A lot of restaurants rely solely on word-of-mouth advertising, but none take it quite as seriously as The Downstairs Bar in Oxford, which is otherwise known as "the secret grilled cheese place." In fact, the owner actually strives to keep the restaurant’s reputation under wraps by doing things like omitting exterior signage and forbidding patrons to take photos. The hidden eatery might just be Mississippi’s best kept secret. Take a look:
Sometimes, the best sites are hidden right under our noses, and that’s exactly the case with The Downstairs Bar (DSB), which is located in Oxford’s famous town square.
To access DSB, head through a plain black door tucked away down Faulkner’s Alley, which is right next to the Old Venice Pizza Company.
Aptly dubbed "the secret grilled cheese place," the bar specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches. But these aren't your average grilled sandwiches.
The gourmet creations feature a variety of cheeses as well as toppings that range from conventional to not-so-conventional. The Magnificent, for example, includes smoked gouda, provolone, a fried egg, avocado, and honey sriracha sauce.
There are a few things you need to know before attempting to visit the DSB. First of all, it’s a bar, so you’ve got to be at least 21. Secondly, there’s a strict dress code that bans t-shirts for men and women.
More specifically, men must wear collared or button-down shirts.
DSB is only open Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. – midnight and allows just 25 people in at a time, so a wait is very likely (but well worth it). Once inside, remember to keep your camera put away because photos are strictly forbidden.
If caught taking a photo, the staff will ask you to delete it and, depending on the circumstances, might even ask you to leave.
So, ever been to the secret grilled cheese place? Did you even know it existed? Tell us in the comments section.
Mississippi is full of hidden sites and secret places. Read about another here.
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