15 new restaurants will open soon on the MS Coast, including return of Chef Scott’s sushi
Several new restaurants debuted this summer and more will open in the fall across South Mississippi.
The long-awaited Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in D’Iberville, a restaurant chain owned in part by former New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees, and Mangiamo Italian Restaurant in Gulfport are hiring. The first Slim Chickens restaurant on the Coast is still on track to open soon in Biloxi.
Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi has a new Daiquiri Bar at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and a complete makeover of Under the Oak restaurant at Scarlet Pearl Casino soon will get its big reveal.
Some restaurants that were closed are reopening. In Ocean Springs, Buzzy’s Breakfast Downtown is back and Chef Scott, who closed Spoonwater Sushi Ultra lounge last August when his son became seriously ill, is renovating a spot for a take-out restaurant.
Instead of issues with COVID, restaurant owners now have to contend with supply chain issues that they say are delaying construction of new restaurants. They are waiting on furniture, electrical equipment and other materials as they prepare to open.
Here’s what’s happening on the Coast restaurant scene:
New restaurants or coming soon
▪ Chef Scott Express will be the new name of Chef Scott Scott Khong’s new Ocean Springs sushi restaurant. He posted on Facebook that his son’s health has improved and he is ready to get back to making sushi. He is remodeling a storefront on Thorn St. in Ocean Springs, near Mosaic church. The new location will be take-out and will bring back his sushi rolls and other favorites. “Miss ‘n love y’all,” he said to his loyal customers. “I am back.”
▪ Firehouse Subs will soon have an Ocean Springs location at 1531 Bienville Blvd., in the same shopping plaza as Winn-Dixie. The large space that has been empty since a video store went out of business at the location is being remodeled for the new sandwich shop. This is the fourth Firehouse Subs restaurant for Justin Green, who owns and operates three other locations in Biloxi, Gulfport and Hattiesburg. A portion of every sale goes to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has donated more than $142,000 to first responders in South Mississippi.
▪ Buzzy’s Breakfast Downtown has reopened at 1019 Desoto St. in downtown Ocean Springs, tucked away yet close to Washington and Government streets. The breakfast and brunch restaurant features breakfast tacos, omelets, biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwiches and combo breakfast meals.
▪ Mangiamo Italian Restaurant is opening soon at 1423 Magnolia St., Gulfport, which is at the corner of Cowan Road and Magnolia Street. The restaurant is hiring.
▪ Slim Chickens is in the final stages of construction at the corner of Cedar Lake and Popp’s Ferry roads in Biloxi. The $1.6 million restaurant will have seating indoors and outdoor patio seating, a drive-thru and curbside pick-up and is known for its chicken tenders, wings, salads and sandwiches.
▪ Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opens soon at 11181 Mandal Parkway in D’Iberville. Brees is a partner in the Walk-On’s restaurant brand and the Coast restaurant will provide Louisiana cuisine served amid a sports theme.
▪ Under the Oak restaurant at Scarlet Pearl Casino in D’Iberville is getting a total refresh. The restaurant moved to the former buffet area while crews transformed the restaurant with all new finishes.
▪ Daiquiri Bar opened just in time for the hot summer weather at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi. Customers can sip one of the tropical drinks in the air conditioned restaurant or out on the deck with its view of the tropical pool.
▪ Jersey Mike’s sandwich shop opened this summer at The Promenade in D’Iberville and another will be coming to U.S. 49 at the Crossroads in Gulfport.
▪ Pier 15 restaurant and entertainment venue on the Biloxi River in Woolmarket will be opening soon. The place has a new pier and dock for those who want to arrive by boat and will have a roll-up door to bring in the breeze and views.
▪ Trinity Cafe by Jonathan at 386 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi is inside the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Among the daily lunch choices are creole-cajun specialties to eat in the cafe or on the patio with a view of the beach.
▪ Jimmy John’s sandwich shop has reopened at 2348 Pass Road in Biloxi at the intersection of Beauvoir Road.
▪ Crazy Sisters Catfish Cabin has a new, larger location in the log cabin at 11996 Mississippi 57 in Vancleave, after moving from Ball Park Road. The restaurant is open Friday through Sunday.
▪ Burger Barn, also on Mississippi 57 in Vancleave, is getting new owners and a new name.
▪ At 902 Howard Avenue in Biloxi, the former Josette’s costume shop has been converted to downtown apartments, and owner Jourdan Nicaud said most are already leased. Next door, crews are completing a building that is intended to be a restaurant. Nicaud said he is still deciding what will fill that space, which is directly across from MGM Park.
Recently opened restaurants
See-Wee-Roll, an all-you-can-eat style Japanese restaurant at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi
Radish, a modern gourmet restaurant in downtown Long Beach
Cosmos breakfast and lunch restaurant in downtown Bay St. Louis
Sno Biz of Biloxi at 4020 Popp’s Ferry Road, behind the Texaco in D’Iberville.
Restaurant news
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar at 1335 East Pass Road, Gulfport, has applied for a liquor license.
The Wendy’s restaurant on Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs has closed.
Plans for an Olive Garden on U.S. 49 in Gulfport were suspended during the COVID pandemic.
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 12:00 AM.
