Savor Divine Dining in Oxford, MS

Looking for some wonderful places to eat in Oxford? Check out these eateries in and near The Square.

By Amy Antonation on October 26, 2023

YŪGŌ

The food traditions of the South aren’t the only thing on the menu in Oxford. Diners who want to stick close to home (or in this case, around The Square), can find flavors from across the globe. Here’s a sampling of some of the great places to eat in Oxford, MS.

Tacos, Tempura & Tequila 

Just two blocks west of The Square, South Depot Taco Shop serves vibrant build-your-own burrito bowls and fusion tacos in a casual but comfy space. Its tacos are culinary mashups that feature proteins like Buffalo chicken, Memphis barbecue pork and Korean steak. 

One block north of South Depot, diners will find the Pan-Asian restaurant YŪGŌ, which husband and wife A.J. and Claire Kiamie opened in June of 2019. 

“Our first date was at (the now-shuttered sushi restaurant) Two Stick. We’ve missed Asian food a great deal on The Square since they closed,” Claire says. 

The couple set out to create a sleek, modern atmosphere at YŪGŌ, which they’ve achieved with a shiny white marble bar, black-and-white décor, and stylish glassware and light fixtures. The most striking design element, though, are the white flower blossoms hanging from the ceiling. 

“Egg rolls, chicken lettuce wraps and definitely the brisket bao are dim sum favorites,” she says. “The pad Thai and chef’s steak (served with wasabi mashed potatoes) seem to be entree picks.” 

YŪGŌ’s beverage program has also garnered accolades, including a 2022 Wine Spectator award for its extensive wine selection. 

A few doors down from YŪGŌ is Uno Mas Tacos & Tequila, known for its street tacos and selection of over 50 different tequilas and mezcals. 

McEwen’s

A Square Meal 

A short jaunt around the block from Uno Mas to the south side of The Square is OPA!, which serves Greek standards like pita and hummus, keftedes (Greek meatballs), gyros and kabobs in a casual dining room that opens onto a shaded patio. 

The more upscale Venice Kitchen injects Italian cuisine with a bit of Southern kick – think pizza topped with andouille sausage and crawfish. Venice Kitchen is kitty-corner to Oxford’s courthouse, and its second-floor covered patio offers fantastic views of the pristine white building and surrounding square. 

Just next door to Venice Kitchen is McEwen’s. Owner Lee Cauthen has run restaurants in Oxford since 1989 but opened McEwen’s in July of 2011. The seasonal eatery is an offshoot of a restaurant of the same name in nearby Memphis that Cauthen and his wife used to frequent. 

“We loved the restaurant and loved the food,” he says. “In 2011, there was an opening on The Square.” 

McEwen’s menu is packed with dishes that draw inspiration from regional and international foodways alike. 

“We are a New American restaurant,” Cauthen says. “We serve seafood and a variety of things from Italian to French to Asian. We really leave that up to the chef. … There are two or three items that stay on the menu but the chef has free rein to design the menu.” 

One of those standards is sea bass with miso broth and shiitake mushroom risotto; it’s the restaurant’s most popular dish. Cauthen, though, admits his current favorites are the short ribs served with fried Napa cabbage and Korean-style barbecue sauce. 

Enjoy This Year-Round Farmers Market

Add a farmers market to your list of great places to eat in Oxford. Celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2023, the Oxford Community Market (OXCM) is a year-round farmers market where farmers, ranchers, beekeepers, bakers, artisans and more gather on Tuesday afternoons to sell Mississippi-grown and -made products to customers. In high season, each event draws around 30 vendors and up to 800 shoppers.

Betsy Chapman, the market’s director, is passionate about the variety and quality of goods at the market, but she’s equally invested in community outreach, which is the source of diverse customers, vendors and flavors.

“It’s our responsibility to be reflective of all our cultures,” Chapman says. “We want to have items for sale that are reflective of the community.”

Earlier this spring, there was a push to seek out vendors selling Central and South American specialties like tortillas, fruit empanadas and conchas (Mexican sweet bread).

“Our market mission is to improve access to fresh, healthy, local food, especially to communities that have been underserved,” Chapman says. “Beyond our work on market day, we’re constantly looking for ways to mitigate [hunger in the community].”

To that end, OXCM has a variety of programs that benefit economically disadvantaged customers. Chapman says one of the most impactful programs is OXCM’s weekly fresh-food drive. Donations are accepted on market day and used to purchase leftover food from vendors; that food is delivered to a local food pantry that evening, then distributed to individuals the very next day. Farmers are compensated for their products and people in need receive fresh food.

The program is “something we can expand and grow each year,” Chapman says. “This year we’ll be doing some direct distribution in neighborhoods where there’s high need. We’ll take a portion to the food pantry and a portion to high-need neighborhoods.”    

Oxford Floral Celebrates Centennial

To stay in the floral business for 100 years, you’ve got to do more than sell flowers. Family-owned Oxford Floral welcomes its centennial by celebrating the community that has made it all possible.

“If you’re going to survive in an Internet shopping world, you have to provide something that makes the customer want to buy locally,” says owner David Naron. “For us, it’s consistently using premium packaging, giving back to our community and fostering relationships.”

The business has two components: a full-service floral shop and a high-end gift shop. “When you purchase a gift,” Naron says, “the presentation is beautiful and memorable. It’s a statement that you bought from us.”

Oxford Floral has access to virtually every pattern of china and crystal, a boon in a town that hosts a lot of weddings. It manages both sections of the store by hiring college and even high school workers, who make great delivery drivers. Not only that, but Naron sees it as an opportunity to mentor the younger generation.

“The store gives us a platform to invest in our community,” Naron says. “That is a big reason why I became a small business owner.”

When asked what he loves most about his job, Naron reflects that he enjoys being there for his community during almost every occasion in life.

“A flower arrangement or specially curated gift is appropriate whether for a shower, wedding, anniversary, birthday or death,” Naron says. “That’s the reason we will have staying power to pass this on to the next generation.”