Very busy with only one server but once our order was taken the food tasted excellent! I got the Greek chicken salad with parmesan dressing and it tasted so good! Loved listening to the jazz band even if a little loud to have a conversation. read more

Hal & Mal's - Jackson Jazz Band! - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

The tamale nachos are excellent and ambiance is wonderful. They have real New Orleans French bread for their po-boys.

I ordered a $36 filet medium. It came very rare and it was fatty and greasy. Ate one bite. The waitress never asked me about the food nor noticed I didn't eat it. I couldn't get her to slow down to ask for a return. ETA: owner reached out and was very gracious. She has rectified the issue to the best of her ability. I've edited my stars from 2 to 3 with acknowledgment that everyone has a bad night. read more

First time dining and what a nice surprise! Excellent food & live music. Jason was our server & he was very knowledgeable & professional. We will certainly be back! What a find! read more

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Eclectic style vibes located in an old train station building, the concept is cool but the restaurant could use some tlc. It was early afternoon and they were not very busy. The service was a little slow and it took almost twenty five minutes for my muffuletta sandwich. I was impressed with the menu and the fact you could order a quarter sandwich was I'm am not a big eater. The sandwich was very good, nice amount of meat and dressing on bread made at a local bakery. read more

Service was great! Best burger I've ever had at a restaurant. It was packed with locals in a Tuesday lunch which was a great sign! read more

We were passing through Jackson and took a tour of the Capitol. The tour guide recommended this place for lunch. It was busy but we were able to get a table. The servers were hustling so the bartender waited on us. She was personable and answered our questions about the menu. I ordered a po boy and my wife had the catfish special of the day. While we waited, they had a guitar player for live entertainment. He was good and not too loud. The place is in an old building that is well decorated inside, even in the restrooms. We didn't have to wait too long for our food. The po boy was very good and the bun was very fresh. My wife liked the catfish and said the hush puppies were better than we have gotten recently. The service was very attentive, the food was great and the atmosphere casual. They are worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

Tried Hal and Mals for lunch. My wife's tuna stuffed avacado was very good. My oyster Poboy was also very good. I would have given 5 stars, but the house made chips were lacking flavor due to no seasoning at all. I am looking forward to our next visit. read more

Saw Durry here and it was awesome. We felt safe and welcomed by everyone that works here. Great selection of draft beer and their whiskey collection looks great as well. Lots of memorabilia on the wall read more

the best restaurant in downtown jxn!! the service is incredible, food is mouth watering!! a true gem hershey (our server) is read more

Family owned and operated for many years. This is a true Jackson staple. Great gastro pub food all with a Southern flair. Great onion rings that defy description. Add their locally famous "come back" sauce and a pint of their many brewed ales and you will be at heaven's gate! read more

Hal and Mal's is a Jackson FAVORITE by far. The happy hour (4-6:30) is solid, the food is AMAZING (try the tamale nachos!) and the staff is always so friendly. They have revolving lunch blue plates that are affordable, and you guessed it, also delicious. read more

Arrived on Friday night around 6:00pm and were the only people there which made us a little worried. A couple of people arrived while we were there and a guy started playing guitar. Service was very good and the food was good. We had the Gumbo, Seafood Bisque (only available on Friday's), Catfish Po'Boy and Oyster Spinach Salad with Poppyseed dressing (on side). They had good beer specials. We liked it. read more

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I swear I think they have live music 7 days a week. Jackson Classic that lives up to it's rep. Try the special... and the brunch... and the happy hour... read more

If you like food that tastes like nothing, this is the place for you. I can't describe how disappointed I was with the food at this place. It seems it has a positive reputation but I don't really get it. Maybe it's more effective as a bar. We had the catfish po boy and seafood platter (fried shrimp, catfish, oysters) nothing had any flavor, there were no sauces to add to the food beside the ketchup and hot sauce on the table. I wasn't sure if the shrimp was spoiled or undercooked, but the middle had an unsavory taste. Even the drinks tasted off (diet coke). If i had a single chance at using a time machine, I'd use it to stop myself from going to eat here. read more

On a recent trip to Mississippi this was really a fun place to visit. The band was great. The food and beer also fine. The night we were there with Jazz tonight and several local musicians got up and contributed outstanding performances. There's a larger back room for more commercial/touring acts. It looked like a great space and next time I'm passing through you I'll try to make a point of stopping there. read more

Was passing through Jackson Mississippi and checked on yelp for local restaurants and came up with Hal and Mal's. The atmosphere was excellent. The food was amazing. Entertainment was superb. Would highly recommend this to anyone. read more

