Get Lazy

If you are craving Italian you may find yourself here, where the charming atmosphere and friendly appeal merge into one of Jackson's finest. Opened in 1987 the Amerigo family has continued to extend, with restaurants in Nashville and Memphis among others. The menu is extensive ranging from pizza and pasta to fresh fish and steaks and don't forget to save room for homemade tiramisu. Amerigo was awarded Best Italian in Mississippi for 2007.

Buffalo Wild Wings is one of the most entertaining and fun places you will ever eat. Chow down on their signature buffalo wings and choose from 20 different dipping sauces. Enjoy several t.v. monitors playing a variety of sports or play trivia with your friends. The waitresses are friendly and beautiful, and the brew is served fast and cold.

The Bulldog is Jackson's destination for beer lovers. With over 50 beers on tap, no other bar in the area comes close to offering the variety of drafts The Bulldog does. With origins in its two original locations in the heart of New Orleans, it's no secret The Bulldog is serious about beer, with daily happy hour, weekly specials like free pint glass night on Wednesdays, and a members-only club for the serious barley hound.They've also got an extensive menu of pub-friendly food to wash down with your frothy suds.

Char, located conveniently off of Interstate 55 in Highland Village,offers customers the option of renting the chef table in the kitchen to actually watch the hustle and bustle when they create their signature dishes. Besides the chef table, Char also features a piano bar. A must on their menu is their infamous pecan-crusted blackfish with lump crabmeat dressing. Char also specializes in steaks and chops. Private dining is available along with daily specials.

Even though Fitzgerald's is located in the Hilton, it is its own entity. It is the only bar in Jackson that offers live entertainment with no cover six days a week. Entertainers include Johnny Crocker, Chris Gill and the Soul Shakers and Larry Brewer and the Rainmakers to just name a few. Fitzgerald’s also serves their award winning Zing Zang Bloody Mary and has a fully stocked martini bar. There is a outdoor seating area by the pool that also serves drinks.

Hal and Mal's is Jackson's most well-known restaurant and bar and is a popular destination for tourists and townies alike. Located in the old train depot on Commerce Street, Hal and Mal's has been frequented by famed Mississippians like Willie Morris, state politicians and the various movers and shakers of Jackson since it opened in 1986. The establishment's namesake is its owners, brothers Malcolm and Hal White. Malcolm White, who now serves as president of the Mississippi Arts Commission, has been a longtime supporter of live music and the arts in Jackson, and established the Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade in 1982 which is now one of the city's premier annual events and one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country. Hal White is the head chef of the restaurant, and his culinary creations which combine the best of the South from cajun food to good old fashioned home cooking are what keep people coming back. Try favorites like Hal's soup of the day—which is usually a new creation but is always good—the oyster salad or fun items like the Michael RUBENstein sandwich, a grilled reuben named after the famed Jackson sportscaster. The restaurant area features live music of the acoustic variety weekly and there is never a cover charge.

Their motto is "What southern cooking was mint to be"; and they don't disappoint. Julep offers a variety of delicious southern cuisines, most notable their famous fried chicken. Julep boasts of having the best-fried chicken in all of America and six foreign countries so it's a must-try. With a fully-stocked bar that's as serious about booze as they are about their food, Julep is also a late night hangout for Jackson's young professional set.

Last Call is one of the only bars that offers WWE pay-per-view events. Besides the events, the bar offers 10 different beers on drafts, 14 TVs and a kitchen that is open until 2 a.m. While shooting pool, bar hoppers can enjoy their signature chicken nachos and Last Call Long Island.

Located across from Hal and Mal's, Martin's always delivers with an anti-mainstream plethora of bands that are well worth the $5-$10 cover. Established in 1953 and open since, Martin's takes pride in not being a upscale, pinky-raised martini bar, but a little rough around the edges with a truckload of character. A landmark ladies night with $5 all you can drink wells, wine and beer make every Wednesday special. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights always promise a good crowd out for the live music. Martin's also serves lunch and early dinner during the week with a famous buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The after-work crowd are what make Martin's the self-proclaimed "adult day-care" with the younger set turning out for the 10 p.m. shows.

Mellow Mushroom opened in 1974 with the goal of serving authentic Italian pizza in a unique and fun environment. All pizzas served from Mellow Mushroom are stone baked and served hot. It's is a high-energy place that plays alternative rock and other rock hits in the background as you enjoy your meal. The Mellow Mushroom Flowood location has one of the metro area's largest selection of draft beers, both domestic and imported. So drop in for a cold one and a slice.

