We stopped here on the way back from New Orleans, and it was the best food I ate all trip. Their grits are AMAZING!
(5)
Erika F.
Love the atmosphere!! Staff was great! I had a great meal... The Buttermilk Ranch salad and the shrimp and grits... Both were delicious!!!
(5)
J S.
Wow. Just wow. Great dining experience because of a good vibe, excellent service, and a creative menu. The bread service included a Lima bean based spread and a pot liquor dip. We had fried curds as an appetizer, and again, unusual dips were served. The Boss had a vegetable plate and I had fried catfish. Servings were ample and every entree and side included a unique twist. This place is definitely worth a drive.
(5)
Linh B.
My co-workers in I went there for lunch today. Our server was very friendly and prompt in her service. I never had to ask for a refill because it was always brought out just in time. She brought out beet chips and pickles while our food was being prepared. They were very tasty! I ordered the cheese curds for the table, and it was accompanied by a tomato jam and a mustard sauce. Both were great with the cheese curds! Can't go wrong with fried cheese, right? I ordered the Seared Salmon Salad. It came with roasted potatoes and crab deviled eggs. Never will I have another deviled egg without crab and bacon! It was amazing! My whole dish just complimented each other so well, and it was more than enough to fill me up. My co-workers ordered a burger with warm potato salad, and shrimp and grits. Both agreed it was a great meal, and they left fully satisfied. We will definitely be back! Exactly what we needed in Hattiesburg. Thanks!
(5)
Kari R.
Everything I tasted was delicious! Went for dinner as we were passing through town on a road trip - 2 adults and 2 kids. We ordered the cheese curd appetizer, which was great, but maybe a little overpriced at $9.50. The kids ordered chicken strips and mac & cheese. They weren't huge fans of the mac & cheese because it's more of a fancy adult version with ham, etc., but my husband and I loved it! At the waiter's suggestion, I ordered the pan roasted organic chicken with Brussels sprouts (yum!) instead of carrots. I was wary of ordering roasted chicken (seems boring), but it was fabulous - flavorful and skin so crispy it seemed almost fried. Hubby got andouille crusted redfish, which was also delicious - impressive that he enjoyed it so much as he's not usually a fish-lover. We got the salted caramel cheesecake and Mississippi mud pie for dessert to go - both wonderful! The entrees are all priced between $20-30, but they also had sandwich options and smaller entree options for $10-15. Kids' meals were $5-7, which I thought was great for the quality. Service was friendly, competent, and quick. I hope we have occasion to be back in Hattiesburg soon, so we can eat here again!
(5)
Nick O.
Best food in town! The organic pan roasted chicken, grilled cornbread with crab, pork belly, and shrimp and grits are at the top of my list, but I have yet to try anything I have not loved. In an effort of full disclosure, I am related to the owner:)
(5)
Russ D.
Ate here a second time, had the cornbread appetizer and the shrimp and grits, both were amazing. The bar staff were attentive and super personable. You have to try the cheesecake!
(5)
Patton T.
Wow! From the moment my wife and I walked through the door, I could tell this place was going to be good. We went for Sunday brunch on October 27; this was our first time to dine here. Everyone on staff was busy, while remaining clam with smiles for everyone. Reading through the copious menu made me want to taste everything. All the items we ordered made me want to moan with pleasure. The pleasing combination of Southern flavors can only come from a chef who has taken the time to learn his/her craft. The wait staff was exceptionally attentive and efficient without being overbearing -- obviously learned from disciplined training and attention to detail. I honestly can't say enough good things about Cotton Blues. My first impression was ... it's as good as it gets! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kram S.
Had a really good meal. The fresh bread and corn bread were the best I have had at any restaurant. The jambalaya with linguini was an interesting twist to a dish that I really enjoy, I would have preferred it to be a bit spicier but it was still quite good. The staff was very young but pleasant and eager to please. The restaurant was very clean and modern, almost a bit too "accidentally southern". The decor seemed a bit forced but did not take away from the experience. If you are near Hattiesburg this is a must stop for the bread alone!
(4)
Stephanie L.
Absolutely fantastic! We will make a point to eat here every time we are anywhere near! Husband had the pork sandwich and I had the fried chicken thigh sandwich. We had the Mac and cheese and scrumptious greens!! Delicious, cool decor, clean, friendly. One regret is I didn't save room for dessert. Next time because they looked delicious. Eat at restaurant!
(5)
Sean K.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Hattiesburg. My wife gave high praise when she said the sweet potatoes were the best she's ever had. We both liked the clean, spare decor. We had a cup of coffee at the bar after lunch, and I noted some interesting bourbons that I'll have to give a try on my next visit. I'm happy to see people in Hattiesburg celebrating the great products Mississippi produces, rather than shipping in veggies on a truck from god knows where. Cotton Blues will be a regular stop on my visits to Mississippi.
(4)
Alison L.
Wonderful place! They make a huge effort to provide locally sourced products and Southern cuisine. The food is wonderful - I had the shrimp and grits the first time I came, and this second time I had the beet salad with grilled shrimp. My Dad had the crab cakes with a side of the cheese grits - nothing to complain about in the least!
(5)
Scott B.
Wow this place is so overrated. Shrimp and grits came out cold with hard dry grits and under cooked shrimp. The sauce was like tomato paste with okra and bacon not a good flavor. Chip and dip had good corn but no taste or site of crab. The kids meals were good. Waitress was nice and provided good service. Kitchen was slow. I tried the gumbo . . . It was ok. Overall I was disappointed based upon the reviews and my expectations.
(2)
Jennifer E.
My daughter and I stopped in for dinner based off of Yelp reviews. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was different, but comfortable. We had the fried chicken and pan roasted chicken. I was not a fan of the pan roasted chicken but the fried chicken was so amazing. So moist and flavorful. The mac and cheese was delicious. Their corn bread and spreads were so delicious! We were so pleased that we went back for lunch the next day. We were pretty disappointed in lunch. They didn't have bread service and the sides weren't that good. I would definitely recomment going for dinner and stay away from lunch.
(4)
Amy M.
Okay, I hate to say not-so-great things about this restaurant, but my experience there was mediocre at best. I will give the place another shot, since I've heard so many wonderful things, but today was a disappointing lunch for me and my husband. He had the grilled cheese, which consisted of a single small slice of cheese between two very thick pieces of (tasty) bread. It was okay, but certainly nothing special. I had the salad with grilled chicken... small portion of leafy greens, dash of bacon, a few tomatoes and cucumbers. Not very inspired. The dressing, I believe, was from a jar rather than homemade, and the chicken was over-cooked. It was edible, but not good or interesting in any way. It didn't help that they left on the ingredient I asked them to hold, brought the wrong dressing, and served me too-strong, warmish tea with no ice. Meh.
(3)
Wyatt W.
I didn't think Mississippi food could ever be gourmet. Just the greens on the Boudain appetizer proved me wrong.
(5)
James C.
Cotton Blues. Those two words inspire a smile from the depths of my tummy. I never knew food could taste like this! I have dined at Heaven's table on earth. Come here. Now. I've been here 5 times...each time I've had something different and they've all been amazing. You must have the salted caramel cheesecake. Go to Cotton Blues.
(5)
Leslie B.
A great, local place to stop when in Hattiesburg. It is just off the highway, so a quick off and on. The food was delicious. Went with my family of five and everyone loved what they ordered. If their tomato basil grilled cheese is on special, get! Trust me. The shrimp and grits were wonderful as was the chicken bruschetta. A well decorated setting with real personality. Casual atmosphere. We didn't look that great after being on the road so long and still felt comfortable.
(5)
Karina S.
Awesome Southern fusion restaurant. It's like Hattiesburg in a bottle. And I can say that because I live here, but I'm not from here. This one of the first places I take out-of-town guests, and I'm not the only one who does this. Order anything that strikes your fancy. You won't be disappointed. Try whatever they give you, even if it seems weird, because the chef is really good at pairing tastes and textures. He also uses traditional pairings like fried chicken with mashed potatoes and lima beans. Try, if you can, to leave room for dessert. Or take an order to go. We sometimes stop by and pick up a dessert to take home. Cotton Blues serves my all-time favorite lemon ice box pie. If you get a chance, try all of their flavors of cheese cake. Best cheese cake in town. If you're passing through town, please skip the chains and go to Cotton Blues. It's worth the extra 10 minutes. If you're going to New Orleans, you're probably going there to eat and drink. Consider Hattiesburg, and Cotton Blues, as your essential first course.
