The Sycamore house is a top notch eatery in the small town of Bay St. Louis. For not being on the water, the restaurant makes up for it with the charm of an old southern plantation set amongst beautiful trees and landscaping. The food here is some of the best in BSL. We started with the crabmeat and mushroom cheesecake, which was awesome, and then I had the turtle soup followed by the ropa viejo. All three dishes lived up to expectations and really hit the spot. If you do choose to eat here, prepare for higher prices and for a quiet environment. The restaurant is perfect for a date night or a special occasion, but isn't the best for large loud groups or little kids. BOTTOM LINE: Some of the most flavorful food in BSL... great for a date night or special occasion.
(4)
CORINA C.
Food was great. The have poke on the menu, and having just come back from Hawaii, we had to try it. Very tasty. The server was very attentive. Very reasonable wine list. Only thing keeping me from giving four stars was the amount of time that passed between the apps and the main course.
(4)
Joshua G.
If the restaurants on the beach are a bit too touristy for you, I'd recommend coming inland and visiting this is a cute little spot with casual seating and a cool back porch. Its no less touristy but at least you feel less like a schmuck when you eat here. They have pizza. Some random quasi-Mediterranean dishes. A duck confit. A couple po' boys. Boring... I would have really liked to find some home style rice and beans. Or a crawfish stew. Something seasonal. Something regional. I expected a menu as beautiful and unique as the people I met around town and The Sycamore House really let me down. Sorry, guys!
(2)
Erin B.
I give the pizza 5 stars but everything else 3. They serve the best pizza I have ever eaten. If you like olives you must try the Mediterranean pizza. We highly recommend the bbq shrimp pizza. I craving it just thinking about it. We try the entrees often but always go back to the pizza.Their entrees are pretty good as well. They serve moderate portions that are not heavy. I have to admit, the place is a bit stuffy. Inside is quiet, awkwardly. You'll eat on dainty mismatched china, which I found cute. If your dressed down and are looking for a good conversation at a normal level, I recommend asking if you can sit out back or on the porch.
(4)
C. M.
Though they have been in business since 2002 this was our first trip to the restaurant. The house is a lovely original house that would be easy to believe is a residence if not for the sign in front. We were seated in the front room that has the fireplace and view of the front porch. There is also a side room and a back patio that would be lovely in cooler temperatures. Since we were there on the day that the Olympics opening ceremonies were occurring it was not busy at all (not so good for them, great for us). Service was very attentive and correctly handled, especially the wine presentation. Our server was glad to see us and made a nice conversation about the area. The wine list was very solid with many choices at different price points but nothing that would require a home equity loan to afford. There is a nice balance between old and new world selections with a small edge to California/Washington. We selected a Charles Krug Chardonnay - slightly off the beaten path but a nice bottle. The food - we started with the crab and mushroom cheesecake that was very good. It is lighter than you would expect and had good crab flavor that was not overbearing; a great starter to the meal. Next we had the house salad and the spinach salad, both of which were outstanding. The dressing complemented the greens rather than drowning them and the goat cheese and blue cheese added great flavor. Main courses were the Shrimp & Grits and the pan seared Scallops. Both dishes were excellent. The Shrimp and grits had the correct amount of spice to make you pay attention but not dull your taste buds for the grits. The scallops were cooked all the way through without being chewy (how do they do that?) and the sauce was wonderful. As you can tell, they went from strength to strength throughout the meal and it was a great dining experience. We heard the chef/owner commanding things from the kitchen a couple of times, an indication of their passion and attention to detail. If you are in town, make sure you have at least lunch here - we did not try their pizza but heard great things from the locals; and we highly recommend dinner. Bon Appetit!
(5)
Leala V.
Cute restaurant in a house. The owners live on the second story and do the cooking for the restaurant. We arrived slightly before the restaurant opened on a Sunday after church. We were offered a spot at the bar to wait until the dinning room opened. They had a $2 bloody mary special. It was pretty decent but I was not feeling well so I only had one. When you sit down, they bring you a small plate of little scones. They were warm, fresh, and quite tasty. As an appetizer I ordered their special which was a cold yogurt, ginger and cucumber soup. It had a very nice flavor. As the main dish, my friend and I shared a white pizza topped with chicken. It was New York style. We both enjoyed it but were full after two slices each so we got to take the rest home. I only wish I had more time in town to go back and sample some of their other menu items. This place would be ideal for a nice evening out for a couple or a small group.
(4)
Andy B.
