Tupelo Honey Cafe

I came for dinner on a Friday night and the place was packed! Servers and hostesses were friendly and the service was pretty good. I ordered the pancake and chicken. The presentation was not what I expected, but overall the flavors were good. The pancake is huge and made for great leftovers. However, the chicken was overcooked and I was not a fan of the chunks of sweet potatoes in the pancake. Nonetheless I recommend this dish and restaurant. Oh and get a biscuit… you won’t regret the extra carbs!

I came here for brunch to use the $ 50 giftcard that I won at a previous Unilocal event. I’ve been thinking about fried Avocado since I saw it on the menu at the Unilocal event, but when I ordered it for brunch, I was told it was unavailable, as the avocados that were delivered that morning were not ripe yet. Womp, womp, womp. We got the same response when we ordered the fried green tomato. Womp, womp womp. We instead got the Veg Plate with various veggies, which was satisfying enough, though nothing can replace avocados.
For a main dish I ordered a Southern Espanol Omelette. I honestly think this may have been the first time I ever ordered an omelette at a restaurant, as I’m more of a french toast or pancake person (I love my sugary carbs), but chorizo was an ingredient, so I had to order it. There was basically a full chorizo sausage inside the omelette, and it was delicious! The only thing I love more than avocado is chorizo!
If I return and am able to eat fried avocado and a chorizo omelette in the same meal, I might up my rating to 5 stars.

Delicious food and excellent service!
A friend and I were trying to find an open spot at 9pm this past Tuesday (1÷19÷16) to grab a bite and after a few failed attempts we were delighted to find Tupelo open and decided to give it a try, and am I glad we did!
It is located in a trendy strip of restaurants and has cute décor such as yellow walls with beehive imprints to tie in the name which was adorable.
As soon as we walked in the door the hostess was very friendly, and our server was Lexi Pettigrew. She greeted us with a smile and was bubbly and knowledgeable when we had questions. She also had great recommendations since neither my friend or I had been there before. She recommended food for us as well as the Honeysuckle & Lavender Flip cocktail whose taste was just as satisfying as it’s beautiful presentation. Lexi definitely enhanced our experience making sure we were well taken care of.
The food is a southern based menu-​so definitely a good spot for a cheat meal-​although they did have multiple healthy options such as fish and different combos of greens. Once seated they bring out fresh homemade biscuits and blueberry jam (cheat day people) which were scrumptious. For my entrée I went with the Charleston Chicken sandwich which completely exceeded my expectations. As soon as I took one bite I couldn’t stop… it was delicious! My friend ordered a burger and was equally pleased.
It is safe to say we will definitely be coming back to Tupelo!

Tupelo Honey Café packs a lot of personality and charm. I came by for brunch on a snowy January Sunday, and its popularity was evident with a small crowd by the hostess’ table and plenty of patrons waiting for a table at the bar. Pro tip? Make a reservation on their website beforehand! By making a reservation the night before, I just had a short five minute wait before being seated.
Food-​wise, Tupelo Honey specializes in a wide variety of southern comfort food including scrambles, pancakes, grits, and more. Of note, the «Shoo Mercy» options were explained to me as «Shoo any sort of desire to be dainty» as these dishes come in large portions with heaping extras. Before the entrées come out though, you get these delightful warm, buttermilk biscuits served with a blueberry jam that are a tasty treat with that sweet-​salty flavor blend.
For my main dish, I opted for the Appalachian Bounty Scramble while my boyfriend ordered a Tomato Chow Chow Grits. Overall, I would say my dish was pretty good. I didn’t care too much for the the carrot and kale slaw, but my scramble (filled with arugula, blueberries, sausage, and cheese) was both enriching yet fresh. My scramble also came with two pieces of buttered Texas Toast, which were a great crunchy textural complement to my meal. My boyfriend’s grits though… omg. Heaven in a bowl. They were the absolute best warm, cheesy yumminess that one would need on a cold winter’s day. The chow chow (another type of slaw) provides a nice bite of acidity to those worried about over rich foods.
And speaking of cold, the downside to our experience was definitely a strong draft that left us shivering towards the end of our meal. It felt as if a window were open the entire time we were there! Otherwise, the ambience of the restaurant was a mix between hometown rustic and southern hipster — delightful, really. Service-​wise, our server was in training but she was warm and prompt whenever we needed her.
Overall, a great brunch option in North Arlington that compliments the other restaurants in the surrounding environs!

