>> Fallon’s Gourmet is one of those restaurants in Gulfport, MS where everyone is treated like extended family and you’ll be fed like your Southern momma was cooking.
It was just lunch. That’s how it started. My friend Andy brought me to a place that he said, “I know you are gonna love.” And you know what? He was right. I fell just a little.
It started with meatloaf, and with each visit, I fell a little deeper. I tried shrimp, chicken, mac and cheese, salads and each time I would return hungry again, wanting more.
The Atmosphere
Fallon’s Cafe isn’t exactly your standard fare restaurant. It’s one of those special hidden places where the owner may yell “hello” at you from across the small area that makes up the 6 or so tables. It’s a place where the cash register may be run by the owner Fallon Ramage, or her right hand woman. But once you’ve been one or two times, they remember you, appreciate you and take excellent care of you.
Fallon’s isn’t fancy. There are no white tablecloths or light jazz music playing. You won’t be served on fine china and, yes, you need to fix your own drink and grab your own silverware. But to me, it feels like chipping in at a friend’s house for lunch. It’s more than a restaurant; everyone that walks in the door is greeted and treated like extended family. And yes, you’ll be fed like your Southern momma was cooking.
Smoked Chicken Day
Recently I stopped in on a Thursday, and inside Fallon’s, the air lingered with a slight fog of smoke. This heavenly mist gently screams at customers that it’s “smoked chicken day.” I opted for the chicken strips, and yet again was rewarded with another excellent meal. Chicken wrapped with rich smoke with perfect seasoning and perfectly cooked to keep it juicy serves up a home run in a whole new flavor ballgame. It’s almost comical that some of the best smoked chicken on the Mississippi Gulf Coast doesn’t actually happen at a barbecue restaurant. But it’s the truth. My Smoked Chicken Plate was rounded out with macaroni and cheese and lima beans.
Top Pick for Salad
Most recently, I had the Chicken Salad Salad which has to be one of my all time favorite chicken salads. There’s flavor in the chicken, there’s the crunch from the candied roasted pecans and the sweet acid of the mandarin oranges and thinly sliced red onions that all form into the grandest bites of flavor in the chicken salad world. Trust me on this, you’ll want to bring a friend to start this new relationship, because then you can taste two dishes on your first trip – and one of those tastes should be this salad.
Let’s Talk About the Mac and Cheese.
So beloved here in the South that, it’s granted status as honorary vegetable at most eating establishments. Fallon’s twist has all the usual cheese nestled around the macaroni, but it’s also topped with additional cheddar and a dusting of some Fallon magic and fresh parsley that just makes Fallon’s mac and cheese a smashing success – every bit as good on the fork as it is easy on the eyes.
Finally there’s dessert.
Sure, she’s got a brownie. It’s a really good brownie. Ordinarily, if you offer me a brownie, I’ll eat it, especially the edge-of-the-pan-part-of-the-brownie. However, for me the real heart breaker on the Fallon’s dessert lineup is her Banana Pudding. It’s fresh. It’s rich. It’s creamy. It’s everything you want in a dessert relationship. Sweet, hint of crunch, healthy fruit and a little whipped cream for fun. You will leave with a new dessert crush. You can trust me on this.
So don’t take my word for it, walk in and experience Fallon’s for yourself. See if the aroma of banana pudding, mac and cheese, smoked chicken or meatloaf don’t make your heart skip a beat. I bet that you, too, will be falling in love with my favorite new lunch spot on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Please Note: This place isn’t huge. In fact, it’s downright tiny. The parking lot is also tricky out front, so I simply drive through the main parking lot around to the back of the restaurant where there’s a bit more space. Plus, you’ll need the short walk to your car to get your blood flowing after a meal at Fallon’s anyway.
One other note, Fallon’s provides an excellent catering lineup. She also has a well stocked “to-go” fridge and freezer, so you can take supper home or grab a food gift for someone who needs a pick-me-up while you’re there. If you’re traveling, this is a great spot to grab condo food if eating out every meal of your trip isn’t the best fit.
> Fallon’s Cafe / Catering / Gourmet to Go is located conveniently at 2308 Highway 49 in Gulfport, on the east side just north of downtown. They are open 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday for pick-up of gourmet items or catering orders. They also serve hot plate lunches, sandwiches and salads on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit them online at fallonsgourmet.com.