Mesquite Chop House of Oxford Takes Fine Dining To Another Level

General Manager Joey Nesbitt.

Until last August, Oxford didn’t have much in the form of a dedicated steakhouse. This all changed with the opening of the Mesquite Chop House on E. Jackson Ave. Featuring the smaller, yet casual atmosphere that one expects from a fine steakhouse, the Chop House and its owners hope to bring something to Oxford’s table which can appeal to its entire diverse population, while maintaining a fine dining experience.

“We’re a fine dining steakhouse, we sell a higher quality of service and food than most other restaurants do, and we kind of pride ourselves in that,” said Joey Nesbitt, the general manager of Oxford’s Mesquite Chop House. “All of our steaks are certified prime, and we surely enjoy giving the highest quality we can possibly give.”

Being an establishment that serves higher quality service and cuisine, Nesbitt said he has had to get a little creative to incentivize the slightly more frugal college population to try out the Chop House.

Nesbitt said, “On Monday nights we do a Prime Rib Monday, for $20. On Tuesdays, we do a buy one get one free for our 8-ounce filets, which is like $40 worth of steak too. On Wednesdays, we’re doing half-priced bottles of wine up to $70 or $75, I think it is. Then in May, we’re going to start having live music here on Thursdays as well. It’s just little things here and there trying to bring the crowd in.”

Yesenia Garcia, a University of Mississippi alumni and Oxford resident, found the Chop House tasty, though on the expensive side.

“I really enjoyed the overall atmosphere there, the smaller dining area made it feel less like a Lonestar, or any other generic steak restaurant,” Garcia said. “The steaks I’ve eaten there have all been fantastic, and the drinks were great. But after I paid my bill, I realized that I couldn’t be eating there all the time.”

Despite the signs on the front door saying its hours are from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. for dinner, Nesbitt says the 10 p.m. closing time is tentative at best.

“It all depends on if I got people in here. If I’ve got people in here, I’m going to stay open, basically,” Nesbitt said. “I’m not going to try and kick anybody out, though my kitchen may close at 9:30, 10 p.m. or so, though if there are people still wanting to drink and hang out, I’ll happily stay open as long as they want to stay… Well, as long as Oxford wants them to stay.”

More information about the Mesquite Chop House can be found online at their website mesquitechophouse.com or via their Facebook page. The Oxford Mesquite Chop House is located at 1001 E. Jackson Ave. Oxford. Nesbitt is looking for bands to play at the Mesquite Chop House to fill their Thursday night slots beginning in May.

Morgan Andreiev is a senior broadcast major. He can be reached at mbandrei@go.olemiss.edu.