Tupelo Honey - Des Moines

The food was delightful. As a southerner, the biscuits were more drop style than southern traditional. However, they were fluffy and delicious. The shrimp and grits were lick the plate worthy. Definitely coming back!

The biscuits and jam were an amazing starter!! My friend and I came in for a late brunch and our waitress had great recommendations and was very attentive. I had the chicken and waffles, wasn’t a huge fan of the chicken but still pretty good! I preferred my friend’s which was the spicy version. Overall great experience!

Amazing food and service! We had reservations and they sat us right away. Excellent food with a great menu all day! Yes to amazing vegan options!

Fantastic experience! Made a reservation using open table. When I arrived about 10 minutes early they sat us right away. Server was very personable and fun. Delightful southern hospitality. Food did not disappoint either. Started with the Blistered Shishito Peppers good flavor, not spicy. Entree Cast Iron Pork which was Gluten Free and sides I got was the Brussel Sprouts and Grits Mac & Cheese Waffles with Nashville Fried Chicken. Chicken was juicy, flavorful and waffles where a perfect balance of sweet and savory Dessert was Banana Pudding ( not pictured) Drink Peach Don’t Kill my Vibe Fun atmosphere, Good gluten free options! I’m looking forward to coming back soon

Soooo good! Went here on a whim today. Soul food so good you need a nap when your done. Not too sweet, not too spicy, but so flavorful. Fried brussel sprouts and fried pickles not greasy at all! Perfect fry job. Staff were awesome too! So nice and welcoming. 10/10 you have to eat here. Just bring an extra layer in case you get cold in restaurants. Some of the pictures are after we already started because it was that good!

My first time here. I had the shrimp po'boy and a friend had the egg breakfast with grits. Our waitress was fantastic! The food was excellent too! They tell me fried okra is coming to their menu soon! I'll definitely be back!

This restaurant is a must-visit! The stylish interior creates a wonderful ambiance, and the service is impeccable. The food is absolutely delicious, and their cocktails are a delightful treat. If you're in the area, don't miss the opportunity to experience this fantastic dining spot.

Love the decor and overall ambiance here! Light, open and airy look and feel. The service was great and every dish was served hot. The sweet tea was delicious and we enjoyed the fried green tomatoes! The Tupelo shrimp and grits was flavorful and the shrimp po boy was a light and delicious sandwich too. Our waitress was friendly and quick with her service response times. I am certain that we will eat here again.

Our waitress was super sweet and efficient and not annoyed that we were trying to get to a show at the Civic Center. We were in and out and about 45 minutes and I thought all of the food was good. Great ambiance and who doesn't love glasses that say bless your heart😉

Great location with nice decor and friendly staff. Food was delicious and menu offered a great variety to choose from. Had another great visit for my birthday. The sriracha honey chicken and waffles were fantastic. Also got some phenomenal shimp and grits for later. The restaurant has a great decor and the waitress was very nice.

I hosted a baby shower at the Des Moines, Iowa location today and could not be happier with our event! The service was wonderful and the food was excellent. Everyone was raving about how good everything was. Thank you so much for hosting our event! Exceeded our expectations.

I've been to the Virginia locations and I'm happy to say that the quality of service, food, AND design of the DSM location is consistent with the others. Really excited to have one of our southern/east coast staples out here! Don't forget to make a reservation at least 2 days early, especially if you're trying to book brunch! I got an order of the biscuits for the table. There's only 2 biscuits per order but they are big enough to share for a party of 4 so that you can whet but not spoil your appetite. Not big on chains, but this I highly recommend.

This place is sooooo good. My whole family got biscuits to start, the smothered fried chicken with the amazing potato cracklins and Broccolini. Everything was amazing and the waitress was adorable and super friendly/ helpful. If I lived here I would come every week. Everything was delicious, the restaurant is incredibly clean and decorated lovely!

