OT: Good lunch spots in Tupelo, New Albany,

DAWGSANDSAINTS

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Oct 10, 2022
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or Holly Springs or other small towns not too, too far off I22
Food type - just about anything.
Atmosphere - does not matter
Just good food.
Thanks
 

Walkthedawg

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Oct 3, 2022
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or Holly Springs or other small towns not too, too far off I22
Food type - just about anything.
Atmosphere - does not matter
Just good food.
Thanks
In Tupelo:
-Casa de italia at Gloster and Main for Italian. I think it's excellent. Never a bad meal here.

-Chop on Veterans has good BBq. Sometimes it's better than good. I've had ribs there one time I thought would place at Memphis in May. But they haven't been that good since that one time.

-Small place on green street called O'lucky B's. awesome Nachos and damn fine burgers. Wed - Sat only. Place don't look like much.. but gosh it's good.

-Cafe 212. Small sandwich shop. Highly recommend the honey apple chicken salad. The guy has had to take time off because of cancer treatments.. but I think they are back now.

- light on sandwich but heavy on dessert? Sweet treats by Margarite. Never had a bad thing there especially out of the dessert case.
 

Lucky Dawg

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Oct 8, 2012
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In laws live in Tupelo. Hot take: Tupelo has the worst food scene of any town its size I’ve ever visited and many towns much, much smaller. And it’s been that way for 20 years. The one legitimately good meal I’ve ever eaten was at a French restaurant started by the former chef of a country club and her place only lasted a couple months.
 
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kired

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Aug 22, 2008
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In laws live in Tupelo. Hot take: Tupelo has the worst food scene of any town its size I’ve ever visited and many towns much, much smaller. And it’s been that way for 20 years. The one legitimately good meal I’ve ever eaten was at a French restaurant started by the former chef of a country club and her place only lasted a couple months.
You apparently don’t like $10 coffees, Mexican food, or chicken strips
 

lowdawg

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Sep 3, 2012
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Cafe 212, King Chicken (but get rib tips if a Thursday), SAO Thai is amazing, Neon Pig, jobos, nautical whimsey, blue canoe might just be dinner. I think Tupelo has great food for its size. What other town in MS has a better food scene? Coast or Hattiesburg maybe?
 

Herbert Nenninger

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Feb 9, 2019
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In Tupelo:
-Casa de italia at Gloster and Main for Italian. I think it's excellent. Never a bad meal here.

-Chop on Veterans has good BBq. Sometimes it's better than good. I've had ribs there one time I thought would place at Memphis in May. But they haven't been that good since that one time.

-Small place on green street called O'lucky B's. awesome Nachos and damn fine burgers. Wed - Sat only. Place don't look like much.. but gosh it's good.

-Cafe 212. Small sandwich shop. Highly recommend the honey apple chicken salad. The guy has had to take time off because of cancer treatments.. but I think they are back now.

- light on sandwich but heavy on dessert? Sweet treats by Margarite. Never had a bad thing there especially out of the dessert case.
I failed to mention CHOP and Casa de Italia; those are good additions.

CHOP started as a bait shop, and the owner, Clay, started doing bbq on the side, and it got popular. He died of covid back in the day.
The only other good bbq in Tupelo is the Salty Pig, Mac Petit’s new food truck.

Laura works the check in at Casa de Italia. She’s kooky but nice. Lives in the Circle, drives a Beetle, and has a dog named Lonnie.

And yes, Cafe 212 is back open. That’s a good place to tip well; there are a quintessential small family owned business and universally liked. Jason will memorize your order after one visit.

If you go to Margarete’s, she’ll come out and meet you and chat at some point.
Her son is in the marines. Ask to see pics of her grandkids.

Romie’s is a few hundred yards from my house. We’ve been twice for lunch in the last year. Each time waited an hour for our food and left before it came. So there’s that.
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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In laws live in Tupelo. Hot take: Tupelo has the worst food scene of any town its size I’ve ever visited and many towns much, much smaller. And it’s been that way for 20 years. The one legitimately good meal I’ve ever eaten was at a French restaurant started by the former chef of a country club and her place only lasted a couple months.
I agree and disagree. There is good food in Tupelo but it’s mostly casual places. The “ fine dining “ scene really is lacking. There is not a really good steak in the entire city. I blame the over abundance of mom and pop fish and steak houses in Lee county and the surrounding counties . These places are too plentiful, too convenient for most people, and fairly cheap for people to support nice restaurants in Tupelo.
 

dawgstudent

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Apr 15, 2003
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In laws live in Tupelo. Hot take: Tupelo has the worst food scene of any town its size I’ve ever visited and many towns much, much smaller. And it’s been that way for 20 years. The one legitimately good meal I’ve ever eaten was at a French restaurant started by the former chef of a country club and her place only lasted a couple months.
This is Tupelo's food scene...

