispy and hit the spot. I also tried the ribeye Philly, and it was excellent especially with the au jus dip; the meat was tender and well-seasoned. The service was also great. Our waiter was attentive and friendly, which always makes for a better dining experience. Overall, Southside Cafe delivers on both food quality and service. If you're in Slidell and looking for a reliable place to eat, I'd recommend giving it a try. Vibes were great! read more

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