13 Best Restaurants in Southaven, Mississippi
Southaven, Mississippi is a busy neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee, just south of the city. Southaven has grown quickly over the past few decades. It is known for having affordable housing, low crime rates, and a family-friendly setting. There are now more than 55,000 people living in the city.
13 Best Restaurants in Southaven, Mississippi
1. Saltgrass Steak House
The Saltgrass Steak House is known for its kitschy Wild West style, but what really counts is that it serves big, tasty steaks that are true to its Texas ranch roots.
Kids love activities like riding fake bulls, and adults enjoy the filling food. All of Saltgrass’s beef cuts shine, from peppercorn-crusted sirloins to slow-roasted prime ribs dripping with natural jus. This is because Saltgrass ages the beef, which makes it soft.
Side dishes from home, like baked potatoes and Texas-sized onion rings, go well with steak. Even though the restaurant has a theme, it feels like a real neighborhood joint thanks to its great deals on food like All-American fried chicken or baby back ribs for less than $20.
2. Babalu Tapas & Tacos
Babalu Tapas & Tacos serves a modern take on South of the Border flavors on a variety of small plates that are great for sharing in the way of tapas. As the name says, Babalu is great at making tacos. Their soft corn tortillas come with smoked brisket barbacoa, sweet potato, and black beans.
Other creative dishes, like the lobster guacamole wontons or the Cuban mojo chicken skewers, have a good mix of sweet and savory flavors. The lively atmosphere at Babalu, which has an industrial-style interior or tables outside, goes well with the restaurant’s colorful Pan-Latin fusion fare.
Because each small plate isn’t too expensive, customers can easily mix and match different things to make their own unique Mexican meal.
3. Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q
The famous Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q has to be on every list of Southaven’s best places. The Dixie Pig has been around since 1923 and is known for its hickory-smoked pulled pork shoulder that melts in your mouth.
It’s still run by the founders’ relatives, who smoke all the meats on-site over brick pit barbecues from the 1920s with a lot of care. You have to try the crispy fried catfish and fresh banana pudding for dessert at Dixie Pig. They also have delicious slow-cooked ribs.
Even though Dixie Pig has become more well-known over the years, it still stays true to its simple, counter-service roots. Customers still order meat by the pound at the cash register.
4. Marx & Bens Delicatessen
There may not be many delis in Mississippi that look like those in New York City, but Marx & Bens Delicatessen is a great one. In a Jewish-style deli, huge sandwiches are piled high with traditional meats and cheeses like pastrami, roast beef, brisket, and sauerkraut.
People often say that their Rueben sandwich is the best in all of Mississippi because the meat is hand-sliced and the sour and salty tastes go so well together.
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If you’re only going to go for one thing at Marx & Ben’s, don’t miss their knishes, bagels, smoked fish plates, or other real deli food. This is a popular place for quick work lunches or casual family meals because the prices are fair.
5. Portillo’s
In Illinois, Portillo’s started out as a small hot dog stand. Now, their hearty Italian-American comfort food has helped them become a regional chain.
People always come to the Southaven site because the food is always so tasty. They like the Italian beef sandwiches dipped in gravy, the Vienna beef hot dogs dragged through the garden, and the Italian sausage combos.
Portillo’s has family meal deals that make it cheap to feed a lot of people. Also, don’t forget to save room for dessert. Portillo’s has the best cakes in town, like their favorite chocolate cake or strawberry shortcake.
6. Porch and Parlor
Porch and Parlor is in a restored antebellum farm house that serves elevated New American food with southern warmth and charm. Southern classics like shrimp and grits, chicken fried steak, and biscuits and gravy are made more interesting by chef de cuisine Jonathan Jones.
With daily treats like fried green tomatoes and crawfish étouffée, the food is always in season and new. On the weekends, brunch can also be served on the grand porch, which has rocking chairs that look out over the pond.
Porch and Parlor is a popular place for special events for a good reason. The inside is cozy and romantic, and the outside has beautiful seating.
7. Vesuvio’s Italian Restaurant
Vesuvio’s has been family-owned and run since 2006, and they are proud to serve fresh Italian food that has been perfected over generations. Their menu has a lot of different kinds of pasta, seafood, beef, and chicken. The meatballs are cooked slowly in their own marinara sauce for hours to make them tender.
