13 Best Restaurants in Meridian, Mississippi
13 Best Restaurants in Meridian, Mississippi
There are a lot of great places to eat in Meridian, Mississippi, which is in eastern Mississippi. Meridian’s restaurants show off the city’s cultural diversity and culinary talent with dishes that range from traditional Southern cooking to creative takes on foreign food.
Meridian has a lot to offer people who love food. Here, you can get great fried chicken, catfish, BBQ, biscuits, and pecan pie, all of which are typical Southern foods. New foods that combine tastes from around the world are the same way. As more cooks realize Meridian’s untapped dining potential, the restaurant scene keeps growing and getting better.
Choosing between them is the only hard part! Here is a hand-picked list of 12 of the best places in Meridian to help you with that.
1. Weidmann’s – Classic Southern Fare Since 1870
Weidmann’s has been around since 1870, so it has a lot of history. It is now run by the fourth generation of the founding family and still serves classic Southern food in a classy setting. Over the years, famous people like Elvis Presley and Jimmy Carter have eaten at the restaurant.
The charming interior of Weidmann is housed in the historic Lewis Building in downtown Meridian. It has exposed brick walls, framed pictures, and tables covered in white linen. Classic dishes like shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, chicken and dumplings, and bread pudding are what the menu is mostly made of. Remember to save room for their famous peanut butter silk pie!
Weidmann’s is a great place to experience Southern food and culture because it sticks to tradition and is friendly. The fact that it is the oldest restaurant in Mississippi is well-deserved.
2. Portebello’s – Italian Eatery with Charm to Spare
Classical music plays in the background while people eat northern Italian food at Portebello’s small restaurant. It gives Meridian a taste of the Old World and is owned by Paulo Portebello, who is from Italy, and his wife Karen.
Everything is made from scratch with fresh products and family recipes. People love the smooth vodka sauce that covers chicken, shrimp, or pasta. Some other popular dishes are braised beef short ribs and seafood rice that is packed full of flavor. After your meal, save room for canoli or tiramisu.
The restaurant’s charm makes the whole experience better, even if the food is great. Some things that set the scene were exposed brick walls, flickering candles, checked tablecloths, and opera music. The staff will always make sure that your glass is full.
People who have been to Portebello’s say it makes them feel like they’re in Italy for the night. Having a chat makes it easy to stay for hours and enjoy every bite. This secret gem serves a cozy, real, and unforgettable Italian dinner.
3. The Brickhaus – Brewpub Offering Elevated American Fare
Behind the Brickhaus brewery, which is in the middle of downtown on Front Street, are the food and beer. Their microbrewed draft beers go great with a wide range of creative American food on the menu.
It’s in a building that used to be a Coca-Cola bottling plant from 1925. The brick walls, high ceilings, and exposed pipes pay tribute to the building’s industrial past. Hops plants climbing up metal trellises and cozy booths that seat a few people balance out the big open space. When the weather is nice, there is a beer garden outside with trees for shade.
Executive Chef Dustin Moring adds new flavors to traditional American meals to make them more creative. There is meatloaf covered in bacon, shrimp tacos, chicken pesto flatbread pizza, steaks, and chops on the menu. Remember to save room for desserts like bourbon pecan pie. You can also pick from more than 20 craft beers and drinks if you’d rather have a sweet drink.
The Brickhaus has the feel of a big city with the friendliness of a small town. It’s a cool place to hang out with friends in downtown, watch people on the patio, or have Happy Hour after work.
4. Mammy’s Kitchen – Quintessential Southern Soul Food
Mammy’s Kitchen happily serves food that is “Southern at heart, second to none.” People from all over the world have been coming to this family-owned restaurant for more than 20 years to enjoy their classic Southern soul food. You can look forward to delicious ribs, fried chicken that falls off the bone, rich mac ‘n cheese, collard greens, and perfect desserts.
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The prices are very low, the amounts are huge, and the food is perfectly seasoned. Menu items like smothered pork chops, ox tails, and fried yams that change every day keep people coming back. Food Network said their famous big yeast rolls are some of the best in the country, so don’t miss them.
The friendly environment goes well with the comforting food that sticks to your ribs. Peach walls are decorated with framed family pictures and Formica tables and chairs covered in vinyl. The service is lightning fast and very helpful.
Mammy’s Kitchen is a celebration of Meridian’s and the area’s long history of food. This hidden gem in the area is the best place to get real, down-home Southern food done right.
