The Mayflower Cafe has been opened since 1935, so you know they are doing something right. Located downtown on the corner of Roach and Capital, the Mayflower is near the Governor's Mansion and the Millsaps Buie House B&B, so it's easy to find. Just look for the neon sign.
We parked our car on the street out front where a security guard kept watch one evening in June.
The atmosphere is what one would expect from a cafe. There are dark brown booths with hooks for hanging coats on either side of the restaurant. Tables for bigger parties are in the narrow middle on the black and white tiled floor. The silver bar gave the place a fifties feel as it looked to me like the perfect place to order a soda. For adults, beer is available at the Mayflower, but you can bring your own bottle of wine (as in all of Jackson, a small cork fee will be assessed). A large swordfish hangs on the wall with various other trophies from the sea. A chalkboard shows the daily specials.
I began my meal with a small bowl of crab bisque. There wasn't a lot of lump crabmeat in the soup, but it was so smooth and creamy with just the right hint of heat that I didn't care a bit. Other offerings on the menu included softshell crab, flounder, red snapper, jumbo Gulf shrimp (my entree, delicious!), broiled lemonfish, calf's liver, steak, and more. Served on simple dishware, dinner proved delicious. The snapper my husband ordered was well cooked, flaky but firm, not greasy but perfect. My son amused himself by coloring his children's menu, making sure he saved room for dessert.
We liked the big band jazz music playing in the background, so soft it was unobtrusive. We enjoyed the casual atmosphere and the food at the Mayflower, and I would eat there again.