Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen

This was my first time visiting the restaurant, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. We had to make a reservation, but since we didn't have one, we ended up sitting at the bar. Masks were required, but social distancing wasn't strictly enforced. We ordered the shrimp and grits with soy sausage, and it was absolutely delicious! I definitely plan to return with a reservation next time. The staff was fantastic too.

I ordered the classic Chicken and Waffles. The chicken lacked salt, which I noticed was mentioned by other reviewers as well. It was cooked well but definitely needed more seasoning. The waffles were decent—not extraordinary, but not bad either. The staff was friendly, and the restaurant appeared clean, even though I opted for takeout. The prices were reasonable at $14.95 for a generous portion. The atmosphere was pleasant, but overall, the chicken was rather bland, and the waffles were just okay.

1. The staff's appearance was inconsistent; some were well-groomed while others looked a bit disheveled, which made it confusing to differentiate between employees and customers. It would be helpful if they wore name tags or aprons. Our waitress was not particularly efficient, and another staff member ended up checking on us more frequently than she did. 2. On the positive side, the food presentation was fantastic! I had read many glowing reviews about the flavors and southern flair, but what I received was rather average. The chicken was bland and didn't have the promised honey dusting; it was served so quickly that I suspect it had been sitting out for a while. While the chicken was fried well, it lacked seasoning. My mac and cheese was mushy, bland, and overcooked, and the Brussels sprouts, though fresh, didn’t have the advertised seasoning—they were actually better at LongHorn. The fried green tomatoes were good, and I did enjoy my drink. Overall, as someone visiting from out of town and having read all the rave reviews, I found my experience to be somewhat disappointing.

I tried the sriracha chicken and waffles, and the flavor was excellent. The portion sizes were generous, but I do have one critique: both the chicken and waffles were a bit too soft for my liking. I would have preferred the chicken to be a little more seasoned and crunchy to add some texture to the dish. Overall, it was a great experience!

I really wanted to enjoy the food more than I did. I saw a friend’s post about the smothered chicken that made my mouth water. Unfortunately, the food looked better than it tasted. Here are some specifics: the service was excellent—our server was friendly and helpful. However, the smothered chicken was dry, and I was expecting blueberry jam to accompany the biscuits, but instead I received a small cup of blueberries meant for pie. On a positive note, I enjoyed the sweet potato casserole and loved the white vinaigrette dressing on the salad. The prices were reasonable.