The Old Country Store (18801 Hwy 61, Lorman) is definitely not in Jackson—it’s about an hour and a half away in Lorman, Mississippi.  On a recent Saturday I took a mini-road trip there, via the Natchez Trace (which takes about two hours), because I had heard they have the best fried chicken in the state, and possibly the country.  That’s the kind of claim you have to check out when you live within 3 hours of it, I think.

The Old Country Store is probably the most charming fried chicken place …

The “soul spaghetti” at Collins Dream Kitchen (1439 Terry Rd, Jackson) is on John T. Edge’s list of 100 Southern foods to try before you die, and I have been hearing good things about the restaurant since before I moved to Jackson. So it’s embarrassing that it took me this long to get there, but I’m glad I finally did.
The restaurant doesn’t look like much on the outside (true of so many of the best places), but inside it is bright and open. You order from a cafeteria line and …

Bully’s (3118 Livingston Rd, Jackson) is a small, homey place that feels very family run—in fact, it feels a bit like someone’s actual home, except with a few more tables.

Sal & Phil’s (6600 Old Canton Rd, Ridgeland) is in a small strip mall that looks vaguely Western. Inside, it was much larger than I would have expected from the exterior.

We started with the fried crab claw appetizer, after a lot of indecision (because all of the appetizers looked good) and some help from our waiter. We didn’t regret the decision—the claws were great. They were not greasy and weren’t too heavily battered. The batter was cornmeal based and was nicely, but lightly, seasoned.

We had never even heard of royal …

According to its facebook page, Ida’s Restaurant and Catering (4580 N. Siwell Rd, Jackson) considers itself Jackson’s “Best Kept Secret.” I know I had never heard of the restaurant, but then again I am pretty new here. If it was a secret, I hope they don’t mind that I am sort of letting it out of the bag.

Ida’s low profile is probably mostly because of its location—it’s in far southwest Jackson, set a bit back from the road in a building that looks like an old Pizza Hut. Keep an eye …

Suniora’s Sidewalk Cafe recently opened where Miller’s Grocery used to be, at 200 S. Lamar St in the City Centre building.  Suniora herself is a former employee of Miller’s Grocery, who bought the restaurant from the former owners. (JFP). I had never been to the restaurant before it became Suniora’s so I can’t compare the two, but I do like it as it is now.

The amount of food I got for $7 was the first thing I liked about the restaurant. This is the plate lunch; the day I went, …

Miller’s Grill (224 E. Capitol St., Jackson) is second only to Steve’s in terms of the number of times I’ve eaten there for lunch. It’s fast, it’s grilled and/or fried to order, and everything I’ve had so far has been tasty.

The burger patty may just be your standard thin-style patty, but it is well seasoned (salt and pepper, with more pepper than most burgers) and grilled right. There are plenty of topping options; I got basic cheddar and ketchup and was perfectly satisfied. The fact that the bun is warmed …