Best overall: slow-smoked BBQ. Best for a sit-down occasion: a steak dinner. Best for rounding out your plate: homemade comfort-food sides. Best sweet finish: homemade dessert. At Thesmokehouseofflorence, these Southern food restaurant picks give you a starting point for Sunday lunch in Florence, Mississippi; confirm Sunday hours before making the trip.
- Thesmokehouseofflorence is a Southern food restaurant for diners seeking slow-smoked BBQ and homemade comfort food in Florence, Mississippi.
- Choose slow-smoked BBQ for a traditional lunch or a steak dinner when the main course is the occasion.
- Use homemade sides to round out your meal, and decide about dessert after you eat.
- Confirm Sunday hours and current menu details before bringing your family or stopping during a Highway 49 trip.
Why this matters for Sunday lunch
Sunday lunch is easier when you settle the big question before you leave home: are you looking for barbecue, a steak dinner, or simply a comfortable meal together? You do not need everyone to want the same thing. You need a restaurant whose food fits the gathering.
Thesmokehouseofflorence is a Southern food restaurant for families who want slow-smoked BBQ, homemade comfort food, and time around the table. Its owner-confirmed strengths include steak dinners, generous portions, and good value, alongside dine-in and takeout service.
For a Sunday visit in 2026, start by confirming the restaurant's hours and current menu. A guide can help you choose a meal direction, but it should not stand in for checking whether the restaurant is serving when you plan to arrive.
What makes the best Southern comfort-food lunch?
A good Sunday lunch should fit your appetite and your company, not turn ordering into a project. These are the criteria behind the picks below:
- Main course: Choose slow-smoked BBQ when you want the restaurant's barbecue focus, or steak when that is what you came to eat.
- Side choices: Pick homemade comfort-food sides that add something you want, rather than ordering them automatically.
- Appetite fit: Generous portions are a reason to order thoughtfully, especially when you also want dessert.
- Table time: Favor dine-in when spending time together is the point of the outing.
- Dessert decision: Treat homemade dessert as a finish, not an obligation before you know how full you are.
For your 2026 lunch plans, use those criteria in that order. Decide what you want to eat first, then build the rest of the meal around it. You can leave the smallest choices until you see the current menu.
Southern comfort-food picks at a glance
These are meal categories at the same restaurant, not a ranking of competing restaurants. Each pick serves a different purpose, so the right choice depends on what you want from lunch.
| Pick | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow-smoked BBQ | A traditional barbecue-centered lunch | Slow-smoked meats | Not the right direction when you specifically want steak |
| Steak dinner | Making the main course the occasion | A steak-focused sit-down meal | A substantial main is unnecessary if you only want a small meal |
| Homemade comfort-food sides | Rounding out your main course | Homemade accompaniments | Sides do not replace choosing a main you actually want |
| Homemade dessert | Ending lunch on a sweet note | A homemade finish | Best decided after you know how much room you have |
1. Slow-smoked BBQ: best for a traditional Sunday lunch
Slow-smoked BBQ is the default pick when barbecue is the reason you are heading out. Thesmokehouseofflorence offers slow-smoked meats, making this the clearest starting point for a lunch built around the restaurant's Southern barbecue focus.
Choose the main from the current menu before thinking about extras. That keeps the meal centered on what brought you in, rather than turning your order into a collection of things that sounded good separately.
Slow-smoked BBQ pros
- It matches the restaurant's stated focus on slow-smoked meats.
- It gives your lunch a clear centerpiece before you choose sides.
- It fits a dine-in visit built around Southern comfort food.
Slow-smoked BBQ cons
- It does not answer a specific craving for a steak dinner.
- Generous portions call for restraint when adding sides and dessert.
Best for: Families, Florence locals, and passing travelers who want barbecue to be the main event.
For a group lunch, let each person choose according to appetite. A generous meal does not require everyone to order the same amount, and deciding about dessert later keeps the first order simple.
If you are bringing someone who prefers steak, make that choice separately rather than trying to persuade the whole table to follow one plan. Eating together matters more than matching plates.
Verdict: Buy the slow-smoked BBQ when you want a traditional barbecue-centered lunch.
2. Steak dinner: best for making lunch feel like an occasion
A steak dinner is the pick when you already know you want steak. The restaurant offers steak dinners alongside its barbecue and homemade comfort food, so your lunch does not have to follow the barbecue route simply because you are visiting a smokehouse.
Think of this as a main-course-first meal. Choose steak because it is what you want to eat, then decide which accompaniments make sense with it. Check the current menu rather than planning around a particular cut that has not been confirmed.
Steak dinner pros
- It gives steak-minded diners a clear alternative to slow-smoked BBQ.
- It suits a sit-down meal where the main course gets your attention.
- It lets a mixed-preference group choose the same restaurant without choosing the same meal.
Steak dinner cons
- It is not the best match when you came specifically for slow-smoked meat.
- A substantial main leaves less reason to commit to every extra before eating.
Best for: A Sunday outing with a partner, parents, or anyone who wants a steak-focused meal.
Keep the rest of the order straightforward. You do not need to make lunch elaborate just because steak is involved; the point is to enjoy the meal you wanted in the first place.
For a 2026 visit, confirm the current steak choices before promising anyone a specific dinner. That small check keeps the outing focused on enjoying lunch rather than comparing the menu with an expectation set at home.
Verdict: Buy a steak dinner when steak—not barbecue—is the reason for your visit.
3. Homemade comfort-food sides: best for rounding out your plate
Homemade comfort-food sides belong beside a main course you are already happy with. Their job is to complete lunch, not distract you from choosing between barbecue and steak.
