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Tupelo
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants Cajun/Creole Southern, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
1193 Cambridge StCambridge, MA 02139
Neighborhood: Inman Square
(617) 868-0004
- Nearest Transit:
-
Cambridge St @ Norfork St (69)
Cambridge St @ Prospect St (69)
Prospect St @ Hampshire St (83, 91)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
330 reviews for Tupelo
Review Highlights
"The best catfish and pecan pie ever."
(in 82 reviews)
"We shared the oysters and fried grits."
(in 44 reviews)
"They're Petsi Pies, and they made an already amazing meal..."
(in 25 reviews)
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330 reviews in English
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Review from Isaac M.
Cambridge, MA
2/5/2012
I've been going to this restaurant for three years and it's only sheer laziness and inertia that have prevented me from reviewing it. Every single time I have ever gone to Tupelo. Three things set this place apart: a dedication to craft in service unparalleled anywhere in Boston (and possibly anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line); consistently delicious, generously proportioned, and pleasantly whimsical dishes; and superlative desserts.
Brunch at Tupelo should be one of every Cantabrigian's Sunday rituals. For $30 to $40 (including a generous tip), anyone can enter hungry and hungover and leave satisfied, refreshed, and just a little bit drunk. And you can get eighty percent of that experience for half of that amount. Why anyone prefers Tupelo to Hungry Mother, I can't fathom.
The one thing sitting between Tupelo now and Tupelo-as-northern-exclave-of-Cajun-nirvana is the absence of a full bar, for which the Cambridge Licensing Commission is likely responsible. Nonetheless, their palette of craft beers both local and Southern (Louisianans, they always have Abita here!) -- though less extensive than, say, a Meadhall -- is refreshingly broad and lovingly curated.
The service clinches the deal. Every server clearly loves what they do and consistently go above and beyond the call of duty. A few weeks ago, when I was so tired I literally fell asleep during the entrée course and left my phone on the table, our waitress ran bodily down Cambridge Street, uncovered and in 20-degree weather, for a block and a half, to make sure it got back to me safely.
Even if you're suspicious of the idea of Southern food, or unpretentious bourgeois craft food, or you have that native Bostonian distrust (as I do) of friendly service professionals, go to Tupelo. It WILL warm your heart. -
Review from Mike M.
Boston, MA
2/7/2012
Not traditional N'awlins cuisine by a long-shot, but it's still great Southern-influenced food nonetheless. I appreciate the fact that they're experimenting with Creole/Cajun cuisine to bring entirely new dishes, but I would like to see some of the those dishes.
The Daube of Beef Brisket, which came with the creamiest mashed potatoes you've ever had, was melt-in-your-mouth goodness that would make Sarkozy envious. I still can't believe how flavorful and tender that brisket it. And here I thought, if brisket didn't come from a deli, it wasn't brisket to write home about.
The Beer Battered Crepes were phenomenal. They came with a spicy pumpkin puree (not Libby's thankfully) which really dominated the crepes. The pumpkin spice really went well with the smokiness of the melted gouda cheese. As someone who found the BBC's Pumpkin Beerfest to be as close to a religious experience as it gets, this dish really touched me in ways that .... well let's no go there shall we? -
Review from Caitlin B.
Arlington, VA
2/2/2012
I went here for a late dinner with my boyfriend a few weeks ago, and I agree with every review that tells you to arrive HUNGRY. It's not that the servings are huge, though they are definitely more than adequate. It's that your desire to try every single [appropriately] delicious-sounding thing on the menu will either guarantee early heart failure or require you to be some kind of food camel. (...or to exercise self-control, but please. Let's be real here. This is AMERICA.)
You will want to try the gumbo, of course. And the catfish. And the crepes. ...and you really cannot forget cornbread and jalapeno mac and cheese at a place like this, right? Of course, all of these things will taste wonderful (meanwhile, your gracious server will continue filling you up on tasty craft brews and lemonade). You'll take a break and start to chat with your company and feel pretty good about the meal and life itself when suddenly, you'll look up and see the pie menu. Oh yes, the PIE MENU. From there, dear reader, it is all over. Pecan pie? Yesssss. Pumpkin pie? Better bring a DD or DW, because you are going to be in a food coma.
Overall, a fun place to hang out for an evening and a great place to get a good meal. I am very glad that this exists within a few blocks of the boyfriend's place.
