Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and here in Oxford there are a wide variety of quality breakfast options that will satisfy your hunger. With so many good choices, it may be difficult to decide where to go. To help you out, here are three places to put on your breakfast bucket list before your time in Oxford is over.
1. Big Bad Breakfast
Owned by local restaurateur and chef John Currence, Big Bad Breakfast (BBB), is located on North Lamar Boulevard. Considered a favorite by students and locals alike, it received the award for Best Breakfast in Oxford in 2009 and 2014. It also made the list of Travel + Leisure magazine’s Top 10 “Best Breakfasts Around the World,” coming in at No. 5.
“Southern chef John Currence’s motto? “Lard have mercy!” Flour biscuits slathered with sausage gravy and the burrito filled with house-made chorizo will have you praying for more,” written by the Travel+Leisure staff in the 2013 “100 Places to eat like a Local: Breakfast.”
Warning: During peak breakfast hours, expect a wait.
What you should try? Any of the skillets.
2. Beacon
“It’s a down-to-earth place, and we want people to have a good time. Come and be loud if you want,” said owner Tony Mize.
Just down the street on North Lamar, Beacon has been in Oxford since 1959 and is run by the original owner’s son. Beacon gives visitors a homier feel, with Ole Miss décor from yesteryear pasted on the restaurant walls. This place offers food at a little lower price, too, but the quality is still there. Many people who eat at this restaurant have been coming for years because of the food and, more importantly, the service.
What you should try: Philly Cheesesteak Omelet (per owner Tony Mize)
3. Lusa Pastry Café
If you’re up for a little taste of Portugal here in Oxford, then visit Lusa on Jackson Avenue West. The first thing that you will notice is the overwhelming amount of pastries that fill the counter. All of the pastries here are made from scratch, and it’s obvious in the taste. Lusa also offers a southern breakfast with eggs, toast, bacon or sausage, and a hash brown casserole that’s definitely delicious.
“We want this to be a unique place to eat and exceed expectations in food quality and service,” said owner Caesar Rego.
What you should try: Nata (if available), Chocolate Croissants
So, skip that fast food drive through and eat hearty Oxonians!
Story contributed by Ole Miss Journalism students Ethan Turner and Gabriel Austin.
