City Grocery

We had a group that met there. The waitresses were very nice and helpful. Most of the food was delicious. I ordered the special that day that was the pork chop sandwich. It was tough and hard to chew. I will order one of the other choices next time.

Great restaurant for fine dining. Everything is consistently done to the highest standards…….the food is delicious and the service is outstanding. I think much of the credit goes to Georgia Hogue, the manager. She keeps an eagle eye on everything. I think running a very busy, high end restaurant is very challenging. This is one of our favorite restaurants……..and it’s because it’s reliably great. Thank you to the kitchen staff, the service staff……and Georgia.

First time eating here and loved the atmosphere especially in such a great downtown location. It was a little busy but not terrible. Burgers we ordered were ‘ok’ not great but we were more concerned with the service. Brennan waited on us and she clearly didn’t have the patience for our questions or requests and acted put out most of the time. Her facial expressions and tone were not appreciated. Not the best experience for an already expensive area. I would recommend SoLa and St Leo, service is excellent.

Recently dined at City Grocery on yet another very busy Friday evening in Oxford – this time, graduation weekend, and it was indeed very crowded and busy on the Square. Despite the bustling crowds of the Square, we were pleasantly surprised by the seamless experience. Although our reservation was for 6:45, we arrived over an hour early and were promptly seated by a gracious hostess who expertly managed the bustling atmosphere. Securing a table at City Grocery can be a challenge, so her efficiency was truly commendable. We opted to forgo starters due to the limited selection, instead diving straight into Caesar salads with a twist, featuring kalamata olives and hard-boiled egg. While not your traditional Caesar, they were a delightful departure from the norm. Entrees included Wasabi-crusted salmon, Char Siu pork belly, pan-roasted duck breast, and a grilled flatiron steak. Each dish showcased impeccable flavors, with highlights being the perfectly cooked duck, salmon, and rare flat iron steak. Though the pork belly leaned slightly towards being overdone, the accompanying scallion rice grits and sesame infusion added a delightful Korean barbecue flair. I don’t know if this is what the chef intended, but the flavor was outstanding. For dessert, we enjoyed crème brulee, chocolate-filled profiteroles, chess pie reminiscent of Mississippi Mud Pie, and strawberry mousse. Throughout our dining experience, the service was satisfactory, with attentive waitstaff ensuring our needs were met in a timely manner. Dining at City Grocery was memorable, despite the bustling atmosphere. While there were minor flaws in some dishes, the overall quality of food and service makes it a worthwhile dining destination in Oxford. I would certainly return and recommend it to others.

This was our second time in this restaurant and we were just as pleased with this experience as the last. The food was outstanding, with creative twists on classic dishes. The service up to par. Would eat there again in a heartbeat.

Nice to be in the land of good service. New Orleans vibe eatery with lots of options. Warm cornbread welcomes us as we pick something tasty from the menu. Blackened catfish and pork debris sandwiches fit the bill. Lovely attentive staff that was obviously well trained.

Stopped in for a quick bite for lunch with colleagues. We had some Brussels sprouts for an appetizer and then I had the fried mac n cheese and ham sandwich with fries. It was so delicious. The fries might be number one on my list of best ever!! Never had anything like it. Service was great as well.

I have been to Oxford a few times for work and City Grocery is always a place I make time to go to! The staff is truly amazing and the food matches the expectation. The last week I was in Oxford I ate at City Grocery 3 of the 5 nights. I would have eaten here more but there was a Christmas parade one night and I decided to avoid the square that night. If your in Oxford and looking for a truly great experience got to City Grocery! Also if your a Ceasar Salad fan try their salad you will not be disappointed!

Defnitely the place to see-and-be-seen in Oxford! We had a great meal of shrimp and grits, some kind of hushpuppy appetizer and grilled grouper. It was all delicious and fun to see people of all ages having dinner. Definitely recommend getting a reservation!

