People often ask me how I find new restaurants to try.  Most of the time I just drive by somewhere and stop. But I find out about brand new places because my awesome boyfriend wrote a program to look for new entries in the State’s restaurant inspection database.  From now on, I will post the new entries here so that you too can keep your finger on the pulse. If you make it to one of the new places before I do, please post a comment!
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Hinds — Bar - Full …

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.

I know I talk  a lot about BBQ.  I know I usually say it is good.  I always mean it (I tend to only write about food I like), but this time I really mean it. Louise’s Open Pit BBQ (Corner of Hwys 51 and 27, Crystal Springs) is well worth the 30-minute trip (each way) from Jackson.

We only found the restaurant because Google Maps led us wrong in our search for another place in Crystal Springs. We drove by Louise’s, smelled the open pit, and suddenly became hungry.

Louise’s BBQ …

I have to say, first of all, that Cerami’s (5417 Hwy 25/Lakewood Dr, Flowood) does not make its own pasta (with a few exceptions). So I would understand if you stopped reading now, or scoffed at all of the positive things I am about to write. But do note that they have plans to start making all their pasta in-house, once they have set aside a section of the restaurant to install their pasta-making machines. Also note that Cerami’s is adorable, friendly, and quite tasty despite the pasta issue.

One of …

I’m sure there will be world peace before there’s a consensus on the best barbeque in town, but E & L Barbeque (1111 Bailey Ave, Jackson) seems to be many people’s favorite. I didn’t let the positive internet reviews raise my expectations too much, but I started to get my hopes up when I smelled barbeque smoke (through my closed car windows) about a quarter of a mile before arriving at the restaurant. Now I know that if I am ever forced to choose my favorite local barbeque, E & L will be a contender.

I may be more in love with the concept of Tom’s Original Fried Pies (255 E. McDowell Rd., Jackson) than with the food itself, but then again you can’t go too far wrong with the food when the concept is “fried pies.” I even dragged my boyfriend on a forty-minute (each way) drive into the country one weekend because I found a listing for a fried-pies place in far, far south Richland, which turned out not to exist. So I was pretty gleeful when I got to Tom’s and saw …

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 …