Disclaimers: 1) I am by no means a knowledgeable foodie. I do not know anything about the sourcing or the appropriate use of sage in entrees or anything like that, but I do happen to enjoy eating quite a lot. 2) I live in Virginia. If this restaurant were in Virginia, it may have gotten a different rating as a "Southern" restaurant. However, as a cozy little place with courteous waitstaff, tasty beers, not-terrible prices, and hits-the-spot food on a cold winter's night in Cambridge, Tupelo's has earned a five-star rating in my heart. -
Review from Kayla B.
Las Vegas, NV
2/7/2012
My boyfriend and I decided to check out Tupelo since he recently started working in Cambridge and we haven't experienced much cuisine on that side of the Charles. My mom's from Alabama so down home southern cooking is kinda my thing.
We got there a little early for dinner so we were the only ones in the restaurant. The staff was great, friendly, and really attentive. My boyfriend and I could hear them talking and joking in the kitchen and remarked that they reminded us of our friends. From personal experience, I know that when staff members are good friends it makes for a much better environment.
Bonnie was our server for the most part and she was great. She made very good food recommendations, took good care of us all night long, and could even tell I was a vegetarian based on the questions I asked about the food. Even as the place got busier throughout the night, all the staff continuously checked on us and made sure we had everything we needed. I can't remember having such great service in a long time.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was cute as can be. It reminded me of a deep south honky tonk, but more upscale and intimate. The Elvis bust really did it for me.
Now, for the most important part-- the food. It was so good and well worth the price. I got the collard greens, which were made just the way my mom used to make them, and the jalapeno mac n cheese, which was divine. It had just the right amount of kick to it and was just spicy enough. To memory, it's the best mac n cheese I've ever had. My boyfriend got the BBQ chicken over cheesy grits, which he enjoyed, though he said he regretted choosing the special over the fried chicken. Still, he had no complaints.
For dessert we got the Mississippi Mud Pie, which was chocolate on chocolate on chocolate with a side of ice cream. There are no words, my friends. There are no words.
We ended up staying for coffee, which is actually pretty rare for my boyfriend and me. We usually only stay for coffee if we're having a great time and are impressed with the restaurant, which was definitely the case with Tupelo. I got a kick out of getting our own little French press and real cream.
Long story short, amazing food, amazing staff, I will be back. -
Review from Fawn Q.
1/30/2012
This place is quite cute like some of the other Inman Square restaurants. I am a little biased because I was extremely full when I ate here, 2pm dim sum ruins the rest of your day
Here is what I had:
Blacked cat fish - This was pretty well seasoned and was served with some grits, yummy but I didn't love it.
Seafood jabalaya - I liked this a lot better, I've been to New Orleans once and this def did the jabalaya justice.
Cornbread was pretty good as well. I think the portions were pretty big, we had a lot of leftovers.
Overall, it was pretty good food, but nothing that I would crave for more. -
Review from Heather S.
Waltham, MA
2/4/2012
It only took one visit to turn Tupelos into one of our favorite new spots. You should have seen this Southern girl grin from ear to ear when our waiter told us about their fried cheesy grits. Yum! Between the hubby and I, we had some gumbo, red beans and rice, those cheesy fried grit cubes of goodness, and mashed sweet potatoes. In between bites, I slurped down some of their amazing Ginger Beer. Afterwards, we had to try some Mississippi Mud Pie with Bourbon Ice Cream. Our waiter was so excited about the food and so kind to advice on things we might like. I can't wait to go back and try their new updated menu.
Thanks Tupelos for giving me a little Cajun goodness with a great foodie twist! -
Review from Eric F.
Such a neighborhood gem with very well-executed Southern comfort food. I'd been meaning to try Tupelo for ages and NYE dinner seemed like a perfect opportunity. Upon arriving, it was like walking into a friend's dining room - quaint and comfy. The service was indeed so genuinely friendly and our server, Bonnie, was a total sweetheart. But enough about that, onto the food =D
My bro and I started with Deconstructed Oysters Rockefeller - delicious fried oysters with one mean custard of bacon and spinach...yum! Entrees included the Crispy Confit of Duck Legs and Fried Chicken. Tender meaty goodness all around complemented by some delectably crispy skin. I enjoyed the homestyle jalapeno mac & cheese too, a totally different style from the al dente versions at a number of other places. Creamy, gooey and loaded with smooth spice from the chilis. And speaking of jalapenos, the jalapeno-grapefruit BBQ sauce was BOMB!
