This story was first published by the Sun Herald. Read more here.

From sushi to Italian to an ice cream shop featuring a sloth, a slew of new creative and unusual restaurants are open now or coming soon across South Mississippi.

The new spots include a Venezuelan restaurant, a new life for a vacant building on Biloxi's beach and a seafood restaurant coming from one of the most popular restaurant groups on the Coast.

Here’s the long list of restaurants newly-opened or coming soon all across South Mississippi:

Catch 110, Biloxi

Located at 110 Lameuse St. in downtown Biloxi, Catch 110 is on the way from the owners of Half Shell Oyster House, who also have The Rack House in Gulfport. They spent a year working on the building, said Kevin Fish, and now are building it out to create an upscale steak and seafood restaurant with steaks and a live lobster tank. Their target is a fall opening.

Azteca's, Biloxi Beach

Also getting a complete makeover is Aztecas Restaurant & Cantina, in what once was Hooters and Mateo’s at 1906 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi. This is the fourth Mississippi Coast location and the grandest. The owners have spent months creating a tower and a Mexican-style courtyard for outdoor dining and brick pavers now are going down before the Tex-Mex restaurant opens.

New Italian restaurant in Bay St. Louis

Anthony’s Ristorante is under construction in Bay St. Louis as a sister restaurant to Trapani’s Eatery. The target date is early 2025 and while construction continues, new recipes are being developed for homemade pasta dishes and plans are in the works for a piano bar upstairs.

Ice cream shop with a sloth, Wiggins

Chill Sloth Ice Cream and Smoothies is s opening in Wiggins for kids and their parents who love ice cream and zoos. The restaurant will serve premium ice cream and smoothies and for a double dip of fun will have a sloth house for the animals that are similar to monkeys but less well known in the animal kingdom.

Beachside Bistro, Highway 603

Beachside Bistro is coming to 10408 Mississippi 603 in Bay St. Louis, along the bayou. The scratch kitchen is the dream of a graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute who has 30 years of fine dining experience.

Old Margaritaville Casino gets facelift

Hammered Harry’s is taking shape inside the former Margaritaville Casino off Fifth Street in east Biloxi, with a target opening date late this year. The dining and entertainment venue will have waterfront views and a menu from wings and lite bites to full steak and seafood dinners.

Two new restaurants in Ocean Springs

Junquito Venezuelan restaurant is coming to 3827 Bienville Blvd. in Ocean Springs, near Walmart.

The new Common Ground Projects off U.S. 90 at 3670 Groveland Road in Ocean Springs is a coffee shop and tea room, open Tuesday thru Saturday, where people can wake up with an espresso, a latte, a cup of English tea, smashed avocado toast or a granola bowl.

Greenhouse on Porter building for sale

Greenhouse on Porter closed in 2021 and now the building that’s been empty on Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs has a sign showing it’s for sale or rent. Greenhouse Biloxi is open off the brick paved Howard Avenue in downtown Biloxi and is channeling summer with their own roasted tomato biscuits, cinnamon brown sugar oatmeal biscuits with roasted bourbon peaches and fluff plus coffees, drinks and other treats.

Two spots not far from I-10

A Latte Friends coffee shop is coming soon to 10530 Automall Parkway. Woolmarket Flatheads and Bottom Feeders is a much anticipated restaurant opening soon on Woolmarket Road, not far off I-10.

Italian restaurants in Ocean Springs, Pass Christian

Field’s Italian Restaurant is coming to two locations — on the street level of the boutique hotel under construction on Washington Avenue in downtown Ocean Springs. A second Field’s Italian Restaurant is planned in Pass Christian.

Sushi spot on Bay St. Louis beach

Toro Sushi & Sake is another eatery on the way from the Nicaud family. This high-end Asian fusion restaurant at 108 Court St. in downtown Bay St. Louis is coming this summer with its rooftop bar and sunset and water views.

A new Salad Station

The new Salad Station Ocean Springs at 1407 Bienville Blvd. is the restaurant’s 35th location and the first in the franchise to have a drive-thru. “Because our menu doesn’t require cooking, our team members can quickly and easily build a customizable salad in a drive-thru format,” said Scott Henderson, co-founder and CEO of Salad Station. Customers “pay by the pound” as the staff builds their salad with a choice of more than 100 ingredients and 16 salad dressings, plus soup and other choices.

Biloxi burrito joint

Cactus Burritos & Tacos is planned at 1888 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, near Bayfront Inn.

New restaurants now open

Several new restaurants opened in the last few weeks across the Coast: Antonio’s Pizzeria, Gautier

Back Yard Beer Garden at The Blind Tiger Butcher Shop and Seafood Market, Bay St. Louis

Coraline’s seafood restaurant, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi

The Hen House, Bay St. Louis

Howie T’s Wings and Tacos, Gautier

Coming soon

Chick-fil-A in Biloxi

Chick-fil-A and Chipotle in Ocean Springs

Hen & Egg restaurant at The Traveler in Ocean Springs

Tavi’s sandwich shop in downtown Gulfport, from the owners of Pop Brothers

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