Cafe 7 - Bea's Steakhouse reincarnated

There's both good news and bad news, for Yazoo City residents in search of a worthwhile dining experience. 

The bad news is, The Steakhouse closed its doors for good last summer. I had the privilege of dining there one last time, the night before they closed. A legendary eating establishment, rich with history, an iconic hands-on owner, rustic atmosphere, and a juke box, was gone. Add the fact that Yazoo City is starved (pardon the pun) for quality restaurants, and we have a genuine culinary tragedy. 



The good news is, on April 20th of this year, several of the employees including long time cooks from the Steakhouse, opened Cafe 7. While you may miss the fireplace, jukebox, televisions and of course, Miss Bea, there have been some improvements. 


Although the sidewalks of the strip center in which Cafe 7 is located seem to serve as an outdoor trash can for most of its merchants, Cafe 7's store front is clearly the most well attended. There's even a bistro table and chairs and ashcan for smokers. 


The aesthetically challenged exterior was forgotten soon as I entered the building. I instantly recognized the mouth watering aroma. It was as if I had stepped back in time, and back into the legendary Steak House. It smells exactly like the same. I knew at once, I'd be tempted to order a steak. 

Yes, that's my mom about to enter.

I found the inside of the restaurant to be clean by anyone's standards. The restrooms were also clean, and I found them to be trendy and roomy. The decor is simple, modern, and appropriate for such a small space. There are 7 tables, but Cafe 7 gets its name from the fact that they're open 7 days a week. 

What some may call a "hole in the wall", I call an Epicurean adventure, the kind of spot that John Grisham often depicts in his novels. How many times does he reference unique  Mississippi Delta restaurants in which you can byob, and the main attractions are fried pickles, catfish and steak? This is exactly what defines Cafe 7. You could possibly be seated next to a farmer, your neighbor, or a former Governor. 


Last night, I had my first Cafe 7 experience. I went with 2 family members who have been regulars since the opening in April. No trip to a Mississippi Delta restaurant is complete without fried pickles. We also ordered onion rings. My party remarked that these appetizers were exactly like The Steakhouse used to make, but I believe they're slightly less greasy. The golden brown color on both the pickles and the onion rings point to their being cooked in fresh oil. The ranch dressing, which was served with the pickles, was obviously home made. I could have eaten it like soup, or turned up the bowl. 

Our salads arrived at a perfectly timed interval. There's nothing worse than having salads dumped on your table just after your appetizers arrive. The salad at Cafe 7 is one of the biggest improvements over The Steakhouse. It's comprised of spring greens, and several kinds of lettuce. The dressings, (like the ones at the Steakhouse), are all homemade. I always appreciate a thinner blue cheese dressing, as opposed to the gloppy variety that sits in one spot. I'd even venture to say that if they packaged and sold their blue cheese dressing, they'd have another success. 

I'm not a big fan of steak, but on my yearly visit to Yazoo City, I always had a filet at The Steakhouse. I decided to put Cafe 7 to the ultimate test, and ordered a medium filet with a side of sauteed mushrooms. All entrees come with a salad, roll and a choice of side. The size of the filet was not specified on the menu, but mine had to have been at least 8 ounces. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I ate all but about 2 bites. I usually order a 4 ounce filet and never finish it. 


My dining companions both ordered the grilled catfish. Not only was the presentation beautiful, it was cooked to perfection. The fish was crispy on the outside, and moist and juicy on the inside. If you're a fan of fried catfish but want to cut back on your fried food intake, you will not be disappointed with this dish. All of the food, from the steak to the rolls, was piping hot. I can't remember the last time I visited a restaurant where there was such consistency of temperature. 


We brought our own wine, which the staff will gladly open and pour for you. A wine stand/cooler and glasses are also available upon request. There is a selection of beer, but the menu simply says to ask your server for details and make sure you have your id when ordering. 


Reservations are also available, and I'm told that it can get crowded on weekends. They seem to do a lot of take out business, so that's another option. 


The menu is straightforward and approachable. I also found the prices to be lower than those of The Steakhouse. I hope anyone who has not ventured through their doors for fear of high prices will give Cafe 7 a chance. As for this diner who only visits Yazoo City once a year, I have a new tradition and "must do" destination. 

Cafe 7 is located at 1527 North Jerry Clower Blvd., Yazoo City. 
Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express are accepted. Reservations are available. For more details call 662-746-8666.