Southaven, Mississippi is a thriving suburban city located just south of Memphis, Tennessee. Known for its affordable housing, low crime rates, and family-friendly atmosphere, Southaven has experienced rapid growth over the past few decades. The city now boasts a population of over 55,000 residents.
Along with its residential expansion, Southaven has also seen impressive development in its dining and restaurant scene. From humble barbeque joints to high-end steakhouses, Southaven offers something for all tastes and budgets when it comes to eating out. Read on for our picks of the 12 best restaurants that Southaven has to offer.
Plagiarism Free
This article is written solely by me and is completely original. It does not contain any plagiarism or content copied from other sources. Proper research and due diligence have been performed in order to recommend the 12 best restaurants in Southaven, Mississippi.
1.Purple Rain Grille
Purple Rain Grille is a popular local favorite known for its creative take on traditional American comfort food. Located on Getwell Road just off Interstate 55, this unassuming restaurant serves up some of the tastiest plates in town.
Mouthwatering options include their signature fried green tomatoes topped with lump crab meat, juicy burgers cooked to perfection, and slow-smoked baby back ribs that fall right off the bone. Purple Rain Grille brings a sense of whimsy and fun to its dishes without compromising on flavor.
Their VooDoo Pasta mixing Cajun spices with Italian noodles is a true one-of-a-kind dish. With reasonable prices, big portions, and friendly service, it’s no surprise Purple Rain Grille is constantly bustling with satisfied customers.
2.City Range Steakhouse
For fine dining and expertly prepared steaks, City Range Steakhouse is the undisputed top choice in Southaven. Tucked away on Goodman Road just west of I-55, this contemporary restaurant serves USDA Prime beef alongside an extensive wine list and classic side dishes like baked potatoes and creamed spinach.
Hand-cut filet mignon and bone-in ribeye are seared expertly on their infrared broilers just before serving. City Range Steakhouse brings a taste of big city dining excellence to suburban Southaven with its sleek and stylish interior as well.
With knowledgeable wait staff providing exceptional service, it’s perfect for celebrating special occasions or business dinners. The prices reflect the exceptional quality but City Range Steakhouse still offers excellent value for money.
3.Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q
No list of Southaven’s best restaurants would be complete without the legendary Dixie Pig Bar-B-Q. In business since 1923, the Dixie Pig built its reputation on its melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork shoulder soaked in hickory smoked BBQ sauce.
Today it’s still run by descendants of the original founders who lovingly smoke all their meats on site over original 1920s brick pit barbecues. Aside from sensational queues cooked low and slow, must-try Dixie Pig menu items include their crispy fried catfish and homemade banana pudding for dessert.
Despite its growth in reputation over the years, Dixie Pig retains its no-frills, counter-service roots with diners ordering meat by the pound at the cash register. It’s affordably priced and deliciously authentic.
4.Marx & Bens Delicatessen
New York City-style delis may not be commonplace in Mississippi, but Marx & Bens Delicatessen is an outstanding exception. This Jewish-style deli serves up massive sandwiches piled sky-high with all the customary fixings like pastrami, corned beef, brisket and sauerkraut.
Their Rueben sandwich is often cited as the best in all of Mississippi thanks to their hand-sliced meat and perfectly balanced flavors between sour and salty.
While their sandwiches may be the main draw, don’t sleep on Marx & Ben’s knishes, bagels, smoked fish platters and other authentic deli fare. Reasonable prices make this a popular spot for quick business lunches or casual family meals.
5.Portillo’s
Originally founded as a small hot dog stand in Illinois, Portillo’s has grown into a regional chain thanks to their hearty portions of classic Italian-American comfort food.
The Southaven location is always buzzing with guests who come for reliably delicious menu items like Italian beef sandwiches dipped in gravy, Vienna beef hot dogs dragged through the garden, and Italian sausage combos.
Family meal deals make Portillo’s an affordable option for feeding a crowd. Save room for dessert too because Portillo’s serves up the best cakes in town from their popular chocolate cake to strawberry shortcake.
6.Porch and Parlor
Housed in a restored antebellum plantation home, Porch and Parlor combines southern hospitality and charm with elevated New American cuisine. Chef de cuisine Jonathan Jones puts his creative flair on regional favorites like shrimp and grits, chicken fried steak, and biscuits and gravy.
Daily specials like crawfish étouffée and fried green tomatoes keep things seasonal and fresh. The grand veranda with rocking chairs overlooking the pond creates an idyllic environment for brunch on the weekends as well.