Our meal tasted amazing, and was beautiful to look at. The baked potatoes were a work of delicious art, and the grits were even amazing! The traditional breakfast, and the chipotle, chicken and waffles… Wow!!!!! Mason, our server, did a great job of helping us throughout the meal. Today’s purchase and pricing: Waffles Sriracha Honey $16.95 Traditional Breakfast $12.95 Goat Cheese Grits $4.95

Went in for Father’s Day and had a great experience. My daughters both loved what they had - one had the breakfast bowl and she loved the grits and her iced coffee. One had waffles and chicken - Nashville with a Mac and Cheese Waffle. She thought it was one of the best things she has eaten. I had biscuits and gravy with the fried chicken with to sunny side up eggs. It was superb. Highly recommend trying Tupelo Honey. Great service and the food is amazing

Oh. My goodness it’s delicious!!!! Definitely one of our best meals on this vacation. Inside and decor and design is nice. Staff friendly. FOOD WAS FANTASTIC. I’d definitely eat here again. Thank goodness they have them in Texas.

Waited awhile to try this place and I’ve read some mixed reviews. A lunch date w/ my one true took us on a journey to find something open on a Monday…harder than one would think! Drove past Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar and saw lights on. Bingo! Host was kind, sat us right away. Iced tea was yummy, we’re suckers for fresh brewed iced teas. Chicken Tortilla Soup was lukewarm at best, good in flavor but I was not mind blown over it. Probably would’ve been better hot. The Cobb salad was awesome, with “the good” ranch. Important to note when a place has good ranch, IMO. But damn, that fried chicken is fiiiiiiine! Better than Kwik Trip (don’t judge me until you’ve tried it)! I am so glad I got the gravy and sweet sauce both on the side, because I wanted neither. The fried chicken itself was perfect in flavor, piping hot, peppery but not so much it dominates in flavor, and it was fall off the bone fantastic. Brussel sprouts good, but it was hard to focus on anything else besides the fried chicken. We will definitely be back for the fried chicken! — at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar.

We visited Tupelo Honey this weekend. The food was great, drinks were amazing, and service was excellent. We were first greeted with there amazing staff and the beautiful ambiance. We started our food journey with fried green tomatoes and biscuits. Then carried on to fried chicken, chicken tenders, and smothered chicken. With these meals there was a wide variety of sides to choose from. They had non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages that had us refreshed after each bite. Overall, our experience at Tupelo Honey was great and hope you consider them for your next meal!

Had a great brunch with my Secured Overhead Doors team! From stepping through the door to the last bite of banana pudding, everything was spot-on. The food was amazing, and our server couldn’t have been better. I’m in Iowa every three months—definitely coming back!

Nice southern inspired restaurant in downtown Des Moines. Brussel sprout appetizer was good, chicken sandwich very good and mac n cheese was outstanding. Drinks were also good. They were very busy so the service was slow but decent. They only seemed to have one bartender for the entire bar. Food and drinks were good, I will return on a less busy evening.

My wife and I had a very enjoyable time here. The service was friendly and the ambience was nice. The sriracha chicken and waffles had just the right balance of flavours. My wife's dish had some slightly undercooked eggs but they made that right very quickly. She enjoyed it and it was a hefty portion. The drinks were well priced. The desserts were very delectable. I personally recommend the pecan pie though my wife would have you know it's quite rich. Recommended.

In town for a show and stopped by for dinner. The vibe is what I might describe as garden modern and chic. Loved the wooden chandeliers and plants all around. I think they may have been short handed this Thursday evening because it took awhile to get seated, then awhile to get noticed, awhile for drinks, etc… nothing too speedy although staff was very sweet and helpful. We shared the fried pickles - good but a little salty. We enjoyed the thin pickle slices vs some that are too thick. Decided to share the pork tenderloin and onion rings for our entree. We’ve had better and definitely had worse - just nothing spectacular. I will say, the other more “southern” dishes coming out of the kitchen looked amazing so this issue may have been purely what we selected from the menu! All in all fun spot and we would try again.

Got the hot waffle and Mac n cheese for dinner. Super fluffy waffle and really good, crispy chicken. Wish there was more spicy sauce but that's a personal preference. Also got the fried pickles as an appetizer; they were okay. A little salty for my liking but the ranch is clearly homemade which was a big plus. Service and atmosphere were great too.

The collards greens were ok but not what I expected. They needed more flavor. Everything else was good! Especially the Famous Fried Green Tomatoes! 🔥🔥🔥

I’m a big fan of the chain, having previously eaten in Omaha. I don’t know how you make fried green tomatoes that good and that consistently. So good. The pimento dip was tasty and generous. Service was a bit tough - I don’t think they were prepared for the weekend summer brunch crowd. I was really excited for the banana pudding; it was excellent in Omaha. I don’t think it was as fresh here as I’ve had it before. I’ll be back but that ended the meal on a wrong note.

