Phoenicia Gourmet - a touch of the Middle East in Mississippi

Phoenicia Gourmet Restaurant

Downtown Ocean Springs

1223 Government Street

Ocean Springs, MS

228-875-0603

Breakfast, lunch and dinner: Monday – Thursday 7 a.m. – 9 pm

Friday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sunday - breakfast and brunch: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Phoenicia offers food with a Middle Eastern flair with its homemade hummus and warm pita bread served with each meal and a variety of items including chicken shawarma – boneless, sliced chicken marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and garlic – a winner. But there's much more if you’re looking for something less exotic.

Fish is a favorite there – always fresh, never frozen. Phoenicia also serves USDA prime steaks. A typical lunch special may include a choice of fresh red snapper, mahi mahi, lemon fish or coconut shrimp, with spinach lentil soup, a salad and desert for around $15. Portions for any meal here are huge. If you’ve got dinner plans, sharing a lunch may be the best way to dine in the afternoon. Ask for the specials before ordering from the menu.

There's also a “little of Mexico” with chicken or beef fajitas or quesadillas and a children’s menu with chicken tenders and hamburgers.

A plethora of choices tends to cast doubt about how good everything can be but Phoenicia seems to have a handle on it. They recently started serving breakfast. One of the morning featured items is Eggs Oscar Tournedos of Filet Mignon topped with a poached egg, crabmeat, asparagus and Hollandaise sauce for $11.95. Everything I’ve eaten there for lunch and dinner has been outstanding; the same is expected of breakfast.

Phoenicia does not sell alcohol but they invite you to bring your own. It’s a casual atmosphere, with a hint of the Middle East with its gold, blue and white wall décor and white table clothes. This is a popular place, reservations are welcome. Service: It’s been both good and bad. About 85 miles from New Orleans.

© 2010 Jane Feehan All rights reserved

The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint - Ocean Springs, Mississippi

 http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/12/3747617/fire-destroys-original-the-shed.html

The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint

7501 Hwy 57

Ocean Springs, MS 39565

228-875-9590

Open seven days

Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11:a.m. – 10 p.m.

http://www.theshedbbq.com/ordereze/default.aspx

The Shed …it’s down home Mississippi funky and the chow isn’t bad. If it’s just barbeque you seek without the experience – or fun – thrown in, you’re in the wrong place.

I hesitate to use the words eatery or restaurant to describe The Shed, though that’s what it is. It more resembles a ramshackle country junkyard.  The trash (someone’s treasure) - decorated yard, with its rough, extra long wooden tables and attached benches provide most of the seating, though indoor dining is available. At the center of this tumbledown dining area presides a dilapidated stage, where live music – Mississippi blues – plays most nights.

The Shed’s owners, the Orrison family (great marketers by the way, they've been on Regis and Kelly as well as Diners, Drive-ins and Dives), are known for
barbecued baby back ribs ($23), pulled pork, sausage, chicken and, of course, their BBQ sauce. The sauce was good but I prefer it less sweet, more savory. Sauce, however, is such a personal thing. We chose a chicken platter with two sides – cole slaw, and beans (about $9) - and a sampler with pulled pork and chicken (about $13). The meat: tender, juicy and delicious.  Baked beans: good enough to wish the serving were larger. Mac (macaroni salad) was a good choice, the cole slaw less so.  

It’s counter ordering here. We waited in line about 20 minutes but the food was delivered within seconds of sitting.  It was a semi-cool, beautiful, lazy Sunday afternoon on this visit. I can’t imagine eating outside in the throes of summer in the heat with bugs that must gather at the nearby river, but that’s all part of the experience – a worthwhile one at that. © Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.

For restaurants in Oxford, Mississippi, visit www.eatingoxford.com

The Chimneys - Gulfport, Mississippi

The Chimneys Restaurant
1640 Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, MS
228-863-7604
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dinner (5:30-9)Tuesday through Thursday
Fri and Saturday - 5:30 until 10 with jazz until...
Sunday 11:30-2 p and 5:30-9
Closed Mondays
http://www.chimneysrestaurant.com/

By Jane Feehan

The doors to The Chimneys Restaurant re-opened for business in January after a Hurricane Katrina- imposed hiatus. At the original site in a new and beautiful Acadian style structure, this Gulfport jewel is already a popular spot. Their years-old reputation and food serves them well.