1779973412854.png
 

WrightGuy821

Senior
Mar 13, 2019
391
449
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Tupelo: Neon Pig, Romie's Grocery, Loco Taco, Bishop's BBQ

Romie's the food is great, if you go for lunch the service will be MUCH better than dinner
 

dogmatic001

Junior
Sep 30, 2022
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Tupelo resident and Lee County native here - everywhere I'll recommend is a local, family place

Lunch:
Cafe 212 - Downtown near intersection of Main and Broadway - great sandwiches with house-made chicken salad, etc.
CHOP BBQ - Veterans Blvd. south of Main - Clay Coleman was a great friend, lost to COVID - tradition being carried on
King Chicken Fillin' Station - McCullough Blvd. in Belden out toward I-22 - great biscuits, chicken, etc.
Neon Pig - North Gloster - neat little butcher shop, grill, beer emporium - high class burgers on cibatta bread, etc.
Connie's Chicken - South Gloster by hospital - there's some uproar about their recipe update but still good
Danver's - (not kidding) Main and Industrial west of Gloster - burgers, soup, salad bar, locally owned and loved
Finney's - Main west of Gloster, between Sweet Peppers and Danvers - OLD Tupelo - simple loaf bread, handmade greatness


Steak:
Woody's - Gloster just north of Jackson - I like it a lot - easily best steak in Tupelo -
Park Heights - Main east of Downtown area - makes a run at "fine" dining but Woody's food is better

Bar:
The Stables - alleyway off Spring St. on courthouse square - cold beer, burgers, best wings in town (whole, not sectioned)
 
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WrightGuy821

Senior
Mar 13, 2019
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Tupelo resident and Lee County native here - everywhere I'll recommend is a local, family place

Lunch:
Cafe 212 - Downtown near intersection of Main and Broadway - great sandwiches with house-made chicken salad, etc.
CHOP BBQ - Veterans Blvd. south of Main - Clay Coleman was a great friend, lost to COVID - tradition being carried on
King Chicken Fillin' Station - McCullough Blvd. in Belden out toward I-22 - great biscuits, chicken, etc.
Neon Pig - North Gloster - neat little butcher shop, grill, beer emporium - high class burgers on cibatta bread, etc.
Connie's Chicken - South Gloster by hospital - there's some uproar about their recipe update but still good
Danver's - (not kidding) Main and Industrial west of Gloster - burgers, soup, salad bar, locally owned and loved
Finney's - Main west of Gloster, between Sweet Peppers and Danvers - OLD Tupelo - simple loaf bread, handmade greatness


Steak:
Woody's - Gloster just north of Jackson - I like it a lot - easily best steak in Tupelo -
Park Heights - Main east of Downtown area - makes a run at "fine" dining but Woody's food is better

Bar:
The Stables - alleyway off Spring St. on courthouse square - cold beer, burgers, best wings in town (whole, not sectioned)
I've never liked Danver's. The hamburger is just a high school cafeteria burger
Connie's Chicken has a chicken biscuit with sawmill gravy that is one of the best breakfasts in Tupelo
 

dogmatic001

Junior
Sep 30, 2022
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I've never liked Danver's. The hamburger is just a high school cafeteria burger
Connie's Chicken has a chicken biscuit with sawmill gravy that is one of the best breakfasts in Tupelo

Danver's food is just simple, comfort food. I like their soups especially. Hot ham sandwiches good, butter-toasted buns. Solid salad bar. Just simple stuff.

They do a pretty good soft-serve milkshake if you want a treat. Just simple though.

It's still 1974 in there for the most part, minus the smoking and the prices.
 

The Peeper

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Feb 26, 2008
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Cafe 212, King Chicken (but get rib tips if a Thursday), SAO Thai is amazing, Neon Pig, jobos, nautical whimsey, blue canoe might just be dinner. I think Tupelo has great food for its size. What other town in MS has a better food scene? Coast or Hattiesburg maybe?
I like the Blue Canoe for informal food, beer and overall atmosphere. The occasional band is good too
 
Nov 25, 2019
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Danver's food is just simple, comfort food. I like their soups especially. Hot ham sandwiches good, butter-toasted buns. Solid salad bar. Just simple stuff.

They do a pretty good soft-serve milkshake if you want a treat. Just simple though.

It's still 1974 in there for the most part, minus the smoking and the prices.
Danver's burger is still very good because of the fresh tomato and lettuce they have.
 
