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    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    3.8 (337 reviews)
    Open • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    TUPELO HONEY SOUTHERN KITCHEN & BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Sangria
    Anya J.

    I would like to preface this review by saying, the reason I gave 2 stars is because our server was so kind and the "Kiss My Grits" sign in the entrance of the restaurant was cute. As far as the remaining experience, significantly disappointing. I have never had such bland food in my life. I got the Chicken & Waffles, cooked perfectly, however the flavor profile was similar to that of loose leaf paper. I was so hungry coming from my flight that I ate it but it took likely enough salt and butter to raise my blood pressure for there to be a smidge of taste in my meal. It's a pretty restaurant to go grab drinks and maybe an appetizer but not much else. Overall 3/10.

    Shrimp bruschetta
    DavidAnya H.

    The food was phenomenal. Beautiful restaurant, very natural with wood furnishings and plants. Andrew is the quintessential host/wait staff - it's almost like being taken care of while visiting someone's home, in the very best way. 10/10, no notes.

    Chicken and waffles peach
    Maarij A.

    Food was quick and well cooked. Service was fast but we went in down time hours so there weren't many people there. Ambiance is nice and open so it feels spacious.

    Front Entrance
    Maury R.

    It's been a bit since our last trip to Tupelo Honey, but it did not disappoint. It's hard to beat the price for delicious southern comfort food. Tonight I had the sweet and spicy chicken waffles with honey Sriracha syrup. Absolutely delicious! Between that and my smoky collards with bacon and some heat, I couldn't have been happier. My wife got the Smother Lovin' Biscuit Sandwich and really liked it. Country fried potatoes on the side were just enough for her. My son got a basic cheese burger and fries and crushed every last crumb! The waitress was attentive and kind and the food was on the table inside of 12 minutes. This is a great little place in downtown Des Moines, and you should give it a go if southern cookin' is your thing!

    Bar Menu
    MaryAnn S.

    As a true southerner I crave good down home comfort food that specializes in comfort dishes such as "Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen,' in downtown Des Moines with their heaping helping of shrimp and grits. Grits with goat cheese is an acquired taste. The shrimp was delicious and the slice of Mississippi Mud Pie as well as the cheese cake was divine. If you like honey fried chicken with a soft crunch -- that is topped off with crispy deliciously flavored French fries-- this is the place. Pete -- the bar manager -- as well as Jennifer, wait staffer, recommended the people's favorite dishes. The total atmosphere was large enough with good acoustics that allowed you to savor the moment of exquisite comfort food showcasing a lovely presentation.

    Salmon with Caesar salad and Mac and cheese
    Krystle K.

    We did make reservations and were seated on time. Everything I tried had good flavor and everything looked yummy. Food was cold for a few of us when served. We had a party of 11 and food took a while to be served. We should have asked for kids to get their food first. The Mac and cheese is little spicy for the adults. They make the kids version not spicy. Service was good considering we had 11 of us. Ambiance was nice.

    Fried chicken
    JemuelnleAnne M.

    Good food in the heart of the city. It was hot and fresh and the staff was attentive and ready to assist. For a chain it is a great place for some southern food

    Brett K.

    I want to start by saying I'm from Bay Area California- so my food experiences and expectations are high. Food was 6/10. I got the smothered chicken which was good. Side of Mac & cheese and grits. Both sides were cold when they arrived in front of me and both were quite bland. Although the server was kind, I felt a bit ignored- after food arrived, I was only checked on once and then the check. When I arrived, I sat next to a filthy table that was empty when I arrived. It wasn't cleaned at all for the duration of my almost hour visit which made me not enjoy the environment as much. There were also 7 other tables that were dirty around me and have all been empty since arrival - I've attached photo. Music was nice, corporate people dining here, moderate pricing. Honestly came here because the reviews looks great and although the food looks great, could just use a bit more seasoning. Probably won't come back here, unfortunately. For the price, I can find other areas that excel in the areas noted above.

    Famous Fried Green Tomatoes* Brown Butter Pecan Pie*half sweet and spicy quarter chicken* Mac and cheese*
    M O.

    First time ordering and the flavors are bland. No type of "soul food" in there. I had the quater chicken, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, Mac and cheese and pecan pie. The chicken is not spicy at all, cold and lacks seasoning. Pretty much all the food lack seasoning and flavor and is cold. The tomatoes are absolutely the worst. I would rather order Walmart pecan pie than theirs. It had an odd after flavor. Pretty disappointed in wasting $50+ after reading so many wonderful reviews. The portion for the Mac and cheese and collard is a joke.

    White Meat - Fried Chicken
    Amber W.

    We're in town for the weekend and while riding around downtown this place caught my eye while searching restaurants. There was about a 30 minute wait but it was Fathers Day and we didn't make reservations. I tried the peach lemonade. It was good but i didn't taste the peach too much. I also got the glazed fried chicken with Brussels sprouts. I didn't understand the pickles that come with it but they complimented the meal. Very cute inside. Service was good as well.

    Erin M.

    This place has been on my radar (yes I know it's a chain but I don't have one near). We walked in to being greeted promptly and shown our table. The waitress was not too far behind. Tried the biscuits for an appetizer. They were ok. A little bit too salty but soft and flaky. Hubs liked the jam. We then proceeded with the sweet and spicy chicken and waffles and the honey dusted chicken. The entrees came kind of fast so I suggested it may be precooked and the dryness of my chicken proved that. Hubs liked his entree but his entree was dripped in sauce. Overall I may not be back but it wasn't a bad experience.

