Date night with your significant other has the potential to be such a fun experience. After a long day at work or a busy week with one too many commitments, date night is a great way for you and that someone special to relax, unwind, and come together over a few drinks and a great meal.
Unless of course, your better half is like mine and doesn’t want to go anywhere. Ever. At all. I want somewhere with great drinks, delicious food, and a super cool atmosphere. My husband prefers the couch. Luckily, we came across an amazing little gem in Ocean Springs that, by some miracle, provided the perfect backdrop for a fun and breezy date night: 701 Craft.
Located above Eat Drink Love, 701 Craft is another brainchild of the effortlessly clever Lauren Taranto. Having been a fangirl of Taranto’s for many years, I was all too eager to check out 701 Craft and, naturally, I was not disappointed. Boasting a very cool speakeasy vibe, 701 Craft is the ying to Eat Drink Love’s yang. Taranto wanted an elevated bar atmosphere, combining the incredibly delicious elements of her lunch and catering menus with a craft cocktail offering like no other. Everything fuses together in perfect harmony and 701 Craft is easily a premier destination for drinks after work, a night out with the girls and, most importantly for me, a perfectly executed date night.
Taranto and her team of skilled bartenders wanted to better understand the science behind the drinks before piecing together a well thought out cocktail menu. All of their syrups and drink accents are made in house, using as much of the fruit or herb as possible. Each drink is handcrafted to order and while the menu showcases only a number of drinks, there’s definitely something for everyone. The Oh. Wow. features a mixture of Fernet Branca along with strawberry shrub, lemon, and ginger beer. The small addition of rhubarb bitters cuts the sweetness and makes this a scrumptiously balanced cocktail. The Mambo #69 is a customer favorite and is 701’s take on a classic margarita. Tequila, honey, pineapple shrub, and ginger beer are a few of the ingredients that add a simple twist on this classic drink. The jalapeño sugar and salt rim add the right amount of bite with each sip.
In addition to an impeccable cocktail menu, the food is everything you’ve come to know and love from Taranto. The shareables are absolutely amazing, and we were lucky enough to sample most all of them. The Za’atar Whipped Feta Dip with house fried pita and panko artichokes is sinfully rich and good. The Chickarones are fried chicken thighs tossed in a house orange ginger sauce and compliment the Truffle Fries perfectly. The Crispy Shrimp is Taranto’s variation on a simple spring roll featuring tail-on shrimp fried in a wonton wrapper.
My personal favorite is the Citrus Shrimp Salad, which fuses Cajun-boiled shrimp with a bright citrus kick. My advice is to order them all.
Once you make it past the shareables, 701 offers the perfect selection of burgers and pizza. The Americano Burger is 701’s version of a classic smash burger. Pressed and grilled to order, the Americano gives all the diner feels and is topped with a secret, housemade burger sauce. If you are like me and pizza is your go-to, then you must try the Triple Pickle Pizza.
I admit I was skeptical of this tart and salty creation, but everything about it works. Set on a gluten-free cauliflower crust, this dilly masterpiece is layered with ranch dressing, dill pickles, pickled okra, pickled jalapeños, and a four cheese blend. Crushed salt and vinegar potato chips are sprinkled on top, followed by a Louisiana hot sauce drizzle. It’s everything you didn’t know you wanted in a pizza.
Any evening at 701 Craft is going to be an absolute success. Taranto is incredibly proud of her dedicated team, as well as her loyal customer following. You can check out 701 Craft during lunch, but make it a point to grab a friend and go for an evening out. With an impeccable view, 701 Craft is a great place to unwind while the sun sets and reconnect with someone special.
701 Craft
701 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs
228.217.7160
www.701craft.com
Instagram @701craft
Facebook @701craft
Hours:
Tuesday 11am – 3pm
Wednesday-Thursday 11am – 11pm
Friday-Saturday 11am – midnight
Sunday-Monday closed
