Tupelo Honey Review

Our youngest son’s girlfriend recently started working as a traveling nurse. Her first assignment was in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina.  As we haven’t seen our boys in eight months, we all decided to meet up in Asheville for an overdue visit.  Kevin and Theresa were excited to introduce us to Tupelo Honey, an excellent restaurant they had discovered. Knowing the popular restaurant would be busy on a holiday weekend, Theresa had the forethought to make a reservation for us.

Parking in downtown Asheville on a busy weekend can be tricky, so we left ample time to find parking. We circled the block until we found a paid lot with spaces for both cars only a few blocks from the restaurant. We arrived a few minutes early to find our table was not ready yet. The hostess said they would text us when it was.

We walked across the street to a small street fair with music and a variety of vendors. I enjoyed the artwork on display in one of the booths, but as I walked around, I was shocked by the number of homeless people in the area. We have noticed homeless camps in many places we have visited, but nothing like in Asheville. The city has a homeless-friendly atmosphere. We saw tents set up in the park, people lying on benches throughout the city, and even lying on the sidewalks right next to the people dining on the patio.

There was a strange juxtaposition between the people sleeping on the streets and the party atmosphere that pervaded the square. Soon we received the text indicating our table was ready. We quickly made our way back to the restaurant, dodging the bachelorette conga line parading down the sidewalk. We checked in with the hostess, and she escorted us to a table reasonably distanced from other tables. Jacob greeted us warmly and took our drink order. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient, even offering suggestions for entertainment in the local area if needed.

We ordered cocktails and coffee. I enjoyed the Pink is the New Mimosa, a mimosa with tropical flavors. We upgraded with a shot of honeysuckle vodka at Jacob’s suggestion, which added a lovely flavor to the already tasty cocktail.

Kevin could not stop talking about the biscuits, so we asked for two orders as an appetizer for the table. Kevin was right. The buttermilk biscuits, layered with a perfect dense to crumbly ratio, were fantastic.  The blueberry jam was delightful, but the hot honey we ordered to top them off gave them an outrageous savory-sweet combination. It was nice to learn that proceeds from the biscuits go to a fund to help employees in need.

Chris had the Traditional Breakfast, two eggs with a choice of parmesan and rosemary potato cracklins or heirloom grits with goat cheese and a choice of meat. He also ordered a side of collards. He went with grits and bacon for his options. The eggs were a lovely over-medium, and the bacon was a perfect balance between crispy and meaty. The heavenly grits had an incredible richness from the goat cheese. The collards were flavorful and cooked through but not to the point of soggy. They had a great bite to them. One of the kids (and I use that term lovingly) had the potato cracklins, which were spectacular.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food, but I think my Tupelo Shrimp & Grits was the plate of the day. Using the same heirloom grits with goat cheese that Chris had, they topped them with wild-caught gulf shrimp, chorizo, peperonata, creole butter sauce, and scallions. The dish was a sweet, savory, spicy masterpiece. I was well into adulthood before I ever tasted shrimp & grits, and since that first taste, I tend to order them anytime I find them on the menu. These were easily some of the best I have had.

After eating brunch at Tupelo Honey, I am not surprised that they stay busy. The food was fantastic with excellent service. Cost for a coffee, a cocktail, 2/3 of an appetizer, two entrees, and a side $65.07.