The 7 Remote Mississippi Restaurants Most Travelers Never Find That Are Worth Every Mile Of The Drive
A gravel lot, a sagging porch, and a hand-painted sign were all we had to go on the first time a back road in Mississippi led us to supper. That plate of fried catfish still comes up in family conversations years later.
Small towns across the state hide old general stores and roadside cafes that feed travelers like long-lost cousins. For families on a road trip, these seven stops turn a long drive into the best part of the day.
1. The Old Country Store, Lorman, MS
Built in 1875, the wooden building along a quiet stretch of US-61 once worked as a true country general store. Today it serves one of the most talked-about Southern buffets in the state.
The creaky porch and old-time look set the mood before the car door even closes.
Inside, the dining area feels large and airy, with collectibles from decades past covering the walls and shelves. Kids tend to wander the room pointing at antique tools and signs while parents fill plates.
It works almost like a small museum with lunch attached.
Fried chicken is the star, and it has earned a reputation that pulls drivers off the Natchez Trace area just for a taste. The all-you-can-eat spread also brings collard greens, pork chops, and classic soul food sides, plus a salad bar for lighter appetites.
Save room, because the dessert table is big enough to cause a family debate.
Doors open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, so plan for a lunch stop rather than a late dinner. Reservations are not taken, but parking is free and usually easy.
Takeout and even a drive-through option help if little ones fall asleep in the back seat.
2. Taylor Grocery, Taylor, MS
Only about 300 people call the village of Taylor home, yet on weekend evenings the gravel lot outside this old grocery fills up fast. Folks drive out from Oxford and much farther for one thing above all: catfish.
The fillets arrive golden and crisp, exactly the kind of plate a road trip should be built around.
The building keeps its weathered grocery bones, with a casual, cozy room full of history. Live music sometimes drifts through, which gives kids something to bop along to during the wait.
And there usually is a wait, so arriving early is smart.
Beyond the fish, the menu covers chicken and shrimp gumbo, half-dozen shrimp, a sausage and cheese plate, and Rotel cheese fries that tend to vanish from the middle of the table. A kids’ menu and high chairs make it easy for younger travelers.
Finish with the house pecan pie, a slice of pure Mississippi comfort.
Timing matters here. Doors stay closed Monday through Wednesday, and service runs evenings only from Thursday to Sunday.
Reservations are accepted, which can save a hungry family from pacing the porch.
3. H.D. Gibbes & Sons, Learned, MS
Fewer than 100 people live in Learned, and the town has basically one main street. On it sits a general store that has been around since the 1800s and now turns out some of the finest steaks in central Mississippi.
Few places pair premium cuts with this much rustic charm.
Wooden shelves stocked with canned goods and local products still line the room, so dinner happens right among the store’s old character. Steaks, lamb chops, and pork chops headline the menu, and the filet of beef is a favorite.
A fireplace adds warmth on cooler nights.
Families fit right in. High chairs are available, and the laid-back setting means nobody minds a little kid chatter.
Spinach dip makes a good starter for sharing, while bread pudding or pound cake with strawberries wraps things up sweetly.
Hours are unusual, so check before setting out. Lunch runs Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 1 PM, and dinner happens Thursday through Saturday evenings.
Dinner reservations are recommended because tables fill and a wait is common. Outdoor seating offers a breath of country air for restless young diners.
4. The Hollywood Cafe, Tunica Resorts, MS
Fried pickles have a birthplace, and it sits on a country backroad near Tunica surrounded by wide-open Delta fields. This historic cafe gets credit for introducing the deep-fried dill pickle, a snack that kids usually find hilarious before they find it delicious.
Beyond the famous pickles, the kitchen sticks to Southern comfort with real skill. A fried catfish dinner with onion rings is the classic order, and the catfish hoagie makes a great lunch.
Fried pickles and green tomatoes together on one plate offer a fun sampler for the table.
The building carries a nostalgic feel tied to the region’s blues heritage, and music is part of its identity. Picky eaters are covered with chicken tenders, a club sandwich, and a kids’ menu.
High chairs are on hand, and a full vegetarian menu helps mixed-diet families.
Service runs Monday through Saturday from 11 AM, with later closing on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon tend to get busiest, while weekday mornings stay calm.
Reservations are accepted, and free parking makes the stop easy on a Delta driving loop.
5. Crawdad’s, Merigold, MS
Merigold has fewer than 400 residents, so finding a lodge-style dining room serving prime steaks out here comes as a happy shock. The drive through Bolivar County farmland is flat and quiet.
Then the lights of the restaurant appear, and dinner plans suddenly look a lot more exciting.
Crawfish is the local specialty, served in season, and the crawfish Alfredo has a loyal following. Fried catfish also lands high on the must-try list.
Steaks round out the menu for anyone craving something hearty after a day on the road.
The room feels rustic and cozy, with a lodge atmosphere that makes a family meal feel like a small celebration. A kids’ menu and high chairs keep younger diners comfortable.
Live music sometimes plays, and outdoor seating gives everyone a little space to stretch.
Plan around the schedule, since service is dinner only from Tuesday to Saturday. Doors open at 5 PM and stay open a bit later on Fridays and Saturdays.
Reservations are accepted, which helps for larger groups. Cleveland sits nearby, making this an easy add-on for families exploring the heart of the Delta.
6. Onward Store & Comeback Café, Rolling Fork, MS
History buffs and kids alike perk up at this roadside stop, because the area is tied to a famous Teddy Roosevelt hunting trip, the story often linked to the birth of the teddy bear. Displays inside the old general store share the tale.
Lunch comes with a history lesson while you wait.
Out in the remote crossroads of Onward, surrounded by farmland and timber bottomlands, the building keeps its authentic general store character. A small shop adds browsing fun before the food arrives.
Portions run huge, so sharing plates is a smart move.
Scratch-made country cooking fills the menu. Pork chops with gravy, hamburger steak smothered in onions, and fried green tomato BLTs are crowd-pleasers.
Dipped onion rings and burgers make easy wins for kids, and a kids’ menu is available.
Unlike many Delta stops, this one serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Weekdays open at 7 AM, Friday and Saturday stretch into the evening, and Sunday is closed.
Dogs can join families at outdoor tables, a nice perk for travelers with pets. Parking is free and plentiful right off US-61.
7. The Simmons – Wright Company, Toomsuba, MS
Creaking wooden floors announce every step inside this general store, which one family started back in 1884. The building, more than a century old, sits about 15 miles east of Meridian near the Alabama line.
For families crossing the state on I-20, it makes a worthwhile pause.
Artifacts from generations past fill the space, giving kids plenty to spot between bites. The owners often share stories about the family and the building’s long history.
That personal connection turns a quick meal into a memory.
Food here leans toward homestyle Southern comfort, served for breakfast and lunch. Mornings start with hot coffee and hearty plates, while midday brings classic country lunches.
Desserts are part of the lineup too, and prices stay friendly for families watching a travel budget.
Hours favor early birds. Monday through Thursday runs from 7:30 AM to mid-afternoon, Friday and Saturday close earlier in the afternoon, and Sunday stays closed.
High chairs are available, dogs are welcome outside, and reservations are accepted. With free parking right along US-11 and 80, stopping is simple even with a packed car.