(5)
Charli P.
This is a DON'T MISS IT restaurant in Hattiesburg! I dined at Cotton Blues last week for lunch and was impressed with our selections. I choose the fried oyster po-boy and thoroughly enjoyed it. The seafood was cooked perfectly and WOW the bread was crusty but soft! The hand cut fries were delicious and seasoned well! My business associate had the shrimp po-boy and she loved it. We decided to split a dessert since we heard the pastry chef was one of the best in the south! We ordered the turtle cheesecake and it was a big slice of heaven! Oh and to top it off Cotton Blues serves Beet Chips while you are waiting for your food. They are made in the restaurant from fresh produce...yum! I will dine here again when I am in town! There are some very unique offerings on the menu that I really want to try. The atmosphere is great...the place is very clean and spacious featuring a separate huge bar. There are large dining areas away from the bar, so this one is family friendly. It is perfect for business lunches, romantic evenings or a quick meal at the bar. The service was excellent and very non-intrusive!
(5)
Brandy P.
I just finished eating my Salted Carmel Cheesecake leffovers and even a day later that was the best cheesecake ever
(5)
DeAnn H.
Driving through... Found in YELP. Great restaurant where things are homemade and classy. They have a screened porch where we could eat with our dog. They have $7.99 lunch specials and kids meals as well. Unique menu that didn't disappoint. Be sure to get some cheesecake. We got the mango pepper, amazing.
(5)
M D.
Great fresh food- best in Hattiesburg. Ate at the bar, service great! We had Shrimp Po Boy & Redfish Taco. Both were excellent!
(5)
Tricia G.
Delicious. Highly recommend stopping here if you're heading thru Mississippi. The greens are incredible. In fact, everything was great. Friendly service. Nicely decorated. Only recommendation would be to improve the uncomfortable seats.
(5)
Libbie R.
As I have yelped before, I don't do chain restaurants. So we yelped and this was a very pleasant surprise in the middle of MS. Order the quail. The fried chicken was delicious. The gravy for dipping...I could rave on and on about the lemon ice box pie; it reminded me of my grandmother. I ordered an extra piece to go, which is so crazy because I am not a dessert person. Their merigue is absolutely perfect.. I wish I had ordered the entire pie. It is situated in a funky shopping center but do not miss this restaurant if you are in the area! I will be back on Friday on the way home!
(5)
Alex B.
Very nice place! The seafood gumbo was the best I've ever had and the cheesecake was amazing!
(5)
Sidney M.
Outstanding service and outstanding meals!! Been many times and always meets or exceeds expectations. Must order the brussel sprouts!!
(5)
SiNiTiKa B.
There's sooo much to say about this place I really do not know where to start. The food is absolutely AMAZING! The service is top notch. This place is consider fine dining but yet casual. My boyfriend and I visit here on Sunday's because they have the best brunch in town. Not only that but the bottomless mimosas are a plus. If you love southern food most definitely check out Cotton Blues, southern food with a twist. I hope talk cater because the menu will be served at my wedding reception!
(5)
Michael E.
Pastry chef is excellent and the pies are proof!! Definitely expensive but worth it for sure!!
(5)
Samantha C.
Had the crab cake app, cup of Chili and andouille redfish. Must say everything was good but a bit on the pricey side for portion size only one crab cake for 14 bucks and Chili was very thick but tasty with some heat and smoky flavor. Redfish was good but not 24$ good. I do have to say their cheesecake was outstanding, best I've ever had. Props to the pastry chef! If price doesn't scare you this is a very nice well decorated place to stop.
(4)
Kyle D.
Driving through Hattiesburg and needing some lunch, we stopped at Cotton Blues and weren't disappointed. We were seated immediately, and while the service was slow to start we were ultimately well taken care of by our waiter. We ordered the Breakfast Skillet with Quail and the Grits and Grillades, two delicious brunch items priced at around $15 and including bottomless mimosas. The Breakfast Skillet with Quail was hearty, verging on heavy, but very tasty especially with the quail on top. It would almost be better split between two people alongside one of the restaurant's delicious salads, to lighten the dish up a little. On the other hand, the Grits and Grillades was just right as an entree for one person, featuring warm grits, a poached egg, hollandaise sauce, and a stewed beef in a delicious gravy that we couldn't leave on the plate! The plates at our neighbors' tables looked fresh and generous as well. The locally-sourced meals at Cotton Blues are served with warm bread and several creative spreads, and while the homemade pies in the case at the front of the store looked wonderful, we unfortunately didn't save enough room for dessert.
(4)
Jake S.
Wonderful place with a great atmosphere. The complementary cornbread is fantastic. So far I have had the gumbo, shrimp poboy, and the catfish. They have all been superb. Also, everything they serve is from Mississippi if I'm correct. Please go!
(5)
Mal M.
I have been pining for good food for months. I go to some highly recommended place and leave highly disappointed. Not this time. This food was delicious. The bread service included pot liquor, Lima bean guacamole, and butter. All good. I preferred the pot liquor with the corn bread. I ordered a veggie plate that included greens, sweet potato hash, Brussels sprouts, corn bread and garlic green beans. When I thought I couldn't eat another bite, I tried my daughter's steak. OMG. It was great. I didn't give five stars because they are overly generous with the sugar, and the Brussels sprouts have a wonderful flavor, but they were not cooked enough, too hard to enjoy. It's more than an hour drive, but I'm ready to return anytime.
(4)
Micaela S.
The customer service was excellent. The food was very tasty and perfect portions served. Yummy margarita too. The atmosphere was very pleasant and allowed for great conversation between us at our table. Loved everything about this lil piece of Mississippi!
(5)
Cora M.
Recently relocated to Hattiesburg with my job and decided to check out Cotton Blues. We were absolutely blown away. Amazing atmosphere, great service and the most delicious food!! I recommend Cotton Blues to everyone I come across.
(5)
Bill C.
We were pleasantly surprised with Cotton Blues. It's hidden in the back of a strip mall, so keep your eyes peeled for it. The food and service were both great. It is an oasis of originality and local color in a sea of suburban hell surrounding it.
My first time here was awesome... Only thing was the pancakes were a little over cooked... In the pork and waffles...
(5)
Lorretta D.
Cotton Blues! Food was delicious and service is great. Had the best waiter ever, Jake!!! Had the quail and filet mignon!!!
(5)
Daniel T.
Hands down southern food at its finest. Great food, great service provided by Jake, who was very knowledgeable. You can't visit Mississippi and not dine in here!
(5)
Chris B.
My wife and I decided to go eat in Hattiesburg and I had never tried Cotton Blues. So we decided to try it out. The outdoor patio was peaceful and tranquil, so ee decided to eat outdoors as it was no nice. I had the oysters Rockefeller followed by the quail. WOW the quality was excellent and the server was attentive, informative, friendly - a REAL NICE CHANGE for us. At the end of the meal I was reluctant to leave as it had been such a relaxing experience. I could eat there anytime and can't wait to go back and try more items from the menu. HIGHLY recommended - an oasis in the center of Hattiesburg.
(5)
MikeandLauri V.
Shrimp and grits was great. I wish the icebox pie was a little smaller. It was super good but I eat it all.
(5)
Nathan B.
Pretty great if you ask me. Although I've only been there a handful of times, I've only been disappointed once and that was on a lunch special during a weekday, which you should probably try to stay away from. Everything else is great. You shouldn't be disappointed if you are paying over $8 for an entree. Anything else is hit or miss. Brunches on Sunday's are fabulous. Unlimited mimosas, although I prefer to ask for just champagne! Great place for family/friends
(4)
Rachel R.
Really nice place with good ole southern food. The greens are a little tart but I loved them. I had the Fried Red Fish with crawfish sauce, crawfish mashed potatoes and greens, along with a salad. Everything was great. Needed more crawfish sauce but I didn't ask for any. The salad we had was good but we had to use our knifes to cut up the lettuce to fit in our mouths. I didn't like having to do that and the plate was too small for the amount of salad. Too much cutting of salad is not good to do at the table. It slows conversations. But it did taste good. My husband had prime rib on a hogie roll with ajus fries and the same salad I had. He said it was delicious. We had to wait 30 min. to be seated but Tyler, our waiter, gave us a free piece of cheesecake for having to wait on him after being seated. It was very busy. I advise to arrive early. I am thankful that the music was not too loud but could have been turned down a little lower. Over all, and I am sorry that my reviews are not the best, Cotton Blues is pricey but worth it!
