Bacchus On The Bayou
Ocean Springs, MS
A marina-front patio on the bayou in Ocean Springs, serving Cajun-leaning Gulf seafood, steaks, and the Bacchus pork chop with string lights and water views.
Atmosphere
The patio is the draw here, and Bacchus on the Bayou knows it. Old oak trees lean out over strings of bistro lights and a pair of mustard-yellow sailcloth canopies, with rows of white café tables set right against the marina rail. Boats tie up at the dock a few steps away, and the bayou stretches out toward the far bank — order a drink at golden hour and you'll see why regulars ask for a table outside even in August. Inside, the dining room and bar are simpler and air-conditioned, useful on a 95-degree afternoon. The restaurant also books weddings and private parties on-site, so don't be surprised to see a tent going up some Saturday.
What to Order
Start with the smoked tuna dip or a dozen chargrilled oysters — Tuesdays they're half off — and don't skip the seafood gumbo, thick with shrimp and crab. The kitchen's reputation rests on the Bacchus pork chop, a 14-ounce bone-in cut, and the Pirogue: a petit filet plated with a crab cake and gris gris shrimp over mashed potatoes, one of several steak-and-seafood combos on the menu. If you'd rather stay lighter, the West Indies salad (crabmeat, shrimp, capers, balsamic) or the blackened redfish get repeat mentions from regulars. For lunch, the Gris Gris po boy piles shrimp and oyster onto French bread.
Good to Know
Bacchus on the Bayou is open seven days, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with happy hour daily from 2 to 6 p.m. It leans walk-in and casual, though calling ahead is smart for a larger group or a weekend evening, since the patio fills up fast once the weather cooperates. There's a private lot with validated parking, plus dock space if you're arriving by boat. Shorts and flip-flops are fine, and the menu has enough familiar fried options that kids do fine here.
Our Take
Come for the view and the pork chop, not a quiet dinner — this is a lively, boats-and-string-lights kind of place, best on a warm evening when the patio's in full swing. Reviewers are consistent about the setting and the service; the kitchen is more of a mixed bag, with the fried seafood platters landing better than the pricier steak-and-crab combos on some nights. It's a smart pick for a family dinner, a birthday on the water, or drinks before an Ocean Springs museum visit — just don't expect fine-dining polish at these prices.
Details last verified August 2026. Always confirm current hours and menu directly with the restaurant.