Our meal wrapped up with some Mississippi Mud pie and bourbon ice cream c/o Petsi Pies and Toscanini's. Sooo gooood! Each spoonful had dense fudge along with unbelievably moist chocolate filling and it was just one mouthgasm after another.
By now, it pretty much goes without saying that Tupelo is worth a visit...or three. 5 solid stars for one fantastic restaurant! -
Review from Kimberly H.
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2011
Go here with an empty stomach. These people feed you like you're in the South.
My boyfriend and I came here with a Bloomspot deal, so we were unable to take advantage of their Thursday night date night special (cornbread, gumbo or a salad, & an entree for $25). Now that I know Tupelo's portion sizes, I highly recommend you go on Thursday night and take advantage of such a great deal. You will not go home hungry.
The menu looked great, and given that we are both pretty good eaters, we decided to go for a couple of appetizers. We ordered one bbq slider to split (delicious), and a "small" bowl of gumbo. People - this gumbo is SPICY. They are not fooling around. Be prepared. I felt like the sausage in it wasn't as flavorful as I'd have liked but maybe my tastebuds had been numbed by this point. There was a fluffy piece of bread on top which helped soak up the soup. They also serve cornbread... a weakness of mine.
Onto the entrees - I ordered the fried chicken with jalapeño mac n' cheese, collard greens, and gravy. Everything on my plate was great. I couldn't finish it but will note that this all tasted just as good reheated the next day. The collard greens were deliciously vinegary and the mac n' cheese is genius. I got another side of grilled cornbread with this plate. I literally didn't know what to do with myself. My boyfriend got the jambalaya.... the bowl was the size of his head. There is no way one person can finish this by themselves. Maybe if it's the only meal they have that day. This was less spicy than the gumbo so I enjoyed it a bit more.
Be aware that this is a wine and beer drink menu only. I think this place could benefit from getting a liquor license.
My biggest regret is that I did not stay true to my mantra of having room for dessert... I really wanted a piece of pecan pie! -
Review from Julie S.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 1/17/2012
Five stars for New Year's Day brunch. Sheer food bliss, residual happiness lasted for hours following. I got the sweet potato/smoked sausage hash, and this was not a special so I look forward to ordering it again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/29/2010
This could be my favorite go-to restaurant in the area, maybe in all of Boston. The atmosphere is… Read more »
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Review from Patrick R.
Cambridge, MA
1/9/2012
Cheap. Good Eats. Neighborhood "go to" for quick meals or when visitors come to the neighborhood. Southern Soul Food. Drinks served in mason jars. Food is always good. Best Gumbo. Try the fried cheese grits and put them in your Gumbo....Nom Factor 4/5
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Review from Nadia S.
Waban, MA
1/12/2012
I have been here twice for dinner and it is such a great place to get real Southern food. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and made some great recommendations. The portions are fairly hefty... the beef brisket is wonderful as is the gumbo.
Also, they have great pies! -
Review from Cathy S.
Cambridge, MA
12/7/2011 2 photos
I am no southerner. I have never had authentic southern food. So this review is totally based on my personal palette preference.
Their corn bread is superb. It goes well with butter and i just love those tiny corn grits that linger in your mouth after you chew the whole thing down. I had gumbo once and really love this kind of rice dish so i wanted to sample their jambalaya. It has solid flavor, uber fresh shrimps...but it has barely no vegetables! After a few bites i find it a strenuous task to consume a huge bowl of rice...but again, i am a veggie lover so it's just personal. Also the rice seems a little on the hard side, compared with the gumbo dish that i used to have.
Will be back to check out their fried chicken! -
Review from Shireen T.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
Come hungry because you will be eating heavy and delicious food. The menu is fantastic, a unique and modern twist on traditional Southern food. Their drinks are awesome as well! Not the best place of a gluten-free foodie, however (not too many gluten-free options).
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Review from Jen D.
Cambridge, MA
12/30/2011
Came here to celebrate my birthday with some friends. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. The food was good, although not memorable. Everyone liked the dish that they ordered. The portions are large and I don't think any of us could finish our whole plate. The only stand out for me from that night was the mulled wine, which I thought was delicious - not too sweet, with just the right amount of spice. I would come back here again. If you are on the fence, I would say give it a try if you're in the mood for some southern comfort.
