With so many delectable options in every category of cuisine, picking the Coast’s best restaurants is no easy feat. Fortunately, you – our audience – was once again up to the task and submitted dozens of nominations. Without further ado, we’re pleased to present the winners of the 2023 Best Places to Eat contest:
AMERICAN (AND TIED FOR BURGERS)
WOODY’S ROADSIDE
1894 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
1121 Cowan Road, Gulfport
3008, Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
www.facebook.com/woodys-roadsidebiloxiroadsidebiloxi
www.woodysroadside.net/
(228) 207-2789
Most popular menu item: Woody’s is known for grinding certified Angus beef daily for it’s 19 speciality burgers
Other top nominees: Beachside at Buoys, The Lady May, Burger Burger, The Scratch Kitchen & Bar.
BAGELS
SISTERS CAFE & BAKERY
28 Pass Road, Suite 6, Gulfport
(228) 284-4084
coffeeboxgpt.com
Most popular menu item: One of the eatery’s most popular sandwiches is the turkey pesto melt, featuring 5 ounces of Boar’s Head Ovengold turkey, bacon and herb mozzarella with pesto. Sandwiches are served on your choice of a fresh-baked croissant, bagel or French bread.
Other top nominees: Lil’ Market
BAKERY
FLEUR DE LIS GOURMET BAKERY
500 B Courthouse Road, Gulfport
(228) 896-0005
fdlgourmetbakery.com
www.facebook.com/fdl-gourmetbakery/
Most popular menu item: the strawberry cream cheese Bavarian, a moist, yellow cake layered with fresh sliced strawberries, soft-set cream cheese mousse and topped with whole, glazed strawberries. Fleur de Lis also has an extensive menu of European-inspired desserts
Other top nominees: Susan’s Sassy Sweets, Quality Bakery
BARBECUE
MURKY WATERS BBQ
1320 27th Ave., Gulfport
1212 Government St., Ocean Springs
(228) 214-4420
(228) 215-1114
www.murkywatersbbq.com
Most popular menu item: Murky Waters is known for its dry-rubbed barbecue slow smoked with local pecan wood.
BURGERS
SEA LEVEL
3 South Hiern Ave., Pass Christian
(228) 493-5999
sealevelpasschristian.com
Most popular menu item: Sea Level is known for its fresh burgers and hand-cut fries
Other top nominees: Beachside at Buoys, Mugshots Grill and Bar, Shaggy’s, Ground Zero Blues Club Biloxi
BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH
LE CAFE’ BEIGNET
124 Lameuse St., Biloxi
lecafebeignetbiloxi.business.site/
(228) 207-0369
Most popular menu item: The restaurant boasts the “best brunch and beignets” on the Coast, including its signature king cake beignets.
Other top nominees: Mockingbird Café, Sisters Cafe & Bakery, Martinis
CARIBBEAN AND SPANISH
BONFIRE RESTAURANT
273 Caillavet St., Biloxi
(228) 271-6830
bonfirerestaurant.net
Most popular menu item: It’s a tie between the succulent braised oxtails, which are seasoned to perfection with traditional Jamaican herbs and spices and slow cooked until the meat is falling off the bone, and the jerk chicken, which is authentically done on a wood grill and cooked with special seasonings.
CAFÉS
MOCKINGBIRD CAFÉ
110 S 2nd St., Bay Saint Louis
(228) 467-8383
mockingbirdcafe.com
Most popular menu item: The breakfast burrito was so popular that it was added to the menu permanently. It’s stuffed with a bacon and sausage scramble with avocado, pico and cheddar, lovingly grilled to perfection and served atop of a bed of baby spinach.
Other top nominees: Port City Café
CAJUN AND CREOLE, SEAFOOD
THE CRAWFISH HOUSE AND GRILL
1801 Government St., Suite D, Ocean Springs
(228) 215-1689
crawfishhouseos.com
Most popular menu item: The eatery introduced the crawfish platter in 2015 and had no Idea it would become the most popular menu Item. It features three pounds of boiled crawfish, two ears of corn, six boiled red potatoes and a link of Conecuh county sausage
Other top nominees (Cajun and Creole): Cafe New Orleans, The Cypress Taphouse
Other top nominees (seafood): Half Shell Oyster House, Shaggy’s, Kellie’s Poor Boy, Dempsey’s Seafood & Steak, Mary Mahoney’s, The Blind Tiger Biloxi, The Blind Tiger Bay St Louis, Steve’s Marina Restaurant, Catfish Charlie, 200 North Beach Restaurant, Dan B’s Restaurant & Bar, Tripletails, Savory Roots
DONUTS
FANTASY DONUTS
1742 Pass Road, Biloxi
(228) 967-7878
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063786571289
Instagram: @fantasydonuts
Most popular menu item: donuts and breakfast croissants and kolaches. The eatery also has boudin kolaches and boba tea
Other top nominees: Susan’s Sassy Sweets
COFFEE AND TEA
GARDENIA TEA ROOM BY ALMOST HOME
314 U.S. Highway 90, Suite 104, Waveland
(228) 332-2334
gardeniatearoom.com
Most popular menu item: Gardenia provides a selection of high-quality teas from Harney & Sons in an assortment of flavors and types. Although the preparation of hot tea is the focus, guests also can be accommodated with sweet tea and coffee.
