The smoked burger is all the rage at this new Coast restaurant on the Biloxi River

Yul Grace says he has been in the restaurant business “off and on all my life,” and if you get a chance to see him work the crowd at his new restaurant, Yul’s Place, you will believe it.

He is the type of man that never met a stranger and is genuinely glad to greet all his guests, which he does with some enthusiasm. I’d say Yul Grace has found his calling.

Yul’s Place hasn’t been open long, but the community has embraced the idea of a good restaurant and bar on Causeway Drive. It is literally at the end of the road, but that puts it almost underneath the Popps Ferry bridge, right on the Biloxi River and Big Lake, with one of the best views of any place on the Coast.

There is a great deck, if you want to sit outside, and tables by the river, which are festooned with umbrellas in the daytime and tiki torches at night. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for a cold beer, a great burger and some of the best BBQ on the Coast.

Chances are that when you pull up, Yul is going to be working the smoker. When I stopped by, he had ribs on, and they looked and smelled wonderful.

Perhaps the main attraction is the smoked burger. Folks are raving about them, many saying it is the best burger they have had in ages.

Yul uses his own seasoning mix, hand-forms the patties and smokes them over a hardwood fire. He also offers a great smoked sausage, using a brand I recently found called Country Pleasing. It is simply the best I have found, and is made in Mississippi.

Yul has been a boil master for years, and people are always excited about his shrimp and crabs. Again, many people are saying on social media that they are the best around.

There is also a catfish platter that is causing a stir, and although the menu is small, I think almost everything that is offered here is first-rate.

Yul said, “There lots of things going on here,” and although there seems to be something new on the menu almost every week, like the Cajun boudin he is adding soon, there are other things afoot too.

A new boat pier is coming soon, so you will be able to get to this hot spot by boat or jet ski. The walkway damaged in the recent tropical storm will be repaired. Yul also has a food trailer, so he can take his special brand of deliciousness to events and do catering as well.

It is always exciting to introduce a new restaurant to the Coast, but I have known Yul for quite a few years and know the passion he has for getting food, and hospitality right.

Yul’s Place is just a mile or two off the beaten path, but when a place has food this good, in a setting this beautiful, it got to be on your bucket list.

Yul’s Place

Where: 530 Causeway Dr., Biloxi

When: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday

Call: 228-999-4453

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 1:41 PM.