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Review from Liana K.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you search Cajun within Boston, MA, the search engine gives you a limited response to almost nothing except Tupelo.
Tupelo, a typical cute little neighborhood joint that you expect to find in Innman square. We got there at 7:15 on a Saturday night and got seated right away. WINNING!
The other pea in my pod ordered the jambalaya while I waited for my gumbo. I couldn't make up my mind so I ordered two apps, the turkey balls in addition to the gumbo with grand plans of stealing food out of the bf's plate. The turkey balls I'll admit were a little disappointing however the app size portion of gumbo left me so full and happy that even if the balls were better I would not have had much room for more regardless.
They have his option for date night where you split grits, an app and an entree between two for 25 bucks on Thursday, but honestly you can stop by any day of the week and order an entree, the gumbo and still have leftovers for the next day with it being just a little bit over 25.
And yes the jambalaya made quite the awesome lunch the following day =) -
Review from Selena J.
Cambridge, MA
10/9/2011 14 Check-ins Here
Alright, alright... I have come here at least once a month (sometimes once a week depending on my schedule...) for like a year, so I should probably write a review.
This is (obviously) my favorite restaurant in Cambridge/Boston, for the following reasons:
1. Cheap Date Night Thursday is a great deal, as previously mentioned by other reviewers.
2. Petsi Pies desserts are amazing, as is the honey ice cream from Toscanini's that can come with them.
3. If I could only eat 5 things for the rest of my life, the brisket would definitely be one of them.
4. Crispy grits are addictive.
5. For brunch, The Tupelo and (when available) the fried chicken and waffles are delicious.
Here are my only criticisms.
a) I'm thirsty-- They give you huge water jars but don't fill them up all the way and tend to not refill them.
b) I personally think they should have a full bar...
c) They once had this chicken basil dinner special thing that was effing incredible, but as far as I know haven't ever made it again. And I want it.
But obviously I don't care enough about those things to stop coming here over and over and over again... -
Review from Lisa B.
Boston, MA
10/23/2011
Love the food here - very veggie friendly and my boyfriend raved about the fried chicken. I recommend getting a few sides to share - macaroni and cheese, cheesy grits, and pimento cheese were all yummy.
My only complaint is that we showed up at 645 on Friday night and were told there was a half hour wait. We said we'd be back in 20 minutes, and they said that was fine. Sadly, when we got there, they had continued to seat people in empty sections rather than save a table for our group of five. Not very cool. -
Review from jun k.
10/1/2011
Just got back. So. Full.
After driving futilely around Boston looking for a place to eat, we came back here. They don't take reservations so there wasn't too much of a wait!
Started off sharing the fried oysters... I didn't really taste the tabasco in the aioli but the oysters were delicious.
Then I got the Thai gumbo special (mussels+tiger shrimp instead of chicken+andouille sausage) which was YUMMY and HUGE... and mayybe a little salty. Came with 2 pieces of toasted bread to sop up all the goodness.
E got the beer-battered crepes.. which were aok in my opinion. I mean good to have some fresh veggies, but they were eh at best.
We looked next to us and the brisket looked.. AMAZING!
We saved room for dessert and put the rest of our food in a box and split the Mud pie (with fluffernutter ice cream) and Pecan pie (with honey ice cream). So get this. The mud pie was HUGE. and DELICIOUS and RICH and DELICIOUS. Unfortunately we couldn't finish that or the pecan pie. The Pecan pie was especially nutty. btw. OH and did you know that Toscanini's makes the ice cream especially for Tupelo? I mean... okay, so the ice cream and pie ratio was a little too small, (the pie was really rich and definitely needed more ice cream) BUT it was just a very special pair.
I am really full. Maybe next time we'll skip the appetizers (although when I got there I was starving and felt like I needed a starter) and only share ONE dessert.
But there definitely *will* be a next time.
(also, loved the interior, efficient waitstaff, interesting music, small but varied menu) -
Review from Andi Z.
Brookline, MA
11/11/2011
Yeah, I'm a yankee but we have hankerings for country gravy and fried chicken too. Yes, waffles, maple syrup and spiced cream included.
I came for brunch and everything on every plate was delicious.