INDIAN
ORCHID INDIAN CUISINE
63 Hardy Court Shopping Center, Gulfport
(228) 206-1162
www.orchidms.com
Facebook/orchid Indian cuisine
Most popular menu item: Chicken tikka masala and butter chicken are the most popular dishes. The curries are rich, creamy and flavorful. Diners get to enjoy the zest of all the spices without the heat.
GREEK/MEDITERRANEAN
MR. GREEK
1670 Pass Road, Suite H, Biloxi
(228) 432-7888
Mrgreekbiloxi.com
Most popular menu item: Grecian combo plater, which comes with gyro meat, Grecian-style meatballs, stuffed grape leaves, eggplant casserole, a side Greek salad, Greek potato and green beans.
SANDWICHES
BEACHSIDE AT BUOYS
115 S. Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis
(228) 344-3114
www.facebook.com/beachsideatbuoys
Most popular menu item: Beachside at Buoys is a scratch kitchen on the beach known for burgers, hand-cut fries, sandwiches, wings, wraps and salads. The most popular sandwich is the chicken caprese, which is a pesto marinated chicken breast with fresh mozzarella, a tomato slice, and a drizzle of pesto on a ciabatta roll.
Other top nominees: Sisters Cafe & Bakery, TBT Butcher Shop & Seafood Market, Adventures Pub & Spirits
JAPANESE
HANA SUSHI & PHO
2667 Pass Road, Biloxi
(228) 609-9116
www.facebook.com/hanasushi.pho
Most popular menu item: Customers go crazy for the Vietnamese shrimp/chicken salad — so refreshing and full of texture in every bite — and the salmon bomb. For the main course, the legacy and jett roll are the champions. Lump crab, seared peppered salmon, garlic chili oil, parmesan — it’s a no brainer.
Other top nominees: Koi Sushi, Jia
ITALIAN
SALUTE ITALIAN & SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
1712 15th St., Suite 100, Gulfport
(228) 864-2500
www.saluteitalian.com
Most popular menu item: Several dishes are considered favorites, including tour of Salute, featuring lasagna, chicken parmesan and signature seafood ravioli, and eggplant gondola, featuring thin breaded eggplant, fried and topped with signature shrimp and crawfish cream.
Other top nominees: Brooklyn Pizzeria, Uncle Joe’s Pizza and Wings, Aroma, Mangiamo
MEXICAN
JUAN TEQUILA’S
18369 Highway 49, Saucier
(228) 831-0900
www.juantequilassaucier.com
Most popular menu item: Juan Tequila’s prides itself on serving delicious, authentic Mexican favorites like fajitas, quesadillas, tacos and burritos along with burgers, soups and more.
Other top nominees: Jalapeño Grill, Pedro’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, El Tarasco Taqueria & Restaurant
PIZZA
UNCLE JOE’S PIZZA & WINGS
16829 Kapalama Drive, Pass Christian
134 Blaize Ave., Bay St. Louis
(228) 586-6076
(228)200-1059
unclejoespizza.com
Most popular dish: Honey hot is Uncle Joe’s signature sauce that goes on everything. It is the most popular wing sauce, and the chicken bacon ranch pizza is the most popular pizza. Customers also love the honey hot fries.
Other top nominees: Marco’s Pizza
SOUL FOOD
MS. AUDREY’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN & CATERING
99 S. Kern Dr., Gulfport
(228) 214-4287
msaudreysgulfport.com
Most popular menu item: seafood gumbo, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, shrimp ‘n’ grits, collard greens, oxtails, and the list goes on.
SPORTS BAR
TRIPLETAILS RESTAURANT
113 S Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis
(228) 231-1146
www.facebook.com/TripletailsRestaurant
Most popular menu item: The menu features tasty, casual fare, including chicken and shrimp baskets, po’ boys, wings, crab balls and nachos. Customers also look forward to the Thursday night steak special.
Other top nominees: The Pour House
SOUTHERN
LANCASTER’S
1409 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
(228) 447-4050
www.lancastersos.com
Most popular menu item: The most popular salad is the sassy salad — fresh-cut green leaf lettuce layered with fresh cut tomato, onion, egg, cheese, avocado and croutons and topped with boiled shrimp, sautéed crawfish and fresh jumbo lump crab. Additionally, a plate-lunch favorite is chicken-fried chicken steak, cut fresh daily, featuring original seasoning and smothered with white pepper gravy.
Other top nominees: Port City Café
STEAKHOUSE
THE RACK HOUSE STEAKS & SPIRITS
1301 26th Ave., Gulfport
(228) 206-2744
rackhousesteaks.com
Most popular menu item: Some of the eatery’s most popular items include Rack House-style steaks and fish of the day, lemon parmesan chicken, braised short ribs and wedge salad.
Other top nominees: Sully’s, Cheryl’s Steak House, Outback Steakhouse Biloxi