OT - Delta Restaurant Recommendations

[ZombieKissinger]

I haven't lived in Mississippi in 8 years, and my wife and I are about to start a slow drive across the country to take a new job on the west coast. I'm seeing some family in Oxford then driving to Jackson for a few days. She's really only been to Jackson before. I was thinking about stopping somewhere in the delta to stay for a night between Oxford and Jackson. I'm fine going out of our way a little. Was thinking about The Alluvian and dinner at Giardina's. Is that the move? It's been years since I've eaten there but remember it being good. Any other recommendations on food/lodging? Flexible on price, want it to be fun for her. Appreciate it!

 

[40 acres and a mule]

Doe's Eat Place in Greenville is legendary, and a can't miss if you are not coming back this way for a while. I also like NOLA's in Indianola.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Saw there's a Doe's in Ridgeland now, which would be easier for us since we're staying a few days in Jackson. Want to go there too. Do you know if the one in Ridgeland is any good, or should we think about Greenville?

 

[Mobile Bay]

I haven't lived in Mississippi in 8 years, and my wife and I are about to start a slow drive across the country to take a new job on the west coast. I'm seeing some family in Oxford then driving to Jackson for a few days. She's really only been to Jackson before. I was thinking about stopping somewhere in the delta to stay for a night between Oxford and Jackson. I'm fine going out of our way a little. Was thinking about The Alluvian and dinner at Giardina's. Is that the move? It's been years since I've eaten there but remember it being good. Any other recommendations on food/lodging? Flexible on price, want it to be fun for her. Appreciate it!

Watch some of this youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFYulwgGRKEAduxdnRbZdiA

He reviews the finest gas station food in Mississippi. You might find some good places to stop for lunch.

 

[40 acres and a mule]

I have not been to the one in Ridgeland. There was one in Starkville for a while which was less than what you would expect and did not last very long. To me you can't beat the original both for the food and the ambiance.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Crystal Grill in Greenwood is good, too. There's also Lusco's in Greenwood that would be my primary stop if I only had one meal to eat there. I loved their shrimp topped with crabmeat.

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Good stuff. He's a pretty good writer/scripter

 

[maroonmadman]

Giardina's also in Greenwood. For lunch, if you're in Cleveland, the Senator's Grill.

 

[Duke Humphrey]

If going to Doe’s, go to the one in Greenville

Saw there's a Doe's in Ridgeland now, which would be easier for us since we're staying a few days in Jackson. Want to go there too. Do you know if the one in Ridgeland is any good, or should we think about Greenville?

The place in Ridgeland is ok, but does not have the character and ambiance of the one in Greenville.

Plus, if you are in Ridgeland, go to MM Shapley’s or Ely’s. Much better steak and fine dining experience

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Crystal Grill in Greenwood is good, too. There's also Lusco's in Greenwood that would be my primary stop if I only had one meal to eat there. I loved their shrimp topped with crabmeat.

Considering variety, quality, quantity, price, history and atmosphere, the Crystal is one of the best restaurants in MS.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Thumbs up to both,

especially Crystal at lunch.

 

[Awwhellnaw]

Double quick chicken. Numerous locations*

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

If you’re going to stay in Greenwood definitely stay at The Alluvian and eat at either Crystal Grill or Lusco’s for dinner.
Both are great.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Mai Little China in Greenwood is underrated. Excellent ribeye, everything on the menu is legit. Get the egg rolls. Then get a dozen frozen to go. Meal unto themselves.

 

[WestDawg]

Saw there's a Doe's in Ridgeland now, which would be easier for us since we're staying a few days in Jackson. Want to go there too. Do you know if the one in Ridgeland is any good, or should we think about Greenville?

I've been to both....do yourself the favor and do NOT go to the one in Ridgeland.

 

[Fighting Irish.sixpack]

Lillo’s in Leland

.

 

[Go Budaw]

I have not been to the one in Ridgeland. There was one in Starkville for a while which was less than what you would expect and did not last very long. To me you can't beat the original both for the food and the ambiance.

There is also a Doe’s in Paducah, KY of all places. Same chain as all the MS locations. Drove by it coming back from a work trip and did a pretty big double take.

 

[Joe Schmedlap]

Ambiance? Greenville? Nelson Street?

I have not been to the one in Ridgeland. There was one in Starkville for a while which was less than what you would expect and did not last very long. To me you can't beat the original both for the food and the ambiance.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

.

Not a bad choice. Has anyone eaten at Crawdad's in Merigold recently? 10+ years since I've eaten there but it used to be good.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Not sure about Lusco’s but The Crystal Grill is currently only open Thursday - Sunday. Might want to call before you haul...

