Featured image by Maddie Cargile Photography.
When it comes to dining out, there is so much choice and variety available in Frisco these days, trying to choose a place to eat is delightfully difficult. Then, you may like to consider the company you plan to dine with, their preferences or even dietary requirements. As one local friend mentioned, “you can quickly become ‘restaurant indecisive’ around here.”
However, you really cannot EVER go wrong with some tasty southern cooking satisfying anyone’s palate.
Tupelo Honey Restaurant arrived at the Entertainment District at The Star in Frisco last September and quickly became the talk about town. To put it quite simply, Tupelo Honey is Southern-inspired dishes, simply crafted and made from scratch in a modern casual space.
Where does the name Tupelo Honey come from?
Tupelo is an amber-colored honey and described as having “unique buttery undertones with a soft vanishing sweetness.” It’s produced by bees that nest on the flowers of Ogeechee Tupelo trees which grow naturally across the swamps and waterways of Florida, Southern Carolina, and Georgia.
With this in mind, it’s not surprising that true friendly southern hospitality greets you upon arrival at Tupelo’s newest Texas location.
The Asheville, N.C.-based restaurant, known for its revival of Southern food, has become one of the Southern region’s most beloved dining destinations since opening in 2000. As the largest Tupelo Honey location, the Frisco restaurant features an indoor and outdoor bar and two private dining spaces.
Known for celebrating art and local artists, Tupelo Honey highlights unique, Texas-inspired pieces throughout the restaurant. Tupelo Honey’s signature artist, Simone Wilson, curated the art for Frisco. She selected three Texas artists to showcase in the restaurant, including the work of Dallas-based artist, Annie Holland, with eight Texas-inspired images.
“Expanding into Texas was a natural move for the brand,” said Tupelo Honey CEO Steve Frabitore. “The Dallas/Fort Worth culinary scene is exploding, particularly in Frisco, and we found the perfect location at The Star.”
Gracious Food, Southern Roots
At Tupelo Honey, your meal may referred to as “supper” and they’re proud of the fact that “we mind our manners and pull out your chair.”
The dining area is spacious and most welcoming with ample choices of table and bar seating. You can also choose to dine in their large covered patio with its own bar.
There are various menus depending on the time of day you visit, all incorporating traditional southern favorites with a modern twist, including a Hot Stone and Outdoor Grill Menu.
Their lunch and brunch menus overlap to provide a great selection of snacks, salads, bowls, mouthwatering sandwiches, sides and egg dish combinations. There are many sharing plates to choose from, and how about a carafe of Mimosa or Bloody Mary to share with your companions? If you’re limited on time, the lunch combo of Half Salad, half sandwich and a side for just $12 is ideal.
We immediately ordered Crispy Brussels; a vegetable most people either love or hate but they were so savory, our table just couldn’t get enough. Infused with fresh herbs, lemon and chopped bacon and accompanied with garlic buttermilk ranch, it was an ideal size dish for sharing.
Other appetizer choices include Fried Green Tomatoes, Avocado Toast, and their signature dish, Cathead Biscuits. These large biscuits come with housemaid blueberry jam and whipped butter, but why not finish with a drizzle of Tupelo Honey and then consider taking a bottle home?
My choice of steak salad was presented to perfection! The flat iron cooked just to my liking and laid across a bed of green beans, cherry tomatoes, chopped bacon, fingerling potatoes and crispy onions. My request to alter the accompanying cheese and dressing was met with a confident offering of options by our server.
Vegetarian and Seafood lover’s choices are excellent, the Appalachian Spinach Salad and Grilled Patagonian Salmon as highlights.
The food was hot, fresh and well presented with an excellent service from start to finish! The lunch hour presented a lively crowd on a busy afternoon however, the ambiance remained more than pleasant.
Their dinner menu does not disappoint with the inclusion of a Charcuterie Menu; choose from a Southern, Country Ham or all Cheese Board. The Cauliflower Steak is an entree highlight with one friend describing it as “the best of his all-time favorites.”
Southern Sips
The beverage program stars craft cocktails, local brews, an extensive wine selection and crowd-pleasing promotions such as $0.75 martinis during weekday lunch!
Signature house-made drinks are becoming a big hit with diners and Tupelo Honey delights in an award-winning beverage program focused on local, sustainable and quality products. Their drink menu is vast covering all range of drafts, wines, whiskeys, cocktails, and spirits. Try their Tupelo Margarita; a combination of El Jimador tequila, house-made honey liqueur, lemon, lime, egg white, mint, and chili-salt.
After all that, try leave a little space for dessert where if you can’t down a full dish, I dare you to try one of their mini mason jar desserts.
Is it family-friendly? 100%! Both from a menu and ambience perspective. Tupelo Honey is ideal for any occasion, any time of day with a trendy, sophisticated ambiance, and yet a comfortable southern vibe as well.
Dine and delight as they “infuse southern spirit into every bite.”
Tupelo Honey is located at 6725 Winning Drive, Frisco, Texas. It’s open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