(4)
Matthias F.
Stopped here on the way back from New Orleans around 3 PM, which was probably the problem. While the menu was excellent the food was OK. The broiled oysters were nothing compared to Drago's in NOLA. The pork belly in my Korean tacos was tough, and the sauce in my son's shrimp and grits was very tomato-ey. Wonderful brussel sprouts and coconut pie. I would be willing to try again at night.
(4)
Carolyn W.
I have found heaven on earth. In Hattiesburg, MS of all places. Kill me now, as food surely does not get any better than this. My first instinct when looking at the menu was "I want it all!!" After some help from my waitress I decided on fried chicken. A classic. And pure deliciousness. The chicken was perfectly moist and seasoned. The cornbread was a surprising delight. And that gravy was something else. Then she brought me the dessert menu. And what do I see? A pumpkin cream puff?Surely my eyes deceive me. The cream was light and airy. The pastry was flaky. It was one of the best desserts i have ever eaten. In short, if you want a feast for both your eyes and your stomach, check this place out. I'm already trying to figure out how I can take another trip here to come back.
(5)
Dal L.
Omg! This place is amazing! The cheesecake alone is a life changing experience! If I could have gave it ten stars I would have. Wonderful service, fantastic food and amazing deserts!!!
(5)
Michael M.
Awesome restaurant. The service was really good and attentive. I had the sweet tea salmon medium rare. It melted in my mouth. The sweet potatoes were great and had some brown sugar on them but not too much. The atmosphere was casual comfortable. I also tasted the pecan glazed catfish special and that was very tasty.
(5)
Lafayete H.
Simply an amazing experience! The gumbo is otherworldly. The flavors are deep and true to the region and would give any New Orleans gumbo a run for its money. We will be back and if in the area, I would recommend paying a visit!!!
(5)
Ahma H.
Pretty place & expensive. We went here for dinner after reading the Yelp reviews. We were on the road to our destination looking for local Southern cooking after the fantastic Cajun experience in New Orleans. The Yelp reviews were accurate. My husband had the Quail w sweet potato and collard greens. It is very good. However the fried chicken plate I ordered was disappointing and bland. The chicken was dry, the skin had very little flavor. It seems I was having a similar experience with a fellow Yelp post. The fried chicken was two very small pieces. On the plus side the Lima beans were very very good. The gravy helped the mashed potatoes and chicken but I couldn't finish it. I'm sure it was an off night for chicken. Live music. Clean, open and airy big barn like space. A great place to chit chat with friends. The bar area was light, bright light in pastel colors and full of happy conversation. We ate in the dinning section. It was like eating in a magazine layout. The barn doors separating rooms were all lightly appointed and the rooms and colors all in pretty Martha Stewart colors from the speckled plates you eat on, to the painted walls. This happy spot is a place to be seen and see people in the community. Think DISC personality profile I. It's an I restaurant. It's the place to be.
(3)
Yasmine S.
Literally the best Southern food I've ever eatened. The portion sizes are perfect and I'm always impressed with the quality of the food. Every time I come back to Hattiesburg this is my Go To place. I honestly think it's the best food in Hattiesburg .
(5)
Gerald G.
Best restaurant in Hattiesburg. Before you leave, ask to speak with Shawn the pastry chef. He will give you a foodgasm if you follow his recommendations. The bar staff is also supper friendly.
(5)
Beverly B.
Amazing food! I only wish I lived closer as it would be my new favorite restaurant! I had the quail, collards and mashed sweet potatoes and all three were wonderful. Atmosphere was really nice and relaxing as well.
(5)
Brandon O.
Passing through town on a road trip with the family. Found this hidden jewel on yelp. Cotton Blue stands out like radiant a diamond among a festering sea of chains that claim to serve food.
(5)
Greg L.
The place to go if you're in Hattiesburg. You gotta try the lemon ice box. They have a taste for just about any budget.
(5)
Heather S.
Delicious! My husband and I had a night out on Feb. 13th, which is rare, and the food, drinks and waiter were all fabulous. The desserts are to die for! It was very busy, but the service was very fast and everything come out just as we ordered. I would say this is one of my top picks in Hattiesburg for a date night or a family night.
(5)
Elizabeth C.
If you want the Happy Hour Specials (1/2 off Appetizers, etc.), you have to be seated at the bar or patio to get the discount! The bar is full service, which is nice when there's a wait and you're hungry. The food here is amazing. The portion sizes are a little small for some of the more expensive items, but I think it's fair market price for organic products. There's hardly a "lump" of crabmeat on the deviled eggs - more like slivers. The egg roll is great - a different taste, sort of tangy/sour, but also delicious. For the BBQ Chicken, "half a chicken" is really a small breast, leg, and wing. The crawfish mashed potatoes are astounding. My personal favorite so far is the BBQ chicken salad - the "grape salsa" is pico de gallo and halved grapes. It's phenomenal and I had a craving for it the last time we went and ordered it again, but there are so many other things on the menu I still want to try!
(5)
Lisa P.
Stopped in on our way to the Gulf Coast on Memorial Day Weekend. We were seated immediately (our visit was on a Thursday evening around 7:30pm). There was an outside enclosed patio area with music, but we opted for the inside dining area. The dining area we were seated in was very large and roomy. The tables were not crowded upon each other which made for an enjoyable dining experience. Our server was very well spoken and knowledgable of the the menu; he gave us some back story on Cotton Blues and the selection and preparation of menu items. Food items are classic southern fare, with the chef's personal spin making them unique. Ingredients are from local merchants and farmers. There were 4 in our party and our selections included: big bites red fish tacos; Mississippi gumbo (prepared with turnip greens); quail; & the Mississippi Mud sandwich. Sides included bourbon sweet mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, cheese grits. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Of course being the mama . . I sampled everyone's food. :) Fresh, unique and delicious are a few words that come to mind. Overall an great experience at Cotton Blues. We will visit again when passing through Hattiesburg.
(5)
Nguyen L.
I wanted to like this place so much. I already had my bucket list of menu entrees I was going to order. But my, my, my. Second time visiting here with wife. Can't even remember what the first experience was like; must not have been too bad because we came back. Got the corn and crab dip for appetizer. The actual crab in the dish had no flavor and looked like it might have been imitation or a very low grade of crab out of a can. And overall the corn and crab flavors did not mesh. The waiter wasn't the best either. I got the cotton blues breakfast and added a cup of the real red chili. The chili looks a lot better then it tastes. It was very bland. The breakfast was ok. I Liked the filet and the cheese grits. I will give this place one more chance. I am a gumbo fiend so I gotta come back and try the gumbo.
(3)
Diane S.
I just had the most fabulous meal at Cotton Blues! Just trust me, try the BBQ shrimp!!
(5)
Belinda W.
Great Mississippi atmosphere and food. Try a side of lima beans (yes, lima beans are amazingly good here) and gumbo made with collards, turnips, and mustard greens. Excellent! I enjoyed the fresh and well-prepared local food and appreciated all the nice touches. Definitely the place to stop in Hattiesburg on your way to NOLA or Destin.
(4)
Danielle F.
Cotton Blues is a lovely little restaurant tucked away in a shopping plaza. It serves locally and regionally sourced fare and is decorated like the interior of a barn (a very swank barn, though). True to its name, little sprigs of cotton decorate each of the tables. My favorite thing at Cotton Blues is the Grand House Salad. For around $10 or $11, you get a huge platter of salad consisting of romaine lettuce, pecans, blueberries, bleu cheese, tomatoes, croutons, and a honey vinaigrette dressing. It also comes with onions, but I prefer to leave those out of my salad. You can also add various toppings to your salad like salmon, chicken, or shrimp. I usually add shrimp to mine, and the shrimp are large and taste very, very fresh. However, it should be noted that if you add shrimp to your salad, you will pay around $2 extra and receive four shrimp. If you order additional shrimp beyond the four, you will not be charged $2 for four, but you will be charged a higher rate. My friend found this out the hard way last week; she ordered eight shrimp and was charged $2 for the first four and $1.50 per shrimp for the second set of four. This wasn't advertised on the menu or by the server, so be mindful of this if you order "extra" extra toppings. I think the Grand House Salad is a 5-star salad, but I'm only giving the restaurant 4 stars since I think the menu options are rather limited. If you are a vegetarian or a pescatarian, you can order a salad, but there's very little else available to you. There are several seafood dishes served here, but many of them come with meat additions like andouille, ham, or bacon. I would love to see Cotton Blues add more vegetarian-friendly entrees, like perhaps a homemade macaroni and cheese entree with locally produced cheese.
