Laurel, Mississippi is already well known for its hometown feel, family atmosphere and great food. Even with all the great eateries in Laurel, there is always room for more. New restaurants are popping up all around town, and these are just a few of them.
Gecko’s is a Tex-Mex style eatery that just recently opened downtown. With 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google and fresh food served daily, this new restaurant is quite popular. They offer everything from tacos to burrito bowls, and it’s served up quick. https://www.facebook.com/Geckos-Fresh-Eats-101273161582520
Carly Rosser, a Jones College sophomore, spoke highly, saying, “I really liked the atmosphere and the food was great.”
They are open Monday through Saturday with varying daily hours.
Texas Pitmaster is a barbeque style eatery. They have a location in Hattiesburg and just recently added in Laurel. This restaurant has 4.2 out of 5 stars on Google. All recipes are original, and all meat is cooked fresh. They serve typical barbeque favorites like pulled pork, ribs, baked beans and more. Texas Pitmaster is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/Texas-PitMaster-BBQ-Laurel-102453344682851
Del Sol is another restaurant that is branching out to Laurel from Hattiesburg. They have 4.4 out of 5 stars on Google. It is a sit-down restaurant that serves a variety of traditional Mexican food.
Maggie Smith, a sophomore at Jones College, said, “The food is great, and the staff members are so friendly.”
Del Sol is open Sunday through Saturday with varying daily hours.
The Bird Dog Café serves breakfast and lunch foods and is a Laurel original. It is run by two brothers who learned the art of culinary while traveling, and have returned to Laurel to open their own business. They love the community and hope their restaurant is something new and fresh to the town. Bird Dog has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google and is open Sunday through Saturday with varying daily hours. https://www.facebook.com/birddogcafe
320 Fifth Street is an eatery in Laurel known for their live music and fun atmosphere. They serve café style food and coffee and are most well-known for the events. There’s a trivia night, a brunch night, and even an open mic night. They have 5 out of 5 stars on Facebook. Overall 320 Fifth Street is a fun place to grab a bite to eat and to enjoy a night of music and fun. They are open Wednesday through Sunday with varying daily hours. https://www.facebook.com/320fifthstreet
Pasta Bella is an Italian restaurant not yet operating in Laurel but coming soon. They will serve traditional Italian food with an authentic Rome dining type atmosphere. Since Pasta Bella is not open yet, there are no reviews or operating hours, but it’s something for the small town to look forward to. For updates on this restaurant and when it will open, follow Pasta Bella of Laurel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastabellalaurel
by Ashton May
