3 NOLA brands are among 18 new restaurants open now or coming soon on the MS Coast
Another restaurant boom is under way in South Mississippi.
Ocean Springs and Long Beach are restaurant hot spots in 2023, but most every city on the Coast is adding new dining options.
Three of the new eateries are Coast versions of popular New Orleans restaurants known for their cajun, creole and Italian cuisine.
Here is the third list this year of eateries just open or coming soon across South Mississippi.
Restaurants opening in April or May
Kilwins, a new ice cream and candy shop, is opening at 711 Washington St. in downtown Ocean Springs across from The Lady May. Kids and adults will want to try the premium ice cream in homemade waffle cones, their Mackinac Island fudge, chocolate covered nut caramels, their own caramel corn and brittle, candy apples and pralines.
The Red Apple Lounge at 1016 Government St., Ocean Springs is teasing on Facebook about their opening. “It is going to be candy apple red and wrapped in the coolest shag carpet you have ever seen,” the post says of the bar. “Yeah, you read that right. The Red Apple Lounge is the epitome of swank and intimacy in the heart of downtown Ocean Springs.” Selections from the drink menu also are posted.
Kaiteki Noodle Bar is set to open in late April or May, next to Radish Restaurant on Jeff Davis Avenue in Long Beach. William and Brooke Rester own both restaurants and Chef Lauren Joffrion, whose ramen is very popular with customers at Radish, will take it to a new level at Kaiteki and will oversee both restaurants.
Dolce Bakeshop, also owned by the Resters in Long Beach, is expanding to Bay St. Louis. It will take over the downtown location where Serious Bread recently closed at 131 Main St. William Rester said they have have a lot of customers who for six years have driven from Hancock County to Long Beach to buy cupcakes and other treats at Dolce in Long Beach. They plan to open the Bay St. Louis bakery in June, he said.
The Toasted Yolk Cafe at 902 Howard Avenue, north of MGM Park, is expected to open in May in downtown Biloxi, north of MGM Park. It promises exceptional breakfast, brunch, lunch and drinks enjoyed indoors or outside on the patio.
Chipolte Mexican Grill is expected to open in May adjacent to Hobby Lobby at 3990 Promenade Parkway in D’Iberville.
Cafe Brunet closed in Diamondhead and will reopen in May at a bigger location at 16160 Highway 603 in Kiln. The restaurant is known for its beignets, Cuban sandwiches and creole favorites.
Chandeleur Island Brewing Company is one of three new restaurants at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. Chandeleur, which is headquartered in downtown Gulfport, will be accessible to the public not boarding planes and to passengers after they go through security. Coffee Connection and Sonic are located after passengers clear security and before they board their plans or when they arrive in Gulfport.
New Orleans favorites, other restaurants opening on the MS Coast
Blue Dog Bistro is opening a new location at 8829 Lorraine Road in Gulfport. The original in Ocean Springs is a popular spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Zaxby’s Ocean Springs is now open at 4013 Bienville Blvd. It has indoor seating for 54 guests and a double drive-thru layout for faster pay and pickup. Customers and order ahead online at zaxbys.com or on the new Zaxby’s app.
The Ocean Springs, D’Iberville and Gulfport locations of Zaxby’s are locally owned by Spring Chicken LLC. The company is bringing another location to 2441 Pass Road in Biloxi, where the El Rancho restaurant will be replaced with a new Zaxby’s Biloxi restaurant and a retail center.
The Bella boutique short term rentals will open this year at 854 Howard Ave. in Biloxi. Plans for a new Brew Paddle restaurant are going through the city permitting process. It will be built behind the Bella, which was a Wells Fargo bank before it was completely redesigned for vacation rentals in the downtown.
The Boathouse Bar & Grill is opening at the former Mikey’s Restaurant at 5600 Washington Ave., just north of the Fort Bayou Bridge and Ocean Springs. The restaurant also will have pontoon boat rentals for those who want to take lunch or dinner out on the water.
Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar is coming in June to the former Cajun Seafood site on U.S. 90 in Long Beach. This South Mississippi location will have the cajun, creole and South Louisiana fare that has made the original Coterie so popular in the New Orleans French Quarter.
A popular restaurant in the NOLA French Quarter is expanding to the Mississippi Coast
Flamingo Landing is opening soon in the former Marina Cantina restaurant at 8813 Lorraine Road, on the bayou in Gulfport. This will be the first South Mississippi venture for Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, which operates restaurants and daiquiri cafes throughout New Orleans, such as Broussard’s, Kingfish, The Bombay Club, Boulevard American Bistro, Royal House Oyster Bar, Cafe Maspero, The Original Pierre Maspero’s, Bayou Burger & Sports Company, Chartres House, Pier 424 Seafood Market and Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar.
Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House is scheduled to open in August or September in the Redding Mansion at 770 Jackson Street near Biloxi City Hall. The original Rizzuto’s is one of the favorite Italian restaurants in New Orleans.
Now open
The Camphouse is open on the water in Diamondhead, with indoor and outdoor seating and a menu that features coastal crab cakes smoked pork belly, Nashville chicken, red snapper and the Camphouse seafood platter.
Taco Bell opened in early April at 4405 East Aloha Drive in Diamondhead to rave reviews. The dining room is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Drive-in hours are 9 a.m. to midnight daily.
L’il Boys at Mary Walker Marina in Gautier has reopened for the summer season. The restaurant will be open at 4 p.m. Fridays and at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and serving appetizers like fries topped with seafood gumbo, along with mahi mahi tacos, burgers and shrimp po’boys.
Atchafalaya Seafood Co., is at 232 Frontage Road, Picayune. The restaurant and seafood market opened recently and is turning out boiled crawfish for dine in or take out. Customers might also want to try their corn, crab and shrimp bisque, crawfish potato salad, a half and half platter of catfish, oysters and shrimp or one of their create your own pasta dishes. Check their Facebook site for hours during the grand opening.
Pier 15 is open on the Biloxi River in Woolmarket.
Closed restaurants
Honey Baked Ham restaurant has closed near Winn-Dixie in Ocean Springs. The company hasn’t announced yet if another location on the Coast will open.
More restaurant news
Bozos Too and Bozos Seafood Market at 2012 Ingalls Ave. in Pascagoula is getting an addition to make more room for restaurant seating, a bar and chargrilled oysters, according to Our MS Home.
A liquor license was issued for Jalapeno Grill at the former location of The Klondyke Bar at 229 Klondyke Road, Long Beach.
Demolition has begun at the former Fillup with Billups location on U.S. 90 and Caillavet Street, across from Beau Rivage Resort and Casino and MGM Park. There’s no word yet on what is coming to the prime location.
