Mississippi takes home cooking seriously, and the meat-and-three is the heart of it. The idea is simple: pick one meat and three vegetable sides, plus cornbread or a roll, and you get a full plate of Southern comfort at a fair price.
These are the spots where fried chicken, butter beans, and squash casserole steam out of steam tables every day at lunch. From Jackson lunch counters to small-town cafes, here are eight beloved diners locals point to when they want a real home-cooked meal without cooking it themselves.
Grab a fork and get ready to plan a few road trips.
1. The Mayflower Cafe, Jackson, Mississippi
Opened in 1935, this downtown Jackson landmark is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, and its old-school charm still pulls in a steady lunch crowd…