First time checking out this place. Rolled up in shorts and a tee, only to be awkwardly shooed away by the snooty hostesses, who suggested I try a spot more suited to my "vibe." So, I peaced out. Unless you're a card-carrying yuppie with a sequoia-sized stick lodged firmly up your backside, skip this (unjustifiably) pretentious bourgeois feeding trough.

Possibly my new favorite Oxford eatery. Every dish was delicious, and cooked to perfection. I LOVE shrimp and grits when it's done well, and this was good, really good. Steak was tender, fish was excellent. Service was really hospitable - from the hosts to the servers to the bartenders to the manager (yep, somehow managed to interact with them all!) Ambiance is lively (a little loud when it's busy, to be fair), cool old building with a ton a character. This is a fairly tough reservation for a reason! Looking forward to returning.

The food was very tasty. Service was friendly our bartender was easy to talk to. Ambiance was very eclectic. Old building vibe from the mid 1860's

Nicer local restaurant for a lunch on a visit to Ole Miss. Hostess was super sweet and squeezed us in right when they open with no reservation on Valentine's Day. Staff was so friendly and made great recommendations.

Tasty cozy restaurant on the Oxford square! Limited menu of southern style cooking. Service was great! Definitely would go back to try dinner

This is a cute restaurant on the square. Interior ambiance is lovely. Our waiter was kind, helpful and suggested menu items we enjoyed. The hostess was not very friendly or helpful. The restaurant opens for dinner at 6:00, not aware of this we arrived at 5:50 for our 6:00 reservation. She told us the restaurant wasn't open so I asked if there was a bar, she said yes upstairs. She neglected to share that the bar was closed for a private party. So we didn't start off on a positive note here but we determined to have fun as we had driven from Atlanta to take our college son out for his birthday dinner. There are many amazing restaurants to choose from in Oxford. This will not be one we will go to again.

I had high expectations for City Grocery and they absolutely met them. I had the skirt steak and it was perfectly cooked and fabulous. Georgia was our server and was lovely and did an amazing job, super cool. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is the ambience. This was the worst dinner environment that I've ever had and I travel and dine out for a living. There was a group of four people in the middle of the restaurant that were screaming for an hour and a half. Not angry screaming, but non self aware screaming and yelling volume that made most of the restaurant miserable. With the acoustics of the room, this place is probably already loud but this was awful. Everyone around us was struggling to have a conversation and the women beside us were visibly upset. I'm from NY, a little noise doesn't bother me but this was way beyond that. I know this isn't City Grocery's fault, but I couldn't ignore it in the review because the atmosphere was terrible. I'll be back, but for lunch when hopefully I can have a conversation.

Went here for lunch on a game day. No wait at our reservation time. Seated promptly. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Drinks were excellent and prices right. Ordered burgers. Cesar salad and chicken sandwich. All were excellent. Will definitely be back.