Just okay. Definitely better choices in Arlington for dinner!
We came here after checking well in advance to make sure they could accommodate us (~18 ppl). Unfortunately, our servers seemed new and unsure of what was going on. That, or there was a communication breakdown somewhere.
It took ages for our drinks (two bottles of wine) to arrive. Literally 20 min. Our appetizers took even longer though ordering in advance of the other table. In fact, they were done with appetizers by the time ours arrived. We asked several times for their famed biscuits.
I was hoping all of this would be worth the wait, but this was not the case.
Here was what was executed well: biscuits (melt in your mouth with the honey and berry compote), fried okra, curried chicken thighs, goat cheese appetizer (a little sweet, a little savory)
Here were the disappointments: fried chicken (dry, not crispy nor good), wings (undercooked; pink on the inside and not well seasoned), duck (gray looking and tasted the same; roasted parsnip and beans were bland. Sparse bits of spinach here and there; very disappointed in this dish in lack of presentation, flavor.); pumpkin spice mule (just, no.)
Lesson learned: keep it simple, stupid. I ordered duck at a southern restaurant and the best tasting thing were the free biscuits. There were similar sentiments throughout the party.
I’d consider trying them for brunch if in the area, but very disappointed in both the food and service at dinner.
Tips: parking garage adjacent to restaurant

Beer selection was fantastic! The food was great– maybe a little more salt added to the fried green tomato and okra batters– but if that’s the only critique– the place is doing good! We loved the place so much– we will be back to try more later this week.

Great brunch spot, lots of beers on tap, fresh warm food, beautiful themed décor (honey, honeycomb, bees). Pretty quick service too, even on a weekend.
After you order, they give you the most delicious fresh biscuit with jam, and honey on the table. The Southwestern Omelette was amazing, well flavored chorizo bringing a bit of spiciness, the avocado and sour cream taming it, 3 eggs making for a substantial omelette, great morning after food. It comes with some kale-​carrot slaw, reasonably good and unlike any other coleslaw I’ve had. Unfortunately they don’t give you too much of it though. Lastly the Rosemary Peach Lemonade was very palatable. The Rosemary engages your nose, the peach provides some flavor, but it is a lemonade and the lemons show out above all else.

«Shoo Mercy!» is the saying and slang all over the menu… and so to the food!
People rave about this place and I can see why. This farm to table eatery caught me off guard and was amazing! My coworker and I came here for lunch looking to escape our regular run to the ‘Oliver Twist’ orphanage cafeteria in our building.
Let me be the first to say the vibe and setting of the place is cool alone. From the time we walked in, to the point of leaving it was a great dining experience… somewhat ‘over the top’ impressive for lunch. To start, the complimentary scratch-​made biscuits with fresh berry compote made in-​house will blow your mind! They are everything! Add some of the Tupelo honey to it and it will send you into a food euphoric daze. I could have sat there and ate them there damn things (ooops…sorry for the double entendre) the entire time for lunch because they were that delicious! It definitely set the tone to a good start for what was to come.
The rest of the menu was equally enticing. From Shrimp n’ Goat cheese grits, buttermilk fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fresh mountain trout, and hormone-​free, grass-​fed beef dishes… you’re bound for a treat. As explained by our server, every ingredient is locally-​regionally sourced and used to its fullest to shed a new light on typical old-​time southern comfort food classics. It all sounded good but truth be told… all I needed to hear was the word ‘comfort food’ and I was sold.
Here’s what wowed us, besides those biscuits:
* FRIED GREEN TOMATOES — Thumbs up! Zesty tomato with Goat cheese grits with red pepper coulis sauce. Coworker thought that they were excellent!
* SHAVED BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD — Serve with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette. Light, clean, crunchy, fresh and very flavorful. Made you feel like you were eating too healthy! LOL!
* SHOO MERCY BURGER — Off the hinge! A must order! I was jealous when our orders came because words cannot explain how delicious this meal looked and my coworker was the lucky consumer. I enjoyed a more traditional dish — the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. But, back to the burger… piled high… was a generous Black Angus beef patty, served with lettuce, fried green tomato, bacon, warm pimento cheese and green tomato chow chow* sauce! The rack on this burger was insane and worthy to be praised.
* BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN — Buttermilk fried chicken breast w/​of creamy milk gravy. It was good and satisfactory. Nothing to rave over but worth mentioning because it was so tender and juicy. It just needed a little more seasoning for my southern roots… imho.
* SAUTEED MOUNTAIN KALE — Surprisingly good. Cooked to perfection and full of garlic and lemon zest flavor.
* BAKED MAC n’ CHEESE — The only dish that left me underwhelmed. It was complimentary to my meal but lacked flavor.
In all, great restaurant chain, customer service… good food and vibe. Basically everything on the menu seems good but anything saying ‘Shoo Mercy’…which is slang for ‘Over the Top’ is great! I definitely will be returning to try more dishes. My coworker and I both ended up leaving with smiling faces and full bellies!
Needless to say… the rest of the day was a wash for me because I was in a food coma and still dreaming about those biscuits!

