The Love Shack brings laid-back vibe to downtown Ocean Springs

Dr. Greg and Karen Horn in the doorway of their new business venture, The Love Shack Bar & Grill on Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs.(Warren Kulo/The Mississippi Press)

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Walking into The Love Shack Bar & Grill, one immediately gets the sense of being in a beachside bar, with a laid-back, casual atmosphere prevalent.

But Dr. Greg and Karen Horn's new business venture isn't on the beach, it's on Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs, just west of the TatoNut Donut Shop.

"My husband and I normally go to St. Thomas (Virgin Islands) two or three times a year and we go to a place called Duffy's Love Shack," Karen Horn explained about the name they chose and the atmosphere they're trying to create. "We love it because it's real laid-back, chilled out.

"We wanted a place like that, something that reflects us, because we adore each other. We wanted something that was us, a place people could come and have a kind, no-stress atmosphere where people are nice."

Greg Horn has been a practicing obstetrician for years in Ocean Springs. As if delivering scores of Ocean Springs babies wasn't enough, he has eight children of his own. It's his experience spending years cooking for all those kids that led him to this latest venture.

"I cook constantly at home," he said. "I have eight kids. That's part of what makes me feel good -- making other people feel good by letting them enjoy good food and drink. That's what it's all about. Helping people manage a good time."

At first glance, The Love Shack menu appears to be standard bar fare, featuring hamburgers, wings and chicken tenders. But a closer look reveals that while it may be bar food, it's bar food on steroids.

Take the wings, for example. While they offer traditional Buffalo wings, they also offer Caribbean-style wings, which feature a Jamaican spice blend. The chicken tenders are deep fried in a batter made of Cheez-Its.

Then there's the hamburgers.

All of The Love Shack's burgers can be made with either Angus or Kobe beef, or bison. The "Dirty Lover Burger" features bourbon caramelized onion and goat cheese, while the "Hot Lover Burger" features stuffed Jalapeno cheddar cheese.

For those of more substantial appetites, there is the "Boom Boom Burger," with two 1/3-pound patties with cheddar cheese, bacon, and grilled onions on a ciabatta roll.

"We have the best hamburgers, I think, in the state," Karen Horn says. "They put a lot of people's to shame, they're so good."

Even the hot dogs aren't your run-of-the-mill hot dogs. Imported from New York, The Love Shack hot dogs are available in both veal and beef.

There are also chicken and pork sandwiches, salads with homemade dressings, shrimp and fish tacos, and a kids' menu.

"We wanted everything to be where when you ate it, you were like "Wow!" Karen Horn said. "I'm just very pleased with how the food's turned out."

The Love Shack also offers a full-service bar which will also feature occasional live entertainment.

"We'll do (live entertainment) some," Karen Horn said. "We probably won't do it all the time. We're going to have some local people come in and play for us and we'll have karaoke sometimes. It just makes the mood lighter and everybody has a good time. Everybody likes good music."

Currently, The Love Shack is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday; 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

The kitchen typically closes at 9 p.m., but Karen Horn said they keep it open later when business warrants.

The Love Shack Bar & Grill is located at 1110B Government Street in Ocean Springs.

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