Nov 25, 2019
404
259
63
Tupelo resident and Lee County native here - everywhere I'll recommend is a local, family place

Lunch:
Cafe 212 - Downtown near intersection of Main and Broadway - great sandwiches with house-made chicken salad, etc.
CHOP BBQ - Veterans Blvd. south of Main - Clay Coleman was a great friend, lost to COVID - tradition being carried on
King Chicken Fillin' Station - McCullough Blvd. in Belden out toward I-22 - great biscuits, chicken, etc.
Neon Pig - North Gloster - neat little butcher shop, grill, beer emporium - high class burgers on cibatta bread, etc.
Connie's Chicken - South Gloster by hospital - there's some uproar about their recipe update but still good
Danver's - (not kidding) Main and Industrial west of Gloster - burgers, soup, salad bar, locally owned and loved
Finney's - Main west of Gloster, between Sweet Peppers and Danvers - OLD Tupelo - simple loaf bread, handmade greatness


Steak:
Woody's - Gloster just north of Jackson - I like it a lot - easily best steak in Tupelo -
Park Heights - Main east of Downtown area - makes a run at "fine" dining but Woody's food is better

Bar:
The Stables - alleyway off Spring St. on courthouse square - cold beer, burgers, best wings in town (whole, not sectioned)
not high on Finney's. Bulldog Burger is in Tupelo.
El Agave in New Albany by the Tractor Farm Supply is good and they have a location across from Ballard Park
 
Aug 1, 2025
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In laws live in Tupelo. Hot take: Tupelo has the worst food scene of any town its size I’ve ever visited and many towns much, much smaller. And it’s been that way for 20 years. The one legitimately good meal I’ve ever eaten was at a French restaurant started by the former chef of a country club and her place only lasted a couple months.
Correction: It’s been that way for almost 40 years. Outside of the occasional, early Vanelli’s when Papa was still in charge, there have been few blips on the radar that have lasted. Jefferson Place, Woody’s, Front Porch, Malone’s Catfish. All 80s and early 90s Tupelo scene that peaked. ☹️
 

Willow Grove Dawg

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Nov 3, 2016
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Correction: It’s been that way for almost 40 years. Outside of the occasional, early Vanelli’s when Papa was still in charge, there have been few blips on the radar that have lasted. Jefferson Place, Woody’s, Front Porch, Malone’s Catfish. All 80s and early 90s Tupelo scene that peaked. ☹️
Jefferson Place (JP's) was the night spot to be & be seen in the late 80's/early 90's
 
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Barkman Turner Overdrive

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May 28, 2006
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I've never liked Danver's. The hamburger is just a high school cafeteria burger
Connie's Chicken has a chicken biscuit with sawmill gravy that is one of the best breakfasts in Tupelo
I like adding an egg to the chicken biscuit and gravy. Kind of a mother and child reunion. The blueberry donuts are a must.

Sadly, the Connie's in STK does not compare to the one in Tupelo.
 

Ranchdawg

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Dec 13, 2012
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I failed to mention CHOP and Casa de Italia; those are good additions.

CHOP started as a bait shop, and the owner, Clay, started doing bbq on the side, and it got popular. He died of covid back in the day.
The only other good bbq in Tupelo is the Salty Pig, Mac Petit’s new food truck.

Laura works the check in at Casa de Italia. She’s kooky but nice. Lives in the Circle, drives a Beetle, and has a dog named Lonnie.

And yes, Cafe 212 is back open. That’s a good place to tip well; there are a quintessential small family owned business and universally liked. Jason will memorize your order after one visit.

If you go to Margarete’s, she’ll come out and meet you and chat at some point.
Her son is in the marines. Ask to see pics of her grandkids.

Romie’s is a few hundred yards from my house. We’ve been twice for lunch in the last year. Each time waited an hour for our food and left before it came. So there’s that.
I agree with Casa de Italia but the best restaurant in Tupelo by far is Namaste. Great service and the food is top tier.
 
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Walkthedawg

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Is Connie’s the place across from the hospital with the blueberry doughnuts that are deep fried? Because those things are delicious!
Blue Canoe takes the ones left over and makes a bread pudding type dessert with them.

I would have mentioned them... but the later opening didn't make it a "lunch" spot.
 

DoggieDaddy13

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Dec 23, 2017
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I've never liked Danver's. The hamburger is just a high school cafeteria burger
Connie's Chicken has a chicken biscuit with sawmill gravy that is one of the best breakfasts in Tupelo
I always stop by Connie's for breakfast when I'm in Tupelo. Not a fan of their coffee, but their Breakfast is one of the best. And I always get the blueberry donut for dessert.

Sometimes two or three.