I cannot believe how many years we have been coming to Oxford and have only just made it to City Grocery. We've had season football tickets for close to 30 years and bought a condo five years ago when our kids started coming to school at Ole Miss. For years we have heard rave reviews that, unfortunately, must have set my expectations way too high. The location, on the square, couldn't be any better. And the small establishment is exactly what you would expect in an age old building around the square in a sleepy southern town. The space is intimate and I love the small bar toward the back of the restaurant. We had reservations for two at 7:00pm and arrived promptly where the hostess greeted us warmly and showed us to a four-top table barely inside the door and dangerously close to the hostess stand. I know they are trying to maximize tables in the small space but I was not pleased with the option. When I expressed this to the hostess and indicated we would prefer one of the several other empty two or four top tables she inquired with the manager and made the change for us. Mary Ann, our server, was pleasant and greeted us quickly and warmly. She recommended the night's special sangria so we both ordered one. It was fresh tasting and very good. Warm cornbread muffins were brought to the table with softened butter. I have to say that, even though I'm not a huge cornbread fan, it was pretty good. They were slightly sweet, soft on the inside and just a little crunchy on the edges indicating that someone knew to cook, probably in cast iron, in a pan that was already piping hot when the batter was poured in. Extra kuddos for the butter at room temp. Fine restaurants that put cold, hard butter, or a butter substitute, on the table get an automatic point deduction from me. But I digress. We ordered the pork belly to start. It was perfect, with crispy edges that held all the seasonings. But, it was four tiny bites. I mean absolutely tiny. As in barely enough to see or taste. My daughter ordered the house salad, add grilled chicken. It was nothing special. Literally looked like bagged salad mix with some grilled chicken on top. And it was tiny, like side salad size, on a very small plate. I ordered the pork tenderloin over polenta. It had very good taste, and was very tender. It was plated lovely. But it was tiny and also on a very small plate. I usually don't eat all of the starch served with an entree but the serving size was so small I practically licked the plate. We shared the chocolate dessert, which was our favorite. I'm a small person, I appreciate good food and do not think portion size is a substitute for good food. However, for the food to be slightly better than average, and VERY pricey, AND tiny portions, I can't give this restaurant better than 3 stars. We left, not starving, but not really satisfied either. I would think the average person, to feel satisfied , would need to order one or two appetizers, a salad, an entree and dessert just for themselves. And that would be a stretch, and make the meal cost more than the average food warranted. A slightly larger portion would not cost the restaurant much and should be considered. I've been there and had the experience for myself but don't anticipate going again. On a side note, my family is diverse. My daughter and I are of different race. If you are looking for a dining experience with no diversity, you've found your place.

A lot of people say this place is overrated but I thought it lived up to the hype. Price was honestly pretty reasonable too. Amazing staff. Amazing ambiance. Excited to take out of town friends here.

I'd say - it was ok. Bar upstairs - fun vibe with ole waiting for our reservation/table. They seated us nearly 30 min after our reservation time. We tried the poutine and lamb special app. Really good. I got the Caesar to start and then the salmon. Salad was good, but salmon and asparagus over cooked and overly salty. Couldn't eat the asparagus- too charred. Husband had the duck- good but again over salted. Not overly impressed. I was disappointed cause I really wanted to love it.

We have been to City Grocery quite a few times during our visits to Ole Miss. Our most recent visit will be our last. Our server was incredibly rude to both our table and then to other customers. We overheard her call another table "cheap" to a fellow server. She seemed very aggravated right from the start and the attitude continued for the entire dinner. It was so much so we decided to skip dessert because we just wanted to leave. Food was just ok. We've had great meals here many times, so not sure why tonight was such a miss. The are other restaurant options on the square which will get our future business.

Burger and fries! Yum!!!!! Service pretty good! Waitress was wearing multiple hats so not quite as attentive as could be! But okay!

The fried red snapper was tasteless and dry. My friend's duck was overcooked. Lovely ambiance and terrific service. But the food did not match the hype.

Perfection every time. Best ambiance and wonderful service. Love the charred Okra salad.

We had an incredible dinner. We sat at the bar. The bartender was great and made great drinks. The Stromboli hand pie was a perfect starter. For our entrees we had shrimp and grits and the Cod special. We loved everything. I would love to eat this same meal again. Great meal.

If you're in the mood for over priced, and under portioned food, this is the place for you. I've eaten here a few times in the past and again recently. The food is decent, but not for the price. Limited menu options to choose from are all $35 or more. Fried chicken was a single chicken thigh with burnt skin hanging off.

So, we booked here 4 weeks in advance based on recommendations from friends. In summary; lovely space, limited food and wine menu, excellent service. Probably would come back. Really pretty and lively space but our table location was in the middle of the restaurant. Not ideal but they are limited on space and I get it. We ordered the shrimp and grits, chicken and dumplings and Lamb meatballs. Our food came out 3 minutes after we ordered (not sure if that was good or bad). The food was was just ok. Chicken and dumplings was over seasoned with way too much garlic. Not how my wife's grandmother would make them. Same for the shrimp and grits (why cover the dish in mushrooms? Didn't make sense). Lamb meatballs were delicious, and so were the fries. $36 for shrimp and grits in Mississippi is a travesty, particularly when they weren't that good. Chocolate cake and bread pudding were average. Awesome waitress. Loved her.

