Here are 25 restaurants that are new, improved or coming soon to the Mississippi Coast
New restaurants are opening across South Mississippi and owners of existing restaurants are making improvements and expanding their dining rooms and menus as people are eager to go out to eat again on the Coast.
Here’s a list of what’s new and some of the changes:
New restaurants on the Coast
Nae Nae’s Memphis Style BBQ is new at 2203 Mitchel Lane, Waveland. Get a plate, sandwich and side of barbecue and fixings, or take home one of their specialty smoked meats.
Cornerstone Restaurant, 332 U.S. 90, Gautier, is “home of the greater tater,” with lots of toppings, and also has steaks, seafood and po-boys.
The Lady May on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs is new and already a hit, as diners choose to sit in the air-conditioned dining room or outside in the tucked-away courtyard. The menu has surprises, like Mango Sriracha salad, white BBQ chicken sandwich and the brunch board with Belgian waffles and their own scratch-made pepper jelly. The bloody Mary and mimosa bar is open Friday through Sunday.
Martini’s Biloxi is open on Howard Avenue, just north of MGM Park in downtown Biloxi. The lounge features a menu of specialty martinis, wine, Champagne and other beverages. They also have food — tapas, small bites, gumbo, salad and desserts, along with brunch on Saturday and Sunday and entertainment in the courtyard.
Court St. Cafe had its grand opening June 29 at 107 Court St. in Bay St. Louis. The international menu puts an American, Korean, Mexican and Caribbean slider on the menu, along with an Italian, Asian, veggie and Buffalo flatbread sandwich, tacos and quesadillas. Finish with a slice of cakes or pie. The cafe is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
Fantasy Donut, 1734 Pass Road, Biloxi. Try one of their strawberry cake donuts or the new pig in the blanket hot dog on a sweet roll. Open until noon.
Bo’s Snow Zone & Snacks, 649 Division St., Biloxi, has Georgia Peach, cream soda, amaretto and build-you-own snow cones and so much more. Blueberry cheesecake crunch ice cream with cake bites is one of the enticing choices.
Long Beach Fresh Produce & BBQ opened in November. Their barbecue is slow-roasted 16 hours over hickory,and the sides are made from scratch. They also have fresh produce and oven-ready to-go meals. It’s on Pineville Road in Long Beach.
Restaurants coming to the Coast
Krispy Krunchy Chicken was founded in Lafayette, Louisiana, and now has over 2,600 locations across 47 states in the U.S., often convenience stores and gas stations. KKC and its Cajun fried chicken, wings and seafood will be inside a 1st Place Fuel station that will be built at the corner of Mississippi 57 and Poticaw Bayou Road in Vancleave.
Ward’s Restaurant also is coming to Vancleave, on Mississippi 57. Ward’s is known for it root beer made on site and served in frozen mug. The menu also has chicken breakfast wrap, spicy chicken, chili dogs, taco salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp and fish baskets, fruit smoothies and sundaes.
I Heart Mac & Cheese, a chain restaurant with build your own macaroni and cheese bowls, is coming to the Coast. The address where the first franchise will go is 2093 East Pass Road, Gulfport, which is between Cowan and DeBuys roads.
Marina Cantina 2 is coming to the former location of McElroy’s on the Bayou on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs later this year. It will have a 6,000-square-foot deck overlooking the water and the same type of fresh menu as the original location in Gulfport, featuring Southwest and Central American-inspired flavors combined with Southern comfort food.
Slim Chickens is opening its first location in South Mississippi at the corner of Cedar Lake and Popp’s Ferry roads in Biloxi. The franchise is known for its chicken tenders, sandwiches, wraps, wings and salads.
Murky Waters BBQ is opening a fourth location, this one at Old Town in Bay St. Louis at the former site of Lulu’s.
Sully’s steak and seafood restaurant and tavern is coming to downtown Gulfport, possibly by late August. Other locations are in Hattiesburg and Petal.
Updated and changed locations
Lancaster’s moved to 1409 Bienville Blvd. in Ocean Springs, beside Wendy’s. They added breakfast to the menu that also sports favorite comfort foods like homemade chicken pot pies and meatloaf.
Java Jo’z Coffee & More on Bienville Boulevard closed in mid-June. The new building is going up in the same location near Mosaic church, and the coffee drive-thru is scheduled to reopen within 30-45 days.
Starfish Cafe moved from Old Town Bay St. Louis to 10408 Mississippi 603 so they could expand. The community helped paint the murals and get the new place open.
Black Clover Lounge is open again at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, and the only smoking allowed comes from the drinks. They also have shareable appetizers, sliders and wings, and are open Tuesday through Sunday.
Steak N’ Shake at Harrah’s Gulf Coast is back open 24 hours, seven days a week again.
These restaurants came back better
Chick-fil-A at The Promenade in D’Iberville got a complete makeover.
Slap Ya Momma’s Smokehouse & BBQ is open again on the beach in Biloxi after repairs from Hurricane Zeta are complete.
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant also was damaged by the storm and is open again on Biloxi’s Restaurant Row.
Farruggio’s pizza restaurant debuted at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi this spring when the resort reopened after Hurricane Zeta.
Georgia’s Corner Market on Mississippi 57 in Vancleave now is open for dinner Thursday and Friday nights
Applied for license to serve alcohol
- Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 1601 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
- Bad Habitz Wine and Liquor, 24329 Mississippi 53, Saucier
- CB’s Jamaican Jerk & BBQ, 124 Lameuse St., Biloxi
- Charred: A Steak & Oyster Bar, 1019 Government St., Ocean Springs
- El Garcia, 17920 16th St., Gulfport
- The Epitome, 2600 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, which is adding a cigar and whiskey tasting area
- Fat & Happy Oyster House, 1711 Market St., Pascagoula
- Gulf Hills Hotel, 13701 Paso Road, Ocean Springs, has new owners with big plans
- JD’s, 10311-D Boney Ave., D’Iberville
- Korkd Liquors, 2079 Pass Road, Gulfport
- La Fiesta Brava, 3223 Denny Ave., Pascagoula
- La Vita Bella Italian Ristorante, 229 Klondyke Road, Long Beach
- The Liquor Barrel, 1085 E Frontage drive, Wiggins
- Pop Brothers LLC, 13247 Seaway Road, Gulfport, which is adding popsicles with a little kick
- Ruby Tuesday, D’Iberville and Moss Point
- Ship Island Excursions, 1040 23rd Ave., Gulfport
- Summerlin Entertainment, 1612 Polk Ave., Pascagoula
- Surf & Turf Restaurant, 1910 Martin St., Pascagoula
- Wagwan Jamaican Bistro, 711 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs
This story was originally published July 6, 2021 at 5:50 AM.
