There’s shrimp in this Mississippi gumbo. There’s crab, too. And then a whole crab claw pokes out of the dark roux like it has something to say.
Now that’s a soup with personality.
The restaurant sits inside a rebuilt historic-style beach house beneath towering oaks. It’s got the kind of front porch that makes you forget you were only stopping for lunch.
Grab a seat outside, and you’ve got the Gulf of Mexico in view and a steaming bowl in front of you. The sea breeze can do its thing. You’ve got more important business with that spoon.
And don’t rush the crab claws. Getting every last bit of meat out is practically a second course.
The Gulf can have the view, but that gumbo has my undivided attention.
That Dark Roux Gumbo Deserves The First Spoonful Of Your Fall
Cool weather on the coast calls for one thing, and it comes in a bowl. The Chimneys Restaurant serves a Seafood Gumbo the kitchen calls its dark roux version of the classic.
Dark roux takes patience, since flour and fat cook slowly until they turn deep brown. That slow cooking builds the toasty base that gives this style of gumbo its rich backbone.
The seafood here is no afterthought. Shrimp, crab, and crab claws all go into the pot.
Crab claws in gumbo are a fun little treasure hunt with every spoonful. You get to fish one out and feel like you won something.
Fall is the perfect time to order it. The air on the Mississippi coast finally cools down, and a hot bowl suddenly makes total sense.
Gumbo also works as a smart starter if you’re sharing with friends. Order a bowl, pass spoons around, and let everyone decide who gets the last claw.
Fair warning, that last part may start an argument. A polite one, of course, because this is a white-tablecloth spot.
Either way, this is the dish to try first on a chilly coastal evening.
Find The Driveway Under The Oaks And You’ve Found Dinner
Big oak trees frame this restaurant, and it looks more like a home than a dining room. That’s because The Chimneys Restaurant sits in a rebuilt historic house on the Gulfport waterfront.
You’ll find it at 1640 E Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501. The spot faces the water along the beach road, with lush greenery all around.
Drive slowly as you get close. The entrance looks like an old residential driveway, so it’s easy to roll right past it.
That small challenge is part of the charm. It feels like visiting a friend’s beach house that happens to serve crab cakes.
Parking is limited on the property, so arriving a little early helps. Booking ahead is a smart move too, especially on weekend nights.
The setting makes the whole meal feel calmer. Tall trees soften the busy road, and the water stays in view across the way.
It’s a lovely place for a slow evening on the Mississippi coast. Leave enough time to enjoy the drive along the beach before dinner.
Then follow the oaks inside and let the gumbo take it from there.
Grab A Porch Table And Let The Gulf Do The Decorating
Some restaurants hang ocean paintings on the wall. This one just points you at the real thing.
The covered front porch is one of the most loved seats at The Chimneys Restaurant. From there, you can look out toward the Gulf of Mexico through the trees.
Fall makes porch dining even better. The summer heat backs off, and sitting outside feels comfortable again.
A covered porch also means a passing shower won’t ruin your meal. You can stay cozy and keep watching the coast.
The restaurant calls this space its veranda, and it’s easy to see why people request it. It mixes a laid-back beach mood with a refined dinner setting.
Ask for porch seating when you reserve if that’s your goal. Those tables are popular, and good views rarely stay open long.
Prefer to stay indoors? Large front windows give many inside tables a water view too.
So you get options either way. Breezy porch or cozy dining room, the Gulf still shows up for dinner.
Just don’t blame anyone if your gumbo cools a little while you stare at the water.
Four Homes Later, The Story Still Ends With Supper
Here’s a fun fact: the restaurant you visit today is the fourth version of The Chimneys. The name has been feeding the coast since 1985.
Peter and Dix Nord bought the property on East Beach Boulevard in early 1999. The business opened there in March 2000 as its third location.
That first building on the site was a century-old Queen Anne-style beach house. It dated to the early 1900s and stood right across from the water.
Then came August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina damaged the house completely.
Many families might have walked away after that. The Nord family chose to rebuild instead.
The new restaurant opened on January 5, 2010. It carries forward the Southern charm of the old home, with a brick fireplace that fits the name perfectly.
Knowing this history makes the meal feel bigger somehow. Every bowl of gumbo is served in a place that came back from serious loss.