Biscuits and gravy...yeah, the good stuff. Ok, so I haven't exactly sampled the spectrum of country gravy. Don't hold what I'm about to type against me: I haven't eaten country gravy outside of buffets and cafeterias. There I said it. The biscuits are buttery and fluffy, and the gravy...I can't really describe it since I have no idea what it's supposed to taste like. It's hearty, rich, and not terribly salty? Sorry, that's the best I got.
Fortunately, I've eaten my fair share of fried chicken. Pretty much anywhere chicken has been eaten, it has been fried. The chicken at Tupelo has a thick batter that's more crunchy than crispy. It's spiced and paired with maple syrup, a waffle, and spiced cream. The chicken and the waffle together, sans condiments, aren't that strange. There's no powdered sugar so it's not really sweet. If that's as far as you're going to go, it would still be a good meal, but maple syrup and nutmeg-y cream on top, as weird as it sounds, really makes it. When I ran out of waffle I just started dipping the chicken in the syrup. The chicken has enough spice and flavor to hold up to the syrup.
For dessert I had some mixed fruit pie with pear. I believe it was strawberries and pear? Some strudel on top and Honey ice cream on the side. The ice cream was perfect, rich, milky, and loaded with honey. The pie would have been great alone as well. Clearly baked with fresh fruit, and not as gelatinous as some pie fillings tend to be. Can't say I have a particularly level headed perspective on this as pie a la mode is always delicious to me. -
Review from Freya L.
Monterey Park, CA
9/24/2011
Oh. My. Stars. I think I died and went to heaven (aka Tupelo). I had a hankering for fried chicken after I had seen some pictures of fried chicken in my friend's cookbook (yes, I read cookbooks for fun), so she, her boyfriend, and I came here on a Wednesday night. It was a full house but we didn't have to wait since it was past 7:30. The peach iced tea is delicious.
The cornbread was heavenly such that I didn't need too much butter to make it moist or add flavor. The fried oysters were crispy on the outside and delicate and juicy on the inside. The seasoning of the batter with the dipping sauce melded nicely with the sharpness of the lemon.
Then came the entrees. The special was ribs with fried chicken on slaw and cheesy grits. I ordered this to satisfy my desire for fried chicken, and boy did it satisfy! The slaw had a definite kick, tempered with the cheesy grits, paired with the smoky ribs and potentially the best fried chicken I've ever had. I tried some of my friend's beef brisket with collard greens, and while I usually don't like collards greens, I thought the dish was made very well here.
Portions were so big I gave half of my ribs to my friend's boyfriend and still felt full. Sadly, even too full to have pie, and they all sounded/looked amazing. :( I will definitely come here again if ever I am back in Boston! -
Review from Sarah G.
Somerville, MA
11/4/2011
We came here a bunch when it first opened and loved the friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, and yummy pie (Owner of Petsi Pies is a co-owner I think). Prices have gone up, but that's fair. We stopped coming because the crepes just don't do it for me as the one vegetarian main. I don't expect more than one veggie dish on this menu, but I would love it if it changed every once in a while (new stuffing in same crepes doesn't count). I wrote to the owner to suggest fried green tomato po' boys like the excellent ones at Maxie's in Ithaca, NY, but never heard back. This was a bit disappointing.
People I've dined with have always enjoyed the gumbo and jambalaya but have found any non-fried chicken dishes to be dry &/or not as exciting as other options (which makes sense if they're competing against things with pork fat. no contest there). -
Review from Shaina P.
Updated - 11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm hesitant to say much about brunch at Tupelo, because I want to keep its anti-crowd-atmosphere all to myself! Think: grits, waffles, pie, po' boy, gumbo, chorizo, pulled meat (pork and beef the way it should be), and Rao's coffee. Love the prices, the flavor, the convenience to my home, and the change of scene for brunch. Also... dinner date Thursdays?? You'll have to see for yourself before I start revealing that hot secret.
Listed in: My Cambridge: the…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2010
Tupelo is nothing short of scrumptious!
When Hungry Mother came along (1 Kendall), the prior est.… Read more »
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Review from Liz S.
Cambridge, MA
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pros: best pulled pork sliders ever (even the bun), location, service, atmosphere
Cons: WAY too many onions in everything, cans of soda rather than fountain, too many onions, too many onion, too many onions.