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Not sure about Lusco’s but The Crystal Grill is currently only open Thursday - Sunday. Might want to call before you haul...

When did they do that? Used to be open everyday except Monday. Granted, I haven't been in Greenwood in over a year.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Allow me to add Veronica's in Greenwood for breakfast. I'm not sure what days they are open for breakfast but damn it's good. The owner is a lady named Regina. She is from El Salvador and makes a from scratch breakfast burrito that is other worldly. The sauce for it is so good.

 

[msudawg12]

Giardinas and luscos would be up there

I ate at a new place in greenwood while i was there a couple of weeks ago that was tremendous. It was called Fan and Johnnys. Right downtown in the old Delta Bistro location. Really really good food. I didnt realize it was brown bag until we were seated though so take your own!

 

[40 acres and a mule]

Ambiance? Greenville? Nelson Street?

Try a dictionary. They are even online now.

noun
noun: ambiance

• the character and atmosphere of a place.
  "the relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge is popular with guests"

 

[johnson86-1]

I haven't lived in Mississippi in 8 years, and my wife and I are about to start a slow drive across the country to take a new job on the west coast. I'm seeing some family in Oxford then driving to Jackson for a few days. She's really only been to Jackson before. I was thinking about stopping somewhere in the delta to stay for a night between Oxford and Jackson. I'm fine going out of our way a little. Was thinking about The Alluvian and dinner at Giardina's. Is that the move? It's been years since I've eaten there but remember it being good. Any other recommendations on food/lodging? Flexible on price, want it to be fun for her. Appreciate it!

A

If you are only doing a night in the Delta, you probably want it to be at the Alluvian unless you want to do one of the off the wall places. I think Money and Clarksdale have places to stay where they have basically redone old shotgun houses and put them on the same property. No clue how they are and not a recommendation, just if you want something besides just a really nice hotel.

For the food, I have heard that some of the traditional go tos are not as good as they once were. Family establishments where the children have left the delta and the parents are older and it's harder to get good help, and all that results in a drop in quality or at least consistency. All that to say take these recommendations with a grain of salt because it's been a couple of years since I've been through, but I would do a night at the Alleuvian, and the night before do either Lusco's or Giardina's. Lusco's will have a little more atmosphere to me, but really Giardina's atmosphere is great and it will be easy staying at the hotel. Just for variety, I might hit the bar there and do an appetizer and then head to lusco's.

Then do lunch at Crystals' (or Mai LIttle CHina if you want something different) and be done. There are other restaurants worth visiting such as Doe's and Lillos, but if you're not wanting to do things like the blues museum or grammy museum, all the old school ones are going to be somewhat similar. All traditional fish and sea food places with their own spin on all of it, some of it based on whether the original owners were greek or lebanese or italian or whatever.

 

[aTotal360]

KC's in Cleveland. ***

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Not sure about Lusco’s but The Crystal Grill is currently only open Thursday - Sunday. Might want to call before you haul...

I hate that. I know Johnny, the owner, is getting up there in years and has no one to take over. I guess it won't be around much longer. I hope someone buys it, but no one will put the effort into it that he and his family did. There's an old saying, "you don't open a restaurant, you marry a restaurant."

 

[johnson86-1]

I hate that. I know Johnny, the owner, is getting up there in years and has no one to take over. I guess it won't be around much longer. I hope someone buys it, but no one will put the effort into it that he and his family did. There's an old saying, "you don't open a restaurant, you marry a restaurant."

It's a hard business and I suspect it's not getting any easier in a place like Greenwood. You'd think there'd be somebody from Greenwood that wants to live in Greenwood that would go work for them with the intention of taking it over. Unless they own the building, should be pretty cheap to buy it from them. Just not going to be much competition I don't think to want to buy that business.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

A

If you are only doing a night in the Delta, you probably want it to be at the Alluvian unless you want to do one of the off the wall places. I think Money and Clarksdale have places to stay where they have basically redone old shotgun houses and put them on the same property. No clue how they are and not a recommendation, just if you want something besides just a really nice hotel.

For the food, I have heard that some of the traditional go tos are not as good as they once were. Family establishments where the children have left the delta and the parents are older and it's harder to get good help, and all that results in a drop in quality or at least consistency. All that to say take these recommendations with a grain of salt because it's been a couple of years since I've been through, but I would do a night at the Alleuvian, and the night before do either Lusco's or Giardina's. Lusco's will have a little more atmosphere to me, but really Giardina's atmosphere is great and it will be easy staying at the hotel. Just for variety, I might hit the bar there and do an appetizer and then head to lusco's.

