Local Eats
Diamond Jim ’ s & Mrs . Donna ’ s Steakhouse Family , tradition & tasty steaks
Story by Thomas Howard
Alabama native Blake Dial grew up in the kitchens at Diamond Jim ’ s & Mrs . Donna ’ s Steakhouse learning from his grandparents , Jim and Donna , the secret to a successful steakhouse . The Livingston , Alabama , restaurant is known throughout the Southeast for its steaks , including the famous ribeye , Miss Donna ’ s center cut filet , New York strips and more . When not at the restaurant , Dial was at the farm , where his family raised cattle . His upbringing , he said , instilled both a love of hunting and the outdoors , as well as a deep desire to one day open his own restaurant . About a year ago , he got his chance . Dial said a lot of people from the Meridian area who are really close friends of the family were suggesting they purchase the Old Farm Beef House . “ They were telling us that it was going up for sale and that we needed to come over here ,” he said . Dial , who had just graduated from Mississippi State University , jumped at the chance to both fulfill his dream of owning a restaurant and the opportunity to carry on his grandparents ’ legacy . After an extensive remodel , Diamond Jim ’ s and Mrs . Donna ’ s Old Farm Beef House opened in Meridian .
Blake Dial , owner of Diamond Jim ’ s & “ The idea of Mrs . Donna ’ s Steakhouse in Meridian opening our own says steaks are the restaurant ’ s specialty . restaurant was something that was just stuck in my brain ,” he said . “ I wasn ’ t gonna let it go .
10 • MERIDIAN LIFE