Dive into Fresh Fare at Sea Level

Coast Cuisine - April 2024

Even when the weather’s not perfect, you will likely see a line of customers waiting to order an award-winning burger or other “fresh fare with a coastal flair” at Sea Level on the Pass Christian beach.
 
– By Lisa Monti

The flavorful Jamaican jerk chicken tacos at Sea Level are dressed with a mango salsa and accompanied by hand-cut French fries.

 
There was already a line of customers ordering lunch at Sea Level when we pulled into the parking lot inside the Pass Christian Harbor.
 
On this cloudless, breezy Thursday ahead of Easter weekend, Sea Level’s open-air dining area was busy. Children played with beach toys in the sand next to their family’s picnic table while a crew of workers in uniforms chowed down on burgers and tacos at a nearby table. A couple played corn hole near the water’s edge while they waited for their order and another couple sat nearby taking it all in while their two leashed dogs rested alongside in the table’s cool shade.
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Even when the weather’s not as perfect as this day’s was, you will likely see a line of customers waiting to order an award-winning burger or other “fresh fare with a coastal flair.”
 
But don’t let that line dissuade you, because the team inside this portable food stand knows how to keep things moving along.
 
Owner Kyle Thomas said preparing Sea Level’s menu of sandwiches, tacos, salads and other beach fare in the compact workspace is a challenge. Inside, there’s a grill, three countertop fryers, a steam table, a cold prep table for dressing the burgers, and two refrigerators.
 

What could be better than enjoying Sea Level's classic cheeseburger at a picnic table on the water?

 
“It’s so small you can’t add one more employee, so we try to keep it at five. It’s tricky. There’s a lot of bumping into each other and saying ‘excuse me, sorry,’” he said.
 
Two employees handle cooking duties, two work the order windows, and one cuts fries, rolls the burgers and helps with cooking. Orders are delivered in paper containers on small metal trays to your table.
 
Kyle was in high school when he went to work at Sea Level about two weeks after it opened seven years ago. When the owners decided last year to sell the restaurant, Kyle, their longtime manager, got his wish to buy it. “I always told them I wanted to own the place,” he said.
 

You can see the bacon peeking out of Sea Level's bacon cheeseburger.

 
Sea Level describes its food as “delicious and affordable American classics,” with prices topping out at around $7. Since it opened, the restaurant has built up a following among locals and regular visitors to the Coast and its signature hamburger and seafood tacos, Sea Level’s two best-sellers, have won fans and awards.
 
“Everything’s fresh. Our burgers are 100 percent freshly made every morning,” Kyle said. Both of the available burger options are made with Angus beef and served on a toasted brioche bun. The Classic is one quarter-pound patty dressed, and the Sea Level Burger has two quarter-pound burgers topped with American and Monterey Jack cheeses.
 
The next top sellers are the grilled blackened shrimp taco and the mahi taco, also grilled and blackened and served with pico de gallo and crema, both made in-house. Kyle said the shrimp and mahi both come from the Gulf.
 

That bacon cheeseburger looked so good we had to feature it again!

 
On our recent lunch visit, the classic burger with fries and an order of shrimp tacos, shared for a taste of the top menu favorites, were fresh-tasting and full of flavor, just as advertised.
 
For a bit of variety, the menu features also includes Jamaican jerk chicken on a flour tortilla topped with zesty mango salsa. Pork carnitas are served with salsa verde and queso fresco wrapped in a flour tortilla.
 
Hot dog fans can enjoy a popular Nathan's wiener dressed with sauerkraut and classic condiments or a Nathan’s “Beach Dog” topped with chili, melted Monterey Jack cheese and onions.
 
Grilled chicken is served three ways: in a sandwich, in a salad or in a wrap with various cheeses, veggies and dressings.
 

Other fan favorites include their signature gouda bites (left) and grilled shrimp tacos (right).

Sea Level sides feature the creamy, deep fried macaroni and smoked Gouda bites, fresh hand-cut fries, creamy potato salad, nachos, and grilled cheese on a buttery brioche bun.
 
Snowballs – that warm weather go-to treat – come in 56 flavors, including classics like coconut and unusual varieties like dill pickle.
 
This will be Kyle’s first full summer as owner, and he said he’s ready for “business as usual.” As the weather starts to warm up, so does business at Sea Level.
 
“We try to be open all year,” he said. “It all depends on the weather.” Should the weather turn seriously bad, the wheeled wagon is hooked up to a semi and hauled to a safe place until things clear up.
 
When the weather isn’t cooperating with outdoor dining, you can still enjoy Sea Level’s beach fare by calling in your order for pickup. The crew will deliver your food right to your vehicle.
 
Sea Level
3 Hiern Ave. (inside the Harbor), Pass Christian
(228) 493-5999
Daily 11 am - 8 pm summer, 11 am - 7 pm winter
[email protected]
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