Non-seafood eaters need read no further! While they can easily make almost anyone a seafood lover...seafood-savvy palates will be delighted with Mary Mahoney's. Located on the Biloxi Strip, Mary Mahoney's Old French House is a local favorite and tourist must-see! The history of the building itself is worth a visit. The Old French House was built in 1773 during the French occupation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Listed on the National Register of Historic Homes, The Old French House is one of the oldest homes in the United States. The house was purchased and opened as a restaurant in 1964 by the Mahoney family; Bob and Mary Mahoney, as well as Mary's brother, Andrew Cvintanovich. Soon the restaurant was called Mary Mahoney's Old French House and, to locals, simply Mahoney's. The old French house has many typically French features; a wine cellar, rare in coastal homes, a brick courtyard typical of New Orleans, shaded by a 2000-year-old oak tree that locals call "The Patriarch", and magnificent dining rooms with high ceilings that capture what it must have felt like to live and enjoy your meals in such a magnificent home. Taking advantage of the availability of fresh, locally sourced seafood, Mahoney's menu is large and varied enough to offer something for every day of the week. However, if time is not on your side, stick to the specialty. Start with the “can’t go wrong” Presidential Platter, filled with fried crab claws and small soft-shell crabs; the aptly named Presidential Platter after being served to President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1984. Follow your crab claws and soft-shell crabs with the world-famous seafood gumbo With a rich, dark roux, this gumbo is meant to be shared Not too spicy but has a bit of...... middle of paper ......ent events. .Fine cuisine, exceptional service and a solid history are a tall order for a restaurant. Many restaurants have tried to meet these criteria, but few can truly say they have succeeded; Mary Mahoney's fills the order. Don't compare Mary Mahoney's to chain seafood restaurants or the typical tourist trap, Mahoney's is a true local cuisine experience. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the restaurant with eight feet of water. Mary Mahoney's reopened on November 3, 2005, just 65 days after the storm hit the Gulf Coast. Many say that “the Patriarch” protected the restaurant. After all, the great oak has withstood numerous storms for 2,000 years. “The Patriarch” and Mahoney’s both have an abundance of stories. If you're visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast and love seafood, Mary Mahoney's is a must! If you're a local, head to Mahoney's!