Featured Image: Explore Ridgeland
As someone who travels like it’s my job (well, I suppose it is), my favorite part has always been the local dining. Ridgeland, Mississippi’s culinary scene is full of surprises, going beyond classic burger joints and special occasion spots to sprinkle in international flavors, cocktails and mocktails, and bakeries worth the drive all their own.
To get you in the know on exactly where you should go, Explore Ridgeland is launching a Culinary Passport highlighting a sundry of different dining experiences. So whether you want an upscale meal out or a casual grab-and-go, you’ll find plenty of options that are worth savoring.
Here are some of the best restaurants in Ridgeland.
Casual Eats
Eating casual doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor. With Aplo’s Simple Mediterranean serving up a menu featuring Mediterranean-Middle Eastern fusion and Sombra Mexican Grill scratching your margarita itch, you’ll leave content no matter what side of the world you’re craving.
If you’re looking for something a little closer to home, Lou’s Full Serv has a fabulous spin on Southern fare–especially when it comes to their LA crawfish fondue. Still debating where to go? Bulldog Burger Company offers an innovative menu with multiple takes on the classic American burger to satisfy any appetite. If you like a little spice in your life, like me, I recommend the jalapeno popper burger.
In Between
Nothing beats the category of restaurants I call the inbetweeners–you can show up in sneakers or in heels, and no one will look twice. If the moon is hitting your eye, head over to Taste Italian Kitchen, Fratesi’s, or Amerigo Italian Restaurant, where the pasta options are endless and the big pizza pies are divine. Zea Rotisserie and Bar adds global flavors to a well-rounded menu, and you can even drink your dessert with their chocolate-tini.
More close-to-home flavors can be found at Local 463, where Chef Derek Emerson has mastered the art of culinary innovation–peep the Dr. Pepper braised beef short ribs. Seafood lovers can indulge at Kathryn’s Steakhouse and Seafood, offering classic Gulf dishes aplenty in addition to their tender beef cuts.
Fine Dining
When the occasion calls for it, and you really want to show out, Ridgeland has plenty to offer–it’s the Steakhouse Capital of Mississippi, after all. Anjou brings a touch of Europe to Mississippi with their French-inspired menu, steak frites and escargot included. Tico’s Steakhouse, a longtime local favorite, offers classic steakhouse fare in a more relaxed atmosphere. For timeless elegance, Shapley’s Restaurant never disappoints in ambience or tradition–their Papa’s hot tamales dish has been around for 75 years.
Where surf meets turf and the wine menu never disappoints, Koestler Prime and Ely’s Restaurant and Bar are two choices where you truly can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for even more of a seafood-forward meal, CAET [seafood | oysterette] has plenty of fresh takes on classic seafood dishes to keep you on your toes.
Sweet Treats
No culinary passport would be complete without a proper sweet treat to put the cherry on top of any occasion. Primo’s Cafe and Bakeshop is a longstanding Mississippi go-to for cakes, pies, cookies, and all the pastries in between. If your passport has you craving some international flair, Buenos Aires Bakery brings Argentinian flavor to American classics–and has some of the best tres leches-inspired desserts you’ve ever tasted.
This article is presented in partnership with Explore Ridgeland, a Modern South Founding Partner.
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