Although Panino Veloce means speedy sandwich, there are no corners cut at this special sandwich shop inside Tarasque Cucina. Open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch, options might include Italian cured meats with garlic mayo, parmesan cheese, and pepper relish, or jerk chicken with pickled red onion on housemade semolina focaccia. The Napa cabbage informed Caesar is great too.

Chef John Stokes and his wife Lauren run this fetching Italian trattoria with dishes inspired by the Mediterranean region. Tarasque Cucina offers winners like charred radicchio with spiced walnuts and Gorgonzola, pappardelle Bolognese, so perfect for fall, and a tasty crispy pork scallopine. Homemade bread served with olive oil and ground Grana Padano comes in regular or family size. Pick the latter.

A semifinalist for the 2017 James Beard Foundation’s “Best New Restaurant” in 2017, Saint Leo from owner Emily Blount is hands down one of the best dining experiences in town. The handsome, airy dining room is fragrant with wood-fired Italian cooking, including creative pizzas topped with the likes of bacon jam and Calabrian chili honey. Everything is good, the service is stellar, and the cocktail program earned a James Beard nomination of its own in 2019.

Saint Leo alum Joseph Stinchcomb, who earned that restaurant the Beard nod, partners with Ross Hester, co-owner of Good Day Cafe, for this sweet, pocket-sized cocktail bar adjacent to the Lyric Theater. Bar Muse is an intimate, grown-up experience serving curated cocktails and specials like the daily reserve bourbon or rye pour, limited to one delectable ounce per person. Prices won’t break the bank.

Tucked away in the alley adjacent to the Lyric Theater, Good Day Cafe is a lunch-only restaurant that surprises with a menu of sandwiches from a team formerly at Saint Leo. Much of the menu is locally sourced, like the beef in the Good Burger, which is delivered through the service window with house-made pickles, fried shallots, and a garlic mustard aioli. Chef Patrick Hudgin kills it, every time.

Fancy it’s not. But Quacks is a convivial sports bar with a menu of gussied-up hot dogs topped with everything from chili to sauerkraut and grilled peppers. The brainchild of yet another Ole Miss graduate, Luke McKey and business partner Joe Bittick, the upbeat pub draws a crowd for games and any time a dog is in order.

A beacon in the revival of Oxford’s town square renaissance, City Grocery has been feeding Oxonians some of the best regional food in the South for more than 30 years. The menu is inspired by chef John Currence’s experience with Creole-French and Cajun cuisine augmented by a staff schooled in true hospitality. Dining here feels like being entertained by a family friend who can really cook. The shrimp and cheese grits from Original Girl Grits is just one menu superstar.

Southern comfort on a plate, big portions, and crazy good fried catfish are a few of Ajax Diner’s calling cards. Come for a plate lunch, with country fried steak, meatloaf, and fried chicken pot pie just a few rib-sticking options. Lots of po’ boys and a fine burger too.

Housed in the old Leslie’s Drugstore and Downtown Grill building, this entry in the City Grocery Restaurant Group delivers a bustling setting, great service, and solid Creole-informed eats. Love Bouré’s chef salad wrap, jalapeno brisket sandwich, and a pristine grilled salmon dish, made special occasion worthy thanks to a honey caper dijon cream sauce. Head upstairs to the bar for great balcony views.

This new restaurant in the recently opened Oliver Hotel brings chef Joe Miller’s smart Mississippi-inspired hospitality and cuisine to the table. Kingswood delves into local foodways, sourcing locally for dishes like cob-shaped jalapeno cornbread, sauteed mushrooms, and a butter-tender filet with garlic mashed and bordelaise. When fully booked, acoustics are ear-splitting, so be prepared.

Single origin beans roasted in-house is Heartbreak Coffee’s calling card, and it has been for a decade. Founded by owner Gretchen Williams in Long Beach, California, then relocated to Oxford, home to her alma mater, Heartbreak is celebrating a decade in business. Her passion for the perfect light roast drives superlative cups of Joe.

The second location of Tallahatchie Gourmet proffers New Orleans-inspired cuisine just off the Square. New Orleans-born chef Angele Mueller drives a popular lunch menu, including homemade chicken salad, oyster and shrimp po’ boys, and daily veggie specials. Dinnertime, the likes of fried seafood and Pasta Bienville topped with shrimp, crawfish, and Creole sausage conjure the Big Easy to the plate.

New Orleans-born chef John Currence moved to Oxford in the 90s and hasn’t looked back. He opened City Grocery in 1992, following with Bouré, Big Bad Breakfast and Snackbar. He was named Best Chef South in 2009, with Snackbar chef Vishwesh Bhatt earning the James Beard honor in 2019. All of Currence’s restaurants are noteworthy, but Snackbar is something special. From perfect cocktails and raw oysters to chef Bhatt’s imaginative South Asian influenced Southern specials, no wonder snagging a reservation can be a feat.

Cafecitos Espresso, a bright yellow coffee truck parked at 1801 University since 2022, is a welcoming beacon of caffeinated energy. The friendly owners Pablo Corona and Chad Collier radiate good cheer, besides pouring some of the best coffee in town. The perfect jolt before wandering around town or campus.