That’s a very Gulf Coast kind of story. People here rebuild, reopen, and set the table again.
Snap a photo by the fireplace if you can. It’s the chimney behind the name, after all.
Trout 1640 Wears The Address Like A Badge
Naming a dish after your street number takes confidence. Trout 1640 has earned it.
The dish starts with a speckled trout fillet topped with jumbo lump crabmeat, fresh shrimp, and a light cream sauce.
The combination of speckled trout, crabmeat, shrimp, and cream sauce brings together several classic Gulf Coast flavors.
Then the kitchen piles on jumbo lump crabmeat and fresh shrimp. That’s three kinds of seafood on one plate, which feels like the coast showing off a little.
Trout is a big favorite here. It comes up a lot when people talk about meals at The Chimneys Restaurant.
If gumbo is your starter, this makes a smart main course. The flavors stay in seafood territory without repeating the same dish.
Speckled trout is a true Gulf fish. Eating it within sight of the water just feels right.
Not hungry enough for a big entree? Lunch can be a lighter way to explore the menu.
Still, trout lovers should circle this one before they arrive. It’s the dish wearing the restaurant’s own address, so it carries some pride.
Think of it as a signature with your name tag on. Hard to skip when the plate is basically introducing itself.
Steak Lovers Get Their Own Seafood Surprise
Not everyone at the table wants seafood, and that’s fine. The Chimneys Restaurant serves steaks alongside its coastal dishes.
Still, the kitchen can’t resist adding a little Gulf flair. The Blackened Stuffed Filet comes with shrimp, lump crabmeat, and mushrooms.
Blackened means the meat gets a bold spice coating and a hot sear. It’s a Southern cooking style that brings plenty of flavor.
This dish is great for groups with mixed tastes. One person can order gumbo while another goes the steak route.
The menu also covers other classic Southern dishes. That variety helps when you’re planning dinner for family members with different appetites.
Steak fans visiting the Mississippi coast don’t need to feel left out. They just might end up eating crab anyway.
It’s a sneaky move by the kitchen, and a clever one. Even the beef here has seafood on top.
Ask your server about any specials when you sit down. Nightly options can add even more choices to the lineup.
Then settle back and let the steak lovers enjoy their surprise. Sometimes the best compromise comes stuffed.
Baked Seafood Eggplant Is The Appetizer Worth Splitting
Eggplant rarely gets the spotlight. At this coastal dining room, it gets a full seafood makeover.
The Baked Seafood Eggplant is packed with shrimp, crawfish, and crabmeat. It’s a rich, Gulf-style way to start a meal.
Crawfish adds a nice twist here. It brings a Louisiana-leaning flavor that fits right in on the Mississippi coast.
This dish works well for sharing. Pass it around the table while everyone decides on entrees.
Pairing it with gumbo makes for a seafood-heavy start. Maybe split both if you want room left for the main course.
Pace yourself, though. The menu has plenty of tempting entrees still waiting.
Appetizers like this show the kitchen’s style clearly. Southern comfort meets plenty of fresh seafood.
It’s also a good pick for anyone curious about Gulf flavors. One bite covers shrimp, crawfish, and crab all at once.
Consider it the sampler platter in disguise. You get a tour of local seafood without ordering three separate dishes.
Just remember to save a fork for whoever ordered it. Sharing is caring, but grabbing the biggest bite is tempting.
Plan Your Visit Around The Right Hours
Timing matters when gumbo is the goal. The Chimneys Restaurant keeps a schedule worth knowing before you go.
Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Dinner follows from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on those same days.
Saturday is dinner only, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday brings brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mondays are closed, so don’t make that your gumbo day. Plan a beach walk instead and come back Tuesday.
Reservations are a smart idea, especially for dinner. Parking is limited, and porch tables go quickly.
The mood inside feels cozy and polished. White tablecloths, warm decor, and brick touches make it great for birthdays and date nights.
Private dining spaces are available for bigger celebrations too. That’s handy for family gatherings or special events.
Fall evenings may be the sweetest time to visit. The air cools down, the Gulf glows past the oaks, and dark-roux gumbo tastes even better.
Pick your day, book your table, and save room. A deep brown bowl of shrimp and crab is waiting by the water.