On a recent August Saturday, I had occasion to drive to Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city, and it gave me an opportunity to spend an afternoon in that vibrant and colorful city. Arriving about 1 in the afternoon, I first visited Bravo! Italian Restaurant , located in the Highland Village shopping district at Northside Drive and I-55. The restaurant proved to be a secluded spot, and in fact I did not locate it in my first drive around the shopping center, for it was located on the second level of the complex. However, a parking lot exists at which the entrance is at ground level, and once there, the restaurant has a beautiful view of the courtyard below. Bravo has a fairly diverse menu, but the centerpiece of it is a wood-burning oven where pizzas, lasagna and other items are prepared. I chose the carne pizza, and was quite pleased with the amount of toppings. Wood-fired pizzas are for me the gold standard, and this did not disappoint in the least. I also was impressed with the interior decor and atmosphere, which exuded a cozy atmosphere.
Just to the south of Highland Village is a newer area known as The District at Eastover, where I encountered Northshore Specialty Coffee , a new coffee roaster in Jackson which also operates a cafe called the Cultivate Coffee Project at Belhaven Town Center in conjunction with Fertile Ground Beer Company, a local Jackson brewer. Northshore has a bright and welcoming atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating. With it being such a hot day, I opted for a brown sugar vanilla nitro latte (served cold), and it was exactly what I wanted for a cooling pleasure. Adjacent to the coffee house is a branch of Sal and Mookie’s Pizzeria, which also features ice cream, and has indoor and outside seating. Next to it is a lovely town green, with fountains and patio furniture, which looks as if it would be a wonderful place for live music concerts.
Just across the interstate from Highland Village is Banner Hall, which is the location of Lemuria Books, voted one of America’s best book stores, quite fitting for a state that has produced as many literary lights as Mississippi. Lemuria has enough shelves to keep you occupied for hours, and just its books about Mississippi comprise more titles than the average bookstore. While most bookstores would probably have to order your desired book, Lemuria is very likely to have it on the shelf.
Jackson also has a vinyl record center. Off Beat sits almost in the shadow of the old state capital, and features both comics and vinyl records, with a fairly decent selection. Parking can be a challenge, but nearby street parking is free on weekends. The other store, a branch of Oxford’s The End of All Music, occupies a somewhat smaller space in Jackson’s hip Fondren neighborhood. End of All Music focuses more on new and recent albums, although they also have a small compact disc selection and a handful of music books. Next door, I encountered Campbell’s Bakery where I sampled a delicious peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie. And with that, it was time to hit the road back to Memphis. But Jackson has food and fun to rival the biggest city in the country.
Bravo! Italian Restuarant
4500 I-55, #244
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 982-8111
Northshore Specialty Coffee
120 District Blvd East, #D103
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 414-9847
Sal & Mookie’s Pizza and Ice Cream
200 District Blvd East
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 368-1919
Lemuria Books
4465 I-55, #202
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 366-7619
Off Beat
109 N State St
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 376-9404
The End of All Music Jackson
3011 N State St
Jackson, MS 39216
(769) 572-5034
Campbell’s Bakery
3013 N State St.
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 362-4628