(From The Dining Detectives)
- The reviews themselves read like case files, each one documenting an investigation into flavor, service, atmosphere, and overall experience. From white-linen dining rooms to hole-in-the-wall gems, no place is off limits.
Some people inherit family heirlooms. Others inherit stories. And every once in a while, someone inherits a way of seeing the world—one meal at a time.
“As a child, I can remember my grandparents going to dinner every Thursday night, and I would often get to tag along,” the anonymous voice behind The Dining Detectives shared. “They would talk about each restaurant in great detail—why it was good, the type of food, the service, the setting. Every detail. My grandparents were foodies before foodies were a thing.”
That sentiment feels especially familiar here in Mississippi, where food has always been more than what’s on the plate—and probably always will be. It’s a tradition. It’s a memory. It’s a conversation that lingers long after the table is cleared.
And while the Dining Detectives didn’t inherit the cooking gene—“Here’s the irony,” they laughed. “I could burn boiled water”—they absolutely inherited the appreciation. The curiosity. The joy of sitting down to a good meal and really paying attention.
Food Network stays on at their house—usually playing in the background, whether anyone’s actually watching it or not. Dining out is a favorite pastime with friends. And somewhere between dinners and debates about where to eat next, an idea began to form.
“I noticed there were food reviewers and critics out there talking about what’s good and what’s not,” they said. “But when I looked up other review pages, they were kind of… vanilla.” (Pun fully intended.)
So instead of creating just another predictable review page, they did something far more interesting. They created a character. A concept. A voice.
The Dining Detectives officially launched in late 2025 and is based—loosely and intentionally—out of Mississippi. That’s your only geographic clue. Everything else remains classified.
The reviews themselves read like case files, each one documenting an investigation into flavor, service, atmosphere, and overall experience. From white-linen dining rooms to hole-in-the-wall gems, no place is off limits.
“I thought it would be neat to write each review like a detective case,” they explained. “It’s a fun spin on the traditional restaurant critique.”
That playful approach has already taken followers from classic Mississippi favorites like Frankie’s in Natchez—where history, hospitality, and a perfectly executed meal all come together—to something as universally familiar as Krispy Kreme in Ridgeland, proving that even a simple donut can be worth investigating when done right.
And then there are the unexpected finds.
That’s part of the thrill—the sense that a great meal might be hiding anywhere, waiting to be discovered, whether it’s tucked inside a historic downtown building or behind a gas pump on a two-lane highway. The Dining Detectives don’t shy away from gas station food, either—and if you live in Mississippi, you already know why. From fried chicken to plate lunches and biscuits that rival any sit-down restaurant, gas station food here isn’t an afterthought. It’s a delicacy of its own. The kind of place locals quietly swear by and outsiders underestimate—until they don’t.
“Wherever my travels take me, the Dining Detectives will be there too,” they said.
The name came first, inspired by the owner’s career, which is not what you think. (No further clues will be provided.) The logo followed, then the structure of the reviews. Each post is thoughtful, observant, and intentionally anonymous.
No one knows who the Dining Detectives are. Not the restaurants. Not the followers. Not even the friends sitting across the table during the meal.
“The anonymity keeps the comments real,” they shared. “Plus, it’s fun!”
It also keeps the focus exactly where it should be—on the food, the experience, and the story each place tells. There’s no influencer pressure. No special treatment. Just honest dining, documented creatively.
For someone with a career in a completely different field, this project has become a way to “feed the foodie side” of their life. And that may be what resonates most. It doesn’t feel performative or rushed. It feels like someone who genuinely loves eating out, loves noticing details, and loves sharing that experience—with a wink and a magnifying glass.
If you enjoy great food, clever storytelling, and a little mystery with your meal, you can visit, like, and follow The Dining Detectives on Facebook for a fresh take on dining in Mississippi—and wherever else these elusive detectives find themselves next.
In a state where food culture runs deep and some of our best meals come from the most unexpected places, The Dining Detectives feel right at home.
The case is still open. Appetite strongly encouraged.
Meredith Biesinger
