"Mississippi's most exciting bistro - James Beard winner Vishwesh Bhatt weds Southern produce to Indian spice, from okra chaat to spiced catfish on North Lamar."
About Snackbar
Snackbar opened in 2009 as a bouchon-inspired room in chef John Currence's City Grocery Restaurant Group, and chef Vishwesh Bhatt has since turned it into one of the South's most exciting tables. It is a headline address in our Oxford, Mississippi guide and a standout on the Indian-influenced map of the American South, sitting at 721 North Lamar Boulevard.
Bhatt - a native of India who considers himself a Southern chef after more than two decades in Oxford - won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2019, after finalist nods in 2014 through 2018.
The Kitchen
The cooking weaves Bhatt's Indian heritage through Mississippi ingredients and traditions. The signature crispy okra chaat is the dish that put the room on the map - fried okra tossed with chaat spice, yogurt and tamarind - alongside black-eyed-pea-flour-fried catfish, fried green tomatoes with crab vinaigrette and an oyster bar that runs through the seasons. Paneer turns up beside Delta-grown vegetables; catfish arrives rubbed with turmeric and warming spice.
It is food that feels both familiar and entirely new, Southern at the root and South Asian in the seasoning.
The Room
The room is a lively oyster-bar-and-bistro hybrid, a long bar down one side and bistro tables filling the rest, the kind of place that runs equally well for a solo seat with oysters or a celebratory dinner with friends. It is unpretentious and convivial, the energy of a college town's best table on a Friday night.
It fills most evenings, so book ahead, though the bar welcomes walk-ins.
Not for
Not for a hushed fine-dining tasting menu or anyone wanting strictly classic Southern cooking untouched by spice - this is a buzzy bistro that leans into Indian flavour.
Frequently Asked
What is Snackbar known for?
Southern-Indian cooking from James Beard winner Vishwesh Bhatt in Oxford, Mississippi. The signature crispy okra chaat - fried okra with chaat spice, yogurt and tamarind - leads a menu of spiced catfish, fried green tomatoes and a seasonal oyster bar.
Who is the chef at Snackbar?
Chef Vishwesh Bhatt, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2019 after finalist nods from 2014 to 2018, and has cooked in Oxford for more than twenty years.
Where is Snackbar in Oxford, Mississippi?
At 721 North Lamar Boulevard, a short way from the Square, in a space opened by City Grocery Restaurant Group in 2009.
How much does Snackbar cost?
It sits in the moderate $$ band, with small plates roughly $8-16 and mains $20-34; expect about $70-110 for two with drinks.
Do I need a reservation at Snackbar?
Reservations are recommended, especially at weekends when the room fills, though the long bar welcomes walk-ins and solo diners.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Snackbar
Reservations are recommended, though the bar welcomes walk-ins. Phone +1 662 236 6363. Find it at 721 North Lamar Boulevard in Oxford, Mississippi.
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
Address721 N Lamar Blvd, Oxford
NeighbourhoodNorth Lamar, Oxford, Mississippi
CuisineSouthern-Indian
PriceSmall plates roughly $8-16, mains $20-34; expect about $70-110 for two
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingA lively oyster-bar-and-bistro room with a long bar and bistro tables
ReservationReservations recommended; walk-ins welcome at the bar
