Bradley T.
Yelp
I was really impressed with Vestige after eating there for dinner tonight. Being from Ocean Springs, it was nice to see a restaurant like this - there isn't another like it in town. It reminds me of other places I have dined at in bigger cities and at restaurants I've been to of world-renowned chefs. So, it's really fantastic to have a place like this nearby.
We decided to stick with water tonight (it's so hot out!) but had a number of small plates to start. The soup of the day was almost like a deconstructed gazpacho that was incredibly refreshing and full of different bites of flavor and herbs. Very good. We also got the scallops - perfectly cooked and delicious - and the crab and corn, which was impeccably seasoned. I loved the sweet corn a lot. Not to mention the fresh bread and citrus butter, which really are the best I've had at a restaurant anywhere.
For the meal, I got the duck confit which was delightful with it's coffee glaze and I loved it being on top of grits. The garnishes of squash, dried fruit, and bacon went perfectly with the duck, and the crispy skin was to die for. My companions had the pork chop (which was a lot of meat, but amazingly cooked and perfect with a side of grits or potatoes if you need a starch) and more scallops and the salad with fresh ricotta and oranges. For sides, I'd definitely recommend the grits (perfectly creamy and you can tell they are stone ground) or the potatoes, which (admittedly) I was originally disappointed with. They look like cubed hash browns / (was wanting creamy mashed potatoes) but they are the best I've ever had and not at all greasy as you may think.
Finally (as if there were room) we shared desserts. We went with the chocolate coffee cake and, although chocolate isn't my thing, it was really creamy and very well done. I enjoyed the whipped cream on the side and the smoky bacon caramel. I much preferred the Arnold Palmer dessert because I could not get enough of the lemon semifreddo - it was so light and fluffy and full of the flavor you'd get out of a custard without the feeling of a brick in your stomach. The earl grey cakes were also perfectly moist and tasty, with a "caramel" topping that was not overly sweet and still had flavor. Definitely would recommend it!
Overall, it's a great place to save up for (as my mom said). The service was not exceptionally fast, but I don't expect that at a restaurant like this. The servers were both friendly and came by to check on us often and refill water. The restaurant itself is simple and beautiful, and although small, it never feels crowded. I'd recommend coming with a couple people on your first trip to sample a number of dishes, but from what I tasted and saw other tables get, I don't know that you can choose poorly.