Marcello's – Taste of New Orleans
Ocean Springs, MS
A downtown Ocean Springs bistro serving scratch-made gumbo, shrimp creole, and po-boys on Leidenheimer bread, with live jazz on Friday nights.
Atmosphere
Walk in past the ornament-hung tree that shades the bar — a holdover from the space's previous tenant that Marcello's kept standing when the restaurant took over the address. The dining room is bright and casual, with local art hung over the tables and a small bar pouring New Orleans specialty cocktails. Friday nights bring live jazz into the room, and when the weather cooperates, tables spill out onto the patio for dinner along Government Street. It reads less like a themed restaurant and more like a real corner bistro that happens to have opened in downtown Ocean Springs instead of the Marigny.
What to Order
Everything here starts from scratch — the red sauce, the meatballs, the red beans, even the brown gravy — and it shows in the shrimp creole and the turtle soup, the two dishes regulars mention most. Po-boys come dressed on real Leidenheimer French bread shipped in from New Orleans, and the red beans and rice arrives with your choice of Italian sausage, a veal cutlet, or a pork chop, a hint that this kitchen mixes Creole and Italian on the same menu without apology. Redfish with a meunière sauce and the trout almandine are the fish-forward picks, and the smoked crawfish spinach dip is worth ordering while you wait on the rest.
Good to Know
Marcello's is open seven days for lunch and dinner — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday — with happy hour running 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Reservations go through their website, and it's worth booking ahead for a Friday jazz night or a weekend dinner, since downtown Ocean Springs fills up once the shops close. Parking is on-street along Government Street, plus the public lots downtown visitors already use for the shops and galleries nearby. High chairs are on hand for younger kids, and the dress code is whatever downtown-casual means to you.
Our Take
Marcello's earns a visit on the strength of the shrimp creole alone, and on the fact that the chef here is cooking recipes with real New Orleans pedigree, not a theme. Dine-in reviews back it up with strong scores. Delivery orders have been shakier, with a few complaints about thin red beans and an overcooked catfish, so keep expectations tempered if you're ordering out from a kitchen this new. Best for a couples' dinner downtown or a group wanting real Creole food without the drive to New Orleans.
Details last verified August 2026. Always confirm current hours and menu directly with the restaurant.