Let me just start by saying I’ve been wanting to get to a Tupelo Honey Café for several years. I lived in South Carolina and wanted to get to the one in Asheville (the original?). Sadly, I never got there.
But when this opened in Arlington, I knew I had to get here. My husband and I came here about 3pm on a Saturday. We hadn’t eaten yet and were starrrrrrrrrving!
We parked in the parking garage that was $ 3 an hour. Not too bad. We saw the outdoor seating before we got to the front door. It was really cute and I can see myself sipping on cocktails there.
The hostess took us to a table not too far from the door. I was a bit disappointed with that because I wanted to see more of the restaurant because the décor is super cute! It’s rustic and sort of home-​y.
Our awesome server got us some biscuits and their blueberry jam. Super good way to start what was to become one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.
I ordered the sweet potato pancake with bacon and chicken. Husband ordered the chicken and biscuits. It all looked so manageable coming to the table. Soooooo deceiving! I got about half way through my meal and husband had to assist.
The sweet potato pancakes was the perfect texture. Not too cakey or mushy. It was perfectly spiced and had spiced pecans sprinkled on top. The texture was pretty damn awesome because of that.
The chicken came on top of the pancake. I set it aside and ate the bacon separately. I feel like eating them all together would have caused my head to explode from so much goodness at once. I had to pace myself. My husband looked happy with his chicken and biscuits. In fact, he liked the chicken so much that he ran out and I shared some of mine.
This was a delicious meal in a great setting. I definitely want to come back. Tupelo Honey lived up to every expectation I had.

Yummy! Well-​lit! Cozy! And great service! Maria took care of me and two friends on a busy Saturday morning
I got the sweet potato pancake with fried chicken for brunch. It’s beyond words. Plus, the Queen Mary cocktail is savory and huge and filled with bacon and pickled greens. Never had anything like it.
Best part — we were not rushed out of here, even though it’s a pretty popular joint. And I got coffee after we got our check — no problem. Oh, and free biscuits with jam. Please go here. You’ll thank yourself.

This place is good. I really want to say great but I can’t because they’re a fried chicken joint in theory and while their biscuits are amazing, their chicken could use some work. It’s not bad it’s just not authentic, southern finger licking good.
I am a huge fan of all their appetizers, although none are remotely diet friendly. The salads are good and if you do them with something other than the fried chicken they’re not awful for you.
Overall a good spot that could be great if they upped their chicken and brunch game.

Good place for brunch. The biscuits are heavenly with the blueberry jam. Ordered the fried chicken and biscuits, which surprised me because the chicken was moist and flavorful. I also ordered the sweet potato pancakes (as I wanted sweet and savory) — they did not disappoint. The whipped peach butter is ridiculous and the pancakes were full of sweet potato pieces/​purée.
Would like to come back for lunch or dinner to see if it’s jut as good. The patio was booked but would opt to sit outside next time if the weather allows.

