New BBQ restaurant opens in Kiln, adding to growing food scene in Hancock County
A new barbecue restaurant with a unique menu is opening Thursday evening in Kiln.
Hancock County residents have been following the progress of The Thumpkeg closely. The restaurant’s Facebook page has over 2,000 likes, even before the doors open to the public.
The owners have been providing near daily updates to the community on social media, including photos of the renovation of the space. The bar will have wood accents and modern lighting. New tables were ordered, and the walls are a cool blue color, photos show.
The restaurant boasts barbecue and cold beer, and the menu has classic staples and modern twists.
Diners can enjoy a potato keg appetizer stuffed with buffalo chicken or loaded style with bacon, cheese and chives. The menu also has street tacos, sandwiches, mac and cheese stack and loaded fries and nachos.
The restaurant will also offer meat plates that come with two sides and cornbread and a variety of other appetizers and desserts.
The Thumpkeg suggests making reservations for the first few days. The restaurant is located on Mississippi 603 in the shopping plaza near the Hancock Bank building and the United States Post Office. It’s in the same strip as The Donut Shop, recently voted as one of the best places for coffee on the Mississippi Coast.
The restaurant joins a list of new eateries that are making up a growing food scene in Hancock County. Kiln is known for Southern and seafood stables, including Dempsey’s, Jourdan River Steamer and MacBe’s. There are dozens of new restaurants opening in the three counties across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Restaurant foot traffic in Kiln has grown dramatically this year compared to 2020 in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic was 46% over average in October, data shows.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 12:44 PM.
