Page 44 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2019

DINING doing big things
Makes
TOP 10 SMALL CHAINS LIST
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster Hphoto courtesy of Half Shell Oyster House
alf Shell Oyster House, a Gulf Coast classic, was recently named one of TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Small Chains. Others listed with Half Shell were the likes of Eddie V’s Prime
Seafood, J. Alexander’s and Fogo de Chão.
“This is an amazing award for us,” said Kevin Fish, vice president of real estate for Half Shell. “We have won local awards in virtually every
city we do business
in, and even regional ones like Best Seafood in Mississippi by Mississippi magazine. That said, to win a national award like this when compared to the best restaurants in the country, well, it’s simply fantastic.”
TripAdvisor
recognizes top
restaurants based
on a year’s worth
of reviews from
actual customers.
“What makes it so
special is that it’s not
determined by one judge or a small panel; this is the feedback of thousands of our customers throughout our chain who won this for us,” Fish said.
Starting with a single location in downtown Gulfport, Half Shell has expanded to 11 locations throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida.
When asked about the restaurant’s success,
Fish thanked the chain’s dedicated customers and exceptional staff.
story and photo courtesy of Mississippi Coast Restaurant & Beverage Association
S
ita La’Cap, owner of Le Café Beignet, grew up
on Lameuse Street in Biloxi, the same street
where her restaurant is located today. She
opened the café in 2012, offering beignets, gourmet food, and providing a unique atmosphere for locals and tourists.
Sita La’Cap, Owner of Le Café Beignet
Half Shell’s rst restaurant located in downtown Gulfport.
La’Cap has a background in banking and mortgage brokerage. She became interested in the revitalization project for downtown Biloxi, hoping her restaurant would set a trend for
other boutique-type cafés to follow. “I met with
the Rue Vieux Group, and they explained what their vision was for their targeted project. That’s when I decided to open Le Café Beignet,” she said.
La’Cap likes preparing everything on the menu, but her favorite is the Southern Crab Stack because of its unique plating and fresh ingredients.
She says determination
is the key to a successful career in the restaurant industry. “Know your competition, and understand every month it could change in a growing economy,” she added. “Attend as many classes as possible to manage properly, and always be available to your team.”
Le Café Beignet is located at 124 Lameuse Street, Biloxi, and is a member of the Mississippi Coast Restaurant & Beverage Association.
44 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2019
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BILOXI CAFE HELPING
Revitalize Downtown