200 North Beach embodies coastal atmosphere, culture of Old Town Bay St. Louis
Welcome to 200 North Beach, where the restaurant’s staff are shining examples of southern hospitality and invite you to try a taste of cuisine specific to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. From the elegant décor of old photographs to the light jazz playing, the restaurant promotes a classic feeling while keeping a casual air fit for its beachside location and customer base. Visit the upstairs BSL Sports Lounge which offers a more relaxed, secluded tone than the main dining area and a spectacular view of the water from the balcony. The restaurant’s owner and staff pride themselves in providing a family-friendly atmosphere that all ages can enjoy. For any special occasion – from birthdays and anniversaries to bachelorette parties or more – couples, families, and friends can expect to have a memorable experience at 200 North Beach.
The restaurant provides not only authentic southern food but also embodies the coastal atmosphere and culture of Old Town Bay St. Louis. Drew Bienvenu, best friend to restaurant owner Jim MacPhaille, says that their priority is “to make the customer have a good experience” first and foremost. That’s easily achievable due to the delicious food and entertainment 200 North Beach aims to provide for every customer.
The restaurant was founded by Anne Tidwell in 2005 and revitalized in 2011 after Hurricane Katrina, but the building itself dates back to 1903 when it was home to the Sea Coast Echo newspaper. The restaurant is one of the few buildings in Bay St. Louis near the water that withstood the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina and was the first to reopen on the beach front, as it had some external damage and flooding take place but stayed strong overall. When Mrs. Tidwell owned 200 North Beach, the dining area and a coffee shop were located downstairs while the upstairs contained private rooms. Since Jim MacPhaille took over, the business has expanded exponentially.
Jim MacPhaille has owned 200 North Beach since 2018, along with the more recent additions of the BSL Sports Lounge, Hurricane Bar, and Oyster Bar that reside in the same location as the restaurant and are a part of the BSL Restaurant Group. Plans to add a rooftop bar to the building are also underway. Bienvenu has assisted with managing the various businesses since 2022. Other establishments associated with the BSL Restaurant Group include the Bay Town Inn, Vacation Rentals, PJ’s Coffee, Creole Creamery, and Century Hall.
200 North Beach has a diverse, tried-and-true menu with a focus on seafood and steaks served in a southern Mississippi style. Some of the seafood is locally sourced, with the most prominent item on the menu being the oysters. The restaurant’s primary food vendors are Sysco, Capital City Produce, and The Fishhouse in New Orleans, whereas its beverages hail from Mitchell and FEB distributing.
Sydney Woodson, a staff member who has been with 200 North Beach for years, says that the restaurant’s most popular dishes include the trout pecan meuniere, the sesame seared ahi tuna, the bourbon glazed pork chop, and the light and natural grilled salmon over a bed of sauteed vegetables. Prices range from moderate to high with large portion sizing.
The BSL Sports Lounge upstairs offers a gorgeous view and relaxed atmosphere from the semi-formal dining area, complete with several televisions, ample seating, and a fully stocked bar and menu for patrons to sample. On Thursdays and Fridays, the lounge doubles as a piano bar with live music. Private events may be booked for the BSL Sports Lounge on 200 North Beach’s website.
200 North Beach hosts the annual Oyster Drop on New Year’s Eve – now five years running – where thousands gather to count down to midnight, accompanied by fireworks and live music. As the largest outdoor event held in Bay St. Louis on New Year’s Eve, it is an experience unlike any other “ball drops” because of its unique flair in the form of an 8-foot, illuminated oyster. The oyster used was created by Steve Barney, a local Mississippi Coast artist. Before the Oyster Drop was created, Old Town Bay St. Louis was deserted after Christmas. Nothing happened downtown and business was slow for everyone. MacPhaille thought that the Bay needed a safe, fun environment for people to celebrate the new year at that would also revitalize the slow season for local businesses. Thus, the Oyster Drop was born.
During the event’s first year, MacPhaille estimated only around 1,000 people attended. “The second year was 1,500 (people), and the third year was Covid shutdown,” said Bienvenu. “And then the fourth year is when I came…” Bienvenu took over the promotional side of the event and assisted MacPhaille in recruiting Drop sponsors in the area, which allowed for an increase in entertainment for the New Year’s Eve party. It paid off in 2022, when “three thousand people packed the streets,” stated Bienvenu. Now, vacation rentals and hotels are booked months beforehand in anticipation for the Bay’s biggest end-of-year celebration and the surrounding restaurants, bars, and shops are all packed leading up to the event. MacPhaille labels the Oyster Drop as “the place to be for New Year’s Eve” and that it is a “signature event for Bay St. Louis in the same company as Pirate’s Day and Cruisin’ the Coast.”
“This is my first time eating here. I got the Chargrilled Oyster Platter and the Stuffed Flounder Roulade. Both items I got were absolutely amazing! I just moved back to the coast, so this is the first time in a couple years I have had fresh seafood.”
Customer Melissa Wade, Biloxi
The restaurant’s presence in the community is strong, as shown by the free dinners and rooms in association with the Bay Town Inn that they provide, as well as the support given for non-profits such as CASA, a child advocacy organization. They also recently participated this past November in an annual toy drive with plans to continue next year. Bienvenu mentioned that the idea of hosting spring and fall festivals in the area is under discussion, as MacPhaille, other supporters, and he agree that Old Town Bay St. Louis is “screaming for a festival in April and a festival in October; the good weather months.”
For high-end, casual dining that boasts a beautiful, unobstructed view of the water, visit 200 North Beach at 200 North Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, Miss., between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information about 200 North Beach, call (228) 467-9388 or visit www.200northbeach.com. Reservations and private events can be booked on their website. Tune in to 200 North Beach’s Facebook and Instagram to catch upcoming events and specialty deals you won’t want to miss.
Southern Miss Gulf Scholar! Maya Wood is a native Mississippi resident currently working on obtaining her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Southern Mississippi ‘s Gulf Coast campus. She plans to continue on to a master’s degree with an emphasis in literature or creative writing and is currently a member of the inaugural class of the nationally recognized Gulf Scholars Program, which is a program that focuses on supporting states and communities along the coast. This article is one of several stories for her Gulf Scholars project whose purpose is to highlight local businesses and their contributions to providing “the good life” for Mississippi residents and visitors. Maya’s long-term goal is to do what she loves full time: work as a writer and eventually become an author, as she finds great joy in reading and wants to spread that feeling to others.
