Fried chicken, fried eggplant, and banana pudding all ride past you on a giant spinning lazy Susan. Staff keep refilling the bowls as they empty, so the carousel of Southern cooking keeps going.
The restaurant sits inside a brick home built in the early 1920s. That house holds 1,451 windowpanes, which is honestly a wild number for one family home.
You take a seat at a big round table, often right next to strangers. Pretty soon, someone asks you to spin the butter beans their way. I love that a side dish can start a friendship.
This tradition has deep roots in Mississippi, and it still runs only at lunch. Show up late, and the fried chicken will have finished its victory lap.
The Spinning Table Is The Main Event Here
Round tables built for a crowd are the heart of The Dinner Bell in McComb. Each one has a giant lazy Susan in the middle, loaded with bowls and platters.
Here’s how lunch works. You sit down, give the center a spin, and stop it when your favorite dish rolls in front of you.
Food is served family-style, so you serve yourself as much as you like. Staff keep an eye on the bowls and swap in fresh ones as they run low.
That steady refill is a big part of the fun. You never feel rushed to grab the last biscuit before it disappears forever.
A little table manners tip helps here. Spin slowly, because someone across from you might be mid-scoop with a big spoon of mashed potatoes.
It also pays to watch the rotation before you start. Knowing where the gravy sits saves you from a frantic second lap.
The setup feels playful and practical at once. It started as a smart way to feed big groups, and it still works beautifully today.
Kids especially love it. Honestly, most grown-ups do too, even if they pretend to be calm about it.
Fried Chicken Always Gets A Seat
Most of the menu changes from day to day, but one dish holds steady. Fried chicken is always on the table because people keep asking for it.
That’s a strong vote of confidence. When a restaurant can’t take something off the lineup, you know it matters.
The other main dishes rotate. Depending on the day, you might see baked chicken, meatloaf, pork chops, or fried catfish.
Barbecue ribs, smoked sausage, roast, ham, and turkey can show up too. Steak with gravy also makes appearances.
The rotation keeps things interesting for repeat visitors. You can come back a few weeks later and find a different lineup spinning by.
A smart move is to try a little of everything first. Then go back for seconds of whatever won your heart.
Many dishes are made from scratch using recipes handed down over time. That kind of care shows up in classic Southern cooking.
If the ribs or catfish happen to appear, consider it a lucky day. Still, the chicken is the dependable friend who never misses lunch.
Save room, though. The sides have plenty to say, too.
That Fried Eggplant Has A Reputation
Eggplant usually doesn’t steal the spotlight. At The Dinner Bell, the fried eggplant is famous enough to stand next to the chicken.
It’s one of the dishes people mention most when talking about this Mississippi lunch spot. That’s impressive for a vegetable.
Even folks who skip eggplant at home may want to try it here. Frying has a way of convincing picky eaters, and this dish is the proof.
The vegetable lineup is huge. Black-eyed peas, butter beans, turnip greens, cabbage, and field peas often join the party.
Fried okra, creamed corn, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes may roll by as well. Rice and gravy is another Southern favorite in the mix.
Chicken and dumplings often take a spot too. So does sweet potato casserole, which almost counts as dessert.
The best plan is to take small spoonfuls. With this many sides, a giant scoop of one thing leaves no room for the rest.
Think of it as a tasting tour of Southern home cooking. Your plate may look like a colorful map when you’re done.
And yes, the eggplant deserves the first stop.
A 1920s Brick House With 1,451 Windowpanes
Long before lunch was served here, the building was a private home. John White built it between 1921 and 1923.
It’s the only brick home built by the White family in the area. That alone gives the place some local bragging rights.
The windows are the real showstopper. There are 852 windowpanes downstairs and 1,451 throughout the whole house.
Just think about washing all of those. Somebody deserves a medal and a slice of pie.
Inside, details from the past remain. Molded ceilings, board and bat ceilings, ceramic tile floors, and birch trim add character.
The feel is often compared to a grandmother’s dining room. It has rustic charm and a sense of stepping back in time.
