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Partnered

1856 – Culinary Residence : Where Auburn-Opelika’s Culinary Story Comes to Life

By: TLP's Partners

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A Teaching Restaurant Unlike Any Other

Some of the South’s most memorable meals aren’t found in a major city. They’re found in Auburn, Alabama, where students and seasoned chefs work side by side to create one of the country’s most unique dining experiences.

Located inside Auburn University’s Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, 1856 – Culinary Residence is an immersive teaching restaurant where hospitality and culinary students gain real-world experience while serving an elevated, seasonally inspired tasting menu to guests.

Named for the year Auburn University was founded, 1856 – Culinary Residence blends thoughtful storytelling with the flavors of the season. The ever-evolving tasting menu highlights locally sourced ingredients, including produce harvested from the edible rooftop garden atop the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center. Throughout the year, nationally recognized guest chefs collaborate with Auburn students and faculty, bringing fresh perspectives and new techniques to each seasonal menu.

The result is an experience that feels both polished and personal. Reservations fill quickly, and for good reason.

A Culinary Destination Worth Exploring

1856 – Culinary Residence is just one reason Auburn-Opelika has become one of the South’s most exciting places to eat and drink. The destination has earned national attention for its growing collection of chef-driven restaurants, craft breweries, locally distilled spirits, and two walkable downtowns filled with everything from casual favorites to elevated dining experiences.

That momentum reached a new milestone when 1856 – Culinary Residence became the first restaurant in Auburn and the first teaching restaurant in the United States recommended by The MICHELIN Guide, placing Auburn-Opelika on the national culinary map.

The region’s culinary talent continues to shine beyond 1856 – Culinary Residence. Chef David Bancroft, whose restaurants include Acre and Bow & Arrow, is a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South. Just down the road, The Depot was the first restaurant in Alabama to receive the James Beard Foundation Smart Catch Leader Award for its commitment to sustainable seafood and has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its thoughtfully curated wine program. Visitors can also sip a piece of Alabama history at John Emerald Distilling Company, the state’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition.

From a MICHELIN-recommended tasting menu to award-winning restaurants, craft distilleries, and generations of Southern hospitality, Auburn-Opelika’s culinary scene continues to earn a place at tables across the South.