Regulars love Vesuvio’s for its unique dishes, like osso buco milanese style or pasta topped with clams. Classic dishes like lasagna and chicken parmesan are also very popular.
Seniors love Vesuvio’s because they offer early bird deals every night. The warm family welcome is matched by the pretty tablecloths in red and white and the fresh flowers on each one.
8. LongHorn Steakhouse
Even though LongHorn Steakhouse is part of a chain, it is a famous restaurant known for its expertly grilled steaks. Their Broiler King charbroilers heat their aged cowboy cut ribeyes to a blistering 1800 degrees, which makes sure that the meat is soft and juicy with the perfect sear.
Their lunch specials are very cheap, and the menu has lots of choices that are great for people who are dining alone, like their 6-ounce sirloin with salad and a side. But LongHorn Steakhouse really shines at dinner, when they can serve newly made sides with premium steaks that have been butchered.
Also, don’t skip the starters. The cheese fries and LongHorn shrimp are very popular in the area.
9. Moe’s Original BBQ
Moe’s Original BBQ is from Alabama and brings real southern BBQ food to Mississippi. It’s amazing how constant Moe’s is across all of its locations when it comes to smoking prime meats over local white oak wood.
Their famous Boston-style pulled pork sandwiches are the real deal. The pork is slow-cooked for more than 15 hours until it’s soft enough to cut with a fork. Moe’s doesn’t just serve one thing, though. They also have great smoked chicken wings, baby back ribs, and even salmon grilled on a wood plank, which is a bit of a surprise.
Side dishes made at home, like Moe’s famous red slaw and baked chili cheese potato pie, finish off any meal. Even though the amounts are huge, the prices stay low.
10. Poblano Grill
The trendy industrial-chic decor and creative south-of-the-border blend dishes at Poblano Grill on Goodman Road give Mexican food a modern twist. People really like their signature dishes, like the Poblano shrimp baked in pepper jack cheese or the Mexican street corn pizza with a chili lime glaze.
Fans of traditional combo plates can still enjoy them, and they let customers choose from entrees with a range of spice levels, from low to extra spicy.
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Poblano Grill gets their fresh salsas, handmade tortillas, and properly seasoned proteins from organic sources as much as possible. This famous spot in town is great for date nights because the prices are fair.
11. Purple Rain Grille
People in the area love Purple Rain Grille because it takes traditional American comfort food and makes it in new ways. This simple diner is on Getwell Road, just off of Interstate 55, and it has some of the tastiest food in town.
Their famous fried green tomatoes with lump crab meat on top, as well as their perfectly cooked burgers and slow-smoked baby back ribs that fall right off the bone, are all very tasty. The food at Purple Rain Grille is whimsical and fun, but it doesn’t skimp on taste.
The VooDoo Pasta, which combines Cajun spices with Italian noodles, is a dish that can’t be found anywhere else. It’s no surprise that Purple Rain Grille is always full of happy customers—the prices are fair, the portions are big, and the service is helpful.
12. City Range Steakhouse
The best place in Southaven for fine eating and perfectly cooked steaks is without a doubt City Range Steakhouse. This modern restaurant is tucked away on Goodman Road, just west of I-55. It serves USDA Prime beef, a large selection of wines, and traditional sides like baked potatoes and creamed spinach.
Before they are served, the infrared broilers are used to carefully sear hand-cut filet mignon and bone-in ribeye. The sleek and stylish interior of City Range Steakhouse will make you feel like you’re in a big city when you eat there.
It’s great for work dinners or celebrations because the wait staff is very knowledgeable and gives great service. Even though the prices are high because the food is so good, City Range Steakhouse is still a great deal.
Conclusion
Southaven has a lot of great places to eat, from smoked barbecue and steaks seared to perfection to high-end foreign food, there is something for everyone.
The restaurant scene in Southaven is growing along with the city’s business and real estate market. There are good meals at all price ranges, from fast food to fine dining.
The 13 restaurants listed here are a selection of some of the best ones in the area. They include both family-friendly, low-cost chains and fancy places for special occasions. Residents and tourists to Southaven can satisfy all of their hunger needs at these must-try restaurants.