This waterfront bar is a Bay St. Louis staple. The new restaurant inside is a hidden gem.
Buoy’s Bar in Bay St Louis is a beach side standard in Old Town.
But there’s a new addition inside the popular nightlife spot. Beachside at Buoy’s is burger spot you do not want to miss.
Chef and co-owner Joseph Castoro has been in fine dining for 20 years, but he finally decided to go solo and make the food he always wanted to make. Beachside has a stunning view of the Bay, a deck that offers both covered seating and tables with umbrella — and an upstairs deck, too — plus inside dining. It is panted a striking orange and blue and I just love the cool and funky vibe.
And with some of the best burgers and po-boys I’ve had in a long time, and this just may be my new go-to Bay St. Louis hangout.
I found Beachside at Buoy’s from the restaurant’s Facebook post featuring their meatloaf po-boy. I’ve eaten a ton of po-boys and also love a good homemade meatloaf, so to combine the two just seemed like the po-boy that has been missing in my life. Diane Stevenson and I made the trip a few Sundays ago.
I ordered the meatloaf po-boy, which was every bit as good as I had hoped, and Diane got a chili cheeseburger, potato salad and gumbo. She immediately described her entree an “elite old-style burger,” and it was stunningly good, but so was everything else. The chili was just right, and I have not had better potato salad.
We talked to co-owner Michelle Beauregard, and she told us that everything was made from scratch. The burger is a one-third pound handmade patty, then chargrilled to perfection.
The gumbo was from Joseph’s family in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, and to tell you the truth, I usually avoid restaurant made gumbo, but this one was good, and had all the attributes a good homemade gumbo should. It was one of the best meals I have had in ages.
The menu is on a chalkboard by the window that looks into the small kitchen and where you place your order. There is not table service here, but the service was quick and your meal will be ready for pickup in about fifteen minutes. The menu is small, which I always like. It means the chef knows what he is good at and that’s all that is being served. You will find a few burgers, a po-boy, gumbo, chili, chicken wings and a wrap. The menu changes often.
Diana and I visited on a beautiful fall day, and both declared Beachside at Buoys to be at the top of our beachside joints list. It was cool, funky, had a wonderful view and great views.
If you go
Beachside at Buoy’s
Address: 115 South Beach Boulevard, Bay St Louis
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday
Phone: 228-344-3114
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 5:50 AM.