I'd definitely go back, but will not order the cheese grits or the mac & cheese again. Waaaaaay too many onions in both. It's like eating a bowl of onions. -
Review from Erinire A.
Revere, MA
7/24/2011
I tend to think of assorted fiscal expenditures on a scale of booze v. shoes.
For example:
I'm at Target contemplating a $4.79 necklace on clearance, and I ask myself: "Would I rather have this necklace, or an ice cold Corona?" The Corona usually comes out on top, and the necklace goes back on the shelf.
On the other hand, if I'm in a restaurant contemplating the $25 entree versus the $13 entree, I ask myself: "Would I rather have this dinner, or a new pair of shoes?" The shoes nearly always win, and I go with the lower priced entree.
People, the food at Tupelo is better than shoes. WAY BETTER THAN SHOES. I would eat their pork chops and go barefoot, given the ultimate choice. And, at $13, the steamy, fragrant gumbo is no slouch either.
Our service was excellent, the beverage selection was spectacular, and the food was to die for. I will certainly be back. In heels. -
Review from Aromy X.
7/26/2011
Believe the hype.
I love cajun food, and I love Tupelo. It's hard to get to with public transit, but if you're in the area, stop by! We came on a Tuesday night and didn't need reservations.
I loved everything I had. I loved the cornbread. I loved the fried oysters. I loved the tuna steak. I loved the onion strings. I loved the gumbo.
I'm already planning to stop by when we're in town again.
5 stars, for 5 star service! -
Review from Mark W.
Beverly, MA
9/6/2011
O Tupelo, you are the beacon of southern hospitality and great food in stodgy old New England. This is truly a wonderful place with the taste and feel of a southern cafe . The fried chicken is crispy and moist, the collard greens tasty and satisfying. The gumbo was one of the best I've had outside of my own. My daughter's BBQ chicken was wonderful as was her Mac and cheese...
Make sure you leave room for the pie and they have quite a selection! -
Review from Tammi M.
Boston, MA
10/15/2011
I guess my expectations were set a little too high. I wasn't WOWED by the food (or the place). It was ok... yeah, just ok. I got the fried chicken with collard greens and jalapeno macaroni. Disappointing! The chicken was hard and dry looking although, I have to say, the meat wasn't as dry as I expected it to be after seeing arrive on my plate. The macaroni, well all I have to say about it is they need to taste my mom's macaroni and cheese then they'll know what southern macaroni and cheese is supposed to taste like. My husband got the Cajun catfish dinner with grits... The grits were ok. And that "famous" sweet(LESS) potato pecan pie that everyone is raving about was probably the most tasteless dessert I've ever had.
I guess my southern background is the reason for my high standards here. For those who don't know much about real back home cooking this place will probably fit the bill. But, Tupelo is definitely NOT for my palate. I most likely wont' be back. Thank goodness I had a coupon! -
Review from Michele g.
Boston, MA
Updated - 10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I think that Tupelo is the only restaurant I've ever been to where I've seen everyone that works there pretty happy to be there. Our server, Brian, was the best I've had in a long, long time. Order the crispy fried grits -- they're not usually on the menu, but so good! And the mulled mine is fantastic. Free cornbread was yummy, and the gumbo good and spicy, and the mud pie... wow, an uber-chocolately piece of heaven. Love it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2011
Came in here about 5pm today, in the snow, lookin' for some soul food to heat up my life. The… Read more »
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Review from Jasmine M.
Berkeley, CA
8/15/2011
This review is for brunch only. Well, to be perfectly honest, this review is all about their fried chicken and waffles, which are only served during their Sunday brunch.
Hands down, this place has the best fried chicken and waffles I've ever had. The waffle is the perfect combination of crispy golden edges with a light and fluffy interior. The fried chicken is absolute perfection. Seasoned beautifully with a crunchy skin that is so full of flavor that my mouth is drooling as I type this just thinking about it. The chicken is so moist and tastes like heaven by itself but particularly with a bite of waffle, butter, and syrup. The portion is plentiful - I recommend ordering one portion of this and having your meal companion order a side waffle so that you can split the chicken so you can get something else delicious from their brunch menu! After one bite however it may be hard to share!
In terms of their other brunch offerings, they always sound absolutely delicious and the other things I've tried have been quite tasty, but it's so hard to turn down the fried chicken and waffles. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, the waitstaff are always attentive and friendly, and oh my god, just go there for the fried chicken and waffles. Seriously. -
Review from Sara N.
