You can order your oysters any way you want them – raw, fired, how about wood-fired? Want a po-boy? Close your eyes and bite into the oyster or shrimp versions and you can see yourself standing on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas streets in New Orleans. But you’re not. You’re in Jackson, Mississippi.
Saltine has quickly become one of my favorite stops in the Mississippi capital because they deliver in a big way a taste of New Orleans (my favorite American city).
Saltine is located in historic Duling Hall, an old elementary school building built in the 1920s, in the fashionable Fondren District of Jackson. Its nearby neighbors include Babalu, Campbell’s Bakery, Brent’s Drugs, Walker’s Drive-In and more – all good choices for whatever you’re in the mood for.
I’ve had oysters every way you can have them at Saltine and can’t hardly pick a favorite. They’re all that good. The po-boys make it as good a lunch stop as you could find anywhere. And if you’re thirsting for some suds, they have the best selection of craft brews in Jackson.
On my most recent visit, with my wife Lisa and dear friend Jim Prince, a fellow newspaper publisher, we tried a new appetizer for us – “Gravy Fries.” Served on a giant platter, these crispy French fries are covered in roast beef and gravy, gruyére and pickled chiles. It’s enough to feed an army and they’ll thank you for it. I highly recommend.