Rips On the Lake

We drove from Slidell to have dinner on the lakefront and enjoy the sunset. Our server took about 15 minutes to come to the table and take our order. She took our appraiser order along with our drinks… It was a good 10 minutes before she brought our drinks. We didn’t have silverware or napkins for our soup (just the spoon it came with). We asked for silverware and she went inside and grabbed 4 forks and 2 knives… No napkins. We ordered our meals, they were good, but the fish was over cooked on the edges so much that it was inedible about ½ an inch all the way around. We asked for salt and our server walked over to another table that had just sat down and asked to «borrow» their salt and gave it to us… She would disappear for 20 – 30 minutes while we needed something. Overall the food had great flavor and was fresh. Just wish the service and the time they cooked the fish would have been better.

The food is ok here, but the major problem with this place is the service. The last time we were here, it was with a small group of 4. All of our drinks were empty for a while before being refilled. Worse is we had to wait 5 to 10 minutes after our food arrived to receive tartar and cocktail sauce. Sadly our server was very dismissive about it all. I would rather go hungry than dine at this establishment again.

My daughter and I had dinner here, very exquisite– but the atmosphere is casual. There are people in nice suits and also in jeans and flip flops, like myself.
A blonde woman with bright red lipstick stared at me to the point of uneasiness (maybe she wanted what was on my plate?), nevertheless I enjoyed my beer and soft shell crab. Delicious. My daughter got broiled shrimp, they were huge. She cleaned her plate– she’s 10 and eats like a grown man! We sat on patio (they put the plastic walls down when chilly so you can still see the lake) the sunset was mesmerizing. Waitstaff is super friendly.

Really would like to do a 3.5, but since I can’t I’ll go 3. It’s probably a little unfair, because part of the reason it gets a 3 is because I had SOOOOO much good food in New Orleans. Anyway, mostly fried food is their thing, and it was pretty good, but it is what it is. THe 5 star part, as far as I’m concerned though, is the view. BEAUTIFUL view of Lake Ponchartrain over their deck especially!

Started off with Louisiana crab cakes appetizer– incredible! Wife and I split Trout Audrey — again, incredible! Beautiful view of Lake Ponchitrain. And dont forget the $ 0.25 martinis on Thursdays! We arrived early to take a long walk along the lake trail. Great evening!

Came to rips many years ago and decided to try again. My husband and I came in on a Thursday night and stood at the entrance for several minutes with no one helping us. Turns out the hostess was sitting at the bar with her back turned to the door, you would think she would at least be up or facing the front. The hostess was very pushy and was very disrespectful to my husband when he was asking about outside seating, even though they restaurant was not very busy. She told us that we should sit inside and seemed very confused trying to find us a table to sit at because she led us around the dining room a couple of times, even though business seemed pretty slow. My husband later said that smelled like alcohol. With the reviews I’ve heard from friends and the expensive price I payed for the food I expected the experience to be more proffesional. After the horrible experience with the hostess, the whole dining experience was ruined. The food was good and the waiter was very helpful, but the fact that the owners would allow this woman to hostess makes me question the way they run the place. Very unprofessional.

The food was excellent! But the hostess was more interested in getting a date from the gentlemen at the bar than she was at seating guests.
We ordered the lunch special catfish with fried oysters and the snapper. It did take a little to get the food but we were grateful because the stuffed shrimp appetizer was so filling! Over all if you have about 2 hours to kill and LOVE food it is well worth the wait. The atmosphere isn’t bad either.

Horrible service! Just finished a bike ride on the trace and wanted to share some raw oysters with out of town guests. We were refused service inside because we were wearing athletic apparel… Duh. Lessthan a ¼mile from one of the main attractions on the Nothshore. once moved to outside table. We’re told we had to move again to high top table. Embarrassing, many people have told me that Rips was terrible. Last time I give them a chance

Good food but inconsistent service. My first visit was awesome — our server was juggling a large section but did a great job giving attention to all tables. Fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade was OUTSTANDING! On the second visit, our server had tables inside and on the patio, which made it tough to keep up with everything. We had a super long wait between being seated and ordering drinks, and then again between receiving drinks and ordering food. Again, the food was great — gumbo was rich and well seasoned and the trout amandine was delicious. There seems to be a weird disconnect between the ambience/​prices and reality of this place — most of the entrees are $ 20+ and the poboys $ 12+, but the servers wear t-​shirts and it’s definitely not upscale service.

