Dining
at the Downtown Grill in
Oxford, Mississippi is an exciting culinary
experience as well as a memorable trip through time. Guests may choose to sit
on the balcony that wraps around the Grill and watch the activity of "the
square" at twilight. Others may prefer the more formal areas
downstairs. The Downtown Grill offers a variety of dishes with a
southern influence. From the award-winning Catfish Lafitte to the Fried Green
Tomatoes to the Stuffed Chicken Breast, all diners should find something to
their liking. Regardless of where you eat, a walking tour of the restaurant and
piano bar are a "must" for any history buff or fan of
Ole Miss.
Lining the mahogany walls of the stairway are local
stories appearing in Sports Illustrated and National Geographic. A framed
article from Fodor's Travel Guide compares the Grill Bar to a club in Oxford,
England. An award for "Best Neighborhood Restaurant" in Mississippi is
positioned next to an extraordinary photograph of former tenants Edmund and
Ephriam Lowe, the land
surveyors, that appeared in the book "A Day in the Life of America."
Moving into the upstairs piano bar, a visitor can gaze endlessly at a shadow box
of matchbooks collected from Great Depression days or memorabilia from
Ole Miss athletic teams through
the years. In addition to numerous other historic photographs and memorabilia,
there is one item on display that outshines the rest. Tucked in an
out-of-the-way spot at the end of the bar, is an original letter written by
William Faulkner to the local newspaper addressing the issue of prohibition.
The sarcasm and wit is classic Faulkner. Rounding out the walking tour are
original works of art from John McCrady and
Glennray
Tutor. Both are recognized as outstanding artists from the Oxford
area.