Parlor Market’s Burger Night in Jackson, Mississippi

Last week, as part of the Southeast Louisiana Gumbo Express Tour on Amtrak, we stopped for the night in Jackson, Mississippi. After checking into the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Jackson, located across the street from the train station, a few of us set out in search of something to eat on a Monday night.

Before leaving the hotel, we had pre-dinner drinks in the King Edward Bar at the hotel and I reached out via Twitter to a friend of mine who knows all about the cuisine in Jackson, MS. EatJackson.com (@EatJxn) sent me a few restaurant choices within walking distance of our hotel. One that stood out to me was Parlor Market, a somewhat new establishment in downtown Jackson. Our group set out and walked the two short, deserted blocks. When we arrived at Parlor Market, a restaurant normally closed on Monday nights, we found the line all the way down the sidewalk and a large crowd gathered in the parking lot adjacent to the building.

Parlor Market was hosting a pop up themed night – PM Burger. The restaurant only used social media and posters to get the word out that there was a special burger night at the venue. The employees had donned special custom tees for the night, along with the old school burger joint decor. Even the menus for the night were themed. Most of our group didn’t want to wait in line, so they set out to find another place to eat, but Renee Areng from VisitBatonRouge.com and myself knew that if the line was that long, that good things come to those who wait. We didn’t have to wait too long before Craig Noone, the head chef and manager seated us next to a few regulars.

The menu itself looked fun and offered a variety of burgers. Craig mentioned to me that his kitchen had already served 700 gourmet burgers that night and there were still a few hours left to serve. Renee chose the Boykin Burger, which was a boudin burger on a bun dressed with mustard and bread and butter pickles. Parlor Market makes their own boudin and condiments, making this a place foodies will love.

I chose the AM Burger, if anything than for the novelty of eating a breakfast burger. The AM Burger was a beef patty dressed with a fried duck egg, bacon, and syrup, served on freshly made waffles. Renee and I split the burgers to get a taste of each and they were both amazing beyond description.

We both opted for the Truffled Parmesan fries as our sides. Our total bill for two burgers, two fries, and two waters ran right at $40. There is an extensive cocktail menu and because it was PM Burger night, there were gourmet shakes and even a few adult shakes to be found. If you’re rich and into crazy food, there’s even an Elite Burger on the menu for $1000. It’s served on an antique silver platter (yours to keep) with caviar, Champagne, and topped with edible gold leaf along with some pretty amazing ingredients.

The Parlor Market pop up burger night was a serendipitous moment and a delightful culinary surprise that fell in my lap, making my visit to Jackson, Mississippi fun and exciting. If burger night is any indication of the quality cuisine available, I can’t wait to visit again for the regular dining experience at Parlor Market.