We were told this place was great… I’ve had better seafood in Arkansas. The calamari was so over cooked it disintegrated when you tried to stab it with your fork. The soups were okay «seafood gumbo and shrimp and crab bisque». The salads were fine. The blackeded grouper with shrimp was overcooked. The soft shell crab was extremely salty and overly battered. I also don’t the in they cleaned the crab properly because it was very fishy. The kids meals were okay. $ 150 for a meal that tasted like you got it from Long John Silvers, well Long Johns would be better. We won’t be going back to this place.

Having diner there was wonderful. The food was great. The scene was great. And the waiter was really good, which I don’t see very often. If you want a view of the sunset while eating on the deck with food that you will enjoy, this is a great time as the temp is not too hot — just right.

Good non greasy seafood w ith a virw of yhe lake. But you pay more becausr of thr view noy much but maybe $ 2 higher on average.

Don’t eat here! Stopped to treat out of town guest to Sunday brunch with a view. The view was nice but the food was a big disappointment. The poached eggs with crawfish étouffée was awful. Eggs were overcooked and no crawfish in étouffée. The shrimp and grits was literally floating in butter. No excuse for being crowded, we were first guest there before opening at 11. Pick another eatery.

Rips started as a single story hole in the wall known for having the coldest beer and freshest catch. It’s been rebuilt since Katrina and elevated with a large front porch and more upscale menu.
There’s a beautiful view of Lake Pontchartrain and the live oaks along the lakefront. The food is old school Louisiana… lots of cream sauce. Broiled and blackened fish and fresh shrimp.
I had the crab cake appetizer — solid. Lots of crab meat. For an entrée I had the blackened redfish topped with sautéed shrimp and a basil cream sauce. It’s not the most inventive menu I’ve ever seen, but everything I tried was good.
The wine list leaves a little to be desired… not a lot of options. I would come back again though for the view.

Bryan welcomed us when we arrived. He catered to our every need. Portions were generous and food was excellent
This is a place I will visit again

Traveled over to see family and decided to make a stop at Rip’s. Saturday night — so this time we called 45 minutes ahead to reserve or at least put our name on «the list». Was told by the time we arrived me might have a 5 to 10 minute wait. We walked in and was told it would be about 20 minutes. .. «we are really busy tonight». Ok — no worries. Walked over to the Bar and ordered a few drinks watched LSU on the tube for about 45 minutes — no table. Walked over and asked the hostess how long it would be. .. . about 15 — 20 more minutes.
Problem with this place on a busy weekend is nobody wants to leave — everyone is sitting at the tables after they eat getting hammered drunk. Tough place to get a table when they are busy — we couldn’t order because we couldn’t get a table. To the management — be realistic when you tell someone its going to be 15 — 20 minutes. Tell them the truth. .. . «It’s going to be about a day and a half before we can seat you». We wasted about and hour and a half in this place. Two stars for the one beer I had.

This is a charming stilt house facing Lake Pontchartrain. We were a party of six and had made a reservation. I recommend this, the dining room is pretty small. They do have a really nice porch where you can dine facing the beautiful view.
The food was true to Louisiana cuisine and everything was quite delicious, right down to the bread pudding. Portions were generous and the waiter was friendly and efficient. The menu has something for everyone, even burgers and po boys!
We’ll definitely be back :)

Best fried catfish and view in Mandeville. Did I mention the catfish oh and her home made tarter sauce is to die for.

Best friend green tomatoes in the NoLa area. The come on a bed of spring mix lettuce and are accented with a wonderful shrimp remoulade sauce. Always a great place to eat at sunset. Good service and a good menu. I give it a 5 star rating due to those tomatoes. I just cannot travel to the northshore without stopping in for them. Always perfect!!!

I was pleasantly surprised when a co-​worker suggested this place as he’s not known for restaurant knowledge. The atmosphere is great! There is a huge patio with a wonderful view of the lake. Now, the food is nothing that’s going to earn a Michelin star but the prices aren’t going to put your wallet in shock either. I had a soft shell crab lunch that included a house salad with their house feta vinigrette dressing (SOO GOOD), two small soft shell crabs topped with crabmeat, bacon soaked green beans and roasted red potatoes… all for $ 16. The breading on the crabs was perfectly light and seasoned. If you know where to place your expectations, I think this place will show you a great time!