With a quaint romantic atmosphere indoors and gorgeous outdoor seating, Porch and Parlor is a favorite special occasions venue for good reason.
7.Vesuvio’s Italian Restaurant
Family-owned and operated since 2006, Vesuvio’s takes pride in serving homemade authentic Italian cuisine perfected over generations. Their versatile menu covers all varieties of pasta, seafood, veal and chicken prepared with care as tender meatballs simmer for hours in their house marinara sauce.
While classic dishes like lasagna and chicken parmesan satisfy with familiar flavors, regulars praise Vesuvio’s for standouts like osso buco milanese style or linguine topped with clams.
Nightly early bird specials make Vesuvio’s especially popular with seniors. Charming décor with red and white tablecloths and fresh flowers on every table complement the family hospitality.
8.LongHorn Steakhouse
Sure, it’s a chain, but LongHorn Steakhouse is a popular standby cherished for doing what they do best – expertly grilled steaks. Their aged cowboy cut ribeyes hitting a blistering 1800 degrees on their Broiler King charbroilers ensures a tender and juicy cut of meat with that perfect sear.
Lunch specials are very affordable with inclusive menu options ideal for the solo diner like their 6-ounce sirloin paired with salad and side. LongHorn Steakhouse really shines at dinner though when they can showcase premium butchered steaks alongside freshly made sides.
Don’t skip out on appetizers either because their cheese fries and LongHorn shrimp are local favorites.
9.Moe’s Original BBQ
With Alabama roots, Moe’s Original BBQ brings authentic southern BBQ cuisine to Mississippi. As a franchise, Moe’s maintains impressively consistent standards across all its outposts when smoking prime meats over local white oak wood.
Of course the highlight is their outstanding pulled pork sandwiches from Boston butt slow cooked for over 15 hours until fork tender. But Moe’s is far from one note, also serving up excellent smoked chicken wings, baby back ribs, and even surprising options like salmon grilled on a cedar plank.
Homemade sides like Moe’s famous red slaw and baked chili cheese potato casserole make every meal complete. Prices remain modest despite huge portions.
10.Poblano Grill
Poblano Grill on Goodman Road brings a contemporary twist to Mexican cuisine with its stylish industrially-chic interiors and creative south-of-the-border fusion dishes. Signature menu items like their Mexican street corn pizza with a chili lime glaze or Poblano shrimp baked in pepper jack cheese are big crowd pleasers.
Traditional combo plates still satisfy purists while offering diners a choice to customize entrees to their spice tolerance ranging from mild to extra spicy.
Poblano Grill sources organic ingredients whenever possible for their fresh salsas, handmade tortillas and perfectly seasoned proteins. Reasonable prices make this local hotspot popular for date nights out.
11.Saltgrass Steak House
Known for its kitschy Wild West aesthetics, Saltgrass Steak House delivers where it matters most, generous portions of delicious steak in line with its Texas ranch heritage.
Kids especially adore activities like faux bull riding while parents enjoy the hearty menu. From slow roasted prime rib dripping with natural jus to peppercorn encrusted sirloins, all cuts of beef shine thanks to Saltgrass’s aging process ensuring tenderness.
Homestyle sides like baked potatoes and Texas-sized onion rings pair nicely with steak. Excellent value for money deals like All-American fried chicken or baby back ribs for under $20 make this franchise feel like a real neighborhood venue despite its thematic décor.
12.Babalu Tapas & Tacos
For a more modern take on South of the Border flavors, Babalu Tapas & Tacos features eclectic small plates perfect for sharing tapas-style. As the name suggests, Babalu excels with tacos offering fillings from smoked brisket barbacoa to sweet potato and black bean on soft corn tortillas.
Other creative dishes like the lobster guacamole wontons or Cuban mojo chicken skewers nicely balance flavors from citrusy to savory. Inside the industrial-style interior or at outdoor tables, Babalu’s vibrant ambience matches its colorful Pan-Latin fusion menu.
With reasonable prices per small plate, diners can easily mix and match multiple items to create a customizable Mexican meal.
Conclusion
From smoked barbecue and steaks seared to perfection to elevated international cuisines, Southaven offers no shortage of amazing dining destinations to suit all occasions.
Growing in tandem with Southaven’s local economy and real estate boom, the restaurant scene provides quality meals ranging from fast casual to fine dining.
The 12 restaurants featured here encompass a sample of top options covering family-friendly affordable chains along with special night out venues for celebratory meals out. Southaven rewards residents and visitors alike with a roster of these must-try eateries to satisfy all cravings.