Confusion - Gulfport, Mississippi

Confusion
162 Tegarden Rd.
Gulfport, MS 39507
228-604-4617
http://www.seekclarity.com/
Lunch: M-F 11:30 a.-m - 2 p.m.
Dinner Tuesday-Saturday: 5:30-9:30
Closed Sunday

By Jane Feehan

Located not far off the beach in Gulfport, Confusion clearly earns kudos for its ambiance and food. It’s reminiscent of New Orleans with large posters of Louis Armstrong, Congo Square and abstract art scattered throughout a colorful room with walls painted in orchid, rusty red or aqua. Confusion is urbane, casual and unique.

The menu is predominantly seafood with a hint of Louisiana – Barbequed Shrimp and Grits, Speckled Trout en Papillote, and several blackened fish entrees. Steak and pasta dishes are also available but the menu is limited – a wise move in a small establishment.

We started off with Ginger Shrimp ($9) – six large shrimp lightly battered in bread crumbs and served with a ginger sauce; it was a tasty start. From there it was a seafood linguine and a blackened mahi mahi – both about $21. The generous portion of pasta came with bits of wilted spinach, fresh pureed and flavorful tomatoes, and plenty of shrimp topped off with a dollop of warm goat cheese. The mahi mahi, perfectly blackened, was served atop sweet potato fries and with an accompaniment of properly wilted spinach. I would have preferred a more creative potato choice, but the meal was enjoyable.

The dessert list included crème broulee, a flourless chocolate cake, or bread pudding. We chose the crème broulee. The caramelized glaze was done to perfection with a few blueberries added for color but the rest of the dish, the custard, was a bit too cool, nearly cold.

Proprietors Martin and Erin Burn offer a full bar and plenty of vodka choices for martini lovers as well as an interesting array of wines. Service – good. Confusion  - warm, friendly and one-of- a-kind - is now on my list of Gulf Coast favorites. and  © Jane Feehan All rights reserved.

The Dock - Gulfport, Mississippi

The Dock
Bar and Grill
12347 Seaway Rd.
Gulfport, MS 39503
228-276-1500
Open Wednesday-Sunday: 11 a.m. until close
http://www.thedockgulfport.com/

By Jane Feehan

Three bars and a large deck attract the youngish crowd to The Dock in Gulfport. With its waterside location (Gulfport Lake) reggae music, and tropical motif, it’s reminiscent of places in Fort Lauderdale frequented by the bathing-suit-attired.

There’s probably a reason for that. The Dock’s proprietor, John Dane III, is president and CEO of Gulfport-based Trinity Yachts, a popular boat manufacturer among the high-end boat enthusiasts in Fort Lauderdale. No doubt he spends time there.

The menu is good, the food isn’t bad and there’s plenty of room for large groups – and an occasional concert; the Marshall Tucker Band was a recent headliner. There’s lots of room for a variety of day time activities, including volleyball and people watching.

A fried grouper basket was unexpectedly flavorsome: three pieces of fish with a light batter, several jalapeño hushpuppies - chewier than they should have been but not a turnoff - a generous portion of better- than-average fries and a side of ho-hum cole slaw made for one huge meal - lots of food for about $11. Large burgers with a variety of toppings are also worth the visit. The Dock serves soups and salads, po-boys and appetizer items that could also serve as main courses. Fried platters, including redfish, oysters or shrimp and party platters for $21 round out the offerings.

Docks, of course, available for boaters. Service: good. 2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

White Cap Seafood Restaurant, Gulfport, Mississippi

White Cap Seafood Restaurant
560 Beach Blvd. (new location since Hurricane Katrina)
Gulfport, Mississippi 39507
Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
228-604-4444 (Note: phone seems to be infrequently answered)


UPDATE JUNE, 2017: What happened? So disappointing.

White Cap Seafood Restaurant was as much a treat the second time as it was on my first visit (see August 16, 2009 post).

Eight of us sat down to lunch and most everyone raved about their meal except for one who ordered red beans and rice with sausage – something I wouldn’t consider at a well-known seafood spot.

Shrimp Po’ Boys ($8.95), served dressed and pressed, came with a generous portion of French fries and exceptionally good slaw. Two diners ordered Crawfish Anthony ($7.45), a delicious pasta dish with a white sauce loaded with crawfish. It came with a great salad and a hushpuppy – still the best I’ve had on the Coast. There was plenty of food and enough for some to bring home for a second meal.

White Cap makes their own cheesecakes - in several flavors - but none of us could eat anything more. That alone would justify another visit.

Other items on the menu include Spicy Shrimp Creole ($9.95), Gumbo, Red Fish (about $15), fried seafood platters ($18.95), Shrimp Scampi ($12.95), oysters, scallops ($14.95), steaks (USDA Choice) and chicken dishes ($9.95-10.95). A “Little Matey’s” menu is available for children 12 and under.

Consistently good food and a great view of the Mississippi Sound will keep the crowds coming to the White Cap. Full bar. Lounge area tables recommended. © 2009 All rights reserved.

Half Shell Oyster House - Gulfport, Mississippi

Half Shell Oyster House
2500 13th Street
Gulfport, MS 39501
228-867-7001
Dining Room – Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Oyster Bar: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.- until; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

www.halfshelloysterhouse.com

By Jane Feehan

Opened in August by the same folks who own High Cotton Grill, Half Shell Oyster House is a welcome addition to Gulfport’s short list of good restaurants. It’s a notch or two – maybe three – above High Cotton and – wow – the oysters are great. So is the atmosphere in this renovated early 20th-century downtown Gulfport building.

I dined on charbroiled oysters in drawn butter and they threw in another – a barbequed variety – a recent menu addition; they were fresh and delicious. I also ordered Chicken Half Shell, grilled and topped with an Alfredo sauce accented with sun-dried tomatoes, capers and artichoke hearts; this sauce was light and supercharged with flavor. I can’t remember as tender a chicken breast. The meal came with an excellent side salad and better-than-average Balsamic dressing on a chilled plate.

Half Shell’s menu is extensive featuring, other than oysters, fresh fish, shrimp, chicken, steak, veal and pasta entrees. They also serve burgers, Po Boys and sandwiches – and seafood gumbo. Desserts include Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and Bananas Foster Cheesecake.

This is a busy place, even on a Saturday afternoon – a solid endorsement of its good food. Full bar. Service: excellent. Moderate prices. ©2009 All rights reserved.