Featured Image: Explore Ridgeland
Ridgeland is the Steakhouse Capital of Mississippi, not only because it holds the most steakhouses of any other Mississippi city, but because steaks here are notoriously the best around. But there are more decisions at stake than steak, because the city also boasts excellent Italian food, casual dining, craft coffee, a Mocktail Trail, and charming eateries ranging from a tea room to a philanthropic café.
We’ve spent the better part of a year eating our way through this town for Explore Ridgeland — steakhouse by steakhouse, bakery case by bakery case. Here’s everything in one place, plus where to go deeper.
Steakhouses
Read thefull guide.
Ely’s Restaurant & Bar
Steaks at this longstanding dining room have earned national chops from outlets like MSN and Business Insider, and most importantly, it’s a fan favorite among locals. Owner Richard Shapley named it after his grandfather Elias “Ely” Shapley of Greenville, opened the doors in 2008, and has been aging steaks 28-plus days ever since. Choose between tender filets, ribeyes, and a New York Strip, or turn to the seafood menu with gulf redfish (a regional delicacy), tuna, and broiled crab cakes. The Filet Louisiane, drenched in Creole barbecue butter and topped with shrimp, is regularly lauded. It sits upstairs overlooking the Railroad District in Olde Towne, which gives it an atmosphere all its own.
M.M. Shapley’s
The original Shapley’s opened in 1985, then after a few years’ hiatus, reopened to the delight of locals in 2018. Its owners are kin to the Ely’s team, so the steaks here are up to snuff — but the menu also includes grilled fish, stuffed shrimp, rack of lamb, and crab claws. Start your meal with an order of hot tamales; there’s a reason this family tradition spans more than 75 years. It’s a true farm-to-table restaurant, with a vegetable garden blossoming right outside the dining room…