Expectations Being Met at Mary Mahoney’s
Growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast it was always clear “The Coast” (as we all call it) lives in the shadow of the great City of New Orleans, which is only an hour west of it. When most people think of really fresh, decadent seafood, and the dining establishments that serve these mouth-watering dishes, their mind almost always wanders to New Orleans and all of its historical restaurants. Not to take anything away from those amazing establishments (I’m sure I’ll be writing about some of those places on this very blog in the near future), but The Coast has a place or 2 to brag about itself: first, and foremost, being Mary Mahoney’s.
Located right off the beach in Biloxi, the Mary Mahoney’s building was built in the early 1700s by a Frenchman who designed it in a traditional French architectural style: high ceilings, intimate dining rooms, and a beautiful courtyard. It was a residential property until purchased by the Mahoneys in 1962. From that time on, it could boast of feeding President Ronald Reagan and Vice-President George Bush on the White House Lawn, and has survived catastrophic hurricanes and, most recently, a global pandemic. While this foodie can appreciate beautiful architecture and history, it takes a backseat to the wine and FOOD.
Mary Mahoney’s is a place I always heard people speak of when I was growing up, but it was known as a fancy grown up place I was not going to have the luxury of trying any time soon. Being an avid reader since as far back as I can recall, I clearly remember reading John Grisham novels all throughout high school, and being amazed when Mary Mahoney’s was the setting for one of the most famous scenes in The Runaway Jury when the sequestered jury marches into Mary Mahoney’s much to the shock of the presiding judge on the case who is enjoying a persnickety lunch with his colleagues. I needed to eat at this place!
This all added to the lore of Mary Mahoney’s to me so, when I finally did reach adulthood and made it there, my hopes were high, high, high. Since first going, I have been lucky enough to eat at Mary Mahoney’s a dozen or so times now, and it is not an exaggeration to say it is nothing short of phenomenal every single time I am lucky enough to dine there all the way from the cuisine to the exceptional service.
Whenever my husband and I make it back to Biloxi, he invariably asks me “did you make us a reservation at Mary Mahoney’s?” It is just THAT GOOD. His favorite item on the menu is the seafood gumbo – I believe that man could eat it by the gallon. I like to start with their shrimp cocktail and continue on with one of their “Crabmeat Imperial” selections, which is an insanely delicious homemade crabmeat stuffing that can be ordered stuffed in several different kinds of seafood – you will think you have died and gone to foodie heaven once you have tried the Flounder Imperial or Lobster Imperial on a bed of creamy pasta. Great care is taken to serve traditional French creole food at its best here and, yet, they make it appear simple.
Sop it up with some of their crusty French bread, wash it down with a chilled white wine, and I defy you to say you have ever had a better meal. 5 out of 5 pours.