Southern comfort food with a modern twist has a name in the DMV region (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia): Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen. If you've seen the name on Yelp, Instagram, or a strip-mall storefront and wondered what makes it different from any other brunch spot, this guide breaks it down — history, menu, locations, and what to expect before you go.
Rather than pointing you to one location that may change its hours or menu, this guide focuses on the brand's story, footprint, and signature dishes that hold true across its current lineup, so you can plan a visit to whichever location is closest to you.
Quick Answer
Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen is a Southern-cuisine restaurant chain, part of Thompson Hospitality, known for scratch-made brunch and dinner dishes such as Chicken & Waffles, Chef Sammy's Award-Winning Shrimp & Grits, and Mimosa Towers. The concept was originally founded in Atlanta in 2008 by celebrity chef Sammy Davis, a Chopped winner, and brought to the DMV area in 2016 with the College Park, Maryland location. Today it operates more than a dozen locations across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, serving brunch daily along with Southern-inspired dinner menus and catering.
What Is Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen?
Milk & Honey is a fast-casual-to-full-service Southern restaurant brand built around all-day brunch and modern comfort food. Chef Sammy Davis founded Milk & Honey in 2008 as a southern-inspired brunch restaurant in Atlanta, hoping it would give industry workers a place to enjoy brunch throughout the week. Davis said brunch wasn't a daily offering anywhere else before Milk & Honey helped set that standard.
The recipes draw on Davis's childhood and a family friend in South Carolina who inspired some of the restaurant's signature dishes, including the widely praised shrimp and grits. The brand's first DMV-area location opened on October 9, 2016, in College Park, Maryland, bringing Davis's all-day brunch concept to the region.
Terminology Note: "Southern-inspired" describes cuisine that draws on Southern U.S. comfort-food traditions — biscuits, grits, fried chicken, seafood — while updating presentation, ingredients, or format for a modern dining room. It's distinct from a strictly traditional "soul food" or "meat-and-three" restaurant.
Ownership and Growth
What started as what Davis called his "little spot" has grown into 13 branches across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. The brand now operates under Thompson Hospitality, led by founder Warren Thompson, a Virginia-rooted entrepreneur who also sits on boards including Compass Group North America and Performance Food Group. Recent expansion has included a Waldorf, Maryland location that opened in April 2025, described as featuring copper-crushed velvet banquettes, patterned tile floors, and wallpaper blending Southern charm with an upscale feel.
Don't Confuse the Brands: This restaurant is unrelated to the historic "Milk & Honey" cocktail bar. That was a separate concept, a New York City cocktail bar founded on December 31, 1999, with a related private members' club location in Soho, London, that closed permanently in September 2020. The two businesses share a name only.
Where Are Milk & Honey Locations?
Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen locations span three states plus D.C. Confirmed locations include:
| Location | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| College Park | MD | Original DMV flagship, opened 2016 |
| Camp Springs | MD | Full-service Southern menu |
| Silver Spring | MD | Express/counter-service format |
| Waldorf | MD | Opened April 2025 |
| Fairfax | VA | Breakfast & brunch focus |
| Dulles / Sterling | VA | Breakfast & brunch focus |
| South Riding / Gainesville | VA | Full-service |
| Virginia Beach | VA | Newer coastal Virginia location |
| Hampton | VA | Coastal Virginia |
| Colonial Heights | VA | Newer opening |
| Washington | D.C. (H Street NE) | Urban brunch spot |
Because openings and closures happen periodically, always confirm hours and address on the official location finder before visiting.
How to Find the Nearest Location
- Check the official site — the "Locations" page lists current addresses and hours by state.
- Search Google Maps or Yelp — listings typically include live hours, photos, and recent reviews.
- Follow social media — the brand's Instagram account posts new openings and menu updates.
- Call ahead for brunch — several locations recommend reservations 24 hours in advance for weekend brunch, since walk-in waits can be long.
What's on the Menu?