Cambridge, MA
8/20/2011
Tupelo may be my favorite restaurant in all of Cambridge. The food is out of this world and something I aspire to produce in my own kitchen. I've been a few times and the waiter always remembers who I am. Which brings me to how awesome the staff is in general. Super friendly but not in the kneel down at your table with you (which I don't like!) way. It's unique and quirky.
I always skip apps to fit room for dessert and I ALWAYS take one more dessert to go. It's that good. Pies are from Petsi's which is another one of my favorite places in Cambridge and ice cream from Toscaninis. Try the honey one.
I'm a huge fan of the cat fish but I recently had the pork chop (special) and died and went to heaven. -
Review from Angel C.
Boston, MA
9/14/2011
4 stars for the food. 2 stars for the menu. It's like they didn't even try. The menu is so boring! Fried chicken, gumbo, beef brisket, catfish, pork chop. Snooze... And for dessert, they offer 4 different pies, but they don't even make them themselves! They buy them from Petsi Pies and sell them there. C'mon!
The food is good, though, so if you want to go for (standard) Southern food, I would recommend Tupelo. -
Review from Casey C.
Somerville, MA
10/19/2011
What a gem of a restaurant buried in Inman Square. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and we loved it- and we're fairly discerning people when it comes to food. He had the duck legs confit and I had the seafood and andouille paella. The paella was hands down the winning dish, although the duck was also delicious. The jalapeno mac and cheese was was nice spin off of a traditional dish and complimented the food nicely. The Mississippi mud pie was rich and creamy- one piece was plenty for the two of us. Our server even put a candle in it and brought it out singing for my boyfriend- love it!
The atmosphere, our great server Bryan, the drinks and the food combined for a great experience. We will be coming back and highly recommend it to others. -
Review from Jeremy K.
Updated - 10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently found out, through another Yelper that Tupelo is owned by the same person who runs Petsi Pies in Cambridge, near Porter Square, which explains why they serve those said desserts at Tupelo. It now makes sense to have those two businesses working hand-in-hand.
Listed in: Cambridge: Inman Square Area
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2011
Very excited to go there for an impromptu dinner recently and left wanting more from this fine… Read more »
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Review from Cyn C.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
Finding this place makes me a little bit sad to be leaving Boston. We went early on a Saturday (at 530 or 6pm) and the place was empty. As a party of four, we ordered:
10 drinks (3 beers, 5 ciders, and 2 watermelon sangrias)
1 Frito Pie appetizer
1 plate of brisket (the daily special - served with beans and greens)
1 plate of ribs (another daily special - served with mac n cheese, mashed potatoes)
1 catfish (served with cheesy grits)
extra side orders of grits, mac n cheese, and collard greens.
2 desserts (pecan pie with vanilla ice cream, and blueberry and peach crumble with tupelo honey ice cream).
Let's talk about the two things I was disappointed by, which is why the review is getting 4 stars (I'd like to give 4.5) instead of 5.
the greens: they're not cooked long enough, so they weren't as tender as I expected. I don't think they were cooked with smoked ham or smoked turkey, so no smokey yummy flavor. They could also be cut into smaller pieces.
the catfish: compared to the beef brisket and the ribs, the catfish was unremarkable.
Now, the stellar parts:
1) service: Our server was spot on with her recommendations, friendly, attentive, and clearly a foodie.
2) the mac n cheese: creamy, cheesy, and utterly finger licking good.
3) grits : cheesy and slurpalicious.
4) the brisket and ribs were prepared perfectly. So tender. So moist. So flavorful. You barely needed to chew.
5) Dessert: I typically don't like pecan pie, but the pecan pie here was superb. It didn't have the gloop that I associate with pecan pie, which my friends told me meant it may have been overcooked. If so, then that's th way I like it!! The crumble was also very good, but the tupelo honey ice cream was stellar.
We were there for almost 3 hours, gorging on food, drink, and each other's company. It was certainly a night to remember!!!
I can not wait to come back to eat here when I visit! -
Review from Bethany B.
Somerville, MA
7/6/2011
OK - I have to preface this by saying that I've only eaten one meal here and it was brunch. It's hard to mess up brunch, but it's also hard to make a spectacular brunch item.