Delicious specialty sandwiches with a Cajun twist. Oby's is a Cajun-style restaurant, which specializes in the po-boy sandwich, but also serves spuds, soups, and many tasty appetizers. Oby's has a New Orleans-style madras theme and a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

A porch, pitchers and pizza combine for a laid-back afternoon or evening at The Pizza Shack. Features specialty pizzas ranging from Hawaiian style, Greek, BBQ and Alfredo to classic supreme. Cheese sticks and pitchers of Bud Light are a local staple for college students on a budget. Bolder diners should try quirky builds like the turkey club with a honey mustard tomato sauce and smoked bacon or the Thai Chicken with peanut sauce. Also a spread of subs, sandwiches, specialty salads and buffalo wings are available. Just don't go if you're in a hurry. The neighborhood feel, small kitchen and slow moving staff make the pizza and cold beer even more savory.

Que Sera Sera gives the Fondren District a New Orleans feel. When entering the restaurant, customers are greeted with cozy Bourbon Street decor. On Thursday nights Que Sera features its "Party on the Patio" with live blues and jazz bands. From their signature gumbo down to their red beans and rice, Que Sera Sera gives Jackson an authentic bayou flavor with a twist.

Sal and Mookie's is a triple threat to the restaurant world. Inside the restaurant, customers can eat an authenic Italian meal, choose dessert from the on site ice cream parlor and get a night cap from the Pi(e) Lounge. The Pi(e) lounge is a rich, smooth, and sensuous environment, with a highly differentiated look and feel from the hustle and bustle of Sal and Mookie's. Walking through the beaded curtains into Pi(e), guests are transported into another world much like ducking into a hip nightclub on the Upper East Side of New York City. Flat screen TVs project old black and white movies and movies involving New York themes. A second component to the digital side of Pi(e) is the music soundscape. A surround sound system plays a custom soundscape created by Chris Crothers, former owner of MusiQuarium. The Pi(e) soundscape, coupled with the thematic black and white movies, creates an otherworldly ambiance - the perfect environment to relax and connect with friend over great drinks and bar snacks.

True, Sam's Lounge is the hotel bar of the Best Value Inn & Suites, a mid-priced motor lodge along I-55. But it's so much more than that. Once an out-of-the-way retreat for hardworking blue-collar boozehounds, Sam's has evolved into one of the hippest hidden nightspots in Jackson. Sam's is the preferred watering hole of Jackson's metalhead, punk rock, skateboard and tattoo contingents and more — Jackson's own Capital City Rollergirls are regulars — if that gives you any idea of the hard-partying and trendy clientele. Sam's also features live bands, mostly on weekends, ranging from metal to punk to straight up rock. Many local faves like Redneck Trucker, Goodman County and Hypnotic Chickens perform regularly. On off nights, Sam's is still a great place to grab a cheap drink, shoot some pool and rock out to the headbanging hits on their internet-capable jukebox.

Soulshine Pizza factory is a Jackson area classic. Everyone knows about Soulshine and if you've ever tried their pizzas you'd love it too. Each pizza is backed hot and fresh with the option of you to customize it the way you want it.

Soulshine Pizza is a must for the true pizza lover. An amazing selection of toppings and specialty pizzas. They feature a daily lunch special and soups and salad offerings. Catering is also one of their great offerings.

This classic sports bar in northeast Jackson has been in business for half a decade and has earned loyal customers with its comfort food and laid back atmosphere. Among its more unique menu items are footlong hot dogs named after baseball teams, such as the Diamondback with queso cheese, chili, jalepenos and onions.

The Steam Room Grille is elegant dining within a comfortable and serene environment. Enjoy the large menu of select steaks, ribs, and seafood. Located off of I-55 North the Steam Room is a great place for North Jackson residents to escape to for a fine dining experience.

What's in a name?  In the case of Crab's Seafood Shack, plenty.  This little seafood joint near the Reservoir (in the old Trio's location) has a great selection of appetizers (try the gulf redfish cakes and, if you're adventurous, the alligator bites), po-boys and platters, with several different types of fish (some of which are seasonal, like the soft shell crab).  The only negative about the oysters is the difficulty in picking between raw, Rockefeller, casino, crab baked, and Santa Fe; just give up and go with the sampler platter.  Casual, fun, and tasty, Crab's Seafood Shack is a winner.