Milk & Honey's menu blends classic Southern comfort food with modern presentation. Signature and frequently mentioned dishes include:
- Chicken & Waffles — the restaurant's most-cited signature dish
- Chef Sammy's Award-Winning Shrimp & Grits — based on a family recipe from South Carolina
- Crispy Salmon Hash
- Jerk Lamb Chops
- Deviled Eggs
- Chicken & Biscoff Waffles
- Snow Crab Legs with Old Bay Fries (dinner special, around $24.99 at some locations)
- Mimosa Towers — a shareable brunch cocktail presentation
Brunch vs. Dinner
| Feature | Brunch Menu | Dinner Menu |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Daily at most locations | Evenings, varies by location |
| Signature items | Chicken & Waffles, Mimosa Towers | Crab legs, chops, seafood specials |
| Atmosphere | Casual, social, cocktail-forward | Upscale-casual, sit-down |
| Best for | Weekend groups, celebrations | Date night, family dinner |
Dietary and Format Notes
- Some locations (like Silver Spring) operate as express/counter-service with limited seating, ideal for pickup or delivery.
- Full-service locations offer dine-in, alcohol service, and outdoor seating.
- Catering is available for corporate events, holidays, and family gatherings through the brand's website.
Step-by-Step: Planning a Visit
- Pick your location using the official site or Google Maps, and confirm current hours (they vary by day and site — some close as early as 5 p.m., others stay open until 10 p.m. on weekends).
- Decide brunch or dinner — brunch tends to draw the biggest crowds, especially weekends.
- Call or reserve ahead if visiting for weekend brunch at a full-service location, since walk-in waits are common.
- Check the current menu online, since seasonal or location-specific items (like jerk lamb) sometimes rotate off.
- Ask about catering in advance if planning a group or corporate event — Thompson Hospitality's catering arm handles larger orders.
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Assuming every location has identical hours, seating, and menu items. Formats range from full-service, sit-down restaurants to express/counter-service pickup spots, and dinner-hour availability varies by site — always check the specific location's page before you go.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Distinctive, chef-driven Southern menu with award-recognized dishes
- Multiple locations across the D.C.–Maryland–Virginia corridor, improving accessibility
- Both quick-service and full-service formats to match different occasions
- Strong brand story tied to a celebrity chef and an established hospitality group
Cons:
- Menu and hours vary noticeably by location, which can cause confusion
- Weekend brunch waits can be long at popular sites
- Some smaller express locations have limited seating
- Not yet available outside the D.C./MD/VA region, so it isn't a nationwide option
Key Takeaways
- Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen is a Southern-food restaurant brand founded by Chef Sammy Davis in Atlanta in 2008, expanded to the DMV region starting in 2016
- It now operates under Thompson Hospitality, led by Warren Thompson, with locations across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
- Signature dishes include Chicken & Waffles, award-winning Shrimp & Grits, and Mimosa Towers
- The brand offers both full-service dine-in locations and smaller express/counter-service formats
- It's unrelated to the now-closed New York/London cocktail bar of the same name
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen known for?
It's best known for its all-day Southern brunch, especially Chicken & Waffles, award-winning Shrimp & Grits, and its shareable Mimosa Towers.
Who founded Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen?
Chef Sammy Davis, a Chopped winner, founded the original concept in Atlanta in 2008. The brand later expanded through Thompson Hospitality, founded by Warren Thompson.
Where are Milk & Honey locations?
Locations are concentrated in Washington D.C., Maryland (including College Park, Camp Springs, Silver Spring, Waldorf), and Virginia (including Fairfax, Dulles/Sterling, South Riding, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Colonial Heights).
Do I need a reservation for brunch?
It depends on the location. Some full-service restaurants recommend calling at least 24 hours ahead for weekend brunch, since walk-in waits can be significant.
Is Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen the same as the Milk & Honey cocktail bar?
No. The cocktail bar was a separate, unrelated business founded in New York City in 1999 with a London location that closed in 2020. Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen is a Southern-food restaurant brand with no connection to that bar.
Conclusion
Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen has grown from a single Atlanta brunch spot into a multi-location Southern dining brand across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region, built around scratch-made comfort food and a chef-driven story. Whether you're after a lively weekend brunch or a sit-down Southern dinner, checking the specific location's hours and menu ahead of time will get you the best experience.
Summary:
- Founded in Atlanta (2008) by Chef Sammy Davis; expanded to the DMV starting in 2016
- Operated under Thompson Hospitality, led by Warren Thompson
- 13+ locations across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
- Signature dishes: Chicken & Waffles, Shrimp & Grits, Mimosa Towers
- Offers both full-service and express/counter-service formats, plus catering
- Not related to the defunct NYC/London Milk & Honey cocktail bar
Sources: Yelp business listings, official Milk & Honey / Thompson Restaurants website, The Diamondback (dbknews.com), V&P Magazine, Wikipedia.
