Fans of seafood & comfort food find two favorite Coast restaurants have closed their doors
Two popular restaurants in South Mississippi are closed and one may relocate to neighboring Biloxi.
Taranto’s Seafood Co. at the Fayard Marathon Station on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs is empty. The signs advertising the lobster, crabs and other seafood served there are gone.
The last Facebook posts in January indicated “Mr. Pat” would be away from the steamer pot for awhile.
The company told the Sun Herald the closing is due to Patrick Taranto’s “health issues” after 30 years of boiling crawfish and seafood and opening the first Taranto’s restaurant in Ocean Springs.” The closing will allow him to take a break.
“We will have to see what his next move is,” the company said.
Another January post said they would have shrimp, but no crawfish. “I can’t sell them at $13 a pound,” the post said, referring to the high cost this year.
Also closed is I Heart Mac & Cheese, which opened in 2021. The restaurant was at 2093 East Pass Road in Gulfport, just inside the Gulfport line.
The website for the national chain shows a new location I Love Mac & Cheese restaurant is coming soon to Biloxi. The opening is planned for winter, the website says, but the city doesn’t have any paperwork yet to show where the new restaurant will go.
The restaurant is known for its pasta bowls and both indulgent choices like lobster macaroni cheese or grilled cheese and vegan bowls topped with fresh vegetables.
This story was originally published February 5, 2024 at 2:37 PM.