(4)
Patrick O.
My wife and I sat next to a gentleman on the plane from Los Angeles to New Orleans who suggested the Cotton Blues as a place we must try as we passed through Hattiesburg . We spent two days in New Orleans before traveling on to Laurel. This was my wife's first trip to NOLA and of course we tasted the gumbo in the French Market. She liked it but it was nothing special. Taking the advive of our fellow traveler I suggested we try the gumbo here. It was hands down the best I ever tasted. This is a must stop if you're in the area. A great dinning experience.
(5)
Derek B.
Food is always amazing. Our server was Claire, she made sure our glasses were full, awesome service! Can't beat the complimentary mimosas for brunch on Sunday's.
(5)
Randall H.
Just did not care for the food or service. Greens too salty, sweet mashed potatoes too sweet & service just wasn't there!
(2)
Greg J.
There were so many excellent menu choices, we had a difficult time deciding what to order. So we all got different things. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted awesome. We plan to make Cotton Blues a regular stop.
Jesus, was this place serving the best food I have EVER had! (And yeah, I'm quite well traveled and have had some amazing dishes in places like France, Spain, Italy and Russia). Anyway, after 14,5 hour drive - exhausted and still having 2 hours to our final destination to go.. around 10PM (when pretty much everything around but McDonalds was closed) we landed at the Cotton Blues. Live music, super nice and very well dressed people (I have not seen so many women in 5" heels anywhere in the states), great service and adorable Southern accent! YOU MUST TRY - the Honey Glazed Mississippi Quail with bourbon sweet mashed potatoes and braised greens. AND get the full portion because it is TO DIE FOR, we nearly eaten the bones - that's how good that sucker was! Perfectly cooked and seasoned! I'm still having food-porn dreams related to this quail! (if you see the pic I'm posting, you'll know why!) Gosh was it good, no amount of exclamation signs would ever describe my excitement about this quail! Lol the bourbon sweet mashed potatoes were awesome too! Shrimp & Grits were yummy as well as the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp and Chef C.B. Big Bad Seafood Gumbo... But that quail is what I fantasize about on nightly basis!!! Oh, and the drinks are served in mason jars - which I find adorable!
(5)
Chad R.
On a Sunday evening- saw a guitar recital by some young musicians and ate the best blackened Prime rib I have ever had.
(5)
Gaz H.
The kitchen appears to have given a great deal of thought to everything they expect you to put in your mouth. Spoiler alert: it means that your meal has a happy ending. Carefully chosen ingredients are carefully prepared and combined and the result is a good time in your mouth. The (young) staff's performance was not flawless, but small missteps were corrected quickly. Everyone is very pleasant and helpful, but their level of enthusiasm doesn't quite match the chef's. From the fried jalapeño slices that found their way into my order of fish tacos to the blue cheese that found its way into my side salad, you can tell that someone enjoyed putting the menu together. All the little things work (breads, butter, tomatoes). One may quibble when it comes to individual dishes (the crab cake grits were a bit thick for my taste, but I finished every last bit despite trying not to); the overall effort is successful. I look forward to perhaps returning some day and trying other dishes from the menu. The dining room is casual, accommodating hipsters as well as non-hipsters. A welcoming and uncomplicated vibe.
(4)
Allison B.
I loved the atmosphere of this restaurant. It's Christmastime, so they had a Christmas tree up in the main entrance, and it was decorated with cotton for the ornaments. This is just a really unique place; it reminded me of being in the MS delta. I ordered the Southern vegetable plate, and my mom ordered the chicken salad. They brought out beet chips and pickles for free as an appetizer, but I didn't care for those. On my plate, it had fried zuchinni with a mayonaisse type of sauce on top, lima beans, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese. The presentation was nice, but i wasn't a fan of the zucchini. The greens were delicious with a hint of a sweet taste. The lima beans were ok, but I wasn't sure if I liked the citrus taste in them. I liked the macaroni.
(4)
Koreen O.
While on a flight to New Orleans a fellow passenger recommended going to "Cotton Blues" while we continued our trip to Mississippi after spending a couple of days in New Orleans. WOW am I glad we listened! My husband and I had a wonderful dining experience, we will be back on our next trip to Mississippi! 1: Seafood Gumbo was absolutely FANTASTIC! It has been 3 weeks now and I still think about it!! Plenty of shrimp, oysters and crab. The broth was so complex and delicious amongst the fresh seafood! 2: Loved the bread plate with 3 different condiments. My favorite was the Collard broth. Genius! 3: Collard greens were great, had to order a side after dipping my bread in it's broth! 4: Our waitress was delightful, helpful, and knowledgeable of menu! 5: Decor and vibe of restaurant was comfortable and inviting. 6: Good selection of tap and bottled beer as well as bourbon! 7: Was too full for dessert but took a slice of cheesecake with raspberry topping to hotel for later. WOW it was great! Light and airy, perfect!!
(5)
M M.
Love this place! Modern farmhouse decor, delicious cocktails, great service, and of course the food! Definitely try the gumbo, and the crawfish mashed potatoes are what dreams are made of.
(5)
Cee L.
Sooooo disappointing. The bad-made hostess was not warm or welcoming, this is where it all began... We ordered the chips and dip, it wasn't good. As my dish I ordered the chicken pasta and it was very flavorful, but I would not order it again. There was some lady (I assume the manager) walking around in a spaghetti strap dress delivering food to tables. Now for most people this would not be an issue but I think this is or at least should be totally unacceptable when handling food. Seeing that I have a Master's Degree in Public Health, I would recommend at least wearing a cardigan or something. This was not a pleasant experience. My recommendation to anyone would be to check them out for yourselves. It wasn't the best but I doubt my husband and I ever visit again,
(2)
Gypsy S.
Amazing food & great service! Love the feel of this place too! Would recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(5)
John B.
C and I are on our great tour of the Southwest, photographing for University Icons again. This time we covered a tad over 6,000 miles. One of the best parts of any road trip is to discover new restaurants. Cotton Blues was a great find. C had pulled pork tacos and I had an unusual chop salad that included chicken, beef, fish, bacon. Desert: Coconut cream pie. $30 bottle of wine for half price (although I don't remember why it was 1/2 off the regular price). Excellent! Good service; nice ambiance.
(5)
Haley H.
Food was excellent! Fried chicken, quail, mashed potatoes were all wonderful! Lemon icebox pie was the best I've ever eaten. Only negative was no bread was ever brought to the table and the lady next to us told us to ask for the pickles and beet chips. Wish these services would've been automatic for guests like us that had never eaten there before and didn't know to ask, but good was excellent! Will definitely visit again!
(4)
Tiffany S.
Cotton Blues is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. I was in town from Houston and was so happy to find this spot on Yelp. The food is fresh, local and spectacular. Wish they would expand to Houston!! Everything I have eaten here has been beyond wonderful, and I now cone every time I'm back in Hattiesburg! Lunch or dinner, it's a must!!
(5)
Maria V.
Details matter...Thank you for looking at every detail because I truly enjoy the culinary experience every time! My filet of oscar is delicious - no doubt! This place makes my visit to Hattiesburg always a pleasant one.
(5)
Joe B.
I must admit, I never thought about MS as a state to go for good food. This place changed my mind. The put a unique twist on many La. dishes that were surprisingly good. I rate them 5 stars on a MS scale!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brooke H.
We stopped here on the way back from New Orleans, and it was the best food I ate all trip. Their grits are AMAZING!
(5)Erika F.
Love the atmosphere!! Staff was great! I had a great meal... The Buttermilk Ranch salad and the shrimp and grits... Both were delicious!!!
(5)J S.