Overall, this is a nice place. Interesting atmosphere, kind of feels like a converted warehouse or barn from the 1800s. Kind of loud, but you can hear the people at your table. Menu is interesting, and everything is expensive. I started with a Caesar salad which was good, but a little peppery. For my main course I had shrimp and grits, which was good but also had a peppery bite to it. But don't let the small appearance fool you - it's a lot of food. I probably could have stopped halfway through and been satisfied. The only drawback is the price. Good service, and it's very good food at half the price, but at the prices they charge, it's okay. I don't plan to return, but that's solely based on my perceived value. It's worth trying once.

Bouncer with the tattoos needs to be evaluated. Has a bad temper and yelled at my friend saying "max capacity" and kicked her out. She didn't do anything but walk halfway up the stairs. Maybe set up your station at the bottom of the stairs instead of yelling at people like a prison warden? Also the drinks are too strong and the soda is flat. Too expensive. Reevaluate now

The restaurant is good. The bar has the worst bartenders you've ever met. They have huge egos for no reason and don't care about customers. Go to the summit instead.

Sometimes they have some odd choices on the menu but the food is always high quality.

You outdid yourself tonight, CG! Wonderful anniversary dinner. Food, ambiance, wine and welcome were superb. As always, Terry makes it a great experience. Enjoyed the food and the experience!

I would give 3.5 stars if I could, but I can't and am unable to give 4. Growing up in Oxford, City Grocery was the stuff of legends with many talented chefs working here. Maybe they've all left? I brought my partner for a meal and was expecting to be wowed by culinary ingenuity, but instead found ourselves critiquing every dish. The ingredients sort of sat on top of each other, competing for attention and there was too much going on - recommend going back to the basics that made y'all "the best restaurant in town."

City Grocery is one of those places where you'll find out-of-towners and locals alike. The menu options tend to be a little pricey, but the meals are truly incredible and highlight quintessential Southern cuisine. I tried a handful of different items the few times I have visited and never once been disappointed. The waitstaff are extremely knowledgeable and eager to please. While I have found that the wait can feel a little long at times, the complimentary piping-hot homemade biscuits can tide over even the hangriest of guests. My favorite meal was the short ribs which were expertly cooked and just fall-off-the-bone tender. City Grocery is a must-experience when in Oxford.

It was...ok. The four top tables are SMALL. You're getting cozy. I don't recommend the cheese and pickles app; the pickled asparagus was so salty I thought I was going to start sweating; the cheeses were ok. Two of our four entrees came out luke warm but the other two were hot (timing in the kitchen is off). I hate telling our servers about this, but I felt like we should since this is one of the nicer spots in Oxford. They did the right thing by removing then appetizer from our final bill. Kind of a limited menu. Not sure if I'm hurrying back.

We were inspired to traverse the Mississippi Delta area after my brother and SIL had been there on a food tour after watching the Parts Unknown episode about the Mississippi Delta with Anthony Bourdain, John Currence, and Julia Reed. After visiting Doe's Eat Place in Greenville (highly recommend) we found ourselves diverting a bit to Oxford. We stopped in at City Grocery for lunch. We were seated and after bringing us water, my husband was asked to remove his Cirrus Aircraft cap, which he promptly and graciously did. We can gussy up with the best of them but had no idea there was a dress code like that and as stated, we were traveling. Ironically in the Parts Unknown episode, JC was wearing a ball cap at Doe's and in his own kitchen at City Grocery. We have no problem with this policy but I would think that the policy should be declared somewhere as is the cell phone policy on the menu so that guests can comply voluntarily to avoid the embarrassment of being asked to conform to a policy of which they're unaware. Also restaurant staff would be relieved of the unpleasant task of having to ask someone to comply with the store's rules. That said, the service was prompt and the food was excellent. I had the duck sandwich, which was a an umami of flavors. Great place and highly recommended, but make sure if you wear a hat in there it's anything but a ball cap because other hats are allowed.