5. The Grill – Fine Dining with an Urban Chic Vibe
People who want to eat well can go to The Grill and enjoy steaks, seafood, and craft drinks. It looks like it belongs in a big city with its sleek decor, creative food, and busy bar scene.
The Grill is in a cool downtown spot with open ductwork, black leather booths, and glass pendant lights. Paintings and photos with strong themes bring life to the brick walls. Their collection of well-known brands is kept in a temperature-controlled wine cellar with glass walls. Sitting on the steps outside is a great way to watch people go by.
Meats, chops, and seafood that are wood-grilled or roasted and served with specialty sauces are what the menu is all about. People are happy with dishes like crab mac ‘n’ cheese, wood-grilled tuna, and filet mignon with an espresso crust. The daily specials use fresh ingredients, and the sushi menu has delicious raw foods. There is a large craft drink menu with unique martinis and award-winning Manhattan recipes.
The Grill is a popular place for a special meal or a night out on the town because it has a sophisticated yet friendly vibe. The polished service lives up to high standards for fine eating that’s fit for important events. But because the prices aren’t too high, you don’t need a reason to go there.
6. The Neon Pig – Elevated Barbecue Fusion in a Hip Setting
The Neon Pig is a great place for meat lovers because it serves creative Southern barbecue. The cool restaurant makes pizza, tacos, salads, and other foods with smoked pulled pork, beef, chicken, and sausage made in-house. The menu also has creative starts and sides.
The experimental barbecue dishes go well with the industrial-chic setting of the city restaurant that used to be a warehouse. Exposed brick and pipes are mixed with bright Neon Pig logos to make the space feel lively. Of course, drinks are welcome here. You can pick from craft beers from around the country and around the city, as well as unique bourbon drinks and milkshakes with added alcohol.
Foods like beef banh mi sandwiches, pork carnitas tacos, and Asian ribs combine smoked meats with flavors from around the world. There are more sides than just baked beans, like goat cheese slaw and bacon-pickled deviled eggs. Specials that are based on the seasons and unique desserts make sure that every time you go, you can try something new.
You can enjoy happy hour drinks on the porch or watch a game on one of the many TVs inside. As friendly as the service is, the shared tables make the atmosphere feel more casual.
7. Harvest Grill – Farm-to-Table Southern Cuisine
Harvest Grill, which is inside the MAEE arts center, supports the culture rebirth of the city with its Southern food that changes with the seasons. Executive Chef Alex Eaton focuses on local farms, fisheries, and artisans to make food that is uniquely Meridian and rooted in custom and place.
The restaurant is in a new addition with glass walls that lets lots of natural light in. The exposed brick walls are decorated with pictures of old Southern cookbook recipes and the work of local artists.
Apps like baked pimento cheese, peanut hummus, or fried green tomatoes are a classy way to start your meal. Regional favorites like fried catfish, crawfish etouffee, and barbecue baby back ribs are served as main dishes, along with extras that change every night. A piece of red velvet or sweet potato pie will finish off your meal.
Friendly service, a small but arty atmosphere, and food that celebrates all things Southern show how much they care about Meridian. It’s never tasted so good to support local.
8. Tyne’s – Coastal Seafood with Sumptuous Style
Tyne’s is in the historic Lamar Hotel building downtown, and the restaurant makes you feel like you’re in a beautiful supper club in the 1940s. Guests can enjoy Southern coastal cuisine, with a focus on carefully prepared fresh seafood, while looking at sparkling chandeliers. As someone with roots in Alabama’s seafood area, the Executive Chef brings Gulf flavors to the menu.
There are many places to sit, including tables with white linens draped over them, tufted leather banquettes, and a bar with a granite top. The wait staff is very helpful and brings coastal treats like seafood gumbo, crispy fried Gulf oysters, and buttery po’ boys with fried shrimp or oysters on top. Landlubbers can choose from aged steaks, pork tenderloin roulade, and duck breast with sides and sauces that are in season.
There are more than seventy-five different kinds of wine on the list to go with your food. There are also specialty drinks like the Tyne’s Tea, which is made with bourbon, peach brandy, and oolong tea. Before leaving this fine eating gem, treat yourself to a dessert like crème brûlée or warm beignets.
9. TA Steakhouse – Upscale Steak & Seafood Restaurant
TA Steakhouse, which is in the Historic Lamar Hotel downtown, is a great place for meat lovers. Its sophisticated but casual atmosphere goes well with their menu, which includes aged steaks from the Midwest and high-quality seafood.
Dark wood details and velvet upholstery look great with neutral colors. The place feels both fancy and friendly, with white linens and brochures bound in leather. The temperature-controlled wine room with glass walls adds a touch of class while showing off their large wine selection and craft drinks.
