Louisiana Northshore
Heading north on the Causeway across Lake Pontchartrain can feel like an eternity. Maybe that’s why landing in Mandeville, right off the bridge, feels like such a relief. Or maybe it’s a combination of Mandeville’s historic charm and all the delicious dinner options this delightful city has to offer.
If you’re coming from that direction, taking a weekend to visit Mandeville turns out to be well worth the Causeway trip (or the journey east on I-12, for that matter). Imagine the sun setting across the veritable sea of Lake Pontchartrain, as you’re sipping on a fine glass of Cabernet on The Lakehouse’s waterfront deck. Or, for the more adventurous spirits: imagine watching the sun set over Lake Pontchartrain from the deck of a pontoon boat or party barge, ice chest full of goodies at the ready, courtesy of Louisiana Tours & Adventures, which launches from nearby Madisonville. If you aim to get even closer to the water, Bayou Adventure will set you up with kayaks, paddleboards, and even fishing bait and tackle.
Whether it’s daytime or evening—or that glorious time in between—there’s no dearth of dining or entertainment choices in Mandeville. Old Mandeville offers lots of bed and breakfast options, from Blue Heron to De La Bleau. Those more into a do-it-yourself breakfast will appreciate the Mandeville Trailhead Community Market, a Saturday farmers’ market offering the freshest breakfast ingredients around from over fifty vendors.
The Tammany Trace Bike Trail splices through some of the best parts of Mandeville. Rent a bike from nearby Brooks Bicycle Co-op and Museum, head north on Girod Street, and the Tammany Trace will land bikers near Cafe Lynn, which makes for quite the lunch spot. Owned and operated by Chef Joey Najolia and his wife Brandi, Cafe Lynn treads the casual side of fine dining. The menu boasts a wide variety of dishes in the spirit of classic French and Italian cooking styles, with all items made in-house, at more-than-reasonable price points. During August, Brandi notes that each of their two-course prix fixe selections at Cafe Lynn comes paired with a glass of house red or white. The options—from creamy crabmeat and shrimp risotto to a pair of beef medallions, or the always-palatable Veal Parmesan choice—are a steal at $19.95 per guest.
“What I love most about being in Mandeville is the family-oriented feel, and we love seeing all the new faces during Tammany Taste of Summer,” said Brandi. “We go out of our way to spoil our customers.”
Another not-to-miss spot is Pat Gallagher’s 527 Restaurant & Bar, recently voted Best New Restaurant by Sophisticated Woman Magazine. Restaurateur Pat Gallagher’s delicious menus and thick Northshore roots make his St. Tammany establishments among the most popular settings for local diners. Newer spots, such as Hambone on Girod Street, won’t fail any hungry belly with their stellar prix fixe menu for Tammany Taste of Summer.
Whether you’re after a sunset cruise on Lake Pontchartrain, or yearning for a unique shopping experience on Girod Street, Mandeville is the perfect little city nestled against the lakeside, with a surprising amount of equally perfect culinary opportunities. Escape across the Causeway, and dive into Mandeville in August to get those delicious menu deals for Tammany Taste of Summer.
