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I am headed to MS Gulf Coast in a week and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on places to eat. Wife likes to eat unique hole in the walls.

Can never go wrong with Mary Mahoneys.

Phoenicia. It's in Ocean Springs and is a hole in the wall.

Darwell's

Mary Mahoney's- As close to "old New Orleans" cooking as you will find outside NOLA, don't miss the gumbo

Bozo's Seafood on Ingalls Ave in Pascagoula- An actual seafood market. As "local dive unchanged from the beginning of time with awesome poboys" as you will ever find. A 1 out of 10 on the fancy scale. Recently discovered by that "Dives" TV show, get in now before change occurs.

Pheonicia (sp?) in Ocean Springs. A combo of white tablecloth, fresh seafood, and lots of Lebanese influence. Very good. Go early 'cause parking is a PITA. Sort of a dressy shack with great seafood. Sort of. I love it.

Half Shell Oyster House in Biloxi. Great grilled oysters. Millennial overload at happy hour.

Shaggy's on the beach in Biloxi is a good "touristy/Destin Floridaish" place for lunch/beers/drinks. I dunno about the Shaggy's in Gulfport.

The Chimney’s in Gulfport (which is in the white house next to the new Shaggy’s on Hwy 90).

Darwell's in Long Beach (also discovered by the "Dives" show. Get in now before change occurs).

Half Shell, seafood stuffed portobello mushrooms. Best thing you ever put in your mouth.

Grilled oysters at Half Shell can't be beat and I don't even like oysters.

Chimneys is my hands down favorite, just really neat people and atmosphere and always great food. Ask them about the post Katrina rebuild and check out the before and after photos at the bar.

Unfortunately, despite there being more restaurants down here than there should be anywhere, the vast majority are pretty mediocre. Here are a few that are a little better than the rest.

Pizza - Tom's Extreme in Ocean Springs; Tony's Brick Oven - Gulfport. Both are VERY, VERY good.

Pricey - Mary Mahoney's Biloxi; Chimneys Gulfport; Phonecia Ocean Springs; Morton's steakhouse (Golden Nugget) Biloxi, Anthony's Under the Oaks Ocean Springs.

Less expensive; Half Shell Oyster House (Gulfport & Biloxi); Lil Ray's Gulfport (hole in the wall atmosphere); Cheryl's Steakhouse Ocean Springs.

Mexican - Baja Beach on 90 in Biloxi. Everything else down here is garbage.

Chinese - Bamboo in D'Iberville - hole in the wall but better than anything else I've had down here which is the ubiquitous buffet fare.

Itallian - Salute' Gulfport.

Other steak - Ruth's Chris in the Hard Rock (just personally, I like Morton's better)

Of all these, Mary Mahoney's, Morton's and Chimneys are the best.

[Edited to add:] Oyster / Shrimp Poboy - Fayard's gas station in Ocean Springs and Pass Road Biloxi.

Agua
What about the Blow Fly in Gulfport ?

Blowfly - really gone downhill. Comfortable, casual, great back bay view - family dining type thing but a little pricey for the quality. It isn't garbage, but it's been living off reputation for quite a while now.

What about White Cap on 90 in Gulfport? Used to be good but haven't been in a while.

Trapani's in Bay St. Louis is good.

White Cap has before and after deal. They shucking oysters constantly lately and the crab/flounder stuffing will pleasantly surprise you!
Been dodging the wind and getting a few in my duck boat.

Mary Mohoneys has always been mothers favorite. Sister had her wed reception there. Lotta family get togethers. Thought the old man was gonna cross thread a rude waiter there once. My take is fresh seafood hard to mess up and status doesn't increase the taste.....

White Cap is ok, but nothing more than that. The best thing they have going is their fried fish dealio. No idea what kind and don't care. Pretty tasty, big portions, and relatively cheap.

Kind of got turned off from it when we went a year ago, ordered fried crab claws - decent portion for the money, then came back 2 weeks later and they had a policy change - went cheap. Something like $11 for maybe 12-15 crab claws. Complained to the waitress and she was embarrassed. Said the owner had fussed at the kitchen & told them to cut back on portions.

Haven't been back since.