First time to Oxford! Shopping the town to see if it's a good fit for our family. If this place was anything like the town and people, I'd say it feels like home ! We came in on a FREEZING Friday after Thanksgiving and we're the first ones through the door. Everyone was friendly and the wine list was pretty good. Let me just say-The food was fantastic! I'm not sure what kind of crack they put into the cornbread but my husband said it was the best he has ever had. Just a hint of spice on the finish, oh they were sooo good! I also ordered what could possibly be the best carrot soup I've ever had. It was curried carrot with roasted carrots to garnish and I couldn't believe my mouth. Even husband liked it and he's not a soup guy. He ordered the burger MR and it had a great special sauce on it that made it ! Fries were also good. I got a wedge with blackened shrimp, it was exceptional. Their blue cheese dressing is more vinaigrette with blue cheese crumbles and I ordered extra because I couldn't get enough. I will return anytime I'm in Oxford!

I have been wanting to try this place out for quite sometime. I have made it to the bar upstairs but never for dinner. I finally found a night that was slow and was able to get a table. Here's a rundown of what we had Crispy fried chicken livers- I'm not even sure where to begin, these were huge tender, tasty fried goodness on a plate. They were cooked perfectly, nice and tender had a rich and creamy inside. I could have just had these and been ok. BBQ pig tail was not quite what I was expecting but it did not disappoint. It was pork bits formed into a patty, the flavors were still good but I had a different vision of what it was. I had the pig cheeks, which is a favorite of mine and this must of been one big pig! The cheeks were a really good size, so tender, amazing flavors. The risotto was cooked to perfection. My company said the Darrow and the Duck were also amazing. This is a must dine here place if in Oxford MS.....

Deep fried pimento cheese balls, slap your mama Mac n' cheese and Nashville Chicken w sweet tea - nothing else needs to be said other than make a reservation when you are in town

$28 for cold mediocre soup. Not tasty enough for the high dollar price tag. Could've gotten the same experience cracking open a campbell's soup at home

Food was cold and not very good at all. Food came out before drinks. Server was very nice but We felt rushed to get out. Never offered a 2nd drink or refill.

Food is always amazing especially the shrimp & grits & Terry is hands down the best!!!

Disappointing. Nice atmosphere and great service but the food was super salty to the point of being inedible.

Great service, fabulous food! This is not my grandmother's banana pudding! This is not my grandmother's biscuits! This is not your every day ramen! You get the picture...

Absolutely love City Grocery! We always have to stop in for lunch or dinner while we are in Oxford! Truly some of the best food! I would highly recommend City Grocery!

Probably the worst meal I've eaten in Oxford. Ordered the philly salad and it was soggy and the meat was completely undercooked. It was also so spicy that I could barely eat it, and we were not warned or apologized to when the food was not edible do it's spice level. Very disappointed.

Visiting friends in Oxford and we tried this place for dinner. Mr. Moon was our server and he was really cool. Shrimp n grits were really tasty. French bread was yummy. It was a little pricey but we did have a bottle of wine between the four of us. Casual atmosphere. Will go back to have a drink in the bar area on our next visit.

Probably my favorite place in Oxford! Great food, excellent service and very nice ambiance every time!

Incredible is the only word that comes to mind after eating at City Grocery. We walked in on a Sunday afternoon for brunch and seated right away. Our server was so friendly and immediately went in to tell us about the restaurant and what made them special. Then he went on to tell us about the specials and their specialities. It was so hard to make a decision because it all sounded mouth watering. I chose the shrimp and grits with Parmesan cheese. These were hands down slap your grandma delicious! I will come to Oxford, Mississippi just for this dish...it was that kind of delicious. We ended with peach cobbler again so delicious! The charm of this restaurant is not just the great food and the history of the building and the town square, it's the service. We told them we were in a town to tour Ole Miss for our son and everyone came up to say hello and to tell us about the town and school. They made my entire family feel welcome. Definitely give this a place a try if you find yourself in Oxford for the food, the charm but mostly the service!