Overall I was pleased with my visit to Tupelo! The food was fantastic. I had the sweet and spicy chicken sandwich and chicken tortilla soup. Both were delicious. I wish I could have sampled everything! The atmosphere is nice and inviting. Very calm and quiet restaurant with nice outdoor seating area. The only negative was the time it took to get initial service. I got seated quickly, but it was a while before anyone came to my table. For only being ~20 people in the restaurant I found the 10-15 minute wait for service slightly annoying. That being said, I would definitely visit again when I’m in the area!

Tupelo Honey in downtown DSM has a very cozy, open, eclectic vibe. I could see it being a great brunch spot, though it does seem to be busy during all hours so a reservation is recommended. Their hot chicken sandwich was good, but it’s not my favorite I’ve ever had and the Mac and cheese side was actually pretty bland- mostly just noodles with shredded cheddar and broiled. Definitely not bad and still tasty but was expecting a little bit more. Their biscuits, however, were amazing- super flakey and HUGE. Drinks are a little pricey, but not unexpected for a place like this. I will definitely return to try other menu items!

We first tried this restaurant while vacationing in Asheville,NC and loved it! We were so excited to try it again. Their happy hour special is great! (See pic) Food review: Our Brussel sprouts were a bit over done compared to our first visit. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich with Mac & Cheese was great. The grilled chicken salad was what you would expect. The evening we were there was a Saturday evening and we walked right in. The lights were way to bright ruining the normally great vibe. We will be back- and you should try it too!

Went for lunch with a friend! I enjoyed a delicious blueberry lavender cocktail, and my friend had the strawberries and cream (nonalcoholic) beverage. Hers did not have as much flavor as mine, but was still good. We shared the fried green tomatoes appetizer (the photo) and they were absolutely amazing! I ordered the classic Nashville hot chicken sandwich and it was great - I did have to ditch the bread however (which is typical for that sandwich!) as it got a little soggy, but the chicken and the side salad were great. I think my friend ordered the southern chicken BLT and she enjoyed it very much! The service was prompt and the atmosphere was nice - was a little slower on the lunch hour, but I liked the lighting, decor, seating choices, etc. Will be going back!

When Tupelo Honey first opened, Mama and I were eager to try! However, reviews were mixed like a good martini, so we hesitated. Well, I owed Mama a celebration since I was out of the country on Mother's Day, so we decided to give it a go! With 5:30p reservations, we were seated immediately. The atmosphere was buzzing with many patrons celebrating after-work drinks and whatnot. Our server, Ashley, came to our table right away to get us started. Now, reviews indicated not to get our hopes too high and a few items to avoid in comparison to Bubba. But, I've never listened to anyone and wasn't about to start. We started with fried green tomatoes and will just say the grits are good, but having to use a sharp knife to cut through the rock-like tomatoes wasn't great. The biscuits are the highlight you put in your letter to your parents from summer camp! We moved onto smothered chicken, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, fries, parmesan and rosemary cracklin's, and brussels. The fried chicken was underwhelming, but the smothered is where it's at! The milk gravy takes me back to Grams' specialty we begged for constantly and were only blessed with once or twice a year! For your potato, we both concur where it's at: crack-a-lack-in's! The only side we would not order again? Well, as thick thighed carb-lovers, we know our mac and cheese. This was flavorless and dry, which aligns to several other reviews I've read. Dessert? There is a cool option to try a miniature serving of both, but we don't do miniature for dessert. Both the banana pudding and pecan pie were what I picture legit Southerners making for Sunday dinner. Ashley was slammed with many tables and did a great job of taking care of us. We will be back. And, as we encourage everyone, we will be patient and understanding of staffing shortages. To reiterate: don't go in expecting Bubba and you likely won't be disappointed. We tried it and it seemed to help. All this food and one soda was $59 (that's pretty darned good in my book)!

Ordered the Ashvelle hot chicken sandwich was good but it wasn't spicy at all. We had great service and nice atmosphere. We also ordered the chicken blt with fried okra. It was good with enough okra for 2.

