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Not sure where to put this in your forum... but my wife and I will be visiting Birmingham while visiting the North Alabama area.

Just curious what the best restaurants are in downtown B'ham for lunch/dinner that have a unique look/atmosphere.

I'm pretty sure there's a blazer guide to Bham but since you asked I'll give you my opinion. If you want a nice dinner at a nice place Highlands would be my pick. Everything about the place is fantastic. Other good choices that fit that criteria are Boytega, Saterfoelds, Hot&Hot, Ocean, Little Savannah, and several more. You can't go wrong with any of those choices but id recommend reservations for most.

For more casual fare but still quality id go with Iron City Grill, Bamboo on 2nd, El Barrio, the original Fish Market in Southside, 5 Points Public House, Fancys on 5th...theres many more but all of those places are quality.

For a unique dining experience id check out the new food hall at the Old Pizitz building downtown. There's like 10 food "stalls" and you can find everything from Israeli to Hawaiian poke. Really cool place. Birmingham is a great food city, especially for it's size.

BlazintheATL gave you some good recommendations. I'd also add Paramount and Cosecha Urban Kitchen to the casual options and Bistro 218 to the fancier options.

There are many excellent places to eat and for just about every palate. Keep in mind that if you know the address of a desired dining place, the city is laid out with STREETs** numbered west toward east with downtown around 20th street north, Five Points South on 20th south, the Lakeview area at 29th street, Avondale on 41st south.

AVENUES** are numbered from the downtown east to west railroad tracks (with underpasses at 14th, 18th, 19th, 20th and viaducts at 21st, 22nd, US 280 expressway and 35th. 2nd Avenue north east of 21st street north has many new places.

** Some of these are "one way", BUT THEY ARE PARALLEL and generally only a block apart.

whenever threads like this come up...i realize how long ive been gone

(03-21-2017 06:57 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  Not sure where to put this in your forum... but my wife and I will be visiting Birmingham while visiting the North Alabama area.

Just curious what the best restaurants are in downtown B'ham for lunch/dinner that have a unique look/atmosphere.

If you are a beer guy, then there are several good tap rooms. I like Good People and Avondale. Avondale has several restraunts near it. You can bring outside food and sometimes there are food trucks there as well.

I love Saw's Juke Joint in the Avondale area. It is Taylor Hicks' establishment. Great wings and other food. I haven't had a bad meal there yet.

(03-22-2017 08:12 AM)BandGrad Wrote:  I love Saw's Juke Joint in the Avondale area. It is Taylor Hicks' establishment. Great wings and other food. I haven't had a bad meal there yet.

Saw's Soul Kitchen is the one in Avondale. Saw's Juke Joint (which is owned by Hicks) is in Crestline. There's a rumor that a 4th location of Saw's is going in the old Fat Sams space.

ocean

Hot&Hot

Good "Meat & three" places are Niki's West (Finley Blvd), Paw Paw Patch (Greensprings Highway), John's (21st downtown) and don't overlook "Uptown" restaurants near the BJCC.

I was always taken along with the rest of the team on group lunches to the above referenced meat and three places when I lived in town. Some people think they are wonderful and swear by them. Personally I never got it.

No disrespect intended, (and I have been called sacrilegious for saying this) they were just like every other lunch meat and three / cafeteria I had ever been to before or after. I bet wherever you are going in North Alabama there is a close equivalent. I would focus on the other places mentioned.

I live in Atlanta now, but love coming to Birmingham because there are restaurants that are at least equivalent, if not better, but you don't have to fight a crowd or feel like a herded sheep to eat at them.

Most of the high end places had already been mentioned above so I added the "Meat & 3" places to round out the choices, not as their equals. As with so many things in life, cost per person affects dining choices too. If one wants $30 to cover meals for two rather than per person (or more), then choice is the name of the game.

The Bright Star in Bessemer has been among the best in the Birmingham Area for a very long time.

http://www.thebrightstar.com/

A unique restaurant in downtown B'ham (no reservations required, not a chain, no tie or jacket required):

Ovenbird
Fancy's on 5th
Pizitz Food Hall
El Barrio
Carrigan's Public House
Sky Castle
Bottega Cafe
Roots & Revelry

If you can't decide, I would choose Pizitz Food Hall or Ovenbird for sheer uniqueness to B'ham.

But you really couldn't go wrong with any of these... PM me or hunt me down on Twitter if you want more detailed advice.

Depending on where you are driving into B'ham from, I'd be happy to give you scenic directions for B'ham instead of just interstate-only... I promise I won't lead you through the projects or Legion Field.

(03-22-2017 04:30 PM)UABslant Wrote:  Depending on where you are driving into B'ham from, I'd be happy to give you scenic directions for B'ham instead of just interstate-only... I promise I won't lead you through the projects or Legion Field.

I will be coming from Atlanta on I-20.

Thanks for all the recommendations so far. I'll certainly be trying a few out.

/./

(03-22-2017 04:51 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(03-22-2017 04:30 PM)UABslant Wrote:  Depending on where you are driving into B'ham from, I'd be happy to give you scenic directions for B'ham instead of just interstate-only... I promise I won't lead you through the projects or Legion Field.

I will be coming from Atlanta on I-20.

Thanks for all the recommendations so far. I'll certainly be trying a few out.

If you are approaching EXIT 158 on I-20 and get hungry for good BBQ, Fat Mans BBQ is 10 miles south on US 231 and Chilly Willy's next to the Lake Motel is not as far. Both are local, not chains. For seafood, the Ark just north off I-20 at Exit 162 has a good reputation.

All the places I listed above would be great for dinner... a few are only open for dinner.

For lunch, I have another list for you to consider:

The Fish Market - Downtown (best prices on the freshest seafood)
The Garage Cafe (simple soup & sandwich menu, but the most unique place in B'ham)
Rojo (my go-to when I can't decide where to eat for lunch)
Paramount (good burger/bar & grill food with an arcade)
Brick & Tin (upscale sandwiches and more in a cool, renovated building downtown)
Chez Fonfon (upscale lunch with the best hamburger in B'ham)
Niki's West (HUGE buffet-style meat & 3; an iconic B'ham lunch spot in industrial north B'ham)
Full Moon BBQ - original Southside location near UAB/Kirklin Clinic
Saw's Soul Kitchen - Avondale neighborhood (soul food for hipsters)

I guess I need to update the guide to Birmingham now that I think about it. I haven't even listed the places in Homewood and Mountain Brook that are really good. How much time are you spending in B'ham this trip, anyway?