This is in Bay St Louis, on the gulf outside New Orleans, but Qype does not understand this. Very nicely laid out inside and out, in an attractive old house. Nice greeting, pleasant & attentive staff. Medium length wine list that has been thought and tasted through. Very reasonably priced quality Californian wines, e.g. from Alexander Valley. Bit of a confusion as 'specials' were rattled off, but natives probably can cope well enough with this. Short menu of well thought out dishes, with some simple (and all the better for it) fish and a little fusion. Well and carefully prepared with excellent veg decorations. Sensible sized portions. First class desserts. Detour if in the area, a bit of an oasis.. Reasonably priced . Re-visited Nov 2011 and still up to spec!
Delicious food! Good prices. $3 mimosas $6 for the double. The crabmeat omelette was fabulous. Would def get again. We will be back!
(5)
Angie T.
Originally a pair of eighteenth century Acadian cottages that were joined to make one residence, it now houses the Sycamore House, a lovely restaurant perfect for any special occasion. It oozes southern charm and is oh so romantic. The service was top notch from the bartender down to the server who brought out our entrees. For starters we decided on the barbecue shrimp and the Thai scallops. The scallops were definitely the star of the entire show. Jumbo pan seared scallops served with cellophane noodles and peanut sauce with an Asian lime vinaigrette. Exquisite. The barbecue shrimp were just ok. They serve it with a sauce that is slightly sweet and I felt that that aspect could be left out. Spicy BBQ shrimp are better, in my opinion. I chose the salmon for my entree and it was cooked perfectly and served with jalapeño garlic butter. Very, very tasty. All in all it was a great experience and I'll be back for sure. Their brunch menu looks awesome. Mimosas, anyone?
(4)
Jeff S.
Wonderful meal! The four of us (husband, brother-in-law and his wife) were here to celebrate their anniversary. Starters included mussels, house salad, spinach salad and chorizo flautas. Entrees included shrimp in a beurre blanc sauce, shrimp and grits, black drum amandine and filet mignon. All were excellent with only one slight disappointment. The chorizo flautas did not live up to their description (chorizo should have a very distinctive "bite" to it and this did not). Dessert was home made ice cream. Will return to try different things when in Bay St. Louis. One annoyance that the owner should fix: the driveway needs to be repaired so be careful if you pull in back to park.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate, Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Matt R.
The Sycamore house is a top notch eatery in the small town of Bay St. Louis. For not being on the water, the restaurant makes up for it with the charm of an old southern plantation set amongst beautiful trees and landscaping. The food here is some of the best in BSL. We started with the crabmeat and mushroom cheesecake, which was awesome, and then I had the turtle soup followed by the ropa viejo. All three dishes lived up to expectations and really hit the spot. If you do choose to eat here, prepare for higher prices and for a quiet environment. The restaurant is perfect for a date night or a special occasion, but isn't the best for large loud groups or little kids. BOTTOM LINE: Some of the most flavorful food in BSL... great for a date night or special occasion.
(4)CORINA C.
Food was great. The have poke on the menu, and having just come back from Hawaii, we had to try it. Very tasty. The server was very attentive. Very reasonable wine list. Only thing keeping me from giving four stars was the amount of time that passed between the apps and the main course.
(4)Joshua G.
If the restaurants on the beach are a bit too touristy for you, I'd recommend coming inland and visiting this is a cute little spot with casual seating and a cool back porch. Its no less touristy but at least you feel less like a schmuck when you eat here. They have pizza. Some random quasi-Mediterranean dishes. A duck confit. A couple po' boys. Boring... I would have really liked to find some home style rice and beans. Or a crawfish stew. Something seasonal. Something regional. I expected a menu as beautiful and unique as the people I met around town and The Sycamore House really let me down. Sorry, guys!
(2)Erin B.
I give the pizza 5 stars but everything else 3. They serve the best pizza I have ever eaten. If you like olives you must try the Mediterranean pizza. We highly recommend the bbq shrimp pizza. I craving it just thinking about it. We try the entrees often but always go back to the pizza.Their entrees are pretty good as well. They serve moderate portions that are not heavy. I have to admit, the place is a bit stuffy. Inside is quiet, awkwardly. You'll eat on dainty mismatched china, which I found cute. If your dressed down and are looking for a good conversation at a normal level, I recommend asking if you can sit out back or on the porch.
(4)C. M.