Then do lunch at Crystals' (or Mai LIttle CHina if you want something different) and be done. There are other restaurants worth visiting such as Doe's and Lillos, but if you're not wanting to do things like the blues museum or grammy museum, all the old school ones are going to be somewhat similar. All traditional fish and sea food places with their own spin on all of it, some of it based on whether the original owners were greek or lebanese or italian or whatever.

Shack up Inn just outside Clarksdale. I stayed a night there once. My wife and I enjoyed it but it is different. Shotgun house, front porch sitting, tiny wood & tin shower and a bar inside the building. I would go back and do again but luxurious, it is not.

https://www.shackupinn.com/

i went to the website and it says the bar is closed until.... Oh well. I had a blast talking with a couple from Ireland the night I stayed there. They were doing a music tour from Nashville to Memphis to Clarksdale to New Orleans or something like that.

 

[tc9698]

Delta meat market at the cotton house hotel in Cleveland.

 

[Rebeldude]

My first vote would be the Alluvian, Lusco's, Crystal Grill etc. that has been mentioned several times. However, there isn't much to do or see in Greenwood outside of that.

Option 2, Cleveland.

Stay at the Cotton House. They have a rooftop bar, Bar Fontaine. Plus Delta Meat Market restaurant is downstairs. Airport Grocery, The Senators Place, Crustaceans, Hey Joe's, Papa Roc's Italian (my favorite), are all good places to eat as well.

You have the Grammy Museum there for something to do (Thurs - Sun). Or you might can catch some Delta State baseball if the timing is right. They have a nice downtown area (Cotton Row) to shop/stroll as well, where the Cotton House is.

Then you can take the scenic route to Jackson on 61 or 1 to Vicksburg, depending on how big a hurry you are in to get to Jackson.

 

[catvet]

Crystal Grill in Greenwood is good, too. There's also Lusco's in Greenwood that would be my primary stop if I only had one meal to eat there. I loved their shrimp topped with crabmeat.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This

Both are excellent, but the Crystal Grill is simply fabulous. Wide variety and it takes you back to a different dining experience. You haven't had desert until you have one of the mile high pies.

As far as Does, its excellent but the variety is basically steak and tamales. Both really good, but the variety ends there. They offer shrimp but I've never seen anyone get that.. Go in the daytime there as Nelson Street is the storyline for the song Let the Bodies hit the Floor. Crime Central. Not as bad as Jackson, but who is

 

[dorndawg]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This

Both are excellent, but the Crystal Grill is simply fabulous. Wide variety and it takes you back to a different dining experience. You haven't had desert until you have one of the mile high pies.

As far as Does, its excellent but the variety is basically steak and tamales. Both really good, but the variety ends there. They offer shrimp but I've never seen anyone get that.. Go in the daytime there as Nelson Street is the storyline for the song Let the Bodies hit the Floor. Crime Central. Not as bad as Jackson, but who is

Do what now?

 

[paindonthurt_]

All 3 of those would be part of the ambiance.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Had a lunch meeting with a fertilizer distributor over there last Tuesday. 30 minutes outside of town, I make a call and the owner picks up and says they’ve cut hours back due to COVID and are currently only open Thursday - Sunday. He didn’t say how long this had been going on. I had my mind set on The Crystal all morning. We end up having fajitas. They were good but I was sort of disappointed the rest of the day.

 

[Joe Schmedlap]

I made an f’n 34 on the English section of the ACT, but thanks, lol.

Try a dictionary. They are even online now.

noun
noun: ambiance

• the character and atmosphere of a place.
  "the relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge is popular with guests"

 

[NTDawg]

Maybe not recently but less than 10 years, I think but time flies when you are living the dream. Crawdads is great. Can’t go wrong with the steak and I think that their pork chop is better than the Crystals but those two restaurants make the best pork chop I have ever had.

 

[SyonaraStanz]

I had Giardina’s recently, and was unimpressed. I’ve never thought it was great, but mediocre recently. Fan and Johnny’s, as mentioned, may be the best in Greenwood.

 

[cowbell88]

Lusco’s isn’t what it once was. Giaradinas and the Crystal are awesome everyone I go there usually 4-6 times a year for both.

One I haven’t seen mentioned is The Crown in Indianola. Only open during day, but the catfish Allison is incredible.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Lusco’s isn’t what it once was. Giaradinas and the Crystal are awesome everyone I go there usually 4-6 times a year for both.

One I haven’t seen mentioned is The Crown in Indianola. Only open during day, but the catfish Allison is incredible.

I'll second the crown. Do they still have the unlimited dessert table?