"John Currence's Southern flagship on the Square since 1992 — book City Grocery for the shrimp and grits that built Oxford's dining reputation."
About City Grocery
City Grocery opened in 1992 as chef John Currence's first restaurant and moved to its home on Courthouse Square in 1996. Currence — the James Beard Best Chef: South winner of 2009 — built it on Creole-French and Cajun training turned to Mississippi produce, and it became the table that put Oxford on the dining map. It now anchors his City Grocery Restaurant Group, and is listed in the Michelin Guide.
It stands among the town's defining tables. Compare Currence's own Snackbar and Bouré, and the wood-fired Saint Leo, or browse the full Oxford dining guide.
The Kitchen
The shrimp and grits is the dish to order — a house staple for good reason, smoky and rich, the plate most associated with the restaurant. Around it sits a menu of upscale Southern cooking drawn from Currence's Creole-French and Cajun roots: seasonal Gulf seafood, slow-cooked meats and the kind of refined comfort food that reads as familiar but is cooked with real technique.
Pricing is fair for the level: mains run roughly $28 to 42 and most diners spend around $55 to 80 a head before wine, with the bar downstairs a long-running draw in its own right.
The Room
The dining room sits upstairs, candlelit, with heart-pine floors and tall windows over Courthouse Square, above a bar that is a local institution after dark. Service is warm and practised. The mood is grown-up and senior — the room Oxford turns to for an occasion — rather than a casual lunch counter.
Best for a smart Southern dinner in Oxford
City Grocery suits an occasion dinner — the candlelit upstairs room makes it a strong anniversary or first date, and a celebratory birthday table on the Square. For more of the town's tables, see Currence's Snackbar or browse the full Oxford dining guide.
Not for
Not for diners after a quick, cheap or casual bite — this is Oxford's senior dining room, an upstairs candlelit table built for an occasion, not a counter lunch.
Frequently Asked
What is City Grocery known for?
It is chef John Currence's Southern flagship on Oxford's Courthouse Square, open since 1992, known for its shrimp and grits and for putting the Mississippi college town on the dining map.
Who is the chef at City Grocery?
Chef-owner John Currence, the James Beard Best Chef: South winner of 2009, who opened City Grocery in 1992 and built the City Grocery Restaurant Group around it.
What should I order at City Grocery?
The shrimp and grits is the house signature; beyond it, the menu runs to upscale Southern cooking drawn from Currence's Creole-French and Cajun training.
How much does City Grocery cost?
Mains run roughly $28 to 42 and most diners spend around $55 to 80 a head before wine; the upstairs room is the occasion table, the bar a more casual draw.
Where is City Grocery?
At 152 Courthouse Square in Oxford, Mississippi, with a candlelit dining room upstairs above a long-running bar.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at City Grocery
Book via the City Grocery website or by phone; tables go fast on Ole Miss football and event weekends.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address152 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655
NeighbourhoodOn Oxford's Courthouse Square, with an upstairs dining room and bar
CuisineSouthern
PriceA la carte; mains roughly $28–42, most diners spend around $55–80 a head
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingCandlelit upstairs dining room above a long-running bar; booking advised
ReservationBooking advised, especially on Ole Miss game and event weekends
