Restaurant Review: Val’s Sports Bar & Grill in Ocean Springs

Val’s has been around for a while, but a few years ago they moved to a better location, almost in the heart of downtown Ocean Springs.

This is a classic sports bar and grill, with plenty of TVs still showing the games of the day, darts on the walls, and a very cool patio overlooking busy government street. If you think a sports bar is just not for you, I suggest you think again.

Val Nygaard moved to the coast of Maine in 1992 but only opened Val’s in 2013. It is a nice, comfortable and welcoming place, and you will meet people of all ages and professions.

It’s the neighborhood’s premier hangout, and you definitely don’t have to be a sports fan to go there.

But let me be very clear, if you’re a burger fan like me, you better get to Val’s ASAP.

I’ll go to the menu in a moment, but let me tell you the cheeseburger and fries I ate there during the Monday morning lunch break was some of the best I have ever had.

A good burger is a combination of excellence: it’s the right bun, the perfect seasoning, a hand-formed patty that’s juicy and never dry, and the toppings are plentiful.

Val’s has six burgers to choose from and there’s nothing fancy about them, they’re all pretty straightforward, just the basics. I had the Redskins Burger, with American cheese, sautéed bacon and onions, and a big order of hand-cut, perfectly seasoned and cooked fries.

It was simply delicious, and I didn’t leave a crumb on the plate.

Val’s also offers 10 starters as simple and basic as the burgers. Fried okra, cheese sticks, you know the exercise.

Val’s also offers nachos, a few po-boys and sandwiches and – I was happy to see – a plate with two sausages with peppers and onions.

There are also daily specials, Monday and Tuesday being the chef’s choice. When I visited, he was a handsome sausage po-boy. Wednesday is meatloaf, Thursday is your choice of fried or grilled pork chop, and Friday is fish, shrimp, or combo.

The bestsellers on the menu are the burgers, club sandwich, and Philly cheese steak. During the season, crayfish are in the spotlight on Sundays, from 2 p.m. until they are all sold (and they will).

Val’s was a delicious surprise for me. I’m not the sports bar type, but I guess I’ll have to adjust.

Val’s is friendly, has great service, great prices and great burgers. I’m going back soon for a few seconds!

Val’s sports bar and grill

Location: 1601 Government Street, Ocean Springs

Telephone: 228-327-9210

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day

This story was originally published May 14, 2021 5:50 am.