Coming to Lexington: New-to-Kentucky restaurant with modern twist on Southern dishes

Janet Patton
·2 min read

A new restaurant chain featuring Southern and Appalachian foods is coming to Lexington.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, which started in Asheville, N.C., in December 2000 is planning to open a location at the new Fountains of Palomar development at Harrodsburg Road and Man o’ War Boulevard.

But you’ll have to hold your biscuits for a while: The site is still under construction for, among other things, Lexington’s first Publix grocery store, which is set to open in late 2024. The restaurant will go into the former Masonic lodge, a red brick mansion with a white pillared porch, at 4085 Harrodsburg Rd.

Tupelo Honey is expected to open in the spring of 2025, according to Christin Prince, senior vice president of the chain.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kithen & Bar is planning to open a Lexington location at Fountains at Palomar.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kithen & Bar is planning to open a Lexington location at Fountains at Palomar.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is opening a Lexington location on the south side of Lexington at the corner of Harrodsburg Road and Man o’War near the site for the city’s first Publix grocery store.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is opening a Lexington location on the south side of Lexington at the corner of Harrodsburg Road and Man o’War near the site for the city’s first Publix grocery store.

What’s going to be at Fountains of Palomar

It won’t be the only new restaurant in the development: Bella Cafe & Grille, a second location of the popular local restaurant in Chevy Chase, is opening soon at 3901 Fountain Blue Lane Suite 130.

And Omakase, a sushi restaurant, will be opening out there too.

Other business in the shopping center include Papi’s Mexican Restaurant, Starbuck’s, Orange Theory Fitness, Limestone Bank, Results Physiotherapy and Nail Bar at Fountains.

What’s on the menu at Tupelo Honey?

Tupelo Honey is known for its scratch-made items sourced from local farmers, brewers and distillers, Prince said.

“Our menu is a modern take on Southern cuisine, with staples like fried green tomatoes,” she said. But Tupelo Honey’s are panko-crusted on goat cheese grits with basil and roasted red pepper sauce.

Tupelo Honey’s Famous Fried Green Tomatoes are panko-crusted and served with basil, roasted red pepper sauce on heirloom grits with goat cheese.
Tupelo Honey’s Famous Fried Green Tomatoes are panko-crusted and served with basil, roasted red pepper sauce on heirloom grits with goat cheese.
Tupelo Honey has three versions of eggs Benedict on the brunch menu, including All I “Avo” Wanted, made with smashed avocado and feta cheese. All their versions are served on a buttermilk biscuit with a side of Parmesan rosemary potato cracklins and pickled red onions.
Tupelo Honey has three versions of eggs Benedict on the brunch menu, including All I “Avo” Wanted, made with smashed avocado and feta cheese. All their versions are served on a buttermilk biscuit with a side of Parmesan rosemary potato cracklins and pickled red onions.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is known for its Southern and Appalachian food with a modern twist, including cathead buttermilk biscuits served with blueberry jam.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is known for its Southern and Appalachian food with a modern twist, including cathead buttermilk biscuits served with blueberry jam.

While there are some vegetarian options, the restaurant leans heavily into fried chicken, with three versions of chicken and waffles, including one with mac-n-cheese waffles topped with spicy Ashville hot fried chicken and house-made garlic buttermilk ranch dressing.

The restaurant’s signature dishes, Prince said, also include Tupelo’s Honey-Dusted Fried chicken and shrimp and grits. The dinner menu also has Southern classics including Bourbon Peppercorn Glazed Meatloaf, Smothered Chicken made with milk gravy, Cast-Iron Pork and Roast Beef Debris (fall-apart tender New Orleans roast beef) served over goat cheese grits with braised green beans.

Tupelo Honey’s Shrimp & Grits entree is made with sustainably wild-caught white gulf shrimp, chorizo pork sausage, peperonata, Creole sauce, scallions, heirloom grits with goat cheese.
Tupelo Honey’s Shrimp & Grits entree is made with sustainably wild-caught white gulf shrimp, chorizo pork sausage, peperonata, Creole sauce, scallions, heirloom grits with goat cheese.
One of Tupelo Honey’s signature dishes is the Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken, smothered in sriracha honey sauce.
One of Tupelo Honey’s signature dishes is the Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken, smothered in sriracha honey sauce.
The Cast Iron Pork is slow-cooked pork shoulder in duck fat with a sriracha honey glaze.
The Cast Iron Pork is slow-cooked pork shoulder in duck fat with a sriracha honey glaze.

Tupelo Honey is open for lunch and dinner with brunch on weekends. Some brunch items also are included on the everyday menu as well. There is a full bar with craft cocktails made with house-made syrups.

Since 2006, Tupelo Honey has been expanding and there are now 21 locations with more on the way.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, which started in Asheville, N.C., is bringing a location to Lexington’s Fountains at Palomar development.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, which started in Asheville, N.C., is bringing a location to Lexington’s Fountains at Palomar development.
Tupelo Honey has several versions of chicken and waffles.
Tupelo Honey has several versions of chicken and waffles.