Tupelo Honey Cafe Awards

Tupelo Honey Cafe Restaurant Review:

Tupelo Honey Cafe, from Asheville, North Carolina, chose Sandy Springs for its first Georgia location. Perched in a spanking bright shopping "village," the cafe enjoys a well-lit, modern design with touches of warm wood in the furnishings and an open kitchen. Southern fare dominates, so expect grits with dishes that classically didn't have them on the side, such as fried green tomatoes with a green pepper sauce. Grits come with goat cheese blended in. Less successful are the sorghum-glazed wild-caught grilled shrimp on a bed of arugula. The small shrimp become dried out by being grilled, although the accompanying corn soufflé is a keeper. Pulled pork, offered as a plate and as a sandwich, is tasty, and we liked the paired corn slaw. Mustard-based South Carolina sauce is a good option, one that hews to authenticity rather well. Buttermilk honey cheesecake for dessert captures the flavors of the South in a fresh way. Daily specials such as the Thursday bottomless mac 'n' cheese are attention-getting. The short wine list is serviceable but not exciting. Lots of local craft brews, however, plus ciders and even a locally made mead are much more intriguing. Besides the usual fountain drinks, Blue Blaze handmade sodas are available.