The chef is back (along with some other staff), preparing food The Chimneys is noted for. Shrimp crab chowder is chock full of seafood and lightly spiced – excellent. I dined on stuffed flounder – a whole fish – that tasted like it was just pulled from the water. Asparagus and a salad with a lightly spiced Creole ranch dressing were perfect accompaniments. A fellow diner ordered sauteed shrimp;  the dish, with plenty of fresh shrimp, was heavy on the lemon. But the meal ended well. The chef recently added some great dessert items to the menu including a coconut cake ... delicious.

This is a sophisticated, yet unpretentious place. Overheard were guests claiming the new Chimneys has the same warm, friendly look and feel of the one the storm destroyed. The only criticism would be the poor lighting after dark of the dining room. Hopefully, that will be remedied. The owners, the Nords*, have plans to open the porch for dining when weather permits; it’s a beautiful setting with an expansive Gulf vista. If it's the view you're after, go for lunch or early dinner. Live jazz is played on weekends starting at 10 p.m. in the lounge area.

Dinners run about $15-30  - quite reasonable in this setting - and includes salad and a vegetable. Menu at link above. Service: Good. © 2010 All right reserved.
 * Unfortunately, Dix Nord passed away  April 17, 2012 after a courageous battle against cancer.


For more information about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit:

Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.gulfcoast.org

Jocelyn's - Ocean Springs Mississippi

Jocelyn's
1608 Bienville Rd. (Access via Highway 90 East)
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
228-875-1925
Dinner: Thursday – 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday – 5 p.m. – Until

By Jane Feehan

Jocelyn’s is a Mississippi Coast gem, and as her tag line says, “Like this, no place.” It’s a charming eatery run by a family working together in the kitchen, dining room and bar. Twelve or so tables fill up quickly Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the only nights it's open.

The food isn’t fancy but it’s good. Jocelyn serves mostly entrees from the sea: soft shell crabs, oysters, trout, shrimp, fresh catch of the day, seafood gumbo. If not seafood, there’s chicken livers shish kebob, calves liver, rib eye steaks and chicken. When I was there last, rack of lamb was a featured special. I tried lemon fish topped with crab meat au gratin and a salad with their homemade Roquefort dressing, which needed more Roquefort. Most of their deserts are homemade – pecan pie, rum pie, bread pudding. I settled on a homemade brownie with ice cream.

Two couples sitting next to me raved about their orders of fried soft shell crabs - a solid endorsement coming from native New Orleanians.

Jocelyn Mayfield works the dining room with help from her sister and granddaughter. Her son tends bar and delivers cocktails and wine to tables while his dad puts the meals together under Jocelyn’s direction and planning. She’s owned the restaurant for 28 years after working at another in Ocean Springs for decades. If she’s not busy, Jocelyn loves to tell her story. Bring cash; CREDIT CARDS NOT ACCEPTED. Reservations recommended. Casual or for special occasions.© 2009

The Chimneys Restaurant - Gulfport, Mississippi

The Chimneys Restaurant
1640 Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, MS
228-863-7604
Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday
http://www.chimneysrestaurant.com/

By Jane Feehan

The doors to The Chimneys Restaurant opened for business this month after a Hurricane Katrina- imposed hiatus. At the original site in a new and beautiful Acadian style structure, this Gulfport jewel is already attracting a steady stream of diners.

I visited on a Tuesday evening and was taken aback by how busy it was. “Curiosity is bringing them in,” said owner Dix Nord*, who with husband Peter, has run several iterations of this establishment.

I doubt it’s just curiosity. The food is good. The chef is back (along with some other staff), preparing food The Chimneys is noted for. Their shrimp crab chowder is chock full of seafood and lightly spiced – excellent. I dined on stuffed flounder – a whole fish – that tasted like it was just pulled from the water. Asparagus and a salad with a tasty Creole ranch dressing were perfect accompaniments.

This is a sophisticated, yet unpretentious place. Overheard were guests claiming the new Chimneys has the same warm, friendly look and feel of the one the storm destroyed. The only criticism would be the poor lighting after dark of the dining room. Hopefully, that will be remedied. The Nords have plans to open the porch for dining when weather permits; it’s a beautiful setting with an expansive Gulf vista. If it's the view you're after, go for lunch or early dinner. Live jazz is planned for the lounge area on weekend nights.

Dinners run about $15-30 and includes salad and a vegetable. Menu at link above. Service: Good. © 2010 All right reserved.


* Dix Nord passed away  April 17, 2012 after a courageous battle against cancer.


