A hot Mississippi food city + 5 reasons to try it now

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Our culinary scene exemplifies how much Birmingham loves food, and that passion extends to discovering scenes in other towns. When it comes to dishing about dishes and swapping notes about experiences, you can always count us in.

With that in mind, here’s a Mississippi food city that deserves a spot on your travel calendar: Ridgeland, only 3.5 hours southwest of Birmingham on I-20.

Ridgeland is just north of the state capital and with around 25,000 residents, it serves up a sophisticated food scene for its size. With over 150 restaurants, chefs devoted to their craft and special guest experiences, the city recently launched two new trails to explore its culinary scene and win prizes.

Read on for our five top reasons why curious culinary adventurers should make this your next road trip.

Buzzy accolades + great reviews

GALLERY: Scenes of Ridgeland’s culinary scene

People in Mississippi are well aware that Ridgeland’s restaurants are among the city’s top calling cards, and national food media have taken note, too.

Ridgeland has the most steakhouses in the state and is known as the state’s Steakhouse Capital for both quantity and quality.

One example is Ely’s Restaurant & Bar, which Business Insider and MSN have both recognized as the best and buzziest steakhouse in Mississippi.

Committed, passionate chefs + teams

While Amerigo Italian Restaurant now has seven locations across the Southeast, the concept began in 1987 with its flagship restaurant in Ridgeland. Current Kitchen Manager and Chef Chester Williams started his career there as a dishwasher 28 years ago, and many members of his team have been there for decades, too.

The kitchen culture is built on consistency, from spices and sauces to portions to plating. That standard turns first-timers into loyal clientele, including actor Morgan Freeman, who lives a couple of hours north.

“My team loves what they do; it’s their passion. Once they start cooking, they want to show everybody, ‘We did this and we did this from scratch.'”
_{Amerigo Ridgeland Chef Chester Williams}

The city holds promise for the next generation of culinary pros, too. More than 100 students are enrolled in Ridgeland High School’s Culinary Arts program, the first to earn a Model Academy designation from the state arts commission.

Full sensory dining experiences

Since Ridgeland is known for its high-end dining options, well-curated wine lists and intentionally designed atmospheres, even a weekend trip should include a few of these more elevated experiences.

Observe the nuances in how spaces are designed to preserve the low hum of intimate conversations, punctuated with cheerful clinks of wine toasts; the ways artful plating delights the eye; the delicious balance of fragrant aromas and sumptuous bites.

If you’re planning a late spring or summer visit to Ridgeland, take advantage of the many al fresco dining options, especially around Barnett Reservoir, for laidback, lakeside vibes.

👉Take a look at the many options in Ridgeland’s Food + Drink Guide.

New culinary + cocktail trails

Since there’s so much to dig into in this food scene, Explore Ridgeland recently launched two free, self-guided digital trails:

• 🍽️ Explore Ridgeland Culinary Trail: Don’t miss dishes + vibes from casual to fine dining
• 🍸 Explore Ridgeland Cocktail Trail: Craft cocktails + signature sips across the city

No app download needed: Just click the links above, sign up for the trails and receive the trail passport links on your phone by text.

When you check into locations, you’ll earn points toward prizes, including a $150 dinner-for-two giveaway selected randomly from folks who use the passports for the first two months.

Now your mouth is watering, head over to ExploreRidgeland.com to plan your itinerary and book a stay!

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