Seems like they have live music most nights. The prices are decent. There's ample parking. Nice, comfy, well-worn atmosphere. Not much of a rye whiskey selection, unfortunately! :-) Might have to bring my own next time! read more

This place appeared on my radar instantly after I heard it had been featured on Man vs Food. Plus it had "brewery" in the title so that also got my attention. This looks more like a country bar after walking in through the narrow vestibule leading into the bar area. I was expecting more of a restauranty kind of place. But no matter, I'm above 21, don't judge me. We walked in around 6pm and it was just empty. It was odd. The menu was great, large beer selection, and it had been featured on one of the few food shows I pay attention to, sometimes. The waiter was very friendly and instantly over to take our drink order. Abita? Of course. They get lots of extra points for having beer from one of the best breweries in the country ready and waiting for me to drink. They ended up doing even better than that, since it was mostly foam on account of ... some explanation I was not listening to since I was tapping out a work e-mail on my iPhone ... my first round ended up being on the house. Awesome service like that. Fried pickles: 9.8/10. Not just one or two, but three dipping sauces. And a HUGE mess of fried pickles. Hot damn. Catfish po boy: 9.9/10. I love catfish but I hardly ever get it since it rarely lives up to my best catfish experience at Aunt Jenny's in Ocean Springs, MS driving home from a shuttle launch at the Cape. Hal & Mal have nearly rivaled that orgasmic catfish experience. The bread was soft and delicious on the po boy. The catfish portion of the po boy was huge, no competitor would ever give a portion that large on a sandwich at that price. It was awesome. There was so much food. And I got fries. This was a lot of food for not very much money. I am pretty stingy with my five stars but they earned it all around. FRIED FOOD COMA! read more

I can safely say I had the most over priced, depressing nachos in my life at Hal and Mal's. I know it's "bar food", but the restaurant boasts on their food, and because of that I'd like to think they'd put a little more love into their food. The nachos were greasy, but not in the good way that nachos should be. They were clearly run through a microwave then left out for a good ten minutes. There were no beans, and the salsa was scarce. I was devastated. How could someone desecrate such a sacred bar food such as nachos. The only reason I'm leaving at two star review and not a 1 is because the cheese fritters made up for the horrendous chips on a plate with lukewarm cheese. Also, the drinks were particularly pitiful. I'm not sure if it was the bartender or what, but they were nasty. There was even something green (like rotten lettuce or something) frozen in my ice. I've been to Hal and Mals many times before, and their drinks and food have been great many times before, but I'm not sure what happened. I hope they pick it up. I'm sorry to the waiter who saw me writing this review. It was awkward for the both of us. read more

Hal & Mal's - The infamous "nachos". I ate probably 3 or 4 chips and stopped. This was taken shortly after they came out. - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

I guess I need to take my Yelp average rating down ;) This place was not my choice - although I was satisfied when it was suggested and I saw the reviews on Yelp. It is best described as a "local hole in the wall". The location is bad / hard to get to. The decor is nothing fancy. The service was miserable (in our server's defense, he Did apologize when he took our order that he was feeling a bit under-the-weather -sniff-). The food was "meh, I've experienced better. If I ever come back again, I want to try Pimento cheese grilled sandwich. I had red beans, rice and sausage and it was ok, but "meh. I've experienced better". For something that says "Award winning" on the menu, I was left feeling like "were there any other entrees?!?" "what was the award for - mediocrity?!?" "OMG, did the server sneeze on this meal?!?" In any case, I feel this place might be a good watering hole. The bar looked Just shady enough to be fun, yet decent. I am not sure what is going on in the men's restoom - sorry Ladies - but there is some kind of Elvis motorcycle thing going on with one of the toilets that was bit more scary than the meal! read more

Hal & Mal's - Red beans and rice - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

Hal and Mals is a great spot for comfort food...and some good concerts at night! They have a very good menu of dishes like beans and rice, po-boys, burgers, and a good lunch daily special. They also have a daily soup made from scratch. Yum! They make really good comfort food and have good service. A good meal for the price in downtown Jackson! They have a full bar, and this place really can pack up for lunch. At night, they have been known to host some cool concerts such as Snoop Dog and Coheed and Cambria. It can be a bar/concert crowd at night, for sure! This is a downtown institution...with a business lunch crowd and a night time bar crowd/concert crowd. Try 'em out! read more

