Page 125 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2015

TOP LEFT: LOLA FLEUR Dinner plate.
TOP RIGHT: SASSY SALAD Sassy Salads. OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: WASHINGTON DINER Ribeye po-boy.
LEFT: GREENHOUSE ON PORTER Biscuit and tomato compote. BOTTOM: NIGEL’S SOULFUL BISTRO
Baked ziti.
around, and lots of classic Southern specialties. But there is almost always a big hint of another food couture; it might be Cuban, Creole, or even Moroccan.
The chef here has been enchanted with fresh food since he was a kid and has been a chef for almost 20 years. His food is assertive, seasoned aggressively but balanced, and never harsh.
If you’re in a hurry and need supper on the table in a flash, then Lola Fleur is where you should head. Catering seems to be the core of the business, but there is always
a plate dinner special ready to go. They call it Grab and Go, so a balanced and healthy meal is always in reach. There are also sides and great desserts. Lola Fleur is a seasonal inspired and locally sourced business.
Washington Avenue Diner is the last of this new flock of restaurants. You’ve got to love a place with so few pretensions. This is a diner with a simple menu and straight forward selections, but with no shortcuts on quality or taste. You can get breakfast almost any way you want it, a great ribeye po-boy, red beans and rice, fried green tomatoes, and biscuits and gravy.
Also look for daily specials, such as fried chicken with a cream gravy on Wednesday, or fish tacos and coleslaw on Friday. When you’re seriously hungry, could care less about the wine list and want to mix with the locals, this is your spot.
Ocean springs has always been a little different — always fun, interesting — and now it’s a diners destination worth serious exploration.
Lola Fleur
720 Bellande St., Ocean Springs 228.327.6817
Sassy Salads
705 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs 228.447.4050
Washington Ave Diner
711 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs 228.215.1805
Greenhouse on Porter
404 Porter Ave., Ocean Springs 228.238.5680
Nigel’s Soulful Bistro
1801 A Government St., Ocean Springs 228.334.5645
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
September 2015 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 125