Jamie’s restaurant hoping to check all the boxes for Clinton diners

By Carole Kelly

A move from Texas to Mississippi offered Jamie Brundige an opportunity to change directions, to begin his own business, and to incorporate his love for service. Sometimes not everything is a joy to do and it’s just worth it to find ways out or other options, like not bothering with chemistry homework, but using a homework writing service and focusing on what you really like to do as Jamie Brundige did. He had over twenty-five years of experience in an agency that provided assistance in areas such as job placement and foster homes, but Brundige had also nurtured a love for cooking; so he shifted gears a bit in Mississippi and operated a food trailer when the building of the Continental Tire plant started.

A veteran with cooking experience while in the armed forces, Brundige operated the food trailer for over a year, then, with a following of loyal fans, opened Taco Talk, a diner at Obie’s Chevron on Highway 80 West that has been a community favorite for seven years.

The restaurant was named by his daughter, Julia. The fun name, however, did not limit his menu, described as “A Taste of Texas’ with the disclaimer, “We’re not just tacos!” Brundige said the Taco Talk menu allowed him to bring a Texas style of cooking to the South. Offerings include both homestyle Southern food and Tex Mex, as well as “the best burger in Clinton.” His ribeye steak dinners receive consistent high marks, and his breakfast biscuits, offered Monday thru Saturday from 6 a.m., have also been a hit.

Along with his established fan favorite dishes, Brundige also likes to listen to and try new ideas, one being fried catfish. He laughs, recalling how he doesn’t eat the dish, but when requested, he did not hesitate to learn how to cook it.

His success is reflected in Weezee Sellars’ recent FaceBook comment: “On Friday, he has the best fried catfish plate in Hinds County!”
The seven years of Taco Talk have given Brundige plenty of time to cook and serve his customers and listen to their suggestions and their desires for various options in a restaurant. In addition to listening to his customers, he also read comments on social media. Requests showed wishes for a multi-faceted, sit-down restaurant in Clinton, for an all-day breakfast site, as well as a coffee sit, sip, and visit area, a good steak place, and a place for cocktails.

Brundige began to pull together a plan for how to incorporate people’s requests into an actual restaurant venue, which will become a reality in the near future in Clinton. Named after its owner, Jamie’s, set to open soon on Hampstead Boulevard off of Highway 80 East, will be offering a variety of foods and services.

Located in the area that formerly housed Playtime Entertainment, the restaurant sports red and gray colors in a 6,000 square-foot space which will include seating for 168 and room for more, with spacious distancing between tables in respect of the times.
Sections in the restaurant will include a bakery, a coffee shop area, a bar, a meeting room, and a stage for showcasing local music on weekends. A sofa and chairs near the coffee area is a designated college corner. Local artisan Kyle Keith handcrafted the bar from Mississippi red cedar.

“All under one roof,” says Brundige, who says that’s the message he has heard from area residents expressing what they would like to have in a restaurant in Clinton.

Brundige notes that the menu will include a wide variety of dishes, encompassing breakfast (all-day), blue-plate specials, pasta, steaks and fish. Catering will also be a service offered by Jamie’s.

Local fans took to social media to express their eager anticipation about the new establishment.
“I’m excited about Jamie’s new place. His burgers and onions rings are DELISH,” exclaimed Shelley Milner, who added, “His plate lunches are great, too.”

“Jamie is a great guy, and his Philly cheese steak is fine,” wrote Glenn Sikes.
His plans for the restaurant don’t just involve food – he intends to collaborate with agencies needing a site for hiring and training students with intellectual disabilities, an extension of his past career. He’s also looking forward to providing a place for Clintonians to gather and enjoy time together.

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He says, “For instance, people could have enjoyed a place to watch the recent televised national championship football game with fellow fans.”

“It’s the best of both worlds,” he asserts, as he looks forward to the opening of his new Clinton restaurant in the next few weeks.
Jamie’s actual date and time of opening hasn’t been set, as Brundige is finalizing a variety of permits. He plans for hours to be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Taco Talk era will come to a close when the permits are completed and Jamie’s doors are open.