Hal & Mal's - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

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I'd heard of Hal & Mal's during visits to Jackson, but hadn't had the opportunity to try it, until this week. After a late night visit for live music & $1 PBR on the patio, I went back for lunch the following day. This place isn't what you'd expect from a large historic brick warehouse on the outskirts of downtown. Not only do they know how to have late-night fun, but they also know how to cook some great New Orleans classics, including poor boys, red beans & rice, jambalaya & gumbo, as well as traditional southern favorites like meatloaf with tomato gravy . The family recipes have been handed down for generations, and they won't disappoint. You'll love the friendly southern hospitality, as well! read more

Hal & Mal's - Take a step back in time... - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

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We were seated by Hershey, who also turned out to be our server. She was not very nice until the male in our party arrived. Not sure if she was disappointed because she had two women in her section thinking we are not good tippers or what. Anyway, once she nicened up she was okay. I noticed the lady up front was unwelcoming and the bartender was on her cellphone. On to the food: 1-the crawfish poboy was greasy. 2-the fries were soggy and greasy. 3-the shrimp salad was good. 4-the burger was good. read more

This is one of my go to spots in Jackson for music - Blue Monday is always a good time. Usually, I'll have a beer or a cocktail while enjoying the show. They have a full bar with a decent selection of craft beers. Yesterday, I sat at the bar and ordered food. Tried the pimento cheese sandwich with fries, and a cup of the white bean soup. All of the food was tasty - my fave was the white bean soup. Price was reasonable and John at the bar gave good service. Parked near the front door. read more

Hal & Mal's - Hal & Mals - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

Still one of the best spots for LIVE music in the city. I could write paragraphs on my experiences here through the years. It is a true place to make memories and to gather to reminisce with good friends. Hal and Mal's will always be supported by me because they always support the city and community of Jackson. There commitment can be demonstrated by the countless festivals, parades, gatherings, fundraisers, and donations they have provided the city of Jackson. (Oh, they have food and drinks that are pretty great as well). read more

Hal & Mal's - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

Good service & atmosphere. Food was good, but not worth going out of our way for. We shared the thin onion rings then had the hamburger steak with fries and a muffaletta with a baked potato. We got the bread pudding to go. It was a little dry. Not worth it. Looked like a great place to have a few drinks with friends. read more

We were on a road trip passing through Jackson, MS. We were looking for a place to have dinner not too far off the highway. As we pulled up, the outside was pretty industrial, but had a nice looking painted store front. Open the door and you can walk right up to the bar or take a seat at a table. We chose the latter. The inside is plays plenty of tribute to classic music with a heavy dose of Elvis. We stopped for dinner around 830. It was a Thursday night, and the place wasn't very crowded, but this meant service was pretty quick. I had the hamburger steak for dinner with the curry cabbage and pork soup and fries. The steak was a little bit overdone, but tolerable with the gravy and onions on top. It was also served on a bed of wheat toast (wheat breads were in all of our meals actually). The soup was interesting. It was certainly a chunky soup with the cabbage, corn, and pork sausage. Though the sausage was scant and cardboard thin. The flavor was definitely reminiscent of yellow curry and went very well with crackers. Ultimately, curry and pork is a brave combination and I think they pulled it off. By the end of the meal, I was pretty well satisfied, and I was pretty glad we stopped into Hal and Mal's. read more

I visited Jackson, MS and decided to check out this quaint little joint for lunch. It was superb from the service of the waitstaff to the quality of the food. I had the tamales and a bowl of gumbo. I've had over 200 different gumbos in my life and it ranks at the top, but the chocolate pie is the best I've ever had. DELICIOUS! I was in Jackson for multiple days, so i tried other places as well, but nothing compared. My last night in Jackson, i went to the mayflower. After being rudely treated by the staff, I left there and went back to Hal and Mals and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had the catfish poboy and the gumbo with a few patron margaritas. It was great. There was a band playing and they were great too. I don't remember the name of the long hair blonde guy waiter, but he was top notch and very friendly. I will definitely come back if I'm ever in Jackson. Btw, I had the chocolate pie again for dinner. ;). So good! read more

Hal & Mal's is definitely a downtown Jackson staple. If you're looking to catch some live music or a concert, this is one of the best places in town to look. They've got multiple rooms within their giant space so sometimes they've got several different events going on at once! They maintain an impressive lineup of guests. Everyone from Big KRIT to Neutral Milk Hotel has performed at Hal & Mal's. They also host a lot of smaller, acoustic sets from local artists as well as a really fun weekly jazz night. The food is great. It's definitely southern, and slightly cajun, so you can expect some great catfish, a po-boy, some shrimp and grits and more. Their beer selection is just okay but the prices are super reasonable. The staff is really friendly and I've never had a bad time with them. The layout of the restaurant is spacious and there's lots of comfy booth seating available, which I love. Overall, I'd say this is a place I come back to again and again whether it's for the food or the music, I always have a great time! read more