Wow. Just wow. Great dining experience because of a good vibe, excellent service, and a creative menu. The bread service included a Lima bean based spread and a pot liquor dip. We had fried curds as an appetizer, and again, unusual dips were served. The Boss had a vegetable plate and I had fried catfish. Servings were ample and every entree and side included a unique twist. This place is definitely worth a drive.
(5)Linh B.
My co-workers in I went there for lunch today. Our server was very friendly and prompt in her service. I never had to ask for a refill because it was always brought out just in time. She brought out beet chips and pickles while our food was being prepared. They were very tasty! I ordered the cheese curds for the table, and it was accompanied by a tomato jam and a mustard sauce. Both were great with the cheese curds! Can't go wrong with fried cheese, right? I ordered the Seared Salmon Salad. It came with roasted potatoes and crab deviled eggs. Never will I have another deviled egg without crab and bacon! It was amazing! My whole dish just complimented each other so well, and it was more than enough to fill me up. My co-workers ordered a burger with warm potato salad, and shrimp and grits. Both agreed it was a great meal, and they left fully satisfied. We will definitely be back! Exactly what we needed in Hattiesburg. Thanks!
(5)Kari R.
Everything I tasted was delicious! Went for dinner as we were passing through town on a road trip - 2 adults and 2 kids. We ordered the cheese curd appetizer, which was great, but maybe a little overpriced at $9.50. The kids ordered chicken strips and mac & cheese. They weren't huge fans of the mac & cheese because it's more of a fancy adult version with ham, etc., but my husband and I loved it! At the waiter's suggestion, I ordered the pan roasted organic chicken with Brussels sprouts (yum!) instead of carrots. I was wary of ordering roasted chicken (seems boring), but it was fabulous - flavorful and skin so crispy it seemed almost fried. Hubby got andouille crusted redfish, which was also delicious - impressive that he enjoyed it so much as he's not usually a fish-lover. We got the salted caramel cheesecake and Mississippi mud pie for dessert to go - both wonderful! The entrees are all priced between $20-30, but they also had sandwich options and smaller entree options for $10-15. Kids' meals were $5-7, which I thought was great for the quality. Service was friendly, competent, and quick. I hope we have occasion to be back in Hattiesburg soon, so we can eat here again!
(5)Nick O.
Best food in town! The organic pan roasted chicken, grilled cornbread with crab, pork belly, and shrimp and grits are at the top of my list, but I have yet to try anything I have not loved. In an effort of full disclosure, I am related to the owner:)
(5)Russ D.
Ate here a second time, had the cornbread appetizer and the shrimp and grits, both were amazing. The bar staff were attentive and super personable. You have to try the cheesecake!
(5)Patton T.
Wow! From the moment my wife and I walked through the door, I could tell this place was going to be good. We went for Sunday brunch on October 27; this was our first time to dine here. Everyone on staff was busy, while remaining clam with smiles for everyone. Reading through the copious menu made me want to taste everything. All the items we ordered made me want to moan with pleasure. The pleasing combination of Southern flavors can only come from a chef who has taken the time to learn his/her craft. The wait staff was exceptionally attentive and efficient without being overbearing -- obviously learned from disciplined training and attention to detail. I honestly can't say enough good things about Cotton Blues. My first impression was ... it's as good as it gets! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Kram S.
Had a really good meal. The fresh bread and corn bread were the best I have had at any restaurant. The jambalaya with linguini was an interesting twist to a dish that I really enjoy, I would have preferred it to be a bit spicier but it was still quite good. The staff was very young but pleasant and eager to please. The restaurant was very clean and modern, almost a bit too "accidentally southern". The decor seemed a bit forced but did not take away from the experience. If you are near Hattiesburg this is a must stop for the bread alone!
(4)Stephanie L.
Absolutely fantastic! We will make a point to eat here every time we are anywhere near! Husband had the pork sandwich and I had the fried chicken thigh sandwich. We had the Mac and cheese and scrumptious greens!! Delicious, cool decor, clean, friendly. One regret is I didn't save room for dessert. Next time because they looked delicious. Eat at restaurant!
(5)Sean K.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Hattiesburg. My wife gave high praise when she said the sweet potatoes were the best she's ever had. We both liked the clean, spare decor. We had a cup of coffee at the bar after lunch, and I noted some interesting bourbons that I'll have to give a try on my next visit. I'm happy to see people in Hattiesburg celebrating the great products Mississippi produces, rather than shipping in veggies on a truck from god knows where. Cotton Blues will be a regular stop on my visits to Mississippi.
(4)Alison L.
Wonderful place! They make a huge effort to provide locally sourced products and Southern cuisine. The food is wonderful - I had the shrimp and grits the first time I came, and this second time I had the beet salad with grilled shrimp. My Dad had the crab cakes with a side of the cheese grits - nothing to complain about in the least!
(5)Scott B.
Wow this place is so overrated. Shrimp and grits came out cold with hard dry grits and under cooked shrimp. The sauce was like tomato paste with okra and bacon not a good flavor. Chip and dip had good corn but no taste or site of crab. The kids meals were good. Waitress was nice and provided good service. Kitchen was slow. I tried the gumbo . . . It was ok. Overall I was disappointed based upon the reviews and my expectations.
(2)Jennifer E.
My daughter and I stopped in for dinner based off of Yelp reviews. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was different, but comfortable. We had the fried chicken and pan roasted chicken. I was not a fan of the pan roasted chicken but the fried chicken was so amazing. So moist and flavorful. The mac and cheese was delicious. Their corn bread and spreads were so delicious! We were so pleased that we went back for lunch the next day. We were pretty disappointed in lunch. They didn't have bread service and the sides weren't that good. I would definitely recomment going for dinner and stay away from lunch.
(4)Amy M.
Okay, I hate to say not-so-great things about this restaurant, but my experience there was mediocre at best. I will give the place another shot, since I've heard so many wonderful things, but today was a disappointing lunch for me and my husband. He had the grilled cheese, which consisted of a single small slice of cheese between two very thick pieces of (tasty) bread. It was okay, but certainly nothing special. I had the salad with grilled chicken... small portion of leafy greens, dash of bacon, a few tomatoes and cucumbers. Not very inspired. The dressing, I believe, was from a jar rather than homemade, and the chicken was over-cooked. It was edible, but not good or interesting in any way. It didn't help that they left on the ingredient I asked them to hold, brought the wrong dressing, and served me too-strong, warmish tea with no ice. Meh.
(3)Wyatt W.
I didn't think Mississippi food could ever be gourmet. Just the greens on the Boudain appetizer proved me wrong.
(5)James C.
Cotton Blues. Those two words inspire a smile from the depths of my tummy. I never knew food could taste like this! I have dined at Heaven's table on earth. Come here. Now. I've been here 5 times...each time I've had something different and they've all been amazing. You must have the salted caramel cheesecake. Go to Cotton Blues.
(5)Leslie B.
A great, local place to stop when in Hattiesburg. It is just off the highway, so a quick off and on. The food was delicious. Went with my family of five and everyone loved what they ordered. If their tomato basil grilled cheese is on special, get! Trust me. The shrimp and grits were wonderful as was the chicken bruschetta. A well decorated setting with real personality. Casual atmosphere. We didn't look that great after being on the road so long and still felt comfortable.
(5)Karina S.
Awesome Southern fusion restaurant. It's like Hattiesburg in a bottle. And I can say that because I live here, but I'm not from here. This one of the first places I take out-of-town guests, and I'm not the only one who does this. Order anything that strikes your fancy. You won't be disappointed. Try whatever they give you, even if it seems weird, because the chef is really good at pairing tastes and textures. He also uses traditional pairings like fried chicken with mashed potatoes and lima beans. Try, if you can, to leave room for dessert. Or take an order to go. We sometimes stop by and pick up a dessert to take home. Cotton Blues serves my all-time favorite lemon ice box pie. If you get a chance, try all of their flavors of cheese cake. Best cheese cake in town. If you're passing through town, please skip the chains and go to Cotton Blues. It's worth the extra 10 minutes. If you're going to New Orleans, you're probably going there to eat and drink. Consider Hattiesburg, and Cotton Blues, as your essential first course.
(5)Charli P.
