From beet burgers to po-boys, this plant-based eatery is a downtown Biloxi favorite
Lauren Turner Christy has been “makin’ groceries” for years.
The popular New Orleans term simply means buying groceries, and Lauren has a knack at getting high-quality ingredients and turning them into healthy, delicious meals for guests.
Lauren turned her passion into a business and recently opened Makin’ Groceries, a plant-based restaurant that has quickly become a local favorite in downtown Biloxi.
Lauren has been catering and cooking at public events for a while, and the Mississippi Coast’s foodie community is glad to welcome her back into the restaurant world.
The place was packed on my recent visit, a sure sign that she is getting it right.
From teacher to chef
Lauren’s first career was as a teacher, but she decided it was time for a change in 2019. A trip to visit friends in Austin opened her eyes to vegan food that was actually good. All too often, food that focuses on being meat free sacrifices flavor for health. But it doesn’t have to be. Lauren discovered that you can trade ground meat for lentils, and chicken for chick peas. There was no looking back.
Makin’ Groceries is located on Howard Avenue, just across the street from the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s a great location with plenty of parking options.
It’s a cozy little place, too, with pale green walls, a high ceiling and black tables and chairs. You can always expect flowers on each table and local art on the walls. It’s a nice touch. To make things even better, there is a wine and cheese shop opening next door.
It really is amazing how Howard Avenue has been transformed after so many years of being almost empty. New shops, restaurants, bars and apartments are bringing new life to what was once the center of old Biloxi.
Menu includes breakfast, lunch dining
The menu for Makin’ Groceries is on a large chalk board and offers options for breakfast and lunch. Expect a good selection of tacos, wraps, burgers and dips, all as healthy as can be. Best sellers include the Thai quinoa salad, a delicious oyster mushroom po-boy and a beet burger seasoned with tarragon and fennel. This is not a typical menu in any way.
For breakfast, you can choose from some pretty cool tacos, like the tofu or egg scramble, homemade muffins (during my visit it was spicy apple muffins), a breakfast burrito and hummus and veggies on toast. On the day of my visit, lunch was BBQ jackfruit tacos, oyster mushrooms on focaccia bread and a “chicken” salad or wrap.
If you have never found healthy food that was really delicious, you should give Makin’ Groceries a try. My bet is that you are going to love it.