So for those of you who go to the bar, expecting 5-star cuisine.....hmmm. OK, OK, I've had better catfish, and had to pay a lot more trouble for it too. And to Jennifer and Kristin, all due respect as you live in Jackson, but I didn't see better among your reviews. What else am I missing?? I know, Fenians Irish Pub and Two Sisters.... And I suspect you've missed the sunglasses above the bar just like I did last year. Well, have Mal draw another Jackson Stout and then she'll tell you those larger than life-sized shades that came off the Pasadena, CA Rose Parade float from Mississippi a few years ago when they celebrated Elvis. Elvis hasn't left that building, neither has the great catfish, brews, attitudes, and in case you missed it, great line up of live music for the Spring and Summer. Get back in here if you can... read more

The food was alright... Its your standard bar-fare food. The Chicken Fried Steak sandwich was pretty good, though. Their home brewed beers are really good, though. I highly recommend the Amberjaque ale. Drinks very smoothe with a light finish. The Blue Heron wheat beer was pretty good, too. Don't be afraid of the look of the joint. It really looks like a dive on the inside. But it's truley worth your money to visit. That, and their aren't a whole lot of places you can get a drink and a meal in downtown Jackson. read more

This joint is mainly a bar and I've seen some good music here. I've also been to some fun festivals that were based here and I even did a cycling race based out of here once back in the day. This is probably one of the best places to see music in a bar atmosphere in Jackson so you can have a decently good time here. read more

Hal and Mals is a Jackson institution so it feels a bit mean to give just three stars. At the end of the day, they are a perfectly acceptable bar, restaurant and venue. They also typically have their hands in some of the best events around town, notably, the St Paddy's Day Parade which they have turned into one of the largest events in the South. The bar is fine, nothing fancy. That description should nail it for you. They've got a bunch of reasonably priced beers on tap and some in the coolers behind the bar. They can fix up mixed drinks with a wide range of house or premium liquors. The atmosphere is also fine, nothing fancy. It is an old warehouse so it is fairly spacious and plain. The food is good. Again, it is fine, nothing fancy. They are a fine place that has perfectly acceptable prices. They do get some good acts coming through and they have good events outside sometimes too. It is perfectly acceptable and everyone in Jackson needs to drift through every once in a while just to keep in touch. read more

I ordered the catfish po-boy with fries for a to-go lunch. I've been twice before, and both times the food was so-so. Today was no different. Despite having a nice crunch on the ends, the catfish batter was lacking in seasoning, and the tartar sauce did little to enhance the flavor. For $13.56, I expected more. If going by food alone, my rating would be lower, but it is a great place to get a drink and hear live music, not to mention the White brothers have done so much to promote Jackson. Go for a drink, but don't expect to be thrilled by the food. read more

Hal & Mal's - Catfish po-boy. Kind of bland. - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

Food was ok, but really greasy. I was craving a fried seafood poor boy... The breading on the oysters and shrimp was heavy. I mistakenly glanced at kitchen... Very dirty. Seems popular with locals... Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. A friend liked the tamales. read more

Hal & Mal's - Onion rings. 7/10. Heavy and a little too greasy - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi

Can't go wrong with an old spot with good food, beer and peeps! Decided to try it out and so glad we did! Had a tasty fried chicken salad and of course the tamales were to die for!!!! Good beer too, but more importantly you should always choose to sit at the bar (no matter where ya go) because that's where the characters are. Hal & Mal's has no shortage of characters! Perfect spot for a good time! read more

This food sucks, good for drinks though. Would def not eat here but then again, I didn't try the black bean soup. All I know is their burgers and appetizer foods are not so appetizing. We love coming here to hang out though at night. read more

This place is more of a bar than anything, but they offer lunch for the downtown business men as well as bar food at night. Best black bean soup in town I think! read more

At first was disappointed because the menu was limited, I believe it was because of the show that was scheduled but, after having the highly recommended catfish po-boy, I'm glad I didn't have a chance to order something else. Best fried catfish I've ever had. Every part was fantastic, from the crusty but tender bread, the crisp lettuce and fresh tomato to the best tarter sauce ever (capers in tarter sauce, really great idea). The house cut onion rings and fries were delicious as well and made even better after dipping in their tasty comeback sauce. Would definitely recommend and will most certainly come back when and if I make it back to Jackson. read more

Hal & Mal's - 'Nawlins style back patio. - Bars Near Me - Jackson, Mississippi