This is my 2nd review of Backwater Grill because...well, frankly...I think they deserve it. Here is the thing about Mississippi: You buy your days on credit. You get these magical 73º days in March and April (and maybe even May), fully understanding you are going to have to pay the piper come June, July, and August. But while you have them, you treasure them. The sun shines bright, but with warm welcome, not a glaring intensity. The cool breeze carries the scent of red maples, azaleas, dogwood, redbud, Yoshino Cherry trees, and, sweetest of them all, honeysuckle. The sky is a tropical blue, like you might see sitting on some tropical island with a name you struggle to pronounce. So why would you spend a Saturday afternoon like this inside, when you can sit outside, looking at the backwaters, and enjoying a delicious meal? This is my 4th trip to Backwater. Lunch, brunch, dinner, and now lunch again. So far, they never disappoint. It is early in the crawfish season, so my expectations are not high, but Backwater delivered just the same. Their weight scales are generous and their seasoning is excellent. The shrimp? Well, they are normally my 2nd choice behind crawfish, but these reds are big and succulent and juicy. Some of the best I have had. The beer selection is excellent and served icy cold, which is a good thing, because the potatoes and corn will burn your lips (if you aren't "from here", that is a good thing). But if you don't indulge, no worries...the sweet tea would make your Mama proud. And the ambience? Well, what can I say? Perfect. I can't believe it has taken this long for somebody to make use of the beautiful backwaters of the Reservoir. It is prime "Mississippi" and the owners are genius and clearly willing to put in a massive amount of work and effort to make eating at Backwater Grill a true Mississippi experience. If you are in the area, or even if you have to drive to get here, do yourself a favor: visit Backwater Grill. Next visit, I'm trying trying a burger for sure. read more

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We visited on a Saturday night with a large group and there was a wait as would be expected. We got drinks at the bar which took awhile - again, it's a busy Saturday night so not a problem. We waited outside and the setup is great - an open lawn and boardwalk overlooking the swamp. We enjoyed watching the wildlife and chatting. Once seated, we waited over 10 minutes for a server to stop by and finally went inside to ask for someone to help our table. A manager came out to take our drink orders. The kids' sodas came out quickly, but we waited and waited for bar drinks and two Shirley Temples. Food came quickly once ordered, and the aforementioned drinks didn't come out until after the food was served. The drinks and food themselves were quite good. If the service had hit the same level, it would have been a better experience. read more

Backwater Grill - Outdoor area - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

Service and view were good. High priced for bar food. Definitely loud. I'll go back but it's not my 1st choice

Someone needs to show them how to shuck oysters!! You're supposed to scrap the oyster loose. There was all kind of grit, dirt and shell in mine. Service was awful! read more

Food is decent, not great. When I went to pay I was told they don't take change. They round the bill up to the next dollar. This was after a 20 percent tip. Not fond of paying more than the bill read more

not a great not even a good experience. cannot recommend this as a stop. joined a group of family for dinner while they were passing through town. there were ten of us. we ordered two appetizers which were served at different times. while waiting for the second cheese dip the first entree was served. later, the second appetizer was served. entrees were then delivered. the chargrilled oysters looked the best of all items but no one seemed enthused with their selection. those closest to me seemed to have opinions similar to mine. ( not hot, lacking flavor, older tasting grease on fried items) service was AWFUL. server rarely checked on the table and seemed too rushed to really care if something was needed anyway. don't think i'll be back, well maybe on a sunny afternoon . i'll drink a bottled beer. read more

Backwater Grill - catfish basket - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

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Fantastic experience! Great service (thanks Ainsley!) and the best Gumbo I've had anywhere. Beautiful outdoor area with kids playing. We will be back! read more

The servers and staff were very attentive and supportive of our young kid even after we had a drink spill (oops!) I'd say the ambiance is the biggest seller of this establishment as the outdoor area is relaxing and rife with things to do for outdoor parties or sporting events. Not my scene, but they have a great set up. The food is good albeit pricey. My wrap was close to $16, had no sides, and the drink wasn't included either. The shrimp was cooked well and uniquely, the tortilla was also seasoned. All parts of it were good, but it needed some sort of sauce or something to balance out the saltiness. Overall, it was a Good experience, but not a place I'd visit frequently as it is definitely set up as a tourist-y/bar type place with the activities and the prices that go with it. Would be great for a get together or work event. read more

It's a great location with plenty of safe space for families with kids. Our server was great. I ordered the Landry catfish entree. The taste was awesome, but unfortunately, the entree just isn't complete. It's served on a few stalks of tough asparagus, but the biggest negative was that it's served with no bread. This entree would be outstanding with a single piece of the same bread you get on an appetizer plate. That's all this entree lacks and it's a 5 star review. read more