For more information about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit:
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.gulfcoast.org

The Buffet at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino - Biloxi, Mississippi

www.beaurivage.com

The Buffet
Beau Rivage Hotel Resort and Casino
875 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-386-7444
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

I used to like going to a buffet on a holiday – in Fort Lauderdale or Houston - but a recent visit to The Buffet at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi will make me think twice about it next time.

The lines were unbelievably long. And though the hotel was beautifully decorated for Christmas, diners were decked out in very casual attire. The I’m–too-lazy-to-cook-for-Thanksgiving-so-let’s-fill-up-at-the-casino-buffet-look ruled the day – and spoiled mine. This spectacle, during these tough economic times, reminded me of standing in line at a soup kitchen.

The food was good, for the most part: fresh salad bar, plenty of king crab legs and turkey, other meats and roasted vegetables – but not enough green choices. Then I couldn’t find butter for my roll and couldn’t get the attention of wait staff in the crowd.

The waitress let the dishes stack up on the table instead of removing them each time we went back to the buffet. Maybe she didn’t know that’s what they’re supposed to do. Maybe the customers didn’t know either. I looked forward to a piece of pumpkin or pecan pie and was turned off by what was available. I chose spice cake instead and left most of it (among all the dirty dishes); it wasn’t good.

I’ll eat at home next year or go to a place with good table service – away from the madding, ill-dressed crowd. © 2009 All rights reserved.

The Fillin' Station - Biloxi, Mississippi

The Fillin’ Station
“Biloxi’s Oyster Bar”
592 Howard Ave (at Main Street)
228-432-5565
Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - ‘til
Sunday – 3 p.m. - 11 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

What do you get when you mix funky with a dash of New Orleans and a bit of retro? That would be the Fillin’ Station in Biloxi, just a few blocks from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Beau Rivage, off Main Street.

This very casual eatery is a converted gas station, circa 1950s. A patio for outdoor dining lies in front of this eye-catching renovation. What used to be a garage door is open to a bar with a few tables for semi-indoor dining; there’s plenty of air-conditioning.

I tried fried crawfish and banana peppers with a spicy hot sauce made of Serrano peppers and mayonnaise on an excellent French bread roll; pretty good for a place this casual. That and a side order of cole slaw and a soft drink came to $10. There are oysters done several ways: New Orleans style - charbroiled (Drago’s invention), oysters on the half shell, oysters Rockefeller – and other variations. They offer Po’ Boys – shrimp, fried oyster, roast beef. Other choices include chicken BBQ on a roll, fish sandwiches, burgers, cheese quesadillas and salads. With a full bar and a following of all ages, the Fillin’ Station provides live bluegrass/soft rock music Wednesday-Saturday starting at 10 p.m. No cover. There’s a television for sports enthusiasts at the bar. Fun. © 2009

Phoenicia Gourmet Restaurant, Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Phoenicia Gourmet Restaurant
Downtown Ocean Springs
1223 Government Street
Ocean Springs, MS
228-875-0603
Breakfast, lunch and dinner: Monday – Thursday 7 a.m. – 9 pm
Friday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sunday - breakfast and brunch: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Phoenicia offers food with a Middle Eastern flair with its homemade hummus and warm pita bread served with each meal and a variety of items including chicken shawarma – boneless, sliced chicken marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and garlic – a winner. But there is so much more if you’re looking for something less exotic.

Fish is a favorite there – always fresh, never frozen. Phoenicia also serves USDA prime steaks. A typical lunch special may include a choice of fresh red snapper, mahi mahi, lemon fish or coconut shrimp, with spinach lentil soup, a salad and desert for around $15. You won’t have room for dinner after lunch at Phoenicia. If you’ve got dinner plans, think about sharing lunch. A dinner at Phoenicia also comes in large portions at a reasonable price. Ask for the specials before ordering from the menu.

The menu also offers a “little of Mexico” with chicken or beef fajitas or quesadillas and a children’s menu with chicken tenders and hamburgers.

A plethora of choices tends to cast doubt in my mind about how good everything can be but Phoenicia has a handle on it. They recently started serving breakfast. One of the morning featured items is Eggs Oscar Tournedos of Filet Mignon topped with a poached egg, crabmeat, asparagus and Hollandaise sauce for $11.95. Everything I’ve eaten there for lunch and dinner has been outstanding; the same is expected of breakfast.

Phoenicia does not sell alcohol but they invite you to bring your own. This may be an inconvenience but it ensures a very reasonable tab. It’s a casual atmosphere, and Middle Eastern with its gold, blue and white wall décor and white table clothes. This is a popular place, reservations are welcome. Service: It’s been both good and bad.
© 2009