With spring in bloom, new restaurants have been popping up around the Square, as well.

A new fine dining restaurant opened its doors on the Square last month, and it’s sparing no expense.

The Chancellor’s Grill, within the recently opened Chancellor’s House hotel (425 S. Lamar Blvd.), looks to bring an updated dining experience with an “old school feel,” according to its executive chef and 25-year restaurant veteran, Josh Stetson.

“(The menu) took us a few months to put together,” Stetson said. “We wanted some classics. For example, you’re doing lamb chops and the old school way to eat lamb chops is with mint jelly. We wanted to make our own mint jelly, so we got some mason jars and we give them away if (the customer) wants them.”

The intimate, 48-seat restaurant is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features two levels, a hand-cut marble bar and all hardwood floors. Stetson and his team of around 20 members also serve their food at the hotel’s lounge as well as cater room service. An afternoon tea time is currently in the works.

Stetson says The Chancellor’s Grill wants to focus on being the best.

“The steaks are all prime; we actually go through ten different companies to make sure we have the best,” he said. “We’ve had people come in and say, ‘We never eat steaks in the Oxford area, but we’re going to be eating here every week now.’”

Tallahatchie Gourmet

A taste of New Orleans is coming to the former Shelter on Van Buren space located at 1221 Van Buren Ave.

Tallahatchie Gourmet, which has another store in New Albany, has a menu inspired by owner Angele Mueller’s upbringing in the Big Easy. Mueller arrived at Ole Miss as a freshman in 1983.

“Growing up in New Orleans, good food was a huge part of life,” Mueller said in an email. “Although New Orleans food plays a big part in the Tallahatchie Gourmet menu, Southern foods do as well. I would say it is a cross between New Orleans and Mississippi.”

The locally inspired menu has items like chicken salad, casseroles and pimiento cheese.

Mueller added that the stage in the space will be used for music events and can be partitioned off for private events.

Tallahatchie Gourmet plans to have a soft opening this week.