This is a DON'T MISS IT restaurant in Hattiesburg! I dined at Cotton Blues last week for lunch and was impressed with our selections. I choose the fried oyster po-boy and thoroughly enjoyed it. The seafood was cooked perfectly and WOW the bread was crusty but soft! The hand cut fries were delicious and seasoned well! My business associate had the shrimp po-boy and she loved it. We decided to split a dessert since we heard the pastry chef was one of the best in the south! We ordered the turtle cheesecake and it was a big slice of heaven! Oh and to top it off Cotton Blues serves Beet Chips while you are waiting for your food. They are made in the restaurant from fresh produce...yum! I will dine here again when I am in town! There are some very unique offerings on the menu that I really want to try. The atmosphere is great...the place is very clean and spacious featuring a separate huge bar. There are large dining areas away from the bar, so this one is family friendly. It is perfect for business lunches, romantic evenings or a quick meal at the bar. The service was excellent and very non-intrusive!
(5)Brandy P.
I just finished eating my Salted Carmel Cheesecake leffovers and even a day later that was the best cheesecake ever
(5)DeAnn H.
Driving through... Found in YELP. Great restaurant where things are homemade and classy. They have a screened porch where we could eat with our dog. They have $7.99 lunch specials and kids meals as well. Unique menu that didn't disappoint. Be sure to get some cheesecake. We got the mango pepper, amazing.
(5)M D.
Great fresh food- best in Hattiesburg. Ate at the bar, service great! We had Shrimp Po Boy & Redfish Taco. Both were excellent!
(5)Tricia G.
Delicious. Highly recommend stopping here if you're heading thru Mississippi. The greens are incredible. In fact, everything was great. Friendly service. Nicely decorated. Only recommendation would be to improve the uncomfortable seats.
(5)Libbie R.
As I have yelped before, I don't do chain restaurants. So we yelped and this was a very pleasant surprise in the middle of MS. Order the quail. The fried chicken was delicious. The gravy for dipping...I could rave on and on about the lemon ice box pie; it reminded me of my grandmother. I ordered an extra piece to go, which is so crazy because I am not a dessert person. Their merigue is absolutely perfect.. I wish I had ordered the entire pie. It is situated in a funky shopping center but do not miss this restaurant if you are in the area! I will be back on Friday on the way home!
(5)Alex B.
Very nice place! The seafood gumbo was the best I've ever had and the cheesecake was amazing!
(5)Sidney M.
Outstanding service and outstanding meals!! Been many times and always meets or exceeds expectations. Must order the brussel sprouts!!
(5)SiNiTiKa B.
There's sooo much to say about this place I really do not know where to start. The food is absolutely AMAZING! The service is top notch. This place is consider fine dining but yet casual. My boyfriend and I visit here on Sunday's because they have the best brunch in town. Not only that but the bottomless mimosas are a plus. If you love southern food most definitely check out Cotton Blues, southern food with a twist. I hope talk cater because the menu will be served at my wedding reception!
(5)Michael E.
Pastry chef is excellent and the pies are proof!! Definitely expensive but worth it for sure!!
(5)Samantha C.
Had the crab cake app, cup of Chili and andouille redfish. Must say everything was good but a bit on the pricey side for portion size only one crab cake for 14 bucks and Chili was very thick but tasty with some heat and smoky flavor. Redfish was good but not 24$ good. I do have to say their cheesecake was outstanding, best I've ever had. Props to the pastry chef! If price doesn't scare you this is a very nice well decorated place to stop.
(4)Kyle D.
Driving through Hattiesburg and needing some lunch, we stopped at Cotton Blues and weren't disappointed. We were seated immediately, and while the service was slow to start we were ultimately well taken care of by our waiter. We ordered the Breakfast Skillet with Quail and the Grits and Grillades, two delicious brunch items priced at around $15 and including bottomless mimosas. The Breakfast Skillet with Quail was hearty, verging on heavy, but very tasty especially with the quail on top. It would almost be better split between two people alongside one of the restaurant's delicious salads, to lighten the dish up a little. On the other hand, the Grits and Grillades was just right as an entree for one person, featuring warm grits, a poached egg, hollandaise sauce, and a stewed beef in a delicious gravy that we couldn't leave on the plate! The plates at our neighbors' tables looked fresh and generous as well. The locally-sourced meals at Cotton Blues are served with warm bread and several creative spreads, and while the homemade pies in the case at the front of the store looked wonderful, we unfortunately didn't save enough room for dessert.
(4)Jake S.
Wonderful place with a great atmosphere. The complementary cornbread is fantastic. So far I have had the gumbo, shrimp poboy, and the catfish. They have all been superb. Also, everything they serve is from Mississippi if I'm correct. Please go!
(5)Mal M.
I have been pining for good food for months. I go to some highly recommended place and leave highly disappointed. Not this time. This food was delicious. The bread service included pot liquor, Lima bean guacamole, and butter. All good. I preferred the pot liquor with the corn bread. I ordered a veggie plate that included greens, sweet potato hash, Brussels sprouts, corn bread and garlic green beans. When I thought I couldn't eat another bite, I tried my daughter's steak. OMG. It was great. I didn't give five stars because they are overly generous with the sugar, and the Brussels sprouts have a wonderful flavor, but they were not cooked enough, too hard to enjoy. It's more than an hour drive, but I'm ready to return anytime.
(4)Micaela S.
The customer service was excellent. The food was very tasty and perfect portions served. Yummy margarita too. The atmosphere was very pleasant and allowed for great conversation between us at our table. Loved everything about this lil piece of Mississippi!
(5)Cora M.
Recently relocated to Hattiesburg with my job and decided to check out Cotton Blues. We were absolutely blown away. Amazing atmosphere, great service and the most delicious food!! I recommend Cotton Blues to everyone I come across.
(5)Bill C.
We were pleasantly surprised with Cotton Blues. It's hidden in the back of a strip mall, so keep your eyes peeled for it. The food and service were both great. It is an oasis of originality and local color in a sea of suburban hell surrounding it.
(4)Amanda S.
I've been here before, 6 months ago and was blown away by this place. When I was visiting my mom and were passing through my old college stomping grounds recently, I had to take her! The place has a screened in porch to prevent you from being eaten up by the state bird of Mississippi, the mosquito. Inside, it's dimly lit with light green/blue walls and beautiful MS themed deco: lots of cotton! They serve dinner roll and cornbread with 3 dipping sauces, butter, Lima bean purée and collard green juice! Yum! Last time I got the shrimp and grits, this time I had the southern veggie plate. They have a very interesting cocktail menu too. Great place to sit on porch and drink a cocktail with old college buddies and have southern food with a modern twist. Definitely recommend!
(5)Fanny A.
My first time here was awesome... Only thing was the pancakes were a little over cooked... In the pork and waffles...
(5)Lorretta D.
Cotton Blues! Food was delicious and service is great. Had the best waiter ever, Jake!!! Had the quail and filet mignon!!!
(5)Daniel T.
Hands down southern food at its finest. Great food, great service provided by Jake, who was very knowledgeable. You can't visit Mississippi and not dine in here!
(5)Chris B.
My wife and I decided to go eat in Hattiesburg and I had never tried Cotton Blues. So we decided to try it out. The outdoor patio was peaceful and tranquil, so ee decided to eat outdoors as it was no nice. I had the oysters Rockefeller followed by the quail. WOW the quality was excellent and the server was attentive, informative, friendly - a REAL NICE CHANGE for us. At the end of the meal I was reluctant to leave as it had been such a relaxing experience. I could eat there anytime and can't wait to go back and try more items from the menu. HIGHLY recommended - an oasis in the center of Hattiesburg.
(5)MikeandLauri V.
Shrimp and grits was great. I wish the icebox pie was a little smaller. It was super good but I eat it all.
(5)Nathan B.
Pretty great if you ask me. Although I've only been there a handful of times, I've only been disappointed once and that was on a lunch special during a weekday, which you should probably try to stay away from. Everything else is great. You shouldn't be disappointed if you are paying over $8 for an entree. Anything else is hit or miss. Brunches on Sunday's are fabulous. Unlimited mimosas, although I prefer to ask for just champagne! Great place for family/friends
(4)Rachel R.
