MS Coast restaurant one of only 20 to make cut for prestigious James Beard award

Mary Perez
·2 min read

The list is out and Vestige Restaurant in Ocean Springs is one of 20 restaurants throughout the country named a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation.

The 2024 list was released Wednesday and finalists will be announced April 3. Winners will be revealed June 10 at a ceremony in Chicago.

Vestige, at 715 Washington Ave. in Ocean Springs, is an upscale Modern American restaurant that serves farm-to-table and seasonal dishes.

Also named semifinalists in the category that honors excellence in food, atmosphere and hospitality, and contributions to their community are restaurants in Houston, New York, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and more.

Vestige and its chefs have made the prestigious James Beard list before.

Last year, chefs Alex Perry and Kumi Omori were among five finalists for the 2023 James Beard Award top chefs in the South region.

Perry, the restaurant owner and executive chef, is a three-time nominee.

Chef Alex Perry, owner/chef at Vestige Restaurant in Ocean Springs, was nominated three times for a James Beard Foundation award. For 2024, Vestige is a semi-finalist for Outstanding Restaurant in the U.S..
Chef Alex Perry, owner/chef at Vestige Restaurant in Ocean Springs, was nominated three times for a James Beard Foundation award. For 2024, Vestige is a semi-finalist for Outstanding Restaurant in the U.S..

The only other semi-finalist for 2024 in Mississippi was Hunter Evans at Elvie’s is Jackson, a semifinalist for best chef in the south category.

Those who want to visit one of the top 20 James Beard Outstanding Restaurants should reserve a table at Vestige by calling 228-818-9699.

Foie gras mousse, kumquat marmalade and house made crusty bread is among the dishes at Vestige in Ocean Springs. The farm-to-table restaurant in downtown is one of 20 James Beard semi-finalists for Outstanding Restaurant in the U.S.
Foie gras mousse, kumquat marmalade and house made crusty bread is among the dishes at Vestige in Ocean Springs. The farm-to-table restaurant in downtown is one of 20 James Beard semi-finalists for Outstanding Restaurant in the U.S.

The nominees

2941, Falls Church, VA

Beckon, Denver, CO

Bywater, Warren, RI

The Compound, Santa Fe, NM

Convenience West, Marfa, TX

Coracora, West Hartford, CT

The DeBruce, Livingston Manor, NY

The Duck Inn, Chicago, IL

Koi Palace, Daly City, CA

Langbaan, Portland, OR

The Market Place, Asheville, NC

Mixtli, San Antonio, TX

Nancy’s Hustle, Houston, TX

Pineapple & Pearls, Washington, D.C.

The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn, Blowing Rock, NC

Selden Standard, Detroit, MI

Superiority Burger, New York, NY

Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS

The Walrus and the Carpenter, Seattle, WA

Yoshitomo, Omaha, NE

Shrimp and grits is pictured, as made by Chef Alex Perry of Vestige in Ocean Springs.
Shrimp and grits is pictured, as made by Chef Alex Perry of Vestige in Ocean Springs.