How We Rank

Every list on Ocean Springs Best uses the same ranking formula. There is no editorial curation, no pay-to-play hidden in the results, and no personal favorites.

The Formula

Each business gets a score based on two public signals: average star rating and total number of reviews. A business with a 4.8 rating and 50 reviews will rank below a business with a 4.6 rating and 2,000 reviews, because volume matters. One person's opinion is not a ranking. Aggregate opinion is.

The exact blend weights review count more heavily at lower totals, then flattens as counts grow. This keeps new businesses with a handful of perfect reviews from jumping ahead of established ones that have stood up to scale.

Where the Data Comes From

Ratings and review counts are sourced from public business listings. The data is refreshed periodically. If a business closes, changes names, or drops significantly in rating, it will fall or disappear from the list on the next update.

Featured Slots

Each category list has one Featured slot at the top. That slot is available to local businesses on a paid basis through Magnolia Digital. Featured placements are always labeled clearly with a "Featured" badge. The business in the Featured slot does not affect the ranked list below it. The honest ranking runs from position 1 regardless of who is featured above it.

Sponsorship never changes the ranking order. The ranked list is the ranked list.

What This Does Not Cover

Rankings reflect publicly available data. They are not a substitute for reading actual reviews, visiting a business, or calling ahead. Hours, ownership, and quality all change. Use this site as a starting point, not a final word.