I was surprised. The staff and place are really nice. Good service and overall a good experience. I got a hot chicken sandwich. To my surprise it was kinda cold and dry chicken which is hard as it’s a chicken thigh. Also surprising was there was almost no flavor or seasoning. Just a bland piece of dry cold chicken. Definitely not what I was expecting. The Brussels sprouts were good. Maybe it was an off day but the food did not match the expectations. I would however try it again.

Came to have a late brunch and was greeted by the host who was super sweet! Got a booth right away. Server came pretty quickly and was nice as well. I ordered a chai drink. Not sure the name any more, but it was delicious! The water there has a funky taste, but no biggie. Ordered our food and asked for a side of the rosemary potatoes to start. They were crispy and delicious. I ordered the smothered chicken and biscuits. The chicken and biscuits were pretty dry. The gravy was lacking flavor but the bacon made up for it. As for the chicken and waffles. Same thing with the chicken. Asked for the Asheville dusting on the chicken and it didn’t have much on there. The waffles were soft and tasted really good! Not sure if we’ll be back, but was worth a try. The place is nicely decorated.

My husband and I tried Tupelo Honey for brunch. The pickles were very thin with a fried chicken like crunch to them. Overall one of the better fried pickles in town in my opinion. We had (not pictured) the biscuits for a cause. They were much larger than I expected and hot and fluffy. I did order the fried Chicken and my husband the shrimp and grits. The fried chicken was very overdone and dried out. The bee dust on it was delicious though. I would like to try the chicken on another visit in hopes I just got a bad batch considering I’ve heard such good things about it. My husband said the Shrimp and grits were good. The grits were especially well made with the shrimp being just ok. He said personally he wouldn’t order it again but it was delicious enough he would still recommend for others to try. For drinks I had the Southern Hospitality mimosa and my husband got the lavender lemonade. The lemonade was too lavender tasting for his preference but definitely unique and worth a try. The mimosa was very delicious. Being just the 2 of us the only table options were high tops which are very uncomfortable for my husband. It looked like during nice weather the patio has non-high tops for two. We were seated right in front of the kitchen door so we did not get to really enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant at all. It was busy and being seated there you will always have someone coming out going next to you. It was busy so I wasn’t going to ask to move. Our server was very personable and friendly. He did a great job. Overall I’d give my personal experience a solid 3/5. I’d like to come back sometime and try it again.

Fried chicken was THE best I have ever had. Amazing biscuits!!! Took over an hour to get an appetizer. Got dinner after about an hour and a half from walking in the door. The decor is beautiful. Fried green tomotoes were okay. Crackin potatoes were very good!

Great service. And a beautiful atmosphere in the heart of down town Des Moines. Food was fair at best.

Had a reservation at 3PM today and service was terrible. Sat at a table and asked about a free booth, telling us it was taken. While we were there, 5 more booths opened up with no one taking the one we were asking about for an hour. It was not busy at all, less than half of the restaurant was filled with wait staff standing around, but took long to get our food and drink refills. We got the biscuits and fried pickles as appetizers, biscuits were fluffy & liked the jam and butter it came with and fried pickles had a good seasoning in their batter. We got Mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts as sides, they were both small for the price and lacking in flavor. We tried the original honey dusted bone-in fried chicken and some pieces were very dry. Asked for 3 dipping sauces, not realizing they charge for them as our waitress did not mention anything. We waited 10 minutes for the sauces to come out and had to ask our waitress again for them.

The food has been decent here before. My husband and I returned today on his lunch hour for the first time in a few years - we stood at the host stand for close to 10 minutes without any assistance being offered. Multiple staff members seemed to see us but did not acknowledge us or even say they’d be with us shortly. We ended up leaving rather than continue to wait for service and walked out feeling a bit disgruntled.

I ate at Tupelo Honey in Ohio 2 years ago. On a recent visit to Des Moines I was excited to see that there was one here. Sad to say the food was not good. Potatoes were not the cracklins and were too salty and the chicken was dry. Won’t be returning

I hate giving one star reviews but I have nothing positive to say about my experience. Only got water refills when I could find the waitress and asked. Biscuits weren’t good even after loading them up with butter and jam. Bourbon meatloaf was horrible. I subbed my mac and cheese for Brussel sprouts and then substituted my potatoes for Brussels sprouts instead.