Really nice place with good ole southern food. The greens are a little tart but I loved them. I had the Fried Red Fish with crawfish sauce, crawfish mashed potatoes and greens, along with a salad. Everything was great. Needed more crawfish sauce but I didn't ask for any. The salad we had was good but we had to use our knifes to cut up the lettuce to fit in our mouths. I didn't like having to do that and the plate was too small for the amount of salad. Too much cutting of salad is not good to do at the table. It slows conversations. But it did taste good. My husband had prime rib on a hogie roll with ajus fries and the same salad I had. He said it was delicious. We had to wait 30 min. to be seated but Tyler, our waiter, gave us a free piece of cheesecake for having to wait on him after being seated. It was very busy. I advise to arrive early. I am thankful that the music was not too loud but could have been turned down a little lower. Over all, and I am sorry that my reviews are not the best, Cotton Blues is pricey but worth it!
(4)Matthias F.
Stopped here on the way back from New Orleans around 3 PM, which was probably the problem. While the menu was excellent the food was OK. The broiled oysters were nothing compared to Drago's in NOLA. The pork belly in my Korean tacos was tough, and the sauce in my son's shrimp and grits was very tomato-ey. Wonderful brussel sprouts and coconut pie. I would be willing to try again at night.
(4)Carolyn W.
I have found heaven on earth. In Hattiesburg, MS of all places. Kill me now, as food surely does not get any better than this. My first instinct when looking at the menu was "I want it all!!" After some help from my waitress I decided on fried chicken. A classic. And pure deliciousness. The chicken was perfectly moist and seasoned. The cornbread was a surprising delight. And that gravy was something else. Then she brought me the dessert menu. And what do I see? A pumpkin cream puff?Surely my eyes deceive me. The cream was light and airy. The pastry was flaky. It was one of the best desserts i have ever eaten. In short, if you want a feast for both your eyes and your stomach, check this place out. I'm already trying to figure out how I can take another trip here to come back.
(5)Dal L.
Omg! This place is amazing! The cheesecake alone is a life changing experience! If I could have gave it ten stars I would have. Wonderful service, fantastic food and amazing deserts!!!
(5)Michael M.
Awesome restaurant. The service was really good and attentive. I had the sweet tea salmon medium rare. It melted in my mouth. The sweet potatoes were great and had some brown sugar on them but not too much. The atmosphere was casual comfortable. I also tasted the pecan glazed catfish special and that was very tasty.
(5)Lafayete H.
Simply an amazing experience! The gumbo is otherworldly. The flavors are deep and true to the region and would give any New Orleans gumbo a run for its money. We will be back and if in the area, I would recommend paying a visit!!!
(5)Ahma H.
Pretty place & expensive. We went here for dinner after reading the Yelp reviews. We were on the road to our destination looking for local Southern cooking after the fantastic Cajun experience in New Orleans. The Yelp reviews were accurate. My husband had the Quail w sweet potato and collard greens. It is very good. However the fried chicken plate I ordered was disappointing and bland. The chicken was dry, the skin had very little flavor. It seems I was having a similar experience with a fellow Yelp post. The fried chicken was two very small pieces. On the plus side the Lima beans were very very good. The gravy helped the mashed potatoes and chicken but I couldn't finish it. I'm sure it was an off night for chicken. Live music. Clean, open and airy big barn like space. A great place to chit chat with friends. The bar area was light, bright light in pastel colors and full of happy conversation. We ate in the dinning section. It was like eating in a magazine layout. The barn doors separating rooms were all lightly appointed and the rooms and colors all in pretty Martha Stewart colors from the speckled plates you eat on, to the painted walls. This happy spot is a place to be seen and see people in the community. Think DISC personality profile I. It's an I restaurant. It's the place to be.
(3)Yasmine S.
Literally the best Southern food I've ever eatened. The portion sizes are perfect and I'm always impressed with the quality of the food. Every time I come back to Hattiesburg this is my Go To place. I honestly think it's the best food in Hattiesburg .
(5)Gerald G.
Best restaurant in Hattiesburg. Before you leave, ask to speak with Shawn the pastry chef. He will give you a foodgasm if you follow his recommendations. The bar staff is also supper friendly.
(5)Beverly B.
Amazing food! I only wish I lived closer as it would be my new favorite restaurant! I had the quail, collards and mashed sweet potatoes and all three were wonderful. Atmosphere was really nice and relaxing as well.
(5)Brandon O.
Passing through town on a road trip with the family. Found this hidden jewel on yelp. Cotton Blue stands out like radiant a diamond among a festering sea of chains that claim to serve food.
(5)Greg L.
The place to go if you're in Hattiesburg. You gotta try the lemon ice box. They have a taste for just about any budget.
(5)Heather S.
Delicious! My husband and I had a night out on Feb. 13th, which is rare, and the food, drinks and waiter were all fabulous. The desserts are to die for! It was very busy, but the service was very fast and everything come out just as we ordered. I would say this is one of my top picks in Hattiesburg for a date night or a family night.
(5)Elizabeth C.
If you want the Happy Hour Specials (1/2 off Appetizers, etc.), you have to be seated at the bar or patio to get the discount! The bar is full service, which is nice when there's a wait and you're hungry. The food here is amazing. The portion sizes are a little small for some of the more expensive items, but I think it's fair market price for organic products. There's hardly a "lump" of crabmeat on the deviled eggs - more like slivers. The egg roll is great - a different taste, sort of tangy/sour, but also delicious. For the BBQ Chicken, "half a chicken" is really a small breast, leg, and wing. The crawfish mashed potatoes are astounding. My personal favorite so far is the BBQ chicken salad - the "grape salsa" is pico de gallo and halved grapes. It's phenomenal and I had a craving for it the last time we went and ordered it again, but there are so many other things on the menu I still want to try!
(5)Lisa P.
Stopped in on our way to the Gulf Coast on Memorial Day Weekend. We were seated immediately (our visit was on a Thursday evening around 7:30pm). There was an outside enclosed patio area with music, but we opted for the inside dining area. The dining area we were seated in was very large and roomy. The tables were not crowded upon each other which made for an enjoyable dining experience. Our server was very well spoken and knowledgable of the the menu; he gave us some back story on Cotton Blues and the selection and preparation of menu items. Food items are classic southern fare, with the chef's personal spin making them unique. Ingredients are from local merchants and farmers. There were 4 in our party and our selections included: big bites red fish tacos; Mississippi gumbo (prepared with turnip greens); quail; & the Mississippi Mud sandwich. Sides included bourbon sweet mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, cheese grits. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Of course being the mama . . I sampled everyone's food. :) Fresh, unique and delicious are a few words that come to mind. Overall an great experience at Cotton Blues. We will visit again when passing through Hattiesburg.
(5)Nguyen L.
I wanted to like this place so much. I already had my bucket list of menu entrees I was going to order. But my, my, my. Second time visiting here with wife. Can't even remember what the first experience was like; must not have been too bad because we came back. Got the corn and crab dip for appetizer. The actual crab in the dish had no flavor and looked like it might have been imitation or a very low grade of crab out of a can. And overall the corn and crab flavors did not mesh. The waiter wasn't the best either. I got the cotton blues breakfast and added a cup of the real red chili. The chili looks a lot better then it tastes. It was very bland. The breakfast was ok. I Liked the filet and the cheese grits. I will give this place one more chance. I am a gumbo fiend so I gotta come back and try the gumbo.
(3)Diane S.
I just had the most fabulous meal at Cotton Blues! Just trust me, try the BBQ shrimp!!
(5)Belinda W.
Great Mississippi atmosphere and food. Try a side of lima beans (yes, lima beans are amazingly good here) and gumbo made with collards, turnips, and mustard greens. Excellent! I enjoyed the fresh and well-prepared local food and appreciated all the nice touches. Definitely the place to stop in Hattiesburg on your way to NOLA or Destin.
(4)Danielle F.
