The Sycamore House: From Their Kitchen to Your Table

Coast Cuisine - April 2020

A pared-down menu packs all the Sycamore favorites to go, to satisfy the cravings of their loyal customer base.
 
- Story by Lisa Monti

 
The chef/owners of The Sycamore House introduced their Social Distancing menu items for pickup orders back on March 18, one of the first restaurants to do so.

They say the decision was an easy one to make. Their restaurant on Main Street, which they’ve owned since 2002, is also home to Chefs Stella LeGardeur and Michael Eastham and their two young children.
 
“We’re unique in that we live in our little shop,” said Chef Stella of the historic building that once was a boarding house. “We didn’t feel safe letting people inside with the children. We can’t take that risk. It’s not worth it.”
 
To make the change from a full service fine dining restaurant and bar, the chefs went about changing hours with its limited staff. It is now open Wednesday through Saturday, and customers can place orders from noon to 7:30 pm for pickup 4- pm.

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“We do takeout all the time because of our pizzas, so we were used to doing takeout, just not all takeout,” LeGardeur said.

Gourmet pizzas are available for pick-up

 
For customers who want a no-contact pickup, they can call in their order, have a credit card processed over the phone, and their order will be delivered curbside to their car along with a receipt.
 
“We do have a limited menu, and we’re limited to what we can purchase, too,” said LeGardeur. “Our purveyors don’t have everything; meat companies are closing, and there’s not as much fish available.”

The warm, inviting Mauffray dining room at The Sycamore House.

 
The new menu features classic dishes like grilled salmon, pan-seared fresh fish topped with almond butter sauce, and steaks. Most popular are the burgers and the gourmet pizzas with specialty toppings like barbecue shrimp or a generous variety of meats.

​Mainstay appetizers include the rich crabmeat and mushroom cheesecake and the Flauta du Jour, the restaurant’s namesake sun choke soup and salads from Caesar to the Salmon version. Dessert includes creme brûlée and house-made ice cream.

The Flauta du Jour is one of the Sycamore House's more popular appetizers.

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If you want to check on what’s available for order, check the restaurant’s Facebook page or call to receive a menu by email.
 
The Sycamore House’s tiny bar at the back entrance adjacent to the patio is closed for now, though you can get a drink in a plastic cup. “We’re not encouraging people to come and sit and socialize,” LeGardeur said.

Creme Brûlée: Who can resist the crunch of the caramelized sugar top and the creamy custard beneath?

 
She and Eastham, who were both trained at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, have learned how to make things work under the new rules.

​“It’s going okay, not ideal,” she said. “Obviously restaurants make a lot of money off alcohol sales, and people are not ordering huge amounts of food, but we’ve learned how to make things work. We run a tight ship.”
 
The Sycamore House
210 Main St
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
(228) 469-0107
http://www.thesycamorehouse.com/
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Read our full review of the Sycamore House here
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