Brisk is NOT sweet tea. Any restaurant trying to serve that down here will get called out. Anything thats premade in a bottle outside of a jug of Milo's is like saying Kool-Aid is juice. Only freshly brewed is acceptable. You can just type in unsweet tea meme into google and there is an endless supply.
Grits on the other hand. Its not for everyone, but I bet you had it just plain cooked, super gritty and zero butter or salt. Its like eating grape nuts stew that way. There is a very low concern for eating habits in the south. Most grits are loaded with butter and salt. It takes on a more creamy texture. Cheese is a must as well, but its much better when used as a part of a dish rather than the main dish. Shrimp and Grits are pretty popular. Chicken and Waffles are actually pretty good. But its not really common. Only one restaurant served it here and it shut down. Biscuits and gravy is magical. The sausage gravy itself is incredible. Its not gravy in the sense of turkey gravy. its not soupy, its like a semi solid of meat and salt . That lay's potato chip flavor a few years ago pretty much tasted just like the gravy. KFC biscuits are kinda dry. If you have a Popeyes up there, now that's a biscuit. Hardee's/Carl's Jr makes pretty good biscuits too.
My uncle is from Minnesota and hes a super picky eater but likes weird shit like sugar and rice. wtf? He doesn't like any spicy stuff and eats the most bland foods. Thats my view of northern cuisine. I figured NYC is different because it's a cultural hub, but from what my friends that visited or lived there have said, there are no good Mexican places. As good as Taco Bell is, its trash tier. Basically what McDonalds is to Five Guys is the best comparison i can give.