Posted By
Just Me on
May 27, 2011 5:14 PM
I made a special trip to have a nice sit-down meal of catfish and hush puppies with friends at Taylor Grocery recently. Tired of fast food with little flavor, I was really looking forward to experiencing the "country store" atmosphere and good food I had heard so much about.
The good news is that the food was reasonable and the country store atmosphere was fine. It was the treatment by the waitstaff and that was awful, to say the least. Our group drove into the parking area and paused while looking for the best place to park because there are no outlined areas. While we were figuring things out, a parking lot attendant starting screaming at us, "YOU CAN'T PARK THERE." Assuming the guy was deaf, I rolled down the window and asked him where he might like for us to park. He told us, we parked, and I assumed this would be the last bad moment of the night. Every night has one, right? Well, keep reading because this one had several.
We walked in and sat down at a long, empty table and waited for someone to take our order. A young(ish) waitress came up and before I could open my mouth she said rudely, "Y'all need to move." So we moved, ordered, ate, and drove into Oxford (which we never should have left) to sightsee on the square.
After a bit, we asked some very friendly locals for directions to a friend's house only to realize we had gone right by it on our way back from Taylor. We sighed and told them our very bad experiences with the help at Taylor Grocery to which they replied, "The waitresses? Really? We had only heard that the owners were rude as h___".
What a shame that the people who work at/own Taylor Grocery have become so assured of customers they feel that they can be rude and unwelcoming.
Overall Rating
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catfish filet plate
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Iced Tea...sweet or unsweet
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Hushpuppies
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House Salad
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For many Ole Miss alumni and fans, a trip to Taylor Grocery is a tradition in and of itself, an important part of any weekend in Oxford. Taylor Grocery is the epicenter of the tiny town of Taylor. Within walking distance of the restaurant are a handful of interesting attractions including a couple of art galleries and Big Truck Theater.
Here are a few rules of thumb for first time visitors:
1. The restaurant's popularity and reputation are built on the overall experience. While the fish is consistently seasoned and cooked quite well, it may not necessarily be the best catfish you've ever eaten, which is perfectly fine. I say this not to diminish the quality of the food but to suggest to first-timers that you should expect good food within the context of an unmatched atmosphere and overall experience. Good catfish is good catfish and can be found in almost any southern town. But there is only one Taylor Grocery.
2. Do not arrive hungry and/or expecting to be seated quickly. They do not take reservations and the dining capacity is somewhat limited. When you arrive send a member of your party inside to be placed on the waiting list.
3. A lot of regulars engage in what amounts to "tailgating" while awaiting their respective names to be called. As mentioned in a previous review, you will find people waiting along the front porch and in the parking lot. A cooler of ice-cold beer and a few lawn chairs can transform the wait for a table into a social event. In fact, my group of friends generally prefer not to be seated until we've had the opportunity to "wait" for at least an hour or so. But remember, the later you arrive, the longer your wait will generally be. On big weekends (when Oxford is full of visitors for a football game, festival, etc.), the wait can literally be up to three hours or more. To avoid this, arrive as close to opening time as possible (5pm).
4. Pour your beer into a cup. If you do not have any cups, step inside and the hostess is normally happy to provide you with Styrofoam cups, as well as mixers if you so desire.
5. If you wish to have wine with your meal, bring it with you in a brown paper bag. Customers are also allowed to bring any other beverages with them to the table as long as it stays in the cup. (Don't walk in with a bottle or can of beer. Leave the cooler in your vehicle.)
6. There will more than likely be live music in the restaurant (usually bluegrass). Don't forget to tip the musicians!
As for the food, my recommendations are the following:
Appetizer: Boneless Buffalo Wings (I know it seems odd, but these are some of the best chicken tenders in the world).
Entree: Catfish (whole or fillet).
Sides: Big Deb's World Famous Brown Rice, Fries, House Salad (simple but fresh).
Dessert: I never manage to save room.
Miscellaneous:
I always order catfish, but the menu also includes pretty good steaks and boneless pork chops, among other things.
Overall Rating
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fried bone-in catfish
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catfish filet plate
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Fried PImento Cheese Balls
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Boneless Buffalo Wings
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Fried Okra
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Hushpuppies
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Iced Tea...sweet or unsweet
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"Big Deb's" World Famous Brown Rice
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House Salad
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Sausage & Cheese Plate
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