Though they have been in business since 2002 this was our first trip to the restaurant. The house is a lovely original house that would be easy to believe is a residence if not for the sign in front. We were seated in the front room that has the fireplace and view of the front porch. There is also a side room and a back patio that would be lovely in cooler temperatures. Since we were there on the day that the Olympics opening ceremonies were occurring it was not busy at all (not so good for them, great for us). Service was very attentive and correctly handled, especially the wine presentation. Our server was glad to see us and made a nice conversation about the area. The wine list was very solid with many choices at different price points but nothing that would require a home equity loan to afford. There is a nice balance between old and new world selections with a small edge to California/Washington. We selected a Charles Krug Chardonnay - slightly off the beaten path but a nice bottle. The food - we started with the crab and mushroom cheesecake that was very good. It is lighter than you would expect and had good crab flavor that was not overbearing; a great starter to the meal. Next we had the house salad and the spinach salad, both of which were outstanding. The dressing complemented the greens rather than drowning them and the goat cheese and blue cheese added great flavor. Main courses were the Shrimp & Grits and the pan seared Scallops. Both dishes were excellent. The Shrimp and grits had the correct amount of spice to make you pay attention but not dull your taste buds for the grits. The scallops were cooked all the way through without being chewy (how do they do that?) and the sauce was wonderful. As you can tell, they went from strength to strength throughout the meal and it was a great dining experience. We heard the chef/owner commanding things from the kitchen a couple of times, an indication of their passion and attention to detail. If you are in town, make sure you have at least lunch here - we did not try their pizza but heard great things from the locals; and we highly recommend dinner. Bon Appetit!
(5)Leala V.
Cute restaurant in a house. The owners live on the second story and do the cooking for the restaurant. We arrived slightly before the restaurant opened on a Sunday after church. We were offered a spot at the bar to wait until the dinning room opened. They had a $2 bloody mary special. It was pretty decent but I was not feeling well so I only had one. When you sit down, they bring you a small plate of little scones. They were warm, fresh, and quite tasty. As an appetizer I ordered their special which was a cold yogurt, ginger and cucumber soup. It had a very nice flavor. As the main dish, my friend and I shared a white pizza topped with chicken. It was New York style. We both enjoyed it but were full after two slices each so we got to take the rest home. I only wish I had more time in town to go back and sample some of their other menu items. This place would be ideal for a nice evening out for a couple or a small group.
(4)Andy B.
This is in Bay St Louis, on the gulf outside New Orleans, but Qype does not understand this. Very nicely laid out inside and out, in an attractive old house. Nice greeting, pleasant & attentive staff. Medium length wine list that has been thought and tasted through. Very reasonably priced quality Californian wines, e.g. from Alexander Valley. Bit of a confusion as 'specials' were rattled off, but natives probably can cope well enough with this. Short menu of well thought out dishes, with some simple (and all the better for it) fish and a little fusion. Well and carefully prepared with excellent veg decorations. Sensible sized portions. First class desserts. Detour if in the area, a bit of an oasis.. Reasonably priced . Re-visited Nov 2011 and still up to spec!
(4)Patton T.
Comfortable setting in a historic house near the heart of old town Bay St. Louis with paintings of local artists hung throughout the dining rooms. The menu was creative, and it was good to see they offered a "grilled" section for fish and meats. Rather than just accepting the starch side that came with the entrée, I asked for a second vegetable in place of the starch, and it was "no problem." The food was good and the service was efficient. As mentioned in another review, the chef/owners live on the second floor, so be prepared to hear footsteps and sometimes the stomping of little feet from above during your meal if the children are upstairs.
(3)Billy B.
Killer food. Very friendly.
(5)Megan B.
Delicious food! Good prices. $3 mimosas $6 for the double. The crabmeat omelette was fabulous. Would def get again. We will be back!
(5)Angie T.
Originally a pair of eighteenth century Acadian cottages that were joined to make one residence, it now houses the Sycamore House, a lovely restaurant perfect for any special occasion. It oozes southern charm and is oh so romantic. The service was top notch from the bartender down to the server who brought out our entrees. For starters we decided on the barbecue shrimp and the Thai scallops. The scallops were definitely the star of the entire show. Jumbo pan seared scallops served with cellophane noodles and peanut sauce with an Asian lime vinaigrette. Exquisite. The barbecue shrimp were just ok. They serve it with a sauce that is slightly sweet and I felt that that aspect could be left out. Spicy BBQ shrimp are better, in my opinion. I chose the salmon for my entree and it was cooked perfectly and served with jalapeño garlic butter. Very, very tasty. All in all it was a great experience and I'll be back for sure. Their brunch menu looks awesome. Mimosas, anyone?
(4)Jeff S.
Wonderful meal! The four of us (husband, brother-in-law and his wife) were here to celebrate their anniversary. Starters included mussels, house salad, spinach salad and chorizo flautas. Entrees included shrimp in a beurre blanc sauce, shrimp and grits, black drum amandine and filet mignon. All were excellent with only one slight disappointment. The chorizo flautas did not live up to their description (chorizo should have a very distinctive "bite" to it and this did not). Dessert was home made ice cream. Will return to try different things when in Bay St. Louis. One annoyance that the owner should fix: the driveway needs to be repaired so be careful if you pull in back to park.
(4)