I've been here about 3 times now with my boyfriend and every single time they outdo theirselves. The food (specifically whatever cut of steak they have for the season) melts in your mouth and the service is great!

I've gone here a few times and have found it to be less than expected with not much too offer and a staff that does not enjoy their job, in the photo you will see a man who utilizes his posithis power trip to bully those who spend money here. Highly unrecommended to those who are locals and those who are visiting for the weekend, why go here when there are plenty of better places that enjoy your business.

In the midst of Covid, this was quite the oasis. We rolled into Oxford and there were limited openings. We asked for a table, then following the Covid protocols and masked up, we were seated on the balcony overlooking the square. We started with amazing appetizers; the steak tartare was absolutely amazing, fresh, tender and perfectly seasoned. We paired this with the sweet potato hummus with I believe a molasses swirl. It was incredible. For dinner, I had the scallops which were fresh and perfectly cooked. Cheryl had the fish special, which was fresh grouper. Being 300 miles from the ocean, you never would have known it. On top of great food, there was exceptional and friendly service. We can't say enough about this small, intimate restaurant.

We have been coming here for three years every time we are in town for the holidays. Never had a bad meal here!! The food is delicious. The decor is lively. (And holiday festive!) The service is impeccable (Shout our to Terry!! Who gives the best food and wine pairing recs) Shrimp and grits has been the go-to for years. It has always stood up to the test of time. God bless bacon! Their menu is seasonal and ever changing so while I will review the dishes we had, most likely you will not have these exact ones, but here we go: Their dinner entree specials are always interesting. This time we got their braised (48 hrs!) beef belly with parm grits. Never. Ever. Say no to meat fat or creamy cheese. That's my food rule. Fried oyster toast - cornmeal battered to perfection. Super light. Not too salty. But still had a kick. The special pork dumplings - underwhelming and doughy. Needed more meat. Also wontons are not dumplings. Catfish - amazing. Delicious. Nuff said. Dulce de leche - dessert. Is. Always. Good. Yes. Cool. Love.

Went in a little before our reservation time and the person that greeted us was rather rude and said they don't seat early. Which I understand but attitude was bad. However, our waitress was lovely! Very attentive. Food was good, not great, but good. Wine selection was decent. I'd go back.

The Muffaletta was amazing. Corn Bread, Shrimp and Grits, Fish, Duck, and service all FANTASTIC!!!

Wow. Historically my favorite restaurant in Oxford. Tonight everything was great, awesome atmosphere, amazing staff, but the food was awful. Not sure if there is a new chef but wow, just plain awful. Hush puppies weren't cooked all the way through, raw and mushy in the middle. The shrimp and grits were off, actually tasted really fishy, which usually indicates not fresh shrimp. Things need to change.

If I could give 3.5 stars I would, but I just couldn't do the 4 stars. We came in night before thanksgiving, it was packed but we were luckily able to get a seat at the bar. Everything was decent, and clearly good quality ingredients- we had the pimento hot cakes, shrimp and grits, veggie 'surprise' (the chef whips up whatever veggies are in the kitchen), and the Mexican spiced chocolate cake. The issues really came down to execution. Pimento app was fine- we didn't finish it. Shrimp and grits- amazing chunky bacon, super fresh shrimp, spicy grits. However, it was massively over seasoned with black pepper- to the point that a quarter of the way through the dish, I couldn't taste anything else. Also heavy on the butter (you can see the butter ring in the pic)- though that can be a good or bad thing. Veggie plate had hominy, carrots, wilted greens, super meaty mushrooms- also interesting flavors and well prepared, but hugely over seasoned with black pepper. Mexican chocolate cake tasted like plain box cake with zero spice added- best part was the swirl of dulce de leche sauce, delicious! All in all, almost $100 for 2 of us with no alcohol. Food had so much potential, if only the pepper wasn't so heavy!