I’m honestly in awe of this place and question a review that isn’t five stars. This is by far the BEST place I have ever been too since moving here and basically top five places I’ve ever been too in my life (my bf and I had this conversation when we left and were walking to our car). The service was superb and we were checked on frequently and given the highest of recommendations.
We sat at the bar for about 25 – 30 minutes since there was a wait to be seated, the bartenders are more like mad scientists and make the most interesting tasting and looking drinks I’ve ever seen. I got the sparkling sangria which was bubbly and delicious and so I got two!
Now to the food. we were served biscuits, by far my favorite part. They are warm, buttery and just the right size (for a 6’3 guy, they didn’t leave my bf unhappy). We got the fried green tomatoes over goat cheese grits for our small plate/​appetizer and I thought there literally couldn’t be anything else they bring me that can satisfy me more than these tomatoes. You must try them!
For dinner I got the maple butter glazed salmon with mashed sweet potatoes and baked mac and cheese, I was impressed by it all and still in awe of the tomatoes at the same time. My bf got the curried fried chicken thigh with baked mac and cheese and sautéed southern greens — safe to say that plate had no chance. Lastly, the banana pudding recommended by our waiter (he was lovely by the way), that pudding was a good way to top off the meal. For never getting dessert anywhere, we made the right decision.
This place is a southern home cooked meal with a modern feel. I can’t stress it enough to try. Enjoy!

I came in with a friend for a late dinner – 9 PM on a Friday night. We had a reservation, and we were seated immediately upon arrival.
The service definitely leaves something to be desired. It seems like the food/​drink runners do not communicate with the servers. We were asked multiple times if we had received our food/​drinks yet. The server did not pay enough attention to us – water glasses were empty for half an hour before she noticed. Even after being seated initially, it took a good 20 minutes for her to introduce herself and bring us waters.
The food was decent, nothing special. The biscuit was dry. The food and drinks were overpriced, especially for how poor the service was. I ordered the southern fried chicken breast with a side of mac and cheese. The food took forever to come out, and it arrived at our table cold. When the server put the plate down, I saw that my mac and cheese had shrimp in it. When I asked about it, the server told me that there is another dish called «shrimp mac» that the kitchen must have given me as a side instead of the baked mac and cheese. I asked for the shrimp mac to be replaced by the original regular baked mac and cheese that I ordered.
Several minutes after this request, I was informed that there was no baked mac and cheese available. The kitchen had just put some in the oven, and it would take 25 minutes before it was ready. They said I could wait or get another side.
The side salad has delicious vinegar-​marinated onions.
The banana pudding was creamy and decadent. Definitely the highlight of the meal.
Also, if you’re coming in with the pint glass promotion, they are back-​ordered until September.
At the end of our meal, the manager Craig came out and told us that he would comp our entire meal (minus the alcohol, for some reason) because my experience was such a mess this evening. I really appreciate that gesture, but when the check came the appetizer was still on there. Basically he just took off the two entrées that we got. Still, he didn’t have to do that, and it was a nice gesture.
I hope that when I return to this restaurant, some of the kinks will have been worked out.

I maintain my 5 star Happy Hour rating, but I’m giving Tupelo 3 stars for dinner.
I got the sauteed shrimp with two sides. The shrimp in the sauce was really tasty. But, my sides were rather salty. I got the carrot and kale slaw and the cheesy cauliflower — salt was the primary flavor of both of my sides. The portion size was way too huge and the prices were a bit high IMO for the caliber of food. I’d like it better if the entrees were cheaper and smaller in portion size.

