DeSoto County restaurants: From steaks to soul food, 6 spots you should check out

As DeSoto County’s population grows, so does its restaurant scene. From mouthwatering filets to classic soul food, naturally baked pastries to fruit bowls and smoothies, there’s no shortage of new eateries to try and enjoy.

The county continues to expand its vibrant dining scene of 452 restaurants, 26 of which opened in 2023. 20 more restaurants are already set to open this year.

Local businesses are thriving as well. 15 of the 26 new restaurants that opened in DeSoto in 2023 are small businesses or local chains, with most either opening their first location or just beginning to expand.

So if you’re looking for somewhere fresh to eat in North Mississippi, here are six new DeSoto County restaurants that opened in the past year.

B.T. Prime Steakhouse

4715 Church Road, Nesbit; btprimesteakhouse.com

Inside the Nesbit wedding venue of Bonne Terre is B.T. Prime Steakhouse, which opened in June. The high-end eatery has, of course, steaks, from ribeye to filets and New York strips. Besides its namesake, chicken, seafood and pasta are on the menu, including penne carbonara and blackened red snapper.

L'Ecole Culinaire graduate Amber Carr is head of culinary operations at Bonne Terre. The head chef has already had an extensive career, catering to NBA teams and working as a sous chef at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.

The steakhouse is owned by Stafford and Christy Houston.

Hours: 5-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Georgia Blue

6389 Getwell Road, Southaven; georgiablue.net/blogs/locations/southaven

Mississippi restaurant chain Georgia Blue opened its fifth location in Southaven's Silo Square in June.

The Southern-style eatery boasts a menu packed with Southern classics, ranging from po-boys to pasta and fish, as well as a custom cocktail menu. The multi-floor restaurant also hosts live music Thursday to Saturday.

Georgia Blue also offers catering services.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Sweet Potato Pie Soul Food Whiskey Café

7075 Malco Blvd., Southaven; sweetpotatopiewhiskeycafe.com

Another eatery focused on Southern cuisine, this Southaven soul food joint, which opened its doors in March, features meals like fried chicken, meatloaf and ribs.

In addition to a sunny patio space, a portion of the restaurant is used as a whiskey bar, combining two styles of restaurant into something wholly unique.

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“Bringing in a Southern soul food concept with a whiskey piano bar will bring in different traditions,” owner Robb Hunter told The Commercial Appeal in April. “Everybody likes food and most everybody likes fine whiskeys. Think about it how your grandma would be in the kitchen making the best food in the world and your grandpa would be on the porch drinking whiskey with friends."

Catering services are also offered.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day

Wild Cultures Sourdough Bakery

127 W. Commerce St., Hernando; wildculturessourdoughbakeryhernando.com

Wild Cultures Sourdough Bakery in Hernando specializes in “naturally leavened products,” baking everything from classic baguettes for the dinner table to cream cheese Danishes topped with peaches for a quick snack. The ingredients the bakery uses, and the sources of those ingredients, are all available on its website.

Wild Cultures, which opened in February, is family owned and operated by co-founders Dan Beach and Josh Lawrence. The two sold their baked goods at the Hernando Farmer’s Market part time for about a year, before committing to full time work and founding their bakery nearly a year ago.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 7:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Esmeralda’s Taco Shop

8224 Mississippi 178, Olive Branch

Esmeralda’s Taco Shop has served authentically Latin dishes in Olive Branch since February.

Visitors can find classics like burritos, fajitas and tortas, as well as lesser-known dishes like pupusas, a flatbread stuffed with the customer’s choice of ingredients such as fried pork, cheese and squash. This national dish of El Salvador is a top seller at Esmeralda’s.

Additionally, $2 street tacos are available on Tuesdays, stuffed with your choice carne asada, al pastor and much more.

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Esmeralda's is owned and operated by Esmeralda Vargas, Martin Vargas and Jose Ruiz.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Bare Fruit Acai Bar

8463 Goodman Road, Olive Branch; barefruitacaibar.com

Now open in Olive Branch (and Collierville as of last November), Bare Fruit Acai Bar serves a wide variety of healthy and customizable fruit bowls, oat bowls and smoothies. When creating a bowl, customers pick from a selection of bases like passion fruit, coconut cream and mango, choose between 12 different fruits and finalize the bowl with toppings such as nuts, honey and yogurt.

Premade combinations are available as well, like the Dragon Fire bowl, which comes with Dragon Fruit, Strawberry, Kiwi, Blueberry and Goji Berries. Popular smoothies include pineapple mango and chocolate banana.

The Olive Branch location is owned by Molly Burgess.

Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: New DeSoto County restaurants: 6 spots you should try