The RDU Buzz

By Madeline Cook

Tupelo Honey Cafe 

Craving comfort with predictably satisfying meals and welcoming ambience?  Look no further than Tupelo Honey cafe on 425 Oberlin Road in Raleigh. This Southern kitchen is as charming inside as it is outside with its glass front corner entrance and honeybee-inspired décor.  Prepare to enjoy a meal served on cast iron and blue china plates, with fresh cocktails and mocktails served out of punny glasses! 

The roots of Tupelo Honey cafe run much deeper than the endearing restaurant we enjoy today.  While the cafe now proudly operates in over 14 states, you may not know that the very first location was founded in Asheville.  For over 20 years, a deliberate focus has remained on scratch made meals and sustainably sourced ingredients, including respectful farming and mindful animal welfare.  This attention to quality is evident in the very first bites of the wild-caught fish, peppercorn glazed meatloaf, and frankly… everything else on the menu.

Before diving into a southern-inspired appetizer or entrée, don’t skip over the long list of signature drinks, from a boozy lemonade to house-made sodas with natural flavors and the perfect hint of sweetness.  Try a blueberry lavender or cucumber & line Porch Sipper for a refreshing alcohol-free treat with your meal.  For appetizers, the crispy brussels are a must-try.  And for a snack that gives back – ask for the biscuits for a cause!  Proceeds from these jumbo, fluffy pastries support Tupelo Honey employees in need.

When it's time for your meal, choices like the smothered chicken, blackened mahi-mahi and cast-iron pork come with two sides!  The baked mac & cheese and rosemary & parmesan crispy potatoes are a couple of our favorites.  If you’re looking for a hearty meal that puts produce on full display, try the harvest bowl with savory romesco sauce and oodles of fresh vegetables that make you forget just how delicious healthy food can be!

Finish your meal with a carefully crafted dessert – chocolate spoon cake, brown butter pecan pie, or heavenly banana pudding – all as yummy as they sound!  It’ll be a tough call, but you can trust your server with their recommendation as you’re likely to be good friends by the end of the night!  Tupelo Honey cafe employees bring a warmth and friendliness that keep guests returning as much for the experience as for the food.

Four locations of Tupelo Honey cafe now serve North Carolina!  You may have seen one of the two Asheville locations or visited the Charlotte kitchen.  For those of us local to The Triangle, we’re lucky to have the fourth location just up the way in Raleigh.  Stop by between 3:00-5:30 PM to take advantage of the Hoot & Holler Value Menu, otherwise the Cafe is open daily from 11AM-9PM on weekdays, and 9 AM – 8PM on weekends (Saturdays open til 9PM).  What are you waiting for?! Southern goodness awaits!