The Rustler — Restaurant in Meridian

I was fortunate enough to have had a dining experience last night that was virtually flawless from start to finish. Everything was amazing and exceeded my already high expectations by leaps and bounds. I talk about food and post pictures of things that I eat frequently on social media, so my algorithms are inundated with cooking vids and restaurant suggestions, but @the_rustler_meridian stood out to me. Pictures of the chefs and servers presenting mouthwatering dishes on their Facebook page had me hooked. It looked almost too good to be real. I thought to myself that surely, they were just putting their best foot forward for the camera, and this couldn't be their standard. Listen... I was wrong. The meal started with freshly baked sour dough bread. Crusty on the outside and soft and chewey inside, served with butter. Next, we had the appetizers. I went with their famous blue crab claws. A low country delicacy that they serve both fried and sauteed. I had to get a half pound of each. The fried ones were perfectly fried golden brown with a delicious seasoned coating that was perfect and not overpowering or too bready.. The sauteed ones were also out of this world. Sitting in a cajun butter sauce that was good enough to eat with a spoon...(Or a piece of sourdough bread. Do this and thank me later). Next I had a house salad with house made ranch. Ranch is such a common salad dressing, but not everyone gets its right. Theirs was perfect. If they sold it in bottles, I would have bought one and put it on everything. Next we get to the main course. I ordered the 16 oz. ribeye. Now look, I try to stay away from making definitive statements like this in my restaurant reviews because they can come off as hyperbole, and not be taken as legitimately as intended, but this was certainly THE BEST STEAK I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! This was a prime grade steak, cooked perfectly medium (which is a task that is easier said than done for even the most notable steakhouses). It was so tender and juicy with a char grilled flavor that can't be described any way other than "purely classic". The edges were succulent and crispy. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It was paired with sliced sauteed mushrooms, which were also a perfect compliment to the the steak, and a loaded baked potato with a perfect butter, to sour cream, to cheese, to bacon ratio. I also added a dab of that house ranch in it because it really was that good. Last we had, which is one of my favorite deserts ever. Bread pudding! This one was in my top 3 of all time. I had mine topped with white chocolate and Caramel sauce. It was so decadent. If I had to name one misstep of this entire meal, it would have been here at the dessert. I can't really even call this a misstep, but I feel that a review isn't credible if everything is a "perfect 10" across the board. This also is subjective to personal preference, but the bread pudding was topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is in fact my favorite flavor of ice cream, but if I had known it came with ice cream, I would have requested it be put on the side. Again, that's more of a personal preference thing really. The service was just as elite a the food. My waitress was named Sims, and she was so nice and accommodating. I had called the restaurant earlier in the week to see if they required reservations, and she was the person I spoke with. She remembered soaking with me, and addressed me by name the entire time I was there. There was also another server named Gray who was assisting and he was also super nice and even boxed up all of my take home food. I left with full full belly and really enjoyed the entire dining experience. If you are anywhere near Meridian Mississippi, even if you're not near and you're one to travel great distances just to eat, such as myself, make sure you make your way to The Rustler. You WILL be impressed,...

Short Version: This place is phenomenal. The Rustler Steakhouse & Lounge in Meridian, Mississippi — wow. Absolutely extraordinary steaks, over-the-top salads, killer sides, and desserts that hit hard. The service? Unreal. Multiple people checked on me constantly just to make sure everything was perfect. You can tell they actually care. Five stars, no question.

⸻

Long Version: Alright, so here’s the deal — I had a quick overnight in Meridian while traveling, and I’m thinking, “Man, I need a good steakhouse.” I find this place called The Rustler and figure I’ll give it a shot.

Now listen — as I’m driving there, GPS is taking me through this industrial-looking area, and I’m thinking Google has officially betrayed me. Like, there’s no way a legit steakhouse is back here. I’m 1/10 of a mile out, can’t see a single sign of life, and then boom — there it is. Tiny parking lot, small sign, and a building that’s definitely got some miles on it. But you know what? That’s often where the best food is hiding.

I walk in with my service dog, and immediately — and I mean instantly — half a dozen staff members greet me. Big smiles, all welcoming, and they get me seated right away. Water shows up, then a drink order, then someone else comes by introducing himself as my server. Everyone’s moving, working, taking care of business. I honestly couldn’t tell who was doing what because everybody seemed focused on making my experience awesome. That’s rare.

Then there’s this woman named Sims — she’s flying around, helping everyone, making things happen. Total energy. I asked her what her job was, and she’s like, “I just help everyone do what they need to do.” Later I find out she’s also the general manager. Are you kidding me? That kind of hands-on leadership is incredible. No ego, just pure hustle. You can feel that energy ripple through the whole place — everyone there is smiling, moving fast, and actually enjoying what they’re doing. That’s a direct reflection of leadership.

We started talking a bit, and I learn some history — the place used to be a laundromat, then a biker bar, and eventually got turned into a steakhouse by the owner, who passed away recently. Turns out, that guy was Sims’ dad. She worked with him for eight years before losing him last year, and she’s carrying on his legacy like an absolute champ. You can feel it in the way she runs the place — there’s pride, tradition, and this crazy attention to detail that makes everything better.

The food? Unreal. The steak was cooked perfectly — I’m talking juicy, flavorful, that perfect crust on the outside, tender in the middle. The salad was so fresh it almost didn’t make sense, the sides were fantastic, and dessert was ridiculous. Everything about it just felt real — no gimmicks, just quality and heart.

Meridian’s about two and a half hours from where I live, but I’m planning to come back with my wife in a couple weeks just to eat there again. It’s that good.

If you’re anywhere near Meridian, don’t miss this place. The Rustler Steakhouse & Lounge — it’s old-school hospitality, amazing food, and genuine...

I’m a Rustler baby!!

The Rustler is a hidden gem in Meridian. Off the beaten path is an understatement…

We happened upon this place because it made a list of the Top Ten Steak houses in Mississippi! It earned that ranking.

Set in an industrial park setting on the outskirts of an older neighborhood, the Rustler is a shining beacon. Literally. The building and parking lot are lit.

The Lounge entrance is on the left and the dining room is in the right. You are greeted with a smile and seated swiftly. Nice table clothes, place settings and folded, embroidered napkins welcome you to sit in a leather, wheeled chair.

Usual apps and drinks you’d expect at a steak house. The onion rings are house-made and a favorite.

The seared tuna sort of missed the mark this night for me. The tuna appeared to be a pre-packed vacuumed sealed tuna steak and the sear did not leave the outside crusty and the interior was cold. The wontons were a bit tough and not as crispy as they should have been. I did not complain. The waitstaff noticed the cat like nibbles and that it was largely uneaten and removed it from the bill without any requests for such accommodation. Excellent service by Kat!

The salads were fresh greens, the most explosively delicious cherry tomatoes and great 1,000 island with real bacon pieces.

The steaks were excellent. Prime filet, cooked perfectly medium, seasoned perfectly, tender and delicious.

The baked potatoes were plump, fluffy and again excellent.

The last side, the Brussels sprouts were the star of the side items. Sautéed, seasoned and tender…these were better than they had any right to be.

Good wines and reasonably priced by the glass.

The dessert was a locally made turtle cheesecake. It was rich, decadent, chocolatey, caramelly with nuts. A few bites are enough.

Excellent service. Kat was very attentive, intuitive and friendly. We were checked on by several employees and made to feel welcome.

Overall excellent experience and will...