Ate there yesterday for our 3rd time. Ordered 2 glasses of draft beer at $6 ea and a glass of water that we were charged $1 for. I had chicken tenders that were maybe 2" long each (x3) and way overcooked. Prob tougher than my worse steak. Wife's dirty fries were like sliced deli meat. My chicken tender meal was missing the cole slaw and when I asked was told they were "complementary" and hope they still had some even tho it was included. Waitress returned with them. Guys, get your act together, treat customers respectfully and get rid of the $1 glass of water. Only positive was out waitress, she did great. Hate but this was prob our last trip. Danny read more

Despite all the negative reviews, my husband and I still wanted to give this place the benefit of the doubt. I really regret not taking a picture, because this food was definitely not worth the money.I actually had to return my meal, which was the half-and-half fried oysters and shrimp. The fries were rock hard, and the batter used for the oysters was horrible. My husband ordered the fried shrimp basket with a side piece of catfish. The fish was tiny--no bigger than the palm of my hand. The only satisfying part of the entire meal was the egg rolls. Sadly we will not be back! read more

We recently held a birthday party at Backwater Grill. We had never been there but my daughter picked it out as place she wanted to go with her friends. When I called to find out about reservations, the manager, Rhonda, was extremely helpful. While they don't take reservations, she knew we were coming and prepared an area outside for the party and it was perfect. Bonnie was our server and she was phenomenal. My food was delicious. I ate every bite! You can't beat the service and atmosphere! The outdoor seating areas are stunning. It was perfect! I highly recommend Backwater Grill! We will be back! read more

On the front side, we enjoyed the food and service. But realize, we are not the "party" types. If you are looking for a good place to hang out and have a libation, enjoy the company of friends, the outdoors, air conditioning, or food. This is a great place....or at least it will be when things slow down a bit. We arrived at 5 and found a short wait list. In all fairness, the tables were occupied by people our age or older. While the new will wear off, the combination built into this place is a winner. Chef Robbie is delivering the food with his unique flair. The onion rings most definitely had a unique flavor, but held a little more oil than I care for. Considering that they have only been up and running for a couple of weeks and were packed. This is easy enough to excuse. The bride ordered the Slugger, and I ordered the Jammer (both are burgers). The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked. The plates presented well. Isn't it nice when the burger doesn't look like it was assembled at McDonald's? By the way, the Jammer comes dressed with the perfect amount of bacon jam and a fried egg. I like decadence and bold flavors in my food. Substituting asparagus for the fries carried an upcharge that was well worth it. The parmesan cheese complemented the sauce and bite of the asparagus. I talked with Chef Reggie a couple of months ago, and he indicated he intended to add weekly fresh fish specials. If you get the chance, let the staff know you would also enjoy this addition! Lastly, ALL of the staff we encountered were....... let's just say southern. Kind, thoughtful, and attentive. As a final word, between the two indoor bars, the spacious outdoor bar, friendly faces, the taphouse wall for beer sampling, and live music on the weekend evenings this new offering in our little community is going to be around for the long haul. By the way, I believe you can rent canoes here for a day on the water. Good is not cheap and cheap is not good. Towards the other review of this place......if I have a problem or question about a bill I ask. I saw three managers passing through the sales floor the evening I was there. read more

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My birthday dinner at Backwater Grill was wonderful! Our group enjoyed delicious food--highly recommend the cheese fries appetizer. The atmosphere is like nothing else around here, so fun and family oriented with a pretty view. Our service was good, too. There's indoor and outdoor seating with TVs to watch sports. All around awesome experience, and we will definitely be back soon! read more

Backwater Grill - Blackened shrimp with fries. Great flavor and above average quality shrimp I'd say. - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

In my 64 years I've never seen such a thing. Our server was very personable and attentive. The food tasted good but I have reservations on if the fried oysters were imported or not. At Shuckers the oysters are always big and plump, these were very small overall. Here's the big issue, I ordered the oyster poorboy (17.95) Upon receiving our bill I was charged .75 cents for lettuce and .75 cents for tomato...on an oyster poorboy...what the heck "COACH" Has anyone ever been charged extra for lettuce and tomato on a hamburger or any other sandwich. The menu specifically states both lettuce and tomato are included. You've hit an all-time low with me. We've been looking forward to this establishment opening as it's right down the street from us, not anymore. read more

Backwater Grill - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

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Upon arrival was seated and drinks ordered. Then when drinks arrived place food order. 15 min later food arrived still hot and severed very professionally. I would highly recommend this restaurant. We plan to returned. Place was full of customers. Had people waiting for tables. Ambiance was fantastic. Had fire pit, several outside activities. Great place for kids birthday party's as well. read more

I have no idea why everyone doesn't love this restaurant! The food and service are top notch. The location is amazing - I would rate it 10/10 if I could! read more

All the food is good but the specials are always so good!!! The blackened redfish special was the best redfish i have ever had. They always post the weekend specials on instagram and facebook so make sure you keep and eye out! read more

