Back Door Cafe at Lamptons, Columbia

You simply cannot find a better place to eat between New Orleans and New York than Fran Ginn's Back Door Cafe and many establishements in both places would envy the variety and creativity of her menu and the flawless execution of her kitchen. All of this is coupled with a warm and inviting atmosphere and is located on one of the prettiest main streets in the south. We eat there as often as we can and never hesitate to recommend it to friends.

I probably average eating at the Back Door once a week, and never had a bad meal. You can't go wrong - it's all good.

I live here in Columbia, and this resturant is my favorite!! be sure to eat Fran's special and chefs choice!!!!! AWESOME environment!!

A friend and I (we are from Baton Rouge) went to this restaurant last night and the food was really good! I only had one complaint and that was I found a small piece of shrimp shell in my pasta, but it did not keep me from eating the rest of the shrimp and I won't take a star off the rating for that. I can overlook just one small piece. For starters, we got the shrimp toast, which was excellent. We both got pastas for entrees with a backdoor salad (the ranch dressing is really good). They were out of chicken (probably since we ordered about 8:30pm) so I got shrimp instead. I got the lemon-parmesan sauce with mushrooms, garlic and broccoli. It was light and excellent! For dessert, we got the caramel cake and it was yummy! It was a little on the sweet side but we ate it all! The atmosphere was relaxing and very creative. We sat by the window and watched the lightning and rain while we ate. It was a great experience! This is a place I would love to have in Baton Rouge because both the atmosphere and the food make me want to go back!

I love the chicken salad plate with fresh fruit. It is divine! Matter of fact I am having it for lunch today! The pimento cheese is so good my kids will even eat it! I do agree that the prices for the childrens items are a bit steep, but, the mac-n-cheese is a huge place of food--although my kids were not impressed with the mac. I have not gotten the $4.00 PB&J or grilled cheese sandwiches, but that price is sad. Fran makes enough money off the adults food that she should discount the childrens items. That would be my only complaint about the prices. The restaurant has a fantastic New Orleans book store style flair that I love. Some of the tables were made from antique door frames with wheels on the bottom of the legs of the table. These tables are placed along the walls where a bench runs the entire length of the right hand side of the restaurant. There are various throw pillows stashed on the bench for the customers to enjoy. I simply Love the decor it is wonderful. The round tables in the restaurant are artisticaly painted and also help to set the tone. The desserts are really good and the pasta's are magnificent. Fran Ginn really knows how to make sure her customers do not leave hungry!

Back Door Cafe is a quality restaurant where one can be casual, yet still expect courteous and efficient service.........Fran Ginn's expertise is flawless!!!....Her recipes will forever be etched into people's minds........no word hasn't yet been located for description..........but, I will say, the food and establishment definitely does have pizazz and its originality..........

We love this place! It is right in the middle of downtown Columbia, Mississippi, a short drive from Hattiesburg. The offerings are outstanding and include a weekly special based on random people and places the owner decides to commemorate. I recently had Paris Bistro - Chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, from the weekly special and plan to campaign in favor of it making the permanent menu. The only problem being that I am a relatively unknow customer...but not for long! Oh! and don't leave without trying the Caramel Cake!!!