Meet the California chef who came back home to bring beachfront Tex Mex to Biloxi
Something new and spicy is coming to the Biloxi Strip.
Matteo’s Tex Mex & Margaritas opens Thursday in the beachfront restaurant space that was once a Hooters location and Wentzel’s Seafood.
The restaurant, pronounced “Ma-tay-oh’s,” is Spanish for Matthew. At 1906 Beach Blvd., Mateo’s is just east of Treasure Bay Casino and will be open daily for lunch and dinner, said co-owner Matthew Wooldridge.
Where other Tex Mex restaurants on the Coast haven’t always found success, Wooldridge said he has the ingredients and talent that can make the new restaurant with a lime green roof a hit.
“We’re just looking to fill a niche here,” Wooldrige said.
He spent the last 5 years in California, where he attended culinary school and was classically trained in French cuisine. He then worked at a restaurant in Malibu before returning to the Coast.
“It was time for a little change,” he said, after missing every holiday with his family.
Wooldridge came back home and opened Mateo’s with his brother, Brandon. The Wooldridges operate Big Play Entertainment Center and South Beach Biloxi Hotel on the Biloxi Strip.
Now they’ve got a large space with views out to the water, and he said they plan to use fresh produce, seasonal ingredients and make most everything from scratch.
The menu is one third each — classic Mexican dishes, Tex Mex and his specialty dishes with coastal flair that begin with traditional Mexican spices and bring in a fusion of Korean, Chinese and other flavors he began cooking with in California.
“We’re kind of doing a little melting pot of flavor here,” he said.
They’ll have tacos made with ground beef or chicken or steak for those who like traditional, he said, along with special new tastes for those who want to try something different.
Fresh ingredients also will kick up the Margaritas and craft cocktails served with meals and at the U-shaped bar, Wooldridge said. The purees and mixes will be made in-house with watermelon, strawberry, mango and pineapple and other ingredients, and tequilas and vodka will be infused with jalapeno, cilantro and other tastes.
The inside of the restaurant features burnt wood, raw beams and pops of color. There’s also a game room with vintage arcade games including PacMan, Super Mario and Ninja Turtles.
