The Thirsty Hippo

One if the best places in Hattiesburg for local people, and live music! And they pour the beer to the top!!! No foam!

pretty good for lunch

Nice setup and the drinks were good. Biggest complaint was how long it took for food to arrive… over an hour for a salad and a cheeseburger. There were a handful of people at the bar, but only a couple other tables. The salad was good, but the cheeseburger came out wrong. Probably won’t be back.

We were surprised to find homemade red bean hummus and one of the best veggie burgers here. All regular hamburgers are automatically cooked med to med well but you can get a j burger with an egg on it. We brought children and went around 6ish. They have a kids menu, but ours chose to order off of the regular menu. The service was wonderful! The waitress and the manager checked on us quite a few times. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The band was setting up for later in the evening and music was playing. Overall good food and good service.

Had lunch here today. I got the whiskey pimento cheese burger with a veggie burger. It had good texture, not too mushy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The little bits of carrot were nice. I liked that the burger was not huge so I was full but not stuffed and no leftovers. The bun is nice soft and airy. There was also just the right amount of pimento cheese. The bourbon combined with the cheese was an odd flavor, not bad just unusual. I also wonder if there was some blue cheese in the mix. I would totally get this again. One of my companions got the red bean hummus as an appetizer and we all tried it. Some of us liked it. I thought it was subtle. But some thought it was too bland. May be a little more garlic would’ve been better but it was still pretty good. I come to Hattiesburg once a year for a conference. Next year I will check it out at night, it seems like a cool place. And the staff were very nice.

Great food. The ham and brie sandwich is fantastic and the red bean hummus is an interesting twist. Good selection of beer. Nice outside seating area.

This place is a local gem. Most nights you go, there will be a live band which never disappoints! Or open mic night. They also have special events every month… like the Burlesque show! So incredible. Make sure you check the events schedule before you go, you wouldn’t want to be stuck paying a cover if you just went for dinner.
The staff is great. They’re not fake friendly (for better tips) like you find in a chain restaurant. Here, they’re more down to earth and actually give a shit about the food, music, and patrons.
The beer selection is the best and the food is delicious. It would be nice if there were a larger selection of meals to choose from. On the menu, the sandwiches and burgers are on different pages, but for the most part they are the exact same style/​flavor (just in burger form). The appetizers are unique and can’t be found elsewhere.

The ham and Brie sandwich is amazing. They are very quick at lunch so you can make it back to work on time.

The Hippo isn’t know for it’s vegetarian options, but if that’s what you’re looking for, this is one of the best places to go. Try the banh mi veggie burger (I don’t order anything else except the veggie banh mi dog, at least before it was discontinued). Banh mi is a traditional Vietnamese «po boy,» if you will, but the Hippo does a fantastic reinvention of it as a burger. Their veggie patty will just change your life. And they serve a different kind of bread pudding every evening. It’s one of their best menu items. The beer selection and live music some nights are quite excellent as well. Overall, great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, great service (staff is super friendly). One of the best restaurants/​bars in Hattiesburg, hands down.

The Drunken Veggy Burger!!! Awesome. Great place to go. Nice atmosphere. Again can I say I loved the Drunken Veggy Burger!

A great place for lunch and dinner. A terrific variety of entertainment in the evenings. Bands, trivia contests, etc. Give this one a try. By the way, the best vegetarian burger in town!

This is my favorite lunch time spot and night time hangout. I like that the menu is simple, but still plenty of variety. I recommend the cherry up for a drink and the burger is a must. There actually isn’t a mediocre meal on the menu and there are always great beers to choose from. Everyone is super friendly, but Jake and Colby are definite stand-​outs.

Friends and I went here for the first time during lunch today — we were very impressed! I had the Whiskey Pimento Cheeseburger with a side salad. The quality of the meat and bread was amazing. Side salad was the perfect size. Both friends got the Grilled Brie sandwich, which they loved. Service was quick and polite… very friendly staff. For dessert we ordered the bread pudding… It’s «S’mores» flavored this week. A HUGE portion that was easy to share between the three of us. The only, ONLY, reason I did not make this review 5 stars is that my bread was cold (would have been outstanding warm!) And… They have no tomatoes for the burgers (petty, I know… but I love tomatoes). Overall, We will definitely be back and you should stop in for a bite!