Cotton Blues is a lovely little restaurant tucked away in a shopping plaza. It serves locally and regionally sourced fare and is decorated like the interior of a barn (a very swank barn, though). True to its name, little sprigs of cotton decorate each of the tables. My favorite thing at Cotton Blues is the Grand House Salad. For around $10 or $11, you get a huge platter of salad consisting of romaine lettuce, pecans, blueberries, bleu cheese, tomatoes, croutons, and a honey vinaigrette dressing. It also comes with onions, but I prefer to leave those out of my salad. You can also add various toppings to your salad like salmon, chicken, or shrimp. I usually add shrimp to mine, and the shrimp are large and taste very, very fresh. However, it should be noted that if you add shrimp to your salad, you will pay around $2 extra and receive four shrimp. If you order additional shrimp beyond the four, you will not be charged $2 for four, but you will be charged a higher rate. My friend found this out the hard way last week; she ordered eight shrimp and was charged $2 for the first four and $1.50 per shrimp for the second set of four. This wasn't advertised on the menu or by the server, so be mindful of this if you order "extra" extra toppings. I think the Grand House Salad is a 5-star salad, but I'm only giving the restaurant 4 stars since I think the menu options are rather limited. If you are a vegetarian or a pescatarian, you can order a salad, but there's very little else available to you. There are several seafood dishes served here, but many of them come with meat additions like andouille, ham, or bacon. I would love to see Cotton Blues add more vegetarian-friendly entrees, like perhaps a homemade macaroni and cheese entree with locally produced cheese.
(4)Patrick O.
My wife and I sat next to a gentleman on the plane from Los Angeles to New Orleans who suggested the Cotton Blues as a place we must try as we passed through Hattiesburg . We spent two days in New Orleans before traveling on to Laurel. This was my wife's first trip to NOLA and of course we tasted the gumbo in the French Market. She liked it but it was nothing special. Taking the advive of our fellow traveler I suggested we try the gumbo here. It was hands down the best I ever tasted. This is a must stop if you're in the area. A great dinning experience.
(5)Derek B.
Food is always amazing. Our server was Claire, she made sure our glasses were full, awesome service! Can't beat the complimentary mimosas for brunch on Sunday's.
(5)Randall H.
Just did not care for the food or service. Greens too salty, sweet mashed potatoes too sweet & service just wasn't there!
(2)Greg J.
There were so many excellent menu choices, we had a difficult time deciding what to order. So we all got different things. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted awesome. We plan to make Cotton Blues a regular stop.
(5)vernon c.
I suggest Sunday brunch with free bottomless Mimosa with entrée. Sit at the bar for the most fun. I love this place and take anyone visiting from out of town here.
(5)Vera T.
Jesus, was this place serving the best food I have EVER had! (And yeah, I'm quite well traveled and have had some amazing dishes in places like France, Spain, Italy and Russia). Anyway, after 14,5 hour drive - exhausted and still having 2 hours to our final destination to go.. around 10PM (when pretty much everything around but McDonalds was closed) we landed at the Cotton Blues. Live music, super nice and very well dressed people (I have not seen so many women in 5" heels anywhere in the states), great service and adorable Southern accent! YOU MUST TRY - the Honey Glazed Mississippi Quail with bourbon sweet mashed potatoes and braised greens. AND get the full portion because it is TO DIE FOR, we nearly eaten the bones - that's how good that sucker was! Perfectly cooked and seasoned! I'm still having food-porn dreams related to this quail! (if you see the pic I'm posting, you'll know why!) Gosh was it good, no amount of exclamation signs would ever describe my excitement about this quail! Lol the bourbon sweet mashed potatoes were awesome too! Shrimp & Grits were yummy as well as the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp and Chef C.B. Big Bad Seafood Gumbo... But that quail is what I fantasize about on nightly basis!!! Oh, and the drinks are served in mason jars - which I find adorable!
(5)Chad R.
On a Sunday evening- saw a guitar recital by some young musicians and ate the best blackened Prime rib I have ever had.
(5)Gaz H.
The kitchen appears to have given a great deal of thought to everything they expect you to put in your mouth. Spoiler alert: it means that your meal has a happy ending. Carefully chosen ingredients are carefully prepared and combined and the result is a good time in your mouth. The (young) staff's performance was not flawless, but small missteps were corrected quickly. Everyone is very pleasant and helpful, but their level of enthusiasm doesn't quite match the chef's. From the fried jalapeño slices that found their way into my order of fish tacos to the blue cheese that found its way into my side salad, you can tell that someone enjoyed putting the menu together. All the little things work (breads, butter, tomatoes). One may quibble when it comes to individual dishes (the crab cake grits were a bit thick for my taste, but I finished every last bit despite trying not to); the overall effort is successful. I look forward to perhaps returning some day and trying other dishes from the menu. The dining room is casual, accommodating hipsters as well as non-hipsters. A welcoming and uncomplicated vibe.
(4)Allison B.
I loved the atmosphere of this restaurant. It's Christmastime, so they had a Christmas tree up in the main entrance, and it was decorated with cotton for the ornaments. This is just a really unique place; it reminded me of being in the MS delta. I ordered the Southern vegetable plate, and my mom ordered the chicken salad. They brought out beet chips and pickles for free as an appetizer, but I didn't care for those. On my plate, it had fried zuchinni with a mayonaisse type of sauce on top, lima beans, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese. The presentation was nice, but i wasn't a fan of the zucchini. The greens were delicious with a hint of a sweet taste. The lima beans were ok, but I wasn't sure if I liked the citrus taste in them. I liked the macaroni.
(4)Koreen O.
While on a flight to New Orleans a fellow passenger recommended going to "Cotton Blues" while we continued our trip to Mississippi after spending a couple of days in New Orleans. WOW am I glad we listened! My husband and I had a wonderful dining experience, we will be back on our next trip to Mississippi! 1: Seafood Gumbo was absolutely FANTASTIC! It has been 3 weeks now and I still think about it!! Plenty of shrimp, oysters and crab. The broth was so complex and delicious amongst the fresh seafood! 2: Loved the bread plate with 3 different condiments. My favorite was the Collard broth. Genius! 3: Collard greens were great, had to order a side after dipping my bread in it's broth! 4: Our waitress was delightful, helpful, and knowledgeable of menu! 5: Decor and vibe of restaurant was comfortable and inviting. 6: Good selection of tap and bottled beer as well as bourbon! 7: Was too full for dessert but took a slice of cheesecake with raspberry topping to hotel for later. WOW it was great! Light and airy, perfect!!
(5)M M.
Love this place! Modern farmhouse decor, delicious cocktails, great service, and of course the food! Definitely try the gumbo, and the crawfish mashed potatoes are what dreams are made of.
(5)Cee L.
Sooooo disappointing. The bad-made hostess was not warm or welcoming, this is where it all began... We ordered the chips and dip, it wasn't good. As my dish I ordered the chicken pasta and it was very flavorful, but I would not order it again. There was some lady (I assume the manager) walking around in a spaghetti strap dress delivering food to tables. Now for most people this would not be an issue but I think this is or at least should be totally unacceptable when handling food. Seeing that I have a Master's Degree in Public Health, I would recommend at least wearing a cardigan or something. This was not a pleasant experience. My recommendation to anyone would be to check them out for yourselves. It wasn't the best but I doubt my husband and I ever visit again,
(2)Gypsy S.
Amazing food & great service! Love the feel of this place too! Would recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(5)John B.
C and I are on our great tour of the Southwest, photographing for University Icons again. This time we covered a tad over 6,000 miles. One of the best parts of any road trip is to discover new restaurants. Cotton Blues was a great find. C had pulled pork tacos and I had an unusual chop salad that included chicken, beef, fish, bacon. Desert: Coconut cream pie. $30 bottle of wine for half price (although I don't remember why it was 1/2 off the regular price). Excellent! Good service; nice ambiance.
(5)Haley H.
Food was excellent! Fried chicken, quail, mashed potatoes were all wonderful! Lemon icebox pie was the best I've ever eaten. Only negative was no bread was ever brought to the table and the lady next to us told us to ask for the pickles and beet chips. Wish these services would've been automatic for guests like us that had never eaten there before and didn't know to ask, but good was excellent! Will definitely visit again!
(4)Tiffany S.
Cotton Blues is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. I was in town from Houston and was so happy to find this spot on Yelp. The food is fresh, local and spectacular. Wish they would expand to Houston!! Everything I have eaten here has been beyond wonderful, and I now cone every time I'm back in Hattiesburg! Lunch or dinner, it's a must!!
(5)Maria V.
Details matter...Thank you for looking at every detail because I truly enjoy the culinary experience every time! My filet of oscar is delicious - no doubt! This place makes my visit to Hattiesburg always a pleasant one.
(5)Joe B.
I must admit, I never thought about MS as a state to go for good food. This place changed my mind. The put a unique twist on many La. dishes that were surprisingly good. I rate them 5 stars on a MS scale!
(5)