Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Columbia

I was so excited to try Tupelo Honey….and when I finally did it was a tremendous disappointment on every possible level. I asked the hostess if we could please sit on the other side of the restaurant because there was only a few patrons on that side, and I wanted to be able to hear my husband and son. Not only did she not want to sit us on the other side of the restaurant where fewer patrons were, she sat us directly under the massive HVAC unit that was simultaneously chirping loudly while also making this horrendous rattling noise. Between that, the crowded space with patrons having to yell so they could hear each other, the music being too loud, I couldn’t begin to hope to hear my family. To add to the overwhelming atmosphere was Ava, our server. I’m certain she is a lovely young lady, but for whatever reason she was in a rush to take our orders and kept coming back every two minutes like clockwork despite still holding my menu. I have waitressed as a second job my entire life, and I know a waitress in a rush to go on break when I see one. She took my husband and son’s orders and walked away without mine. I gave up and ordered the steak and eggs so that I’d maybe have a chance to get to eat with my family, as that was not only the quickest thing to make on the menu, but regrettably the most expensive too. I’ve never paid $30 for dog food, but there’s a first time for everything I suppose. There’s no possible way that steak was cooked fresh. Not only was it over cooked, but it was also stone cold, and without a sear. I’m sure they probably cook sous vide and don’t know how to actually do it. I hate sous vide steak to begin with because it leaves the steak without a sear and the texture of a flank steak sous vide is nothing short of a war crime. Slimy and rubbery. If they don’t utilize sous vide, they’re boiling it because that’s the only way to achieve that particular texture and lack of flavor. It was hands down the worst steak I’ve ever had. I tried one piece and spit it into my napkin. I didn’t even want to take it home to my dogs, but my husband insisted that we at least get something out of it. $30 for eggs goes against the Geneva Convention, and is unconscionable. She tried to take it back to get the chef (a term I use loosely in this instance) to cook it again because it’s clearly not medium rare, and he blamed it on the lighting in the restaurant and would not cook it again. If you don’t know how to cook a medium rare steak, just say it and don’t make excuses. It was not only insulting but rude too. To Ava’s credit, she apologized….not that it was her fault. She can’t control the kitchen.

I think the thing that bothers me most of all is that we rarely get to go out, and for the first time in months we finally did and it was absolutely awful. I hate writing bad reviews for restaurants because I’ve worked in the industry my entire working life, but I can’t let this go. I could have if it had just been a bad atmosphere or bad food….but not when it’s both. It’s a beautiful restaurant if you’re deaf and don’t have to deal with the overwhelming noise from an HVAC system badly in need of repair. If you’re going to have the gall to charge $30 for steak and eggs, especially an inexpensive cut of steak it had better be done well….and this wasn’t. More than that, the chef not being able to admit he horribly overcooked it while simultaneously serving it ice cold (cooked ahead of time if not sous vide?) was unforgivable. Ava despite rushing our service was the only positive thing I can say about my experience at Tupelo. She remained polite despite my obvious disappointment in the food, and I appreciate it. If you go, insist that they seat you on the side without the exposed and obnoxiously loud HVAC. Don’t order the steak and eggs. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did. Otherwise, I don’t recommend subjecting yourself to highway robbery for a meal that was only memorable because it was the worst meal I’ve ever had….and I highly doubt it will ever be surpassed.

That cow died in vain, and so did...

I agree with a couple of other reviews that staff need training and tools to increase efficiency and speed.

The food was all really good, from appetizers to desserts! Unfortunately the service was really lacking. Our server did not refill drinks or clear dishes at any point, and the food took forever to arrive (almost 30 minutes just for the two-biscuit appetizer, for example). Our server also went to get us a box, then came back empty-handed to ask us what size box we wanted? We had one plate with any leftovers on it, and I have never been here before, so I have no idea what your boxes look like? Our server only had 3 tables but everything just took forever. Overall the restaurant was really busy, but no one was hustling or even seemed to be moving at a typical speed.

While some of the issues with service might be lack of training or maybe we just got a brand-new server who wasn’t prepared, but the server team also needs tools to be more efficient. Management needs to provide servers with trays to deliver food, for one. Why are SIX staff members delivering food to a 6-top, each carrying a single entree in their hands? And coming out of the kitchen one at a time? They also need pitchers for refills, at least for water. Why are servers being asked for more water, walking empty-handed back to the drink station, pouring one glass of water, walking it back, and then walking away with one empty glass? Repeat across dozens of tables. It was all so inefficient and I’m sure contributed to the slow service times.

We may give this place another chance because we did enjoy the food and atmosphere, but service (especially wait time) absolutely...

Gave 2 stars because the food is amazing, but the service on Saturday 4/12 at the bar was awful. Not just to “complain” service but truly terrible. Went to open seat at bar which had not been cleaned. Ok no problem, but told the bar tender who proceeded to give us a brown paper towel to clean it ourselves. Finally ordered drinks and they were brought spilling over and no napkins offered. Everything we got, we had to ask for…. Literally, no service at all at any point. Finally got our food with no silverware. Again waited and waited and finally had to ask. After we and others at the bar sat there without any drinks we finally said something to which the bartender said “we’d have to wait because she was helping someone else”. She was doing us a favor, that was the vibe of the night. Not service. Mind you another women came out of nowhere to offer assistance after we finally said we were done and wanted our check. It was too late at that point. Another man (who we thought might have been a manager) and a woman spent most of the evening seemingly complaining about internal issues behind the bar most of the time we were there. You could easily tell other patrons at the bar were as frustrated with the service or “non service” as we were but not once did they offer to help. And the restaurant wasn’t full. We would have gotten a few more drinks and are good tippers but this restaurant lost that and future business. I can tell by other reviews and no responses that this establishment will probably not be around long. Sad as the food is delicious. But the...