A generous 2.5 stars rounded up. I expected a more distinct taste profile from the kitchen, a more inventive menu, and better-​than-​sophomoric service.
Drinks at the bar is a good bet if you are into craft beers, there are a good few on tap here. I chose a mojito with Thai basil and pepper. It tasted disappointingly on the sweetish side for such an unusual twist on a mojito. I found out that it’s a pre-​bought, prepared mix to which they add alcohol and a dash of orange liqeur or something. No wonder there was a certain zing lacking. On the other hand, I will rave about their peach-​ginger-​raspberry lemonade. It was excellent. I would gulp that readily after a hot, swampy D.C. summer walk.
Appetizers: Everyone raves about the ‘Country Ham wontons’. Okay, Asian twist is cool, and what’s not to like about crunchy fried things? But this menu offering is almost predictable, and I’ve had similar-​tasting wontons in 1993 from my local Chinese take out. As for the Country Ham, I tasted more Cream Cheese.
The brussel sprout slaw bed, tasted crunchy yet also bland like there was a missing drop of dressing. Something needs to be kicked up a notch.
My dining companion apparently loves the Fried Green Tomatoes down the street at Rhodeside Grill so had to comparison taste-​test here. She didn’t rave about them. But then again, its like fried calamari. It’s fried, and unless you are using wilted produce and old oil, how wrong can you go?
Dinner: The big let down was the «Carolina Mountain Trout». There were roughly a thousand degrees of separation from the trout entrée at Arties (one of the «Great American Restaurant» chain in Fairfax VA). This was a bland preparation and underwhelming. It came with a paltry squeeze of lemon and salad plopped on the side. Not even the «free» biscuit and blueberry jam which comes with every order could liven that up. It just wasn’t worth the $ 16. I feel much more satisfied spending that money for Trout at Arties or Sweetwater in northern Virginia.
Their service seems to be dominated by college co-​eds. I’ve sat at the bar and watched young women come up breathlessly asking the bar tender to give quick notes to describe a drink, unable to articulate the menu. I had a server ask if I wanted my knife replaced when I dropped it. Is that a question to ask –at all, ever– of a patron eating in a restaurant?! The front entry desk is similarly, run by wan juniors clearly NOT accustomed to being efficient and in-​control Maitre d’s.
This place has a character quandry. Is it really unique as its billing, or is it just a gussied up Silver Diner? Not being an expert on American food I will say, I’m left confused. It certainly doesn’t strike me as standing out enough with taste profiles, menu offerings and plating to match the hype.

I had a pretty fantastic experience here for my first visit over weekend brunch.
Initially when I had first called for reservations, I wasn’t politely spoken to over the phone. The young hostess on the other end had quite an attitude that wasn’t necessary nor prompted by me. I guess it might have been a bit stressful for her since it was Sunday brunch, and with this being a new establishment — I am sure there were plenty of people calling in. Still, this doesn’t justify the attitude nor her lack of professionalism with the way she spoke to me. I didn’t prompt the attitude, and that’s for sure!
When I arrived, I stood by the bar hoping for seats to open up. While standing there, a server approached me asking me if I needed anything since I looked a bit flustered. I explained that I was waiting for seating, but I also expressed my dismay of the initial impression I had encountered. I didn’t even bother going to the hostess stand to speak to them, so I beelined for the bar instead knowing that didn’t require a reservation.
The server told me that she would resolve this issue. She immediately sat me out on the patio where I waited for my friend to come. I was grateful for her hospitality, and that quickly turned my experience into a much better one considering the incident earlier had caused me to have a bit of sour impression.
My friend and I sat out on the couch area seating that can actually accommodate six people. Since it was pretty hot outside — patio wasn’t the first choice of the day for seating whereas inside was packed full. There were a few other people seated outside, and umbrellas do cover some of the tables to shield you from the sun. We were under one of them and that alleviated some of the hot temperature.
Champelle was our server. She was super sweet, sassy, and knowledgeable of the menu. We enjoyed having her as our server… she made our dining experience more interesting in a good way.
We ordered:
+ NC COUNTRY HAM WONTONS
Shaved honeyed Brussels sprouts salad
^^ To die for…
+ JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKE
Jalapeño aioli greens
and baby tomatoes
^^ It was decent, but not the best crab cake I’ve tried.
+ CURRIED FRIED CHICKEN THIGH
Topped with fresh apple salsa and
Tupelo Honey drizzle
^^ My dining partner’s dish. He enjoyed it.
+ CHARLESTON CHICKEN SANDWICH
Marinated grilled chicken breast
with lettuce, melted Havarti and cranberry
mayonnaise on sourdough wheat
^^ This was a good sandwich. Standard chicken sandwich that was well prepped.
+ Roasted Fingerling Potatoes w/​Smoked Jalapeño Aioli (side with our main dish)
^^ Delish.
+ Shoestring Fries w/​Parmesan Cheese & BBQ Spice (side with our main dish)
^^ More delish.
I had one of the seasonal drinks that had lavender and honeysuckle vodka in it called a honeysuckle palmer. I want that to become a permanent menu item.
Overall experience was sold — 4 out of 5 stars. I like the space and the food and patio are worth a second and third visit.

