This tiny restaurant at Pass Christian harbor has MS Coast’s best burger and a new owner
Kyle Thomas has worked at Sea Level in Pass Christian since high school, and on Friday he fulfilled his dream of owning the snack shack in the West Pass Harbor.
After being closed a few days for the transfer of ownership, he reopened Sea Level Wednesday and promised the city and his customers their “hidden gem will remain the exact same as it always has been.”
Thomas was raised and Pass Christian and said, “I want this spot to remain the best on the Coast.”
Former owners Thomas and Dana Barrett posted on Facebook they sold Sea Level ro Thomas. They’ve been in the restaurant business for 40 years — 30 years on the Coast.
“We have been approached many times to sell but we have a crew member Kyle (Thomas) who has been with us for six years and always said owning Sea Level was his dream,” they said.
“He is a hometown (Pass Christian High School) graduate who loves Sea Level and The Pass and promises to keep things the same and continue to help the wildlife in need,” the Barretts said.
“We will hand the keys to Kyle today. He will need to close briefly to transfer ownership.” they said.
Thomas worked his way up to manager and head chef at the restaurant, which this year was voted by Sun Herald readers to have the best hamburger on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It has two patties, is layered with American cheese and a Monterrey-jack cheese sauce and is served on a brioche bun.
With a burger, hot dogs, mahi mahi or shrimp taco in hand, customers can eat with a view and play cornhole when they’re done.
“We are a beach cottage where you can dine at a picnic table under an umbrella. Catch a beautiful sunset, watch dolphins play and relax by the palms enjoying a Gulf breeze,” their website says.
Also on the menu are hand cut fries, fresh squeezed lemonade, craft beers and 45 flavors of snowballs.
While the Barrett’s are selling Sea Level, they’ll still be in the restaurant business on the Coast by helping at Coffee Culture on U.S. 90, one of the coffee shops managed by their daughter and niece.
They thanked their crew, the city, the high school and the harbor and charter boat folks in Pass Christian.
“Our customers are the absolute best. People who like to chill with wildlife by the water are our kind of people,” they said.
This story was originally published July 21, 2023 at 11:49 AM.
