More than 25 new restaurants are opening on the MS Gulf Coast. Here’s the list
South Mississippi residents love to sample a new restaurant soon after they open, and there are well over two dozen open or on the way to cities across the Coast.
Lost Springs Brewing Co. is under construction and will open soon at 700 Bellande Ave., off Government Street in Ocean Springs.
“We are in a prime location,” said Nolan Keith, one of the owners. The bar, with a trendy live edge, is already installed inside the building and the whole porch will provide seating to sample their beers.
While they won’t make their own food, he said, they plan to offer eats from favorite neighboring restaurants like Mosaic and Lady May.
Other Coast restaurants are getting additional locations.
Shrimp Basket originated in Gulf Shores, Alabama in 1993 and has one restaurant on U.S. 49 in Gulfport. For those who think that is too far to drive, a second location is being readied in the former Mellow Mushroom on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs.
The Olive Garden on the beach was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Another since opened at The Promenade in D’Iberville and now the former O’Charley’s will become an Olive Garden at 10510 U.S. 49 in Gulfport.
Here is the menu of other restaurants and bars newly opened or coming soon across South Mississippi.
New restaurants and bars
Starfish Cafe has reopened at 10408 Mississippi 63, Bay St. Louis. “We serve up job training and healthy food with wide smiles and open hearts,” their Facebook site says. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Layla’s Coffeehouse & Eatery — 2079 E. Pass Road, Gulfport. Stop by for a latte or specialty coffee in the morning along with a frittata, scone, muffin or other breakfast specialty. For lunch they make muffalettas, Cuban and other sandwiches and salads, and the restaurant is open until 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday to get take out or order dinner delivered.
Boho Biloxi Social House Wine & Cheese Shop, 871 Howard Ave., Biloxi, will be a social area to sample wine, cheese, lite bites charcuterie boards for tasting on site or for catered affairs.
Makin’ Groceries is opening right next door to Boho Biloxi. It has formerly operated at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum and offers healthy, plant-based, whole food family meals.
Rib Crib on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs opened just as Cruisin’ The Coast rolled into town and it continues to draw crowds for a taste of ribs, smoked turkey, sausage and other meats with two sides. Bar and children’s menu available.
Spoonwater Sushi Ultra Lounge, 1019 Government St. in Ocean Springs is open with a big list of appetizers and house rolls. They also have hibachi — chicken, shrimp, salmon, steak or a combo.
The Deck at 107 West Scenic Drive in Pass Christian is newly opened and offering sunset views over the beach, a taco and sandwich bar and draft beer and daiquiris.
Fireside Bar & Nightlife, 1913 Pass Road, Biloxi, has jerk wings, burgers nachos, club sandwiches, salad and Bang Bang shrimp, along with DJ music and dancing.
Opening at new locations
Sully’s Gulfport is close to opening in downtown Gulfport at the former site of Café Climb. The steak and seafood restaurant is based in Hattiesburg and is known for its live acoustic music and its menu of burgers, wraps and salads.
Woody’s Roadside Gulfport is opening this year on Cowan Road. Other locations are in Ocean Springs and Biloxi.
Firehouse Subs is preparing to open a new location at 1531 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs, by Winn-Dixie.
Marble Slab Creamery has a new location on the Coast at 3516 Sangani Blvd., and it shares the shop with Great American Cookies.
Great American Cookies also just opened with Marble Slab Creamery at 15236 Crossroads Parkway in Gulfport.
I Heart Mac & Cheese, a chain restaurant with build your own macaroni and cheese bowls, is under construction at 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. A 6,000-square-foot deck overlooking the water is under construction. The menu, like the original in Gulfport, will feature Southwest and Central American-inspired flavors combined with Southern comfort food.
Salad Station Gulfport opened during the summer at 15268 Crossroads Parkway in Gulfport, and the second Coast location broke the company’s sales record during its first week in business. The franchise, owned by Coast native Greg Hagin, features a salad bar with more than 100 toppings, plus a hot bar and soup.
Eat, Drink, Love is moving from Porter Avenue to a new location next to Marina Cantina, with a deck overlooking the water.
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.
Boozers & Brew plans a second location at Tegarden and Pass Road in Gulfport. The original is near Mississippi Aquarium in downtown.
Ground Zero Blues Club is coming to 814 Howard Ave. at The District on Howard. Work is expected to begin soon to transform the former Kress Building into a Biloxi version of actor Morgan Freeman’s original Ground Zero in Clarksdale.
Rizutto’s Italian restaurant is one of the favorite fine dining restaurants in New Orleans, and within the next year, the owners plan to open another location at the Redding House mansion in downtown Biloxi.
Ward’s Restaurant is under construction on Mississippi 57 in Vancleave. The franchise is known for it root beer made on site and served in frozen mug, along with spicy chicken, chili dogs, taco salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp and fish baskets and fruit smoothies.
Murky Waters is a favorite in Ocean Springs and other Coast cities and the owners announced on social media they are preparing their first “from the ground-up project.” They plan to build a new home for Murky Waters on the lot they own next to Craft Advisory on Government Street. They are developing a new concept, coming late next year, for the current location.
Applied for license to serve alcohol
▪ La Vita Bells Italian Ristorante, 229 Klondyke Road, Long Beach. Bar is now open.
▪ Salty Peach Bar, 1311 Government St., Ocean Springs is open.
▪ The Pit Stop Bar, 18009 Tillman Road, Long Beach
▪ On a Roll Sushi, 206 Jeff Davis Ave., Long Beach
▪ Sugar Shack Sports Bar, 3731 Main St., Moss Point
▪ Italian Bistro, now under construction at 641 Delmas Ave. in downtown Pascagoula
▪ Wilde’s Tavern, 7724 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
▪ Holders Restaurant, 617 28th St., Gulfport
▪ Yul’s Place, 530 Causeway Drive, Biloxi
▪ Fleur De Lis Bar and Grill, 809 Ingalls Ave., Pascagoula
▪ Juan’s Taco and Beer, 1737 Pass Road, Biloxi
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 12:00 PM.
