THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED LOCATIONS Tupelo Junction Cafe

THIS RESTAURANT HAS CHANGED LOCATIONS Tupelo Junction Cafe Restaurant Review:

In a town where light and healthy is more common than blackened and fried, this Southern-style restaurant sticks out like a catfish in a goldfish bowl. You’ll find diver scallops on other menus nearby, but not sharing a plate with cheddar and jalapeño grits. In spite of the incongruousness --- and in part because of it --- Tupelo Junction has long held an unwavering spot on the short list of hot local tables. Here, classic Southern food like collard greens and Creole rice meet a beach town version of shabby chic. Watering pails adorn the walls and mimosas are presented in mason jars. Fried green tomatoes are stacked with goat cheese and drizzled with an arugula and balsamic reduction. Bloody Mary-braised baby-back ribs are served with a cornbread waffle and house-made applesauce. While zesty flavors prevail (think cheddar cheese hush puppies with spicy pepper jam), clean execution tames many dishes. Even the fried chicken is relatively light --- it's served in a salad. Desserts include bananas Foster with dark rum and vanilla bean ice cream, and chocolate turtle beignets with crème anglaise and candied pecans.