You’ll find it at 229 5th Ave, McComb, MS 39648. The restaurant has been at this address since 1959.
The home’s age adds to the meal. Eating in a house that has stood for over a century makes lunch feel a bit more special.
Take a moment to look up at the ceilings. They’re easy to miss when fried chicken is spinning toward you.
Decades Of Owners Kept The Bell Ringing
The story starts with Mr. and Mrs. Jack Corbett. They ran The Dinner Bell as a hobby business in a white frame building on Louisiana Avenue.
They commissioned an 18-seat round table for that first spot. Sources differ on the start date, but it began by the mid-1900s.
Grace Whittington, an employee, later bought the business. In 1959, she moved it to the current brick home.
Not every chapter was smooth. The restaurant closed in 1978 because owner David Forrest was in poor health.
It sat quiet for two years. Then John and Carolyn Lopinto saw it advertised for sale and bought it in 1980.
After major renovations, they reopened in 1981. That comeback kept a beloved tradition alive.
The Lopintos retired in 2003 and sold the business to Buddy Davis. His son Andre and daughter-in-law Ashley have joined in too.
Their involvement helps carry the legacy forward. It’s now a family story, served one spin at a time.
Round-table dining in Mississippi dates back more than 80 years. Boarding houses used it to feed big groups quickly, and this restaurant still honors that idea.
Cornbread, Biscuits, And All The Extras
Bread baskets matter in the South. Here, both cornbread and biscuits show up to support the main dishes.
Either one makes a fine partner for greens or gravy. Some people take one of each, and that seems like a perfectly reasonable choice.
Cold sides balance out all the hot dishes. Coleslaw and potato salad often appear on the lazy Susan.
Dressing is another regular on the list. It’s a comfort food classic that feels like a holiday meal on a regular weekday.
Here’s a tip for first-timers. Use a piece of cornbread to soak up the extra juices from the greens or peas.
That move is practically a Southern tradition. Nobody at the table will judge you for it.
The beverage of choice is sweet tea. It pairs naturally with fried food and keeps the meal feeling extra Southern.
If sweet tea is new to you, take a sip before deciding. It’s sweeter than most iced tea, which is exactly the point.
Little extras like these round out the meal. They turn a big lunch into a complete Mississippi spread that feels warm and familiar.
Dessert Deserves Its Own Game Plan
Banana pudding, coconut cake, and chocolate pie. That’s just a start on the sweet side of this menu.
Desserts often include shortcakes and fruit pies. Whipping cream pound cake and buttermilk pie can make the lineup too.
Some names sound extra fun. Banana breeze pie and pistachio nut cake are both on the list of possible treats.
Brownies also show up for anyone who wants something simple. Chocolate fans, rejoice.
With so many choices, strategy matters. Leave some space on purpose, because dessert here isn’t a tiny afterthought.
Sharing helps you try more. If your table has several pies out, a small slice of each makes sense.
Banana pudding is one of the dishes people bring up often. It’s a Southern classic for good reason, creamy and comforting.
Like the main dishes, desserts can change. You may not see every option on every visit, which gives you a reason to return.
Honestly, that’s not a bad problem to have. Coming back for a different pie is the kind of homework anyone would happily do.
Plan Around A Short Lunch Window
Timing is everything with this spot. The Dinner Bell serves lunch only, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It’s open Wednesday through Sunday. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed, so don’t show up hungry on those days.
That three-hour window makes planning smart. Arriving closer to opening gives you more time to enjoy every lap of the lazy Susan.
The location has long served travelers. Being near the railroad and bus stations made it a natural stop in the past.
Travelers and locals still mix at the tables today. McComb sits in southwest Mississippi, close to Interstate 55.
That makes it an easy detour on a road trip. A big Southern lunch beats a fast-food drive-through by a mile.
Sunday lunch here feels especially fitting. It’s a long-standing Southern tradition, and this table setup matches it perfectly.
Wear something comfortable. Snug jeans and unlimited sides are not a great combination.
Leave a little extra time after eating, too. A slow stroll back to the car might be exactly what your stomach needs after that final slice of pie.