Restaurant Tyler

Restaurant Tyler is a restaurant in Starkville, MS, located at 100 E Main St. The establishment has served the downtown area since 2008, offering fine Southern cuisine across lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch menus. Led by Chef Jonathan "Ty" Thames, the restaurant focuses on dishes that highlight Mississippi ingredients, such as buttermilk fried chicken, Delta catfish, and chicken meatloaf wrapped in house-smoked bacon. The dining room features exposed brick walls and historic hexagon-tiled floors. The wine list has received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and the menu includes signature cocktails alongside standard beverages. The kitchen is staffed by Chef de Cuisine John Fitzgerald and General Manager Will Sanders. Hours vary by day, with Sunday brunch running from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and dinner service extending until 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Chef Ty Thames is a Mississippi native who began working in the hospitality industry at age fifteen in Jackson and Vicksburg. He earned an undergraduate degree in Hospitality Management and later graduated with distinction from the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. His culinary training included an apprenticeship under Chef Leonardo at Villa Maria Luigia in Parma, Italy. Upon returning to the United States, he worked at The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and later at the regional Italian fine dining restaurant Centro in Bethesda, Maryland. He was recognized by publications including The Washington Post and Washingtonian magazine. In 2005, he returned to Starkville to open his own restaurant, bringing his experience from the East Coast and Italy back to the state. He emphasizes the use of natural ingredients and accountability regarding chemicals and hormones in food.

The restaurant is situated on E Main St, directly adjacent to the Oktibbeha County Courthouse, which is less than a hundred feet away. The Civil War Memorial and Unity Park are also within a short walking distance, as are the Oktibbeha County government office and Starkville City Hall. The Courthouse Annex is located just over a hundred meters from the restaurant.

Restaurant Tyler holds a rating of 4.40. It stands as a long-standing dining option in Starkville, combining a specific culinary background with a central location near the county's primary civic landmarks.