City Grocery
Row 1
The tight-knit city of Oxford, Mississippi opened its arms to New Orleans-born chef John Currence when he launched City Grocery in 1992 and never let go. Snag a table on the second-floor balcony if it isn’t too warm outside and dine on Southern comfort favorites like shrimp and grits, hoppin’ john, and muffaletta (offered only at lunch, when you’ll struggle to decide between that, the burger, and the grilled bologna sandwich with roasted bell pepper and cabbage slaw), or indulge in delicious-sounding dishes like grilled lard-braised hangar steak, lamb neck posole, and spicy fried chicken thighs. Don’t forget that Currence has created the best of both worlds for himself, something that you’ll probably want to take advantage of when it comes time for a nightcap: a chef’s restaurant downstairs, and the kind of bar where a chef would want to hang out after work upstairs.
— Arthur Bovino, 101 Best Restaurants, April 1, 2015
The Daily Meal Editors and Community Say...
Map: Surroundings & Nearby
Foursquare Tips
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Ask for Chip. Best bartender in town. -
You aren't going to find a better old fashioned in town than right here. Then again, you probably won't find a better anything. -
Congratulations, you've found one of Esquire's Best Bars in America. Head upstairs. Elbow past the crowd. Get a seat on the balcony. Look at Johnny Reb. Sip your Wild Turkey, rocks. -
the pimiento cheese is delicious. they also have a great mint julep. -
Their shrimp and grits are the best I've ever had. -
Check out the shrimp and grits with house bacon. It's a perfect, rich combination. -
Though locals (especially twenty-somethings) associate City Grocery with its upstairs bar, the restaurant is exceptional and the shrimp & grits are a must. -
Chef Patton Robertson of Five Sixty, Dallas, recommends the Shrimp & Grits! -
Great food, love the balcony with a glass of wine -
Shrimp and grits was excellent. Our waitress recommended honey pie with lavender ice cream for dessert. Might sound weird but it was great. -
Add the fried oysters. Super quality. Yum! I put them on my salad which was meh without them. The black eyed pea cakes were perfect. The servers were on their A game! Gumbo was weak. -
Check out City Grocery as it was featured on Guilty Pleasures for Hot brown - fried chicken, ham and pickles. -
The steak & dessert
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Great restaurant and even better bar. Mature crowd. Few undergraduate students. -
Shrimp and grits! -
One of the finest places you'll ever go to. It's in Oxford on the square but don't let that fool you
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They have rotating seasonal menus. The goat cheese and spinach was so good! -
After dinner, head upstairs to the balcony for a nightcap or two. Watch Ole Miss students partying below and enjoy the music emanating from other venues on the square. -
The menu changes seasonally; fall options include peaches with pickled green garlic, truffle-infused pork loin with black-eyed pea caviar and balsamic ice cream sandwich with fried basil leaves.
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Farmers and chefs are nourishing their communities through innovative and generous acts of philanthropy. Join Chef Hall for this discussion, and bites, at Atlanta Food & Wine Festival May 29-June 1.
