A Coast coffee shop has a famous burger. But there’s something even better on the menu.
There is no place on Earth quite like the Mockingbird Café in Old Town Bay St. Louis.
I’m a Bay St. Louis native who grew up in Kiln, and discovered what locals call “The Bird” when I moved back home in 2012 after college in Hattiesburg.
The door creaks when you open it, and the white walls and historic wood floors just make you feel like home. There’s art for sale on the walls from local artists, and there’s a case of homemade muffins, cookies and sweet and savory scones to tempt you before you even pick up the menu.
I am a regular at the Mockingbird and am a big fan of their iced latte with sugar-free vanilla syrup. They make all of their flavorings in house, and you can taste the difference.
The coffees, teas and mimosa flights draw customers in, but it’s the food that keeps them coming back. They serve breakfast and lunch and recently expanded their outdoor seating with one area of larger picnic-style tables and an outdoor covered bar with tall chairs and outlets for laptops and phones.
Local favorites include the curry chicken salad, the hash browns with Indian spices, chicken and waffles and the Second Street Sandwich, which come with bacon or a house-made sausage patty, egg and cheese on brioche bun with maple butter.
The Mockingbird is most famous for their Mockingburger, which also comes as a veggie burger. It’s meaty, juicy and served on a jalapeno cheddar bun.
I’ve tried just about everything on the menu, and while the burger is something I regularly eat for lunch (I like to get it with a side of fresh fruit), my favorite thing to order — without a doubt — is the biscuits and gravy.
It’s not like your mama’s and I wouldn’t describe it as “country” style. The biscuits are served open faced and are grilled crispy with a soft, buttery center. The gravy is what makes this different. It’s homemade, thick and packed with seasonings. It just feels like Sunday brunch in New Orleans every time I take a bite. I often find white gravy to still taste like flower or be overpowered by sausage. But at the bird, the combination is just right.
The next time you take a trip to the Bay, get a biscuits and gravy appetizer with your breakfast or brunch. And if the line is long, wait. You won’t be disappointed.
If you go to the Mockingbird Café
Address: 110 South Second Street, Bay St. Louis
Phone: (228) 467-8383
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
Menu: https://www.mockingbirdcafe.com/eat-drink