Backwater Grill - Mahi-Mahi special!! - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

Ordered the Philly cheesesteak, about 3oz of meat on a loaf of bread, no bell peppers or tomatoes, loaded with onions, meat was overcooked and dry. The sandwhich had no taste at all might as well eating cardboard. read more

My wife and I went last Saturday night. Sat upstairs at the bar. The place was packed had great live music and everything looked good. Service from the staff was fine considering how busy they were. However after ordering raw oysters as an appetizer and waiting an hour and a half to learn that they were given to another table we left. I realize this is a new restaurant, but if you can't get the right food to the right customer it is an issue. Listening to the staff when they realized the issue i heard them say there is an issue with the food coming out of the kitchen and getting to the right tables. Maybe they will have this figured out if we ever go back. read more

We were excited to try this restaurant. We got there with our 3 children and got on the wait list. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait, which we did not mind. After 45 minutes and seeing 5 other families (one family of 8) seated before us, we asked the hostess. She said that she was waiting for a table to clear because we are a family of 5, it's an odd number and she could pull up a chair at the end of another table. As we were discussing whether we would stay or not, we got the text notification that we were removed from the list. Needless to say, we left. I will tell anyone and everyone who will listen about this experience simply because of how it was handled. read more

This place I'd wonderful. Not underwhelming at all!! Boiled shrimp and seafood gumbo is amazing. And our server was incredible. Well come back next time we're in town visiting my daughter. read more

Let's start at the entrance, there was a couple with child before me and the restaurant wslas maybe 50% occupied, the band was loading g their equipment, a staff member walked past us to ask the band member if he needed help loading g his equipment, he declined so we walked passed us again ignoring our existence, finally we were asked if we have been helped, I order the dozen oysters and attempted to order the open roast beef sandwich and was told that that sandwich had zero flavor but recommended the cheese steak instead, I got the oysters first (which was the entre) I had to locate and get the utensils myself, also had to serve all three sweet tea refills myself from next to the host station while my bartender stood helplessly behind the bar. There is tons of potential for this establishment and the comments are screaming for improvements but as I sat reading the reviews it clear that they aren't interested in improvements simply because management is copying and pasting all replies to every low review! read more

Great atmosphere and close to home. Been here a few times but this was the first time I ordered the shrimp po-boy. If you're hungry you probably should skip the po-boy because it came with 7 shrimp on it. I've had more shrimp on a po-boy from a gas station. Need to do better when you charge $17. We will go back for the ambiance and the cold beer but probably not going to eat. read more

Backwater Grill - Shrimp po-boy - Seafood Near Me - Brandon, Mississippi

RUN!!!! I am still in shock by the way my family was just treated and I have ordered/eaten at thousands of places in my 52 years. We put in a large delivery order on THEIR website, not on DoorDash. The owner called back and asked if we put our order in on DoorDash and said that they have Never had an account with them. When I explained... no .. he then said that he did not understand why there were there. Red flag #1 .. shouldn't you know your business and how you offer it to be delivered and not me?? Door Dash was even confused as to why the people would not know there own business or act so rude. The owner, Robbie, was the most ignorant and unprofessional person I have ever dealt with. They ARE NOT friendly towards allergies (although they advertise they are) and they blatantly discriminate. We are appalled by the way we were spoken to and feel this establishment is very unsafe. read more

Went on a Saturday night and only waited 15 minutes. Loved the outside area where you see the water. Food was really good and portions were generous. Had the Shrimp PoBoy. Loaded with shrimp and very filling. Will definitely be back. read more

Super cute spot with an outdoor area that is great for kids. Food and service were both excellent every time I've gone.

Amazing service. Staff were friendly and very attentive. Food was great. The restaurant was nice and the bar upstairs was cool. Great experience. read more

Great atmosphere and drinks. Food is great as well

Drove from Madison on Sunday. Arrived at 5:30. Tried to order 3 appetizers. They didn't have any of them. We settled for chips and queso. Tried to order our entrees but they didn't have what we wanted. Waitress rattled off everything they were out of. A lot! So We reluctantly ordered 2 cheese burgers, a flatbread pizza, and 2 chicken strip plates. After waiting 20 minutes we were told they were out of chicken. One child opted out of eating and the other got catfish. Flat bread was good, catfish was basic and burgers had a good flavor. But the teaspoon of cheese on our cheeseburger was laughable. We were given 2 pickles for each burgers. I asked for extra and was given 4...3 being a tiny end piece. We spent $150 and left disappointed. We could have stayed in our area of town and eaten those exact average dishes for half the price. Staff seemed friendly and were accommodating. That was a breath of fresh air. read more

service, asked for outside seating and was told they would txt when ready. got the txt then got seated at the first table you walk in to. asked ab the outside seating that we asked for waited 10 minutes left. food is probably good because it smelt and looked good. read more