This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is gaining steam in South MS. Here’s our review
Today is the day of new favorites.
I wore my new favorite hoodie showcasing the Mobile Swamp Angels, a minor league baseball team that existed for exactly one season in 1887.
I also found my new favorite Dominican restaurant in all of Jackson County, Ajo and Oregano Latin Cuisine and Bar.
It is a true hole-in-the-wall find deep down Highway 90 in Gautier in a suite you’ve probably never even noticed before. The bulk of our visits are for new restaurants, but occasionally we lurk for what may be falling between the cracks.
This restaurant opened around a year ago and has been on fire lately. It’s attracted a perfect five-star average across 19 Google reviews in the last seven months. That compared to a 3.7 in the preceding months since opening. The splits on that are pretty good.
So we gave it a run.
Vibe — 5 out of 5
The first thing that caught my eye was a door wrap of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. I immediately knew I had come to the right place.
The checkered red and blue Dominican flag hangs in the foyer before you step into an open dining space. To the right is an archway that leads into the bar.
The main dining room is accented by a brick wall facade lit by old world lanterns and decorated with portraits of Caribbean scenes. The menus are made to look like Dominican Republic passports and are a very nice touch.
The music is lively and the TV plays baseball. I’m a simple man. Feed me and give me highlights of the Dodgers’ downfall, that’s five stars.
Food — 4 out of 5
If you haven’t introduced Latin American food into your life — and, no, Mexican doesn’t count — you’re missing out tremendously.
Its influence in Creole cuisine is unmistakable, but alone in its traditional form is an experience all its own that has to be celebrated.
A staple dish is mofongo. Originating from Puerto Rico, it’s a simple mound of mashed green plantains cooked with garlic, olive oil, pork bits and often served with a variety of meats or seafoods.
And at Ajo and Oregano it is served with a little umbrella. Adorable.
Mine came with tail-on shrimp with a side salad and a sauce I can only describe as a version of yum-yum.
The sauce pairs fantastically with the garlic butter basted shrimp and provides the mofongo a cool partner to its warm flavor.
I also ordered a beef taco off the a la carte menu that exceeded whatever expectations I had. This is primarily due to the paste it’s served with.
The server did not know what it was. What I can tell you is it brings a flamethrower and wastes no time blasting it on your tastebuds. I loved it.
I know it upsets you to hear this, reader, but I once again enjoyed my meal. Sue me (please don’t).
Value — 3.5 out of 5
Service and preparation were both at a quality level. No corners were cut during this lunchtime visit.
The menu offers lunch specials every day and for $15 on Monday through Thursday. The entree offerings are wide in range, catering to a surprising variety of taste. We’re talking hamburgers, octopus-stuffed mofongo, a Cuban sandwich and chicken alfredo pasta. There are also tendies for the kids.
The a la carte menu features tacos, burritos and quesadillas. There are a few main course meals that hover around $15, but most will range between $20 and $35.
For something new, filling and flavorful, it’s worth the stop. It just might be your favorite Dominican restaurant in Jackson County, too.
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Address: 726 US-90 W, Gautier
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
