Captain Al's Steak and Seafood Restaurant Gulfport
By Chris Dearman
Whether you come by car or by boat, Captain Al's Steak and Seafood on the beautiful Bayou Benard is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy great food while taking in waterfront views.
Captain Al’s is owned by Stacey Magnussen, who with help from her brother Albert Magnussen, have grown the business their father started twenty-five years ago into one of the most popular restaurants on the Gulf Coast. Having worked in the restaurant since they were children at its original location just down the road, they have kept family traditions alive after moving to a much larger space on the water last year.
Expanding the menu, while keeping family recipes handed down from generation to generation, Stacey has created a colorful, family-friendly environment with a unique décor. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling with pictures and memorabilia of marine life, a huge tropical mural is painted on the south wall, and large fish & oversized fishing lures hanging from the ceiling. You could spend hours looking at all the cool and unusual items located throughout the restaurant.
While the vibrant decorations definitely help bring in customers, it’s the exceptional food that is the primary reason for Captain Al’s being a favorite for locals and tourists alike. Their extensive menu features a wide variety of items including fresh local seafood, steaks, sandwiches & po’boys, pasta, and more.
Start your meal with an appetizer or two from the Starters menu, where you will find a wide variety of items including crab cakes and crab claws, Honey Fire Shrimp, Royal Reds, stuffed peppers, onion straws, fried pickles, or the Appetizer Combo consisting of fried & sautéed shrimp and two crab cakes.
The Soups & Salads section also has a nice selection with their popular House Crabmeat Salad, as well as salads featuring shrimp, chicken, ribeye, or filet mignon. The Corn & Crab Bisque is a local favorite, and some say the Homemade Cajun Style Seafood Gumbo is the best of the Coast.
Oysters on the half shell are also on hand with options for raw, chargrilled, Garlic Parmesan, or the Seafood Supreme topped with lump crabmeat, shrimp, and crawfish Supreme Sauce. If you can’t decide which one to choose, you can also order the Oyster Sampler featuring all the varieties.
Daily lunch specials are served from 11 am to 2 pm, with southern staples such as red beans & rice or hamburger steak on Tuesdays, shrimp spaghetti on Wednesdays, two fried or grilled pork chops on Thursdays, and US farm-raised catfish on Fridays that is served with baked beans, French fries, and hush puppies .
If you are looking for a real treat, Captain Al’s is known for their hand-cut steaks, where you can watch them being grilled over pecan logs in an open fire pit found in the middle of the dining area. Customers like the seasoning so much, you can even purchase them to take home at the register, along with some of their house-made dressings and sauces.
You also can’t go wrong with Captain Al’s seafood, with Speckled Trout with Seafood Supreme sauce over angel hair scampi being one of the top sellers. You can also get catfish, shrimp, and lobster dinners. If you are really hungry, splurge on the Captain’s Catch, which is served on a huge fish-shaped platter with a whole lobster, boat fresh Gulf Coast boiled shrimp, a cluster of Dungeness crab, corn, and potatoes. I tried to finish it all by myself but came up short, as there definitely is enough food for more than one.
Captain Al’s new location also has a full bar, featuring a huge shark head coming out from it. You can imbibe from an extensive wine, whiskey, specialty, and frozen drinks list. They use fresh ingredients instead of pre-made mixes for their cocktails, and for a special treat, order the huge Captain’s Cure Bloody Mary. Made to order, it is garnished with a jumbo grilled jalapeño, grilled sausage, lemon, olives, three fresh gulfs fried shrimp, and a half cluster of Dungeness crab legs. You will want to have your camera ready to show your friends, as this is a meal and drink all in one!
Captain Al's Steak and Seafood is open Tuesday through Friday 11 am to 9 pm, and noon to 9 pm on Saturday. Happy Hour is from 3-6pm every day with 2 for 1 domestic and well drinks and twenty-five cent raw oysters. Saturday’s feature $10 endless mimosas. When you go, be sure to save room for a delicious slice of Stacey’s Homemade Key Lime Pie.
Captain Al's Steak and Seafood
1458 Magnolia St.
Gulfport, MS
(228) 831-5751
Chris Dearman
