McClain's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Mandeville

The pizza was good, crisp and fresh. I like the way you can see Lake Pontchartrain from the outdoor seating area. I felt the prices were high compared to other artisan pizza houses, with more atmosphere in this area. However, I probably would have still given a rating of 4 stars if it wasn’t for the lack of accessibility for handicapped individuals, senior citizens and anyone unable or unwilling to climb steep stairways or use a freight lift that has no cover from the rain and no buzzer to call to be lifted anyway. This lift is a steel cage with a raised lip that would be very hard to get a wheelchair over and the bottom is the same grating which would be hard to roll in and out without help. As I said, their is no bell or buzzer by the lift so even if you wanted to use it to be hauled up to the restaurant, which is entirely upstairs, you would have to have a phone, look up the restaurant’s phone number, call them, and ask someone to go outside and haul you up. The lift is not covered. If it is raining, you will get wet. It is right next to the dumpster, in the back in an underground space, that I researched and found that it used to be parking in the 1940s for this building. There are also no designated handicapped parking spaces nearby, unless you park across the street in the lot next to the Beach House Restaurant. There are no signs whatsoever directing the way to this lift. I only found out about it’s existence when I asked my waitress how a person in a wheelchair could dine at their restaurant and she replied “We don’t have a good system.” If a cover could be put on the lift, a ramp for entering it, the bottom surface made wheelchair friendly, signs directing people to the lift, and a phone or buzzer to ring for staff in the restaurant, then this restaurant would be ♿️ accessible . I would be able to...

Went to McClain's a little before 6 on Friday. Few people there. The upstairs was a little warm, but the sun was shining in. I Ordered a Combo with bacon, spinach and anchovies added. I ordered diet Dr. Pepper. The crust is thin enough. I like thin crust. Maybe could have been a little crisper, but with the toppings that might not have been possible. The pizza was very good, one of the best I have ever tasted. There was very little spinach for the nearly $3 up charge. The same for the anchovies and bacon. Good pizza, but the price is dear. After my glass ran dry my wife tried to catch the attention of the wait staff. She was also ready for a refill. Nothing to drink is the number one complaint of restaurant patrons. She did not want me to walk to the bar to get a refill. After her failed attempt to get the attention of the waitress, she let me go. She could not overcome the noisy staff bull session at the bar. We were in the corner. I was about 2/3 of the way to the bar when the wait staff woke up and came and got my glass from my hand for a refill. The black plastic drink cups hide the drink level, so the staff would have to ask about a drink refill. Guess we did not rate that question. The soft drink selection was weak. My wife and I both like Coke Zero. They did not have that. The pizza was delivered in a decent amount of time, but there were very few patrons. Service should have been great. Great pizza, but not a good value. Mediocre service. Good pizza is hard to find, but good service is...

There's no doubt that the pizza here is good. The crust is chewy and crispy and the toppings and combinations are fun and inventive. The location near the lake makes it lovely and potentially relaxing except for... The service. It is not good. At all. I was horrified to see a waitress roll her eyes at patrons behind their backs. She also complained loudly and bitterly about a different table. No Bueno. The prices are also ridiculous. Two large pizzas and a couple of iced teas ran us 70 bucks with tip. So, I won't be returning unless the management provides extensive training for the staff and lowers the prices.

Update: 1-3-21 The service is still awful and now they make the pizza crust so thin that it can't support the toppings. The crust was super soggy and tasteless. Also, this is the only restaurant I've ever visited south of the Mason Dixon line that only serves iced tea in bottles. Three dollar bottles. Only about half of their staff was wearing masks, too. The gorgeous view isn't worth it....