Tupelo Honey is a Southern comfort food restaurant chain that originated in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Knoxville outpost on Market Square is one of the better places to eat downtown. The food is Southern brunch and lunch done well: shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, sweet potato pancakes, country ham benedicts, and good biscuits.
The quality is consistent, the setting is pleasant, and the portions are generous in the Southern tradition. It is particularly strong for weekend brunch — the Market Square location means you can eat on the patio and watch the square's morning activity. Expect waits on weekend mornings; the dining room fills early.