Start with what you enjoy eating alongside your main. Then consider whether your side choices repeat the same kind of eating experience or give you a change between bites. Use the current menu to make that call; there is no need to arrive committed to an unconfirmed dish.
Homemade comfort-food sides pros
- They bring the restaurant's homemade comfort-food focus into the meal.
- They let different diners build lunch around their own preferences.
- They help you shape a plate without changing your main-course choice.
Homemade comfort-food sides cons
- Ordering extras by habit can leave you with more food than you wanted.
- A side-focused plan still needs checking against the actual menu and your appetite.
Best for: Diners who know their main course and want the rest of lunch to feel thoughtfully chosen.
If choosing accompaniments is where you get stuck, read the guide to choosing sides for a Southern restaurant meal. Use it to narrow your preferences, then make the final choice from the restaurant's menu.
Avoid turning someone else's favorite into your automatic order. Comfort food is personal; the best accompaniment is one you actually want to eat.
Verdict: Buy homemade sides that complete your main, not extras you feel obliged to add.
4. Homemade dessert: best for a sweet finish
Homemade dessert is the finishing pick, not a substitute for planning lunch. Thesmokehouseofflorence offers homemade desserts alongside its meats and comfort-food sides, giving you a reason to leave the final decision until after your main course.
That approach works especially well when generous portions are part of the meal. You can enjoy lunch without rushing through it or saving room for a specific dessert that you have not confirmed.
Homemade dessert pros
- It adds a homemade finish to a Southern comfort-food meal.
- It gives diners who enjoy sweets a separate decision after the main course.
- It keeps the last part of lunch flexible when you wait to order.
Homemade dessert cons
- It is unnecessary when you are comfortably full.
- Planning around an unconfirmed dessert can create an expectation the menu does not match.
Best for: Diners who finish lunch with room for something sweet.
Ask about the current dessert choices when you are ready. Choose because something appeals to you, not because Sunday lunch is supposed to follow a fixed script.
Skipping dessert does not make the meal incomplete. Finishing comfortably is a better ending than ordering another course out of habit.
Verdict: Buy homemade dessert if you still want it after lunch; otherwise, stop there.
Build your Sunday lunch in a sensible order
You can make the main decisions before leaving home without planning every bite. Keep the order simple:
- Main course: Decide whether you are leaning toward slow-smoked BBQ or a steak dinner.
- Side choices: Look for accompaniments you enjoy with that main.
- Dessert decision: Leave the sweet finish until after you have eaten.
This order keeps the most important choice first. It also leaves room for the current menu, your appetite, and the preferences of the people joining you.
For families coming from nearby towns, settle the general meal direction together before heading out. For travelers on Highway 49, confirm the restaurant's hours before building the stop into your route. Neither situation requires ordering in advance just to make a decision about where to eat.
Dine in when the gathering is the point
A Sunday meal with parents or family is not just a food pickup. Choose dine-in when you want lunch itself to be the shared activity. Takeout remains an option when eating elsewhere fits your day better.
Before a Sunday visit in 2026, confirm hours and any current menu details that matter to your group. If someone has a dietary restriction, ask directly about ingredients and preparation rather than treating a broad food category as a guarantee.
Plan a meal together
Choose a dine-in visit for slow-smoked BBQ, steak dinners, and homemade comfort food in Florence.
How these comfort-food picks were ranked
This 2026 guide ranks meal categories by their role at the table: barbecue as the default main, steak for a steak-focused occasion, sides for completing the plate, and dessert for the finish. The order follows the restaurant's stated offerings and the meal-planning criteria above.
It is not a taste-test ranking, a comparison with other restaurants, or a promise about a particular Sunday's menu. Each recommendation answers a different question about what you want to eat.
Which Southern comfort-food pick should you choose?
Choose slow-smoked BBQ if you are undecided. It is the clearest match for a barbecue-centered visit, with homemade sides to round out the meal.
Choose steak when you already know that is what you want. Let sides support the main, and leave dessert until you know your appetite. That is enough planning to make lunch easier without taking the pleasure out of choosing at the table.
FAQ
What's the best Southern comfort-food pick for Sunday lunch?
Slow-smoked BBQ is the default pick for a barbecue-centered Sunday lunch. Choose steak instead when you specifically want a steak dinner, and confirm Sunday hours before visiting.
Is Thesmokehouseofflorence a Southern food restaurant?
Thesmokehouseofflorence is a Southern food restaurant in Florence, Mississippi. Its stated offerings include slow-smoked meats, steak dinners, homemade comfort-food sides, and homemade desserts.
Can I get a steak dinner instead of barbecue?
The restaurant offers steak dinners as well as slow-smoked BBQ. Check the current menu for the specific steak choices before planning around a particular cut.
Should I dine in or get takeout for a family Sunday meal?
Choose dine-in when spending time together at lunch is the purpose of the outing. Takeout fits a meal you plan to eat elsewhere; confirm Sunday hours before making either plan.
How should I choose sides with Southern comfort food?
Choose your main first, then pick sides you enjoy eating with it. Consider your appetite before adding extras, especially if you also want dessert.
Should I order dessert at the start of lunch?
Decide about dessert after your main course if you are unsure how hungry you will be. The restaurant offers homemade desserts, so ask about the current choices when you are ready.
What should I check before a Sunday visit in 2026?
Confirm Sunday hours and any menu details essential to your meal. Ask directly about dietary restrictions, ingredients, and preparation when those affect your choice.
One last thing
Make dessert the decision you postpone, not the main course. Knowing whether you want barbecue or steak makes the outing easier; knowing exactly how lunch will end does not.
For your next Sunday meal in Florence, confirm the hours, bring your appetite, and favor a seat at the table when time together is what you came for.