I had a special - a sweet potato pie waffle. That's right.... I said pie. Heaven... it was just delightful and I wish it would always be on their menu, day and night. I could have gone for more than one though, that would be the only down side.
The place was a little packed and we had a table that was sort of in the middle of everything, but my waffle righted all wrongs. -
Review from Jules H.
Boston, MA
10/23/2011
Really great, FILLING food -- you won't leave hungry. The drink selection is smaller, but super creative and friendly to non-drinkers (homemade blackberry soda and ginger beer...).
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Review from Stefanie O.
Boston, MA
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a Southern and especially a New Orleans-phile I have been excited about trying Tupelo for quite some time and after some false starts I was finally able to check it out with the husband and two of our wonderful foodie friends (who I know from volunteering in New Orleans) on a Friday evening. They don't take reservations so we got there at 6 expecting the worse, but there was a ton of room, by 7 the line was out the door, so for the future I know to be the early bird.
Our waiter was super nice and friendly and eager to tell us about the menu, which we were eager to hear. For an appetizer we went with the fried oysters and the deep fried grits - grits that are frozen into cubes and then deep-fried! Both were delicious and came with cornbread that was also fantastic and could incite friends to throw punches over the last piece (not that this happened, but I could see it).
The drink and beer list was tempting, especially at 9 months pregnant, and I made the husband order an Abita Restoration Ale, which is usually hard to come by in the Northeast. They had a few other Abita selections and our waiter said they were always looking for more, to which we suggested the rare and delicious Andy Gator to be added. They also had some good-looking cocktails and some non-alcoholics including some fizzy blueberry concoction that I thoroughly enjoyed.
For an entree I had the fried chicken, which is not usually my cup of tea, but I had heard it was delicious and it happened to come with the jalapeno mac and cheese, collards, and more cornbread, all of which I wanted, so I went for it. I was not disappointed - the chicken was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the mac and cheese was off the charts good and the collards were traditional and in some great vinegar and the second helping of cornbread was just right. My friends were all really happy with their meals too, though the husband said that the pork belly special was not as good as it should have been, but everything else made up for it and left him unable to complain.
Finally, for dessert, I indulged in the pecan pie with the bourbon ice cream - holy goodness! The husband noted how it was cool to have the bourbon in the ice cream and not in the pie, as he has usually had it, letting him enjoy both flavors on their own and together.
We definitely plan on coming for dinner again and are eager to try their brunch, and hopefully next time they will have more Abita since I will be able to have one! Also, the music selection was super good, whoever was in charge of the iPod that night knows N'awlins jazz and blues and made me very happy! -
Review from Mindy A.
Boston, MA
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I think this is my new favorite restaurant. On a Saturday night, the service was friendly and the food was delicious. Loved the beer selection - I tried a pecan beer from Louisiana. So good! We started with the fried oysters, which were literally melt-in-your-mouth. Topped a few with their southern hot sauce and thought I died and went to heaven. The cornbread was delicious - a nice blend of savory and sweet and just crumbly enough to warrant that extra little bit of butter you know you want to smack on the top. My entree was the southern fried chicken + jalopeno mac and cheese + greens. There was nothing on my plate that was not amazing. The gravy in a small bowl to dip the chicken in was genius. The spicy mac was sooooo good. I have never, ever tasted greens so good, and I worked at a southern bbq place for four years during college. I wanted to try the pecan pie for dessert so badly, but unfortunately, I was too full. Next time. And there will be a next time, especially given the reasonable prices here.
From my hubbie: "anyone who doesn't try their pulled pork might as well just die." and the homemade pickles.....mmmmm.
Tupelo makes me want more tupelo.
Entrees really are big enough for two meals. I just ate leftovers and am happily reliving my experience from last night. -
Review from Jessica L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/8/2011
This place is legit! Brought my bf there last year for a surprise brunch :) The service was great and the restaurant makes you feel very homie. I am a fan!
MUST GET:
Chicken and Waffles
CRISPY bacon (they really make it crispy)
Red Velvet Cake -
Review from Christina G.
Boston, MA
9/16/2011
I really enjoyed this place. My date is from Georgia and he was not as impressed with the southern food as I was, but all in all we both thought it was a nice little spot with a lot of character. Any place that serves drinks in mason jars is a winner for me and I can never turn down a place that serves my favorite Petsi Pies desserts.
