• Readers ’ Choice Best New Restaurant •
Eggs Up Grill
Breakfast looks to be the favorite meal of the day for a majority of Meridian residents as Eggs Up Grill was voted Best New Business and Best Breakfast in The Meridian Star 2024 Readers ’ Choice Awards .
Longtime Meridian area business partners Richard Harris , Bill Johnson and Larry Johnson are now franchise partners , teaming up to bring the popular breakfast restaurant , Eggs Up Grill , to their hometown . A rapidly expanding breakfast , brunch and lunch concept , Eggs Up Grill is located in the fast-food corridor in north Meridian at 2815 North Hills Street in the former Pizza Hut location .
“ When I first dined at Eggs Up Grill , I was hooked . I felt like I was eating breakfast on vacation with the colorful atmosphere and the openness ,” said Harris . “ People always say they wish we had something like this in Meridian , and now , with my partners , we are bringing the best breakfast , brunch and lunch concept in the country to our great community .”
Harris worked for Captain D ’ s restaurant for 40 years , beginning as a cook and working his way up to an area supervisor of 12 locations in Atlanta , Georgia . Most recently , he was the hometown area partner for a Captain D ’ s franchise in Meridian . He met his partners , the Johnson brothers , when they were customers at his restaurant , and they have been business owners in Meridian for the last 60 years .
Harris said he believes it ’ s his staff at Eggs Up Grill that makes the concept work . Although the restaurant has not been open for long , the staff has already become a close knit team .
“ Eight months ago , we didn ’ t even know each other . Today , we are like a family . Each member of our team works hard , and when we get busy , each one helps the other for our guests to have a great dining experience ,” he said . “ Not every day runs
By Laura Hyche Meridian Star Correspondent
Photo by Glenda Sanders Richard Harris , who has worked in the restaurant industry for decades , teamed up with two Meridian businessman , Bill Johnson and Larry Johnson , to bring Eggs Up Grill to the city ’ s north business district . Offering breakfast , brunch and lunch , Eggs Up Grill was voted Best New Business and Best Breakfast by Readers ’ Choice voters . smoothly , but at the end of the day , we can talk it out and get ready for the next day .”
Harris said he thought Eggs Up Grill , with his focus on breakfast , brunch and lunch , would be a good business opportunity for Meridian .
“ I researched the company and watched it grow for 18 months . What began as 25 locations , grew to 50 ,” he said . “ The company will reach 100 locations by the end of this year and 200 restaurants by the end of 2025 .”
In addition to expanding into Mississippi , Eggs Up Grill also has locations across the Carolinas , Georgia , Florida , Virginia , Tennessee , Alabama and will soon be entering Texas and Ohio .
Eggs Up Grill serves its full menu seven days a week from opening in the morning at 6 a . m . to the restaurant ’ s closing at 2 p . m . Classic breakfast items on the menu include signature omelets , eggs , waffles , French toast , pancakes and more . For brunch , specialty items include Founder ’ s Hash Benedict , a recipe of corned beef hash with potatoes , onions and special spices on a toasted English muffin , as well as avocado toast and eggs , shrimp and grits and steak and eggs . At lunchtime , diners can choose from typical mid-day meals , such as burgers , melts , BLT sandwiches and salads .
The Meridian restaurant also caters events , big or small , with a menu featuring breakfast favorites like eggs , grits , home fries , biscuits and gravy , and muffins . Salads and sandwiches are available for catered lunch .
Eggs Up Grill offers dine-in , online ordering , takeout , catering and delivery options .
For more information about the restaurant , follow Eggs Up Grill Meridian on Facebook and Instagram at @ EUGMeridian . M
6 2024 Reader ’ s Choice