When USDA prime beef is dry-aged on-site, it’s used as the base for tasty meals like bone-in ribeyes and filet mignon with blue cheese crumbles or lump crabmeat on top. Gulf fish like grilled shrimp and seared scallops are served with lamb chops and pork for people who don’t like beef.
Servers who pay attention make sure your meal goes easily, whether you’re celebrating a birthday or closing a business deal. At TA Steakhouse, you can enjoy fine eating with high-quality ingredients that are perfect for special events.
10. Thai Palace – Authentic Thai Cuisine with Hospitable Service
People are drawn to Thai Palace, which is just off of Highway 45, by the delicious smells of lemongrass, coconut milk, and peppers. This family-run restaurant takes a plain strip mall and turns it into a place where you can taste Thai food.
Aside from the delicious food, the friendly service makes the atmosphere nice and inviting. A small altar with burning incense in one spot is a personal touch that shows how much the owners care about sharing their culture.
The authentic Thai dishes are made from recipes that were developed in their family’s restaurants in Bangkok. They are full of strong, bright flavors. All of the food, from fragrant curries and noodles to fried rice and hearty soups, tastes amazingly fresh. The right amount of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty makes it hard to stop at just one bite.
Thai Palace is a unique eating gem in Meridian that serves flavors that are hard to find and are done beautifully for people with adventurous tastes.
11. Lost Pizza Co. – Creative Pizzas Plus Eclectic Eats
Do you want pizza or something different? People can eat at Lost Pizza Co., which is in a cool warehouse and serves unique pizzas, tacos, po’boys, and starters.
The laid-back industrial area is filled with the bright work of local artists. Spend time at the long wooden table or in a booth while taking in the interesting decor. Funky fixtures, like traffic lights that have been used for something else, hang from the roof, and exposed ductwork runs across the very high ceiling.
There are a lot of different kinds of food on the menu, not just traditional or unusual pies made in-house. Chicken kale pops and white queso dip with chips or vegetables for dipping are some of the tasty starters. Po’boys are better than regular subs when they have ingredients like sweet chili shrimp or blackened gator. Korean beef or pineapple fried chicken glazed in chili sauce make tacos spicy and sweet.
As for main dishes, there are chicken and waffle sliders covered in Thai peanut sauce and the famous Lost Burger, which comes with Asian slaw and meat that has been marinated in Bulgogi. You can quench your thirst with craft beers from the area or Lost’s special rauchbier, which was made to go with pizza.
12. Cook’s BBQ – Serving the Best Barbecue in East Mississippi
Cook’s BBQ is right off the exit ramp for I-59 and serves smoked meats that keep people coming back. At this simple neighborhood favorite, plates are brought out hot and full of tasty ribs, chopped pork, and turkey.
Because it is in the middle of East Mississippi, it’s a great place for hungry visitors to stop between Jackson, Meridian, and Birmingham. But a lot of their regular customers are people from Meridian who want delicious barbecue served in a big room that smells like smoke.
Expect to be treated nicely. smoked foods that are perfectly smoked by the pound to eat in with your family or take out. Fill up on standard sides like corn on the cob, baked beans, fluffy potato salad, and more to finish off your barbecue. You shouldn’t skip cake. The bread pudding and sweet potato pie will make you happy.
When asked how they do what they do so well, the owners just point to the shiny grills full of pork, chicken, and turkey that have been cooked slowly over hickory wood. It fills the air with a smell of smoke that draws BBQ fans from everywhere. You’ll agree with the reviews that say Cook’s has the best smoked meats in the state after just one taste.
Conclusion
Meridian, Mississippi has a wide range of restaurants, so there is tasty food around every turn. This city has a wide range of restaurants, from fancy steakhouses to casual barbecue places and restaurants serving food from around the world.
Just as amazing is the chefs’ ability to put new spins on traditional regional dishes using ingredients from the area. A lot of restaurants use methods and spices from around the world to make Southern soul food classics. As a result, Meridian has its own type of updated comfort food that tastes surprisingly good.
Meridian’s eating scene is full of charm and friendliness, as well as delicious food. There are both fancy restaurants in old buildings and casual ones in industrial sheds that are home to the next big thing in food. But the service is almost always friendly and helpful, no matter what the price.
It’s clear that this Mississippi city’s eating scene deserves more praise. Meridian has great food for people who want to eat a lot of different kinds of food. People who come to this new Southern hub may find that the tasty restaurants are what keep them coming back.