This Bay St. Louis oyster bar and grill offers a shady patio and delicious seafood

Bay St Louis is busting at the seams.

Even during the middle of the week, if you visit Old Town, you are going to have a hard time finding a parking place.

After Hurricane Katrina, it seemed like Bay St Louis had been dealt a fatal blow, and redevelopment was slow. But know there are dozens of shops and restaurants, and more are on the way.

One of the most interesting is Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar and Grill.

Melvin Barnes, or Cuz to regulars, has been in the business for years, and is a tough old pro, but if you sit and talk with him for even a short time, you can tell it is a business that he loves and excels at. The menu is reduced, as many restaurants have done, but as business continues to improve, the menu will expand.

As you might recall, I love to make a meal out of small plates, and this is a perfect menu for a handful of plates to be shared with friends.

The Swamp fries are amazing, fries covered in Ranch dressing, hot sauce and cheese, and the Sloppy Fries are just as good, with roast beef and cheese.

Crab cakes are always a good choice, and classic gumbo, bisque and red beans are popular. Sharing plates with friends makes for a more sociable meal, and for foodies it offers a chance to show off their palate too.

My friend, Mimsie Ladner and I tried a shrimp po-boy, it is always the most popular choice on the menu. Cuz came and sat at our table for a while and talked about the bestsellers.

He said, “Visitors that don’t live on the Coast are sometime are not so sure about crab and oysters, but everyone loves shrimp. The shrimp po-boy and platter are hands down the bestsellers.

We also tried the blackened redfish, with rice, a lovely cream sauce with crab and it was delicious. Just a bit spicy, just the way it should be served. The cream sauce was spot on, and the fish cooked just right.

We sat on the shaded patio, and even though the day was warm, we were comfortable with a slight sea breeze. Oak trees shaded the patio, and the tables had umbrellas.

I just can’t think of a better spot to while away a summer’s day or evening. We were content with iced tea with a slice of lemon, but other guests said the margaritas were the best in town.

The service was friendly, the atmosphere comfortable and the food delicious. Look for parking west of Cuz’s, you may have to park several blocks away, but it is certainly worth the walk.

Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar and Grill

Where: 108 South Beach Blvd, Bay St. Louis

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Call: 228-467-3707