City Grocery

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.

City Grocery in Oxford, Mississippi, proved to be a delightful dining destination that exceeded my expectations. After missing out on the opportunity to visit this restaurant the previous year, I eagerly looked forward to experiencing its charm and culinary delights. I was not disappointed.From the moment we stepped into City Grocery, it was evident that great customer service was a priority. The staff greeted us warmly and attentively throughout the evening, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. The friendly and accommodating service added an extra layer of enjoyment to our meal.The ambience of City Grocery was equally captivating. The restaurant spans across two levels, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Situated in the heart of a college town, the charming decor and well-thought-out design made for a visually appealing dining experience. It was a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication.As for the food, the servers highly recommended the shrimp and grits, and I decided to follow their advice. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The dish was a harmonious combination of succulent shrimp and creamy grits, bursting with flavors that delighted my taste buds. The attention to detail and skillful execution showcased the culinary expertise of the kitchen.While savoring my own dish, I couldn't help but notice the contentment on the faces of my colleagues. It was evident that everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals, further confirming the reputation of City Grocery as a top dining destination in Oxford, Mississippi.Based on my experience, I wholeheartedly recommend City Grocery as a must-visit restaurant in Oxford. Whether you are a local or a visitor, this establishment offers a memorable dining experience that combines exceptional customer service, a charming ambience, and delectable cuisine. City Grocery truly stands out as one of the top places to eat in the area.Next time you find yourself in Oxford, Mississippi, make sure to include City Grocery in your dining plans. Prepare to be impressed by the warm hospitality, inviting atmosphere, and mouthwatering dishes that await you.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.