7 Noteworthy Mississippi Restaurants | Listen

By: The Local Palate

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Our top 7 Mississippi restaurants from tried-and-true classics to new hotspots

Whether you’re in the mood for handcrafted pizza or Southern brunch, Mississippi has you covered with their diverse range of cuisines and restaurants. In the Local Palate’s 2024 Restaurants Issue, writer Caroline Eubanks provides a guide to new and tried-and-true local spots with these 7 Mississippi restaurants.

3 New Mississippi Restaurants

Pulito Osteria | Jackson, Mississippi

Chef Chaz Lindsay returned to his native Belhaven after stints in New York City and Italy, where he learned how to craft the authentic pizza and pasta now served at his restaurant. The eatery also offers steaks, playful cocktails, and desserts like the Nilla Wafer tiramisu—a perfect mix of Southern and Italian.

Pizza served at Pulito Osteria in Mississippi — Image courtesy of Andrew Welch

Frankie’s on Main | Natchez, Mississippi

This lovely candlelit restaurant features murals of Natchez within its dining room. The menu includes a mix of influences from around the globe, with shared plates of frog legs, bao buns, and “Southern-style poutine.” The best times to go are during the weekly live music nights and weekend brunch.

Weekend brunch served at Frankie's on Main in Mississippi — Image courtesy of Julianna Wallace

Loblolly Bakery | Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The latest addition to the Midtown Hattiesburg dining scene is a bakery from restaurateur Robert St. John, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Martha Foose, and her husband and fellow baker, Donald Bender. The trio crafts artisan pastries served with specialty coffee, sandwiches, and even dinner entrees to cook at home.

4 Tried & True Mississippi Restaurants

Snackbar | Oxford, Mississippi

Following the success of John Currence’s City Grocery, Snackbar opened within the restaurant family in 2009, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Vishwesh Bhatt. It mixes Southern dishes with Indian spices, like the masala-rubbed trout and fried chicken with a mango chutney mayonnaise. The playful cocktails are made to pair perfectly with the cuisine.

Weidmann’s | Meridian, Mississippi

Opened in 1870 by a Swiss immigrant, this classic restaurant has remained relatively unchanged over the years. The menu features essential dishes like fried green tomatoes topped in the signature spicy cream sauce, crab cakes, a signature salad, and piled-high pies to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth. The full menu is also available at the Balcony Bar, which has the best views in town.

Giardina’s | Greenwood, Mississippi

The dining room at Giardina’s is unlike any other, where guests can enjoy meals in private behind curtained booths that harken to another time. Set inside The Alluvian Hotel, operated by the team behind Viking kitchen ranges, the menu mixes Delta Southern and Italian, including pasta and shrimp and grits.

Bully’s Restaurant | Jackson, Mississippi

This soul food restaurant is a James Beard American Classic for a reason—the meat-and-three has been a favorite of politicians and locals for generations. The menu includes the same hearty fare you might have at your family table, including fried catfish, mac and cheese, and collard greens, served on red cafeteria trays.