1856 - Culinary Residence - Auburn, Alabama

Emily Church

There is a lot of potential here, but the food needs help. I would like to see improvement on the dishes temperature wise, taste wise, and presentation wise. The soup came out nearly cold. It had minimum flavor and did not offer a true coconut taste despite being called a coconut soup. The salad did not have much flavor either despite all of the toppings. The Strawberry Sundae was not terrible, but I felt the appearance could have been way better. The presentation was overwhelming. I did enjoy watching the team cook the dishes, but I didn’t see much communication nor inspiration, and that affected the outcome of the dishes. I did like the flower drink. It was quite nice and refreshing!

Gary Zolle Stone

A fabulous dining experience from the first moment on. Great ambiance, with attention to detail from the whole staff, to delicious and creative offerings that Sarah presented for each course on the tasting menu.
It is also such a wonderful concept to have a teaching restaurant with renowned chefs in residence to teach their craft to students. A unique dining experience that is on par with any Michelin star restaurant I have visited, with great wine pairings from Sommelier Thomas Price (as well as an extensive wine list), and a truly welcoming staff that from the front to the back deserve accolades for a job well done!

Laura Sellers

On my recent trip, I enjoyed indulging in the exquisite flavors of the risotto with succulent scallops and earthy mushrooms was an unforgettable experience. Each bite was a symphony of taste, perfectly harmonizing the rich creaminess of the risotto with the delicate sweetness of the scallops and the savory notes of the mushrooms. Equally delightful were the crispy fish n’ chips and the zesty satsuma tart, each dish expertly crafted to tantalize the taste buds. The attention to detail was impeccable, from the personalized handwritten note gracing our table to the napkin that perfectly matched my outfit. These thoughtful touches elevated the dining experience, making it truly one-of-a-kind and leaving a lasting impression of culinary excellence. I will definitely be back. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Morgan Robinson

Delicious food in a unique atmosphere. During the school week, the teaching restaurant allows for students to learn more about the front of house and back of house environment with the hands on interactions. The food is delicious and the service is wonderful. We had the chicken schnitzel, braised short rib, and 1856 burger. We were also greeted with a welcome drink that changed color. I also had the winters legend drink which was so light and refreshing.

Claire Wilson

We had dinner here for our anniversary and absolutely loved it. The restaurant is stunning, the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and the food is out of this world. We had a tasting menu filled with items we had never tried and now love. The presentation of each plate was beautiful. We requested to meet the chef to ask him a few questions and he accommodated our request which was an added bonus for the night. The view from the rooftop bar is breathtaking. Nothing like taking in Auburn University and Toomers Corner at this angle at night! We will definitely come back and highly recommend going to 1856!

Igor Rubinshteyn

My recent visit to 1856 - Culinary Residence Restaurant was, in a word, abysmal. This unforgivably pretentious and inhospitable “fine dining” establishment. Is nothing more than a mediocre dining experience draped in self-importance.

We were well aware that this was a fine dining prix fixe restaurant and that it might not be ideal for children, but having traveled extensively with the family, including dining at top-tier restaurants/ Michelin star restaurants across the US and Europe, we assumed there would be some modicum of flexibility. We were gravely mistaken.

From the moment we sat down, it became clear that the management's inflexibility was not just a policy but a point of pride. Despite our polite requests for a simple substitution or even just a small plate of something basic for our 8-year-old daughter, we were met with a stone-cold refusal. The audacity of this place knows no bounds—they wouldn’t even let us bring in outside food for her! Our daughter sat there, visibly upset and hungry crying while we endured course after course of bland uninspired, pretentious food that she couldn’t eat. They even suggested we go outside in the middle of our meal, feed our daughter with outside food and then come back to finish our meal.

This restaurant has the pretense of a Michelin star establishment without anything to show for it. The food definitely wasn't worth the discomfort and frustration of staying any longer. Ultimately, we couldn’t endure it any longer. We left in the middle of the meal to find somewhere else where we could feed our child, who was understandably distressed.

The only saving grace was our waitress- she was great very welcoming. She really tried to help.

In all our years of dining out with our child, we’ve never encountered such a lack of empathy or hospitality. A restaurant that values its ego over the comfort and satisfaction of its patrons, especially a child, is not one worth visiting. Avoid 1856- Culinary Residence restaurant at all costs unless you enjoy paying exorbitant prices for mediocre food and being treated like an inconvenience. This place is nothing more than a hollow shell of pretension, with no substance to back it up.

Auburn has so many great restaurants- skip this one - your palate and your wallet will thank you.

Melissa Atkinson

Celebrated a birthday at 1856 and it did not disappoint! The tasting menu was unique and delicious and do not skip the wine paring, it’s perfection! This is a true gem and an incredible experience all around.

Drew Woods

This is the best restaurant in Alabama. Tyler and Jen Lyne’s food is absolutely exquisite. Every menu is thoughtful and carefully crafted. This is Michelin star worthy fare. Chefs Tom and Marcus crushed every detail and the presentation was wonderful. Our waitress Kenzie knew everything about the food served and the wine paired. The food is so conversationally provoking that I’d consider this the best dinner I’ve had in well over a year. And despite the fine dining experience, you get a lot of food and leave feeling full and complete. Our meal consisted of 5 savory dishes and 2 desserts. It is impossible to pick a favorite among them although the humble egg and caviar was equally delicious and technically impressive. The delightful meal will be embedded in our memory for a long time.