    Southern Chicken BLT with fried okra and hot tea with honey.
    Debra T.

    Great service. Friendly staff. Food was delicious and was authentic southern food. Will definitely return when in town!

    Pimento Cheese
    Reese S.

    The restaurant is easy to get to If you're staying in the city which is nice. Alex our server was wonderful and honest about wait times due to a large party. The pimento cheese was bland but the tortillas that came with the appetizer were yummy. The fried chicken was a little dry but the dry rub on the chicken was delicious. This was my favorite dish here and the fires A+. Overall this was a nice place to have dinner. The interior is clean and beautifully decorated. The staff was kind and helpful which is wonderful.

    Chicken tenders and a mixed green salad

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    3 hours ago

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    Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing Mary <3

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    We are so glad you enjoyed your experience, thanks for the review!

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    Page 1 of 9

    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

    Harbinger - Delicata squash. One of my faves. It definitely has a bit of a kick to it, so beware if you are not a fan of spicy foods!

    Harbinger

    4.6(202 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    •$$

    Amazing creativity, highest quality. And thoroughly knowledgeable service. Small plates with the…read morefreshest local ingredients, often done with an Asian twist. We've gone to happy hour, dinner, and restaurant week. All are amazing. Happy hour and restaurant week are excellent value. Last night we had sweet corn tartlets with a savory cream and white truffle. I wanted them for dessert as well as the amuse bouche. Corn ricotta pasta and an Asian glazed beef tenderloin were standouts. Always order yuzu anything for dessert. The dining room is fairly small but with tables arranged so you're not listening to your neighbor's conversation. Natural decor (moss, branches, grasses, etc.) soften the space. Cocktails are inventive and the wine selection really interesting (in a good way). A biodynamic Spanish selection was one of the most pleasantly versatile bottles I've experienced, and the wine pairings for restaurant week were well conceived. If you're not sure what to select, staff will knowledgeably do it for you. Portland, Oregon is the city where we dine most often, and is one of America's best food cities. We did not expect this quality in Des Moines--were blown away by it--and return every time we're in town.

    A must-visit Des Moines restaurant that pulls off a unique menu in a cozy interior with elite…read morecustomer service. Grace, our server, was amazing, adding so much to the entire visit. Thankful! They serve tapas style, and we grazed all night! We literally tried as much as we could, and loved the entire experience. Among my favorites were the Black Pepper Pork Noodles, Halibut Cheeks, Pea Pasta, and the Beef Fat Potstoes. But I also loved the Farm Carrots and HH Onigari. Seriously, amazing growth food, bolstered by an incredible level of customer service. Finished a great meal with terrific Dark Chocolate Gateau and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a superb place...GO!

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    Harbinger
    Harbinger - Delicata Squash

    Delicata Squash

    Harbinger - Cabbage

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    Cabbage

    Centro - this is just for starters!

    Centro

    4.2(687 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    The person who checked us in seemed a little rude, but our waitress was very friendly! We placed a…read morereservation, which I would highly recommend because otherwise, there's a 1 hour and 30 minute wait. We learned that from the day before, when the front lady completely seemed to ignore us. Anyway, our food was very good, and the restaurant has a very classy, rich vibe. I got the gnocchi, but I feel like the grated cheese on top didn't really go with the pasta. Other than that, it was good, but it's just not really my type. I'd probably skip this one. Since I didn't eat much of it, I got the kids' Alfredo pasta. WOW. Chef's kiss! That was the best Alfredo I've ever had. So cheesy and saucy--definitely a MUST. The complimentary bread was also very good, but the texture made it seem like it definitely wasn't fresh. It tasted a little old, but I still ate it . My family loved their food, and the chicken was absolutely delicious. Overall, definitely a spot you should try!

    Service 5/5 Food 3/5…read moreAtmosphere 4.2/5 We had a reservation for 21:00 on a Saturday evening. Our server was welcoming and courteous, but they were understaff for hosts it seemed. We were given a complimentary bread which is not pictured in my photos. For the most part the bread was already warm and not freshly made. It didn't come with butter but olive, cheese and chili flakes were provided at the table. That bread was a 2/5 given the texture and flavor. Even the way it might've been cooked could improve. The Zelda alcoholic drink was sweet and tangy. I'd recommend it if you're up for it. Bruschetta appetizer kind of disappointed us. Bread was a little overcooked and didn't have much flavor. It came with the cheese, tomatoes and onions. I'd say try a different appetizer instead. Entrees were hot when they came out. Chicken saltimbocca could be best described as rich in flavor. Had a savory chicken and a strong white wine taste to it. The fettuccine Alfredo was cheesy. Ricotta gnocchi had a strong tomato flavor to it. I enjoyed the added cheese to the gnocchi. This was cooked very well and the portion size was big I couldn't finish it. Lastly, The dessert hazelnut brownie tiramisu was cold when served. Easy to put the spoon into. Strong hazelnut flavor and great mascarpone. The bottom half has the brownie part to it. It did have some nuts at the top. The server checked on us enough but not to the point where it was overwhelming. Again they could improve on their beginner bread and bruschetta bread.

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    Centro - Inside

    Inside

    Centro
    Centro

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    Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar - southern - Updated October 2026

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