The Michelin Guide will begin ranking restaurants in six Southern states for the first time ever, giving local establishments in New Orleans a chance to earn a coveted star rating.
Reviewers, called inspectors, are already visiting restaurants that could eventually make up Michelin's American South regional guide. It will include Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The inclusion of New Orleans, recently named the best food city in the world, is widely considered long overdue. From hidden gems to restaurants known around the world, the Big Easy's dining scene consistently ranks as a heavy hitter on national lists, is included in viral TikTok videos by big-name influencers and celebrities and frequently secures James Beard Award nominations and wins.
But about an hour east of New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has a unique and growing restaurant scene of its own. As cities like Bay St. Louis, Ocean Springs and Pass Christian explode with growth and new residents, acclaim is growing for eateries that dot the beach, as well as hidden gems beloved by longtime locals.
Here are eight Coast restaurants we feel deserve a Michelin star, based on cuisine, experience, vibes and overall excellence.
1. Siren Social Club, Gulfport
The newest restaurant by James Beard nominated power couple Austin and Tresse Sumrall is unlike any other on the Gulf Coast.
Inside what was once a mortuary, the uniquely framed restaurant is dark and sexy. The deep green walls with "poison pink" accents is a moody departure from most eateries in the area that cater to a bright, coastal vibe.
A hightop seating area is punctuated with eye-catching art at Siren Social Club inside Hotel Vela in Gulfport.
The satsuma butter that accompanies the house-made salted yeast rolls are reason enough for a Michelin star, but beyond that is the 1,000 layer potatoes adorned with basil pesto, caviar service, cacio e pepe with squid ink spaghetti and the famous Beef Wellington.
Located inside Hotel Vela, Siren has limited seating inside and a large outdoor patio and bar hidden in plain sight.
Reservations are strongly encouraged.
2. White Pillars, Biloxi
The Sumralls are no stranger to the culinary scene. Their flagship restaurant on the Biloxi Beach has an iconic Southern dining room and cool bar area.
Austin Sumrall's menu changes seasonally, and the farm-to-table menu sources fresh, local ingredients from across Mississippi to create dishes like the smoked and fried chicken, Thai wedge salad, swordfish schnitzel and the Gulf seafood tower.
Lexis Redd D'Ville performs at a drag brunch at White Pillars restaurant in Biloxi.
Known for being proud supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, the Sumralls also host a monthly drag brunch, where drag queens flip, sing, twirl and lip sync for their lives as diners throw dollar bills and enjoy a three-course meal and all-you-can-drink mimosas.
At the bar, try the espresso martini or classic daiquiri.
3. Sycamore House, Bay St. Louis
The two-story yellow house with a swing hanging from a tree on the front lawn looks unassuming on busy Main Street, but locals know that the Sycamore house is a not-so-hidden gem in the heart of Bay St. Louis.
The menu could be described as Southern-Latin fusion, with a rotating flauta of the day, ropa vieta, turtle soup and Thai-Indonesian curry.
The front porch and back patio are famous on spring and fall nights and for Sunday brunch, where you can also opt for a pizza hot from the oven.
The servers have worked there for years, the owner lives upstairs, and make sure you say hello to the cat that wanders the property.
4. Long Beach Market & Deli, Long Beach
It's a few miles from the beach inside a converted gas station, but this New Orleans-Korean fusion spot has some of the best food you'll try on the Mississippi Coast.
Get the kogi chicken po-boy with a side of their crab rangoon, or have a roast beef po-boy with corn nuggets and a side of fried rice. The Korean summer rolls are works of art, as is the homemade sweet and sour sauce.
The best part of Long Beach Market & Deli is that the gas station coolers are still fully operational with a great craft beer selection and a variety of cheesecake slices.
5. Kim Long, Biloxi
The iconic Vietnamese restaurant was one of the first to be rebuilt in East Biloxi after Hurricane Katrina wiped everything away near "The Point," an area of the city surrounded by water.
A variety of factors after the storm forced longtime residents to leave the area for higher ground, but that doesn't stop people from all walks of life from filling in day in and day out, from open to close, to break bread with each other and celebrate resilience in a place that knows one event can change an entire way of life.
Any pho is a standout at Kim Long, but don't sleep on the vermicelli bowls, goi cuan or pho dac biet.
Guests dine on Vietnamese dishes at Kim Long in Biloxi on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
6. Vestige, Ocean Springs
Vestige is a high-aiming tasting menu restaurant that combines the ethos of local, seasonal ingredients with elements and aesthetics of Japanese cuisine.
It’s a personal expression created by a husband and wife: Alex Perry, who grew up in Ocean Springs, and Kumi Omori, who is from Japan.
The first course served for two at the tasting menu restaurant Vestige in Ocean Springs included sushi, a mushroom tartlet and amazake for sipping. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Open since 2013, Vestige switched concepts to focus on a multi-course tasting menu after the pandemic. The restaurant and duo behind it have been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards and Vestige is regarded as one of the best fine dining restaurants on the Coast.
7. Field's Italian, Ocean Springs
Lauren Joffrion is a culinary star. Her creative flavor profiles and out-of-this-world presentation could easily land her a spot on any competition cooking show, and she'd probably win "Top Chef" no matter the city. She's cooking up new hits on Government Street at this Italian spot that's already known for its meatballs and tiramisu.
8. Dolce Bakeshop, Long Beach
William and Brooke Rester have really re-defined the dining scene in downtown Long Beach, with their unique bakery and upscale restaurant, Radish, next door to each other and always busy. Brooke could win a star at Dolce for their cookie butter king cake during Mardi Gras season. It's sweet, rich and unlike any other you'll find on the Mississippi Coast.
Times-Picayune reporter Ian McNulty contributed to this report.