Loved it. Great setup and atmosphere. Of course, the night I went there it was slow (billboard had something going on every night except Thursday) but that worked to my advantage as I was pretty tired and probably couldn’t have handled women hitting on me all night.
The beer selection was strong, with prices definitely on the cheaper side. Staff was friendly and informative and since it was slow, I chatted up the bartender quite a bit and she was really friendly. The food selection was also strong. Atypical, with a lot of veggie options, which is always a good thing (even though I’m not vegetarian). I opted for a cheese sandwich with fried eggs and it was delicious. Also got the side of vinegar coleslaw and it also hit the spot. They also had burgers and dogs, so the menu complemented the vibe of the place, just chill and laid back.
Its really my kind of bar… not to large and not too small. Cozy and warm, but still has some edge. I would imagine it’s a good place to see live music. If I was a local, it would probably be my bar of choice. The only thing I would do is add some booths… just a thought. Go and try it out… you will be glad you did.

This place is the friggin best. Great food (delicious salads — I recommend them with the fried egg, delicious veggie burgers, red bean hummus… all awesome). Great beer selection, including local brews from MS. Staff are awesome. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are chill. Good for seeing music, reading, chatting with friends, a date, whatever. Also, Monday, Red Bean Running Club! Run a 5k through downtown, pay $ 5 and get a bowl of rice and beans and a beer or wine after. All bow to The Thirsty Hippo!

The Thirsty Hippo has really given Hattiesburg the best menu in town. Here is why: No where else in Hattiesburg has a Veggie Menu, and the Thirsty HIppo has absolutely nailed it! I order the Veggie Pimiento Burger with jalopeano chips as a side that i stuff in the burger :)) The veggie meat is completely vegan, along with several of their other items. Don’t be alarmed when you walk in the door, it’s definately a bar. Even though I usually order a bottled root beer when I come here in the middle of the day, they have an excellent liquor and beer selection. On top of having the only vegetarian menu in Hattiesburg, they are also the only place I’ve found to have Absinthe behind the bar. I’m a dark beer drinker, and they have several things I like on tap. MOST IMPORTANTLY! Anyone can eat here! it’s hard for me to not rave too much about the vegetarian menu because that’s what really appeals to me, but they also only use meat from the local butcher that is antibiotic-​free and free of hormones. The bread comes from the breadsmith, which Hattiesburg locals are all aware is very high quality bread. I know all this because I’ve spend time interrogating the cook about what they use: P They are so friendly here, even when I come in before they open (without knowing of course), they treat me well and feed me anyway: D
I love this place so much, I come nearly 5 – 6 times a week even though I live on the other side of town and it takes me 30 to get there. IT’S ALWAYS WORTH IT!
I just saw that someone made a post about the venue being a dump. They’ve relocated since then. Definately not a dump. Also, if you’re traveling from out of town, double check you have the newest address on McLoed.
You’re welcome, bitches.

Soft opening at the new location last night. Delicious brie and hot pepper jelly crostini. Deathly cold beer on draft (kegerators went nuts; had to serve beer with kegerator doors open). The new location on McLeod is only half-​finished, and it’s already bigger than the original location. Acoustics are superior with the open ceiling.
Everything on the menu was available, except the turkey sandwich. The drunken salsa hints strongly of tequila, and the pimiento cheese is made with Maker’s Mark. Prices for food are good, with no entrée exceeding $ 10. Looking forward to coming back.

I love this place so much.
A long sliver of a door beside darkened buildings is how I first found this spot. Walk down a long corridor and it opens into a decent sized room where performers entertain on a ground level.
A bar which only stocks beer but that in keeps with the laid back mellow vibe of the space. You can sit in the booths or sit outside which is my favourite thing to do amongst the fairy lights and sculptures from the studio next door. Whenever I think of summer I think of here and sitting in the humid air with a cool beer and live music wafting through.
I remember chatting to the owner and commending him on getting great acts from around the country to perform here, he was so focused on his mission to provide an accessible space and music to the people.
I count down the days till I return again to this spot.

Horrible venue. The tix to the show we drove from Nashville to see were supposedly sold out. They claim they were available online. Bullshit. I checked in advance. Screw this bar and hattiesburg Mississippi. This place is the size of a goddamn bathroom. NEVER WASTE YOUR GAS OR TIME ON THIS DUMP. STAY HOME!

If you like good beer, and you like good music, the Thirsty Hippo is for you. If you like overpriced beer, and you like bad music, the Hippo is not for you. You can try the Bottling Company instead if that’s what you’re looking for.
Seriously, the owners of this place know what they’re doing. As the previous reviewer mentioned, it may look like a hole in the wall, but give it a chance and you’ll see that it truly is an amazing place.
Note: This place is a beer-​only bar, meaning don’t expect to get cocktails or wine. All things considered, not a beer on the menu over $ 4, most going for $ 2 or $ 3. The music is great. It’s very diverse ranging from indie rock to blues to folk to hip hop to you name it. Most of the acts who play here are really talented musicians, and even if it’s not a genre you’re normally into, the atmosphere makes it enough to enjoy.
Just go. It’ll be worth your time.