Time running out to nominate your favorite restaurant for ‘Best of the Coast’ contest
South Mississippi’s rapidly growing food scene has produced many new favorite restaurants, bars and other businesses over the past year that could be crowned “Best of Coastal Mississippi 2025.”
Nominations are open through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, for the annual contest, sponsored by the Sun Herald.
Voting runs from noon on March 24 until 5 p.m. on April 11.
There aren’t yet any categories for “speakeasy” or “slider restaurants,” which are trending eateries in South Mississippi this year, but there are more than 50 food and drink categories that await nominees. It’s easy to vote for favorite lunch spot, which also could be a favorite new restaurant and a favorite sandwich shop.
The nomination process allows a person to check off as many categories as apply to a restaurant or other business and to nominate as many businesses as they like. The rules specify a person must be age 18 or older to participate.
Among the food and drink categories are all-around restaurant, bakery, BBQ, beer selection, brunch, burger, candy shop, cheap eats, chicken wings, daiquiri, date night spot, fine dining restaurant, food truck, late night eats, outdoor dining, seafood restaurant, sushi, tacos and view.
In addition to bars and restaurants are categories such as best attractions, casinos, schools, banks, hairdresser, spas, garden center, lawyers, car dealership, real estate, services and shops.
Last year Shaggy’s was voted the best all around restaurant, Tatonut the best bakery and Taranto’s Crawfish the best Cajun restaurant.
Check here for a list of all the gold, silver and bronze winners from 2024.
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM.