What a southern gem! I’ve been here three times now, for lunch and happy hour, and all were super!
Sticking to it’s name, there are several «honey touches” — some of the lights, honeycomb designs on the wall, mason jars of honey on shelves, etc. Definitely gives you a warm welcome.
The food is amazing, and never disappoints. At the top of my list is the shrimp mac and cheese (careful, you might get addicted), the ham wontons, and the fried green tomatoes. The pimento dip is also really tasty, but the chips are just a tad too salty (and I love salt) and take away from the taste a bit.
For lunch I’d recommend the fried chicken sandwich. It’s enormous and amazing to the last bite. They have a plethora of sides to choose from. I went with the fried okra (tiny fried balls of okra). Tasty, but I’m going to try something different next time. The complimentary biscuits and jam are so incredible. Probably soaked in butter, but worth it. The blueberry jam tastes like the inside of a blueberry pie and I found myself just eating out of the jam cup.
Happy hour specials are pretty solid– $ 5 for their sparkling sangria, $ 3 draft pints, $ 6 small plates, and half off bottles of wine. They also have a midnight brunch on the weekends form 10 – 12 which I want to check out.
Definitely recommend heading over here for any meal of the day!

I went to Tupelo honey for a Unilocal elite event and got to taste several appetizer dishes. To be honest, I truly enjoyed everything I had: north carolina wontons, goat cheese with roasted figs and toast, fried green tomatoes, mac n cheese, and meatballs.
Drinks: They had $ 5 drinks happy hour. Their white sparkling sangria was more like a vodka based cocktail but refreshing. The other folks at my table tried the red sangria and liked it better.
The chef came to out table and was really courteous. He brought me macaroni and cheese soufflé (with no shrimps) after I told him I’m allergic to shrimp. The manager, Randy, and the servers were all really nice and friendly.
Ambience: I really liked the decoration. It’s a blend of trendy and cosy with rustic southern style. I would definitely go back to try the main course, probably for brunch or dinner.

Tupelo Honey is a Southern comfort and modern American restaurant. The Arlington location opened in June 2015.
Pros:
— Large space and intimate setting — dozens of tables and booths that have ample space between them. The booths have high walls, and there are partitions between tables as well.
— Friendly staff; I appreciated that my server told us at the end of our meal that we were free to linger as long as we wanted. Although the restaurant was busy, she did not pressure us to leave.
Cons:
— Tupelo Honey calls themselves «creative» or «modern American», but that’s an exaggeration. They fit better in the traditional American category. Everything on the menu is very familiar. Check it out for yourself on their website.
— Over priced for what it is.
What I got:
— Tupelo Genuine Country Breakfast with «soysage» and tomatoes, $ 11
— Black tea, $ 3
These prices are very similar, or even a bit more expensive than Farmers Fishers Bakers and Founding Farmers.
What I thought
I heard great things about Tupelo Honey, so I decided to come in today.
I came here for brunch to meet with some old friends, and I was the first to arrive. I made a reservation for 11:45AM and I was seated at 12PM. It’s only been one week, and the restaurant is busy. All the seats were filled. When my plate came out, I was let down. (Look at the picture I posted along with this review.) It was dull and uninspiring. I could have made the same thing at home for half the price! Even iHop could do better. My friends’ plates also looked bare and plain. The taste matched the appearance of the food — nothing special. It did not taste distinctly Southern neither.
Note: Dinner menu has very few vegetarian options. They have a black-​bean burger (they’re creative, remember?!) and a vegetable plate where you can pick three sides as a meal.