This new downtown Gulfport restaurant has jazz brunch, a cigar bar and a creative menu
Downtown Gulfport has a new bistro, and it’s a much-welcomed addition.
If you are looking for a comfortable and laid back place for a great lunch or drinks in the evening, Downtown Bistro is it. You are going to love the prohibition vibe with jazzy, speakeasy feel. Make sure to check out the antique player piano and old movie star photos on the walls. There are also couches and comfortable chairs that arranged around tables, making the space the perfect setting to get together with friends.
Located just behind Half Shell Oyster House, the Downtown Bistro has a great selection of cigars for sale, and tables out front if you wish to try one. To go with that fine cigar, there is a great selection of bourbons and scotch and a full bar with a great menu of specialty cocktails. You will also enjoy the Sunday jazz brunch, specialty flights of paired cigars and bourbon and Saturday night live entertainment.
The menu is an interesting combination of Cajun New Orleans cuisine with an awful lot of creativity. I just loved the bacon, blackberry jam grilled cheese with homemade chips. I am not sure I have not seen a more creative sandwich in years, and it was delicious. The duck bites on the small plate menu is another one of the best sellers. They are red wine marinated buck breast with cream cheese, jalapenos, and cheddar wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, fried crispy and drizzled with a hot sauce glaze. You also might want to try the warm brie and the boudin and pepper jack egg rolls.
There are four large plates to choose from as well: Cuban tacos (pork, shrimp or chicken), a killer good Cuban sandwich, Cajun smoked sausage sliders and the blackberry grilled cheese I mentioned before. There are also a few salads, an avocado chicken club wrap, a shrimp wrap and a charcuterie board.
There are only three desserts on the menu, but they are delicious, I don’t think there could be a better selection. I loved the fried sweet plantains with bourbon Foster sauce, a dish I don’t believe I have seen anywhere else. There is also a limoncello mascarpone cake and a chocolate mousse cake.
It’s hard to think of a better fit for Gulfport’s growing old downtown that the Downtown Bistro. It is thoughtful designed, offers an exciting menu and is the perfect place for a quick lunch on a busy day, and a very cool place to hang out during the evenings. I think you are going to like everything about this place.
If you go
Address: 1307 25th Ave, Gulfport
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
Phone: 228-284-4531
