A great Italian restaurant in Biloxi

Ever heard of Italian soul food?

I’m always on the lookout for great, local barbecue joints, but I can’t resist talking about the Italian restaurant I ate at here in Biloxi the other night.

It’s called Bragozzo, and it’s the focus of the Isle of Capri Casino’s renaissance from mid-tier casino to running with the big dogs.

The casino has obviously gone all out with this restaurant, and I have to say it’s paid off. I may have had better Italian food somewhere, but I can’t remember it.

The name comes from the Venetian fishing boat, called a bragozzo. It’s also a wine bar with a great selection of fine wines.

They make fresh pasta, hand-made, on the premises, and the flounder I had was one of the best seafood dishes I’ve ever eaten.

Even better was the dessert: Fruit crostata, a warm fruit tart with vanilla gelato and a golden raisin composta. I don’t usually go in for that sort of dessert, but I did this time on an impulse, and again, it made me want to jump and shout.

If you’re in Biloxi, if you’re anywhere on the Gulf Coast for that matter, especially if you’re an Italian food fan, you cannot do better than this place.