I visited The Shed Barbecue and Blues Joint for the first time. Here’s how it went
Shed philosophy: reincarnation…. Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
That doesn’t sound so bad if life boils down to the daily simple, yet colorfully cluttered lifestyle found within the clumped sheds of the compound known as The Shed Barbecue and Blues Joint.
As the family behind me, obviously making their first trip to the award-winning restaurant, said: “This is unexpected.”
But it’s a pleasant unexpected. And it was my first trip, too.
The Shed is in Ocean Springs at 7501 MS-57 and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Now, If you’re like us and you’re visiting the famed joint for the first time, too, the first thing you’ll feel is confusion. Where’s the front door? You gotta find it. That’s part of the adventure.
Once you do, you’re greeted by gravel floors and money-pinned ceilings. Soft rock and heavy blues roll through the string-light lit space with various signage and Cracker Barrel-esque knickknacks filling every nook and cranny.
You place your order at the counter and find a table inside or out and they bring the food to you.
I had an off-the-bone baby back rib sandwich meal for my inaugural visit with hush puppies and fried pickles as my sides.
The hush puppies were warm and had a sweet corn taste and the fried pickles were cooked with the perfect crunch and salty breading.
The barbecue itself lived up to the billing. The ribs were unbelievably tender and tasteful. I had a side of ranch that went perfectly with the entire meal.
The honors that have been rolling in for the establishment have been well-deserved.
The Shed recently earned the title Grand Champion from the Memphis in May barbecue competition for the third time in 17 times. The trophy, along with many others from competitions around the country, can be seen inside the restaurant.
Want to stick around a bit longer? There’s a gift shop where you can grab yourself a tie-dye shirt or a bright colored pig-emblazoned cup. Have a child? Chuck em in the toy-filled sand pit outside.
Want to spend the night so you can enjoy The Shed at 10 a.m. the next morning? Check in at Cozy Rosy’s Glamp Ground next door.
The seasonal Crawfish Shack Out Back sits, well, out back on the sheet metal campus. There’s more outdoor seating right up against Old Fort Bayou — just don’t feed the gators.
On the weekends the covered stage and seating hosts live music next to a separate bar called the Saloon.
The experience isn’t just about the food at The Shed. It’s a one-of-a-kind journey that highlights the uniqueness that South Mississippi offers to the culinary world.
