Birmingham, Ala suggestions?

I'm going to Birmingham in a couple of weeks and have one Friday evening open. I did a search but didn't find any current restaurant recommendations.

I'm looking for something that I can access via public tranist or taxi from the convention center area. Something iconic to Brimingham or Alabama or typcially southern. Price under $50/pp, preferably under $25 and something I can't find in Chicago.

TIA.

Diannie wrote:I'm going to Birmingham in a couple of weeks and have one Friday evening open. I did a search but didn't find any current restaurant recommendations.

I'm looking for something that I can access via public tranist or taxi from the convention center area. Something iconic to Brimingham or Alabama or typcially southern. Price under $50/pp, preferably under $25 and something I can't find in Chicago.

TIA.

I am not sure that this would be "typical Southern". However, one of the best meals that we had was at The Fish Market Restaurant. It is NOT fancy at all. The seafood is very fresh, the atmosphere is very casual and the food is well executed.

http://thefishmarket.net/

My son Jason just recommened the following:

Hot & Hot Fish Club
The Highlands
Miss Myra's
Saw's BBQ

Have lots of fun in Birmingham.

Best regards!!

Thank you for the suggestions!

Based on the raves it continues to receive in Garden & Gun Magazine (I have not been myself), I'd say Hot & Hot Fish Club is a place not to miss. Please post about your visit if you end up going. I'm very curious about that restaurant.

Iconic, accessible, <$25, iconic - Gus's Hot Dogs is I believe the sole survivor of the original Greek Birmingham hot dog joints.



Gus's Hot Dogs
1915 4th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 251-4540

The Fish Market mentioned upthread is indeed quite good, not unlike Boston Fish Market in many ways I would imagine. Greek Gulf seafood, daisy fresh, well-executed.

Unfortunately, there is not a much in the way of good downhome Southern cooking that's a quick hit from the downtown area.

One of the best meals that I've had in recent memory was at Highlands Bar and Grill, but it probably would not be in the price range that you mentioned (unless you stick to the raw bar menu, and even then it would be a challenge). Highlands is one of the best known high-end restaurants in the South and has received a lot of accolades. I believe that Chef Frank Stitt also owns Hot & Hot Fish Club and another restaurant called Bottega. Based on my experience at Highlands, I would focus in on those if you can swing it.

Well, I made it to Birmingham. I stayed at the Sheraton connected to the Convention Center. In theory it's downtown but in practice the only things within walking distance are the Birmingham Museum of Art and the public library. I enjoyed a couple of hours at the museum and do recommend it.

Theoretically the Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church are walkable but, given the city's homeless population, I was strongly advised not to walk it alone at night. Sidenote: Wow, do visit both sites and don't miss Kelly Ingram Park which is across the street. I was in Birmingham because of the 50th anniversary of the church bombing. New civil rights walking tours start in the park and wind past important historic stops.

Fortunately for my Friday night dinner, public transportation is handy and cheap. Three trolley routes cross the area and cost a quarter a ride. The trolley brought me from the hotel to the 5 points neighborhood. It's a short, uphill, walk to Hot and Hot Fish Club from there.

I had a great meal and a wonderful experience in this very friendly restaurant. I couldn't get a reservation (and was dining alone) but I headed there anyway. I snagged a good seat at the bar where I enjoyed friendly conversation with a couple waiting for a table and with 2 other tourists who couldn't get a reservation either.

Tomatoes were in high season so I feasted on the Hot and Hot Tomato salad served as an entree with the addition of 5 huge gulf shrimp. I'm not a photo person but I found this link to the salad's picture and recipe online: Tomato Salad Recipe Wow, I'm glad I didn't miss Chef Hasting's signature summer dish. One could argue that bacon's overdone but it goes so well with tomatoes! The fried okra was tender and perfect and the huge shrimp made this a complete meal. I also enjoyed watching the bartender working. I'm not much of a drinker but I tried a seasonal gin-based cocktail. I wish I'd gotten his name (bad me) becasue when I asked if he made his own bitters, he took two bottles, disappeared into the kitchen and returned with bitters-based sorbet samples for me and the couple next to me. So that was a perfect dessert.

Great meal, great service, fun atmosphere. I'm glad I went and I appreciate the suggestion. I walked past Highlands Bar and Grill on my way back to the bus--it looked quite nice but much more formal. I chose the right place for me and dining solo.

We Birminghammed for a cup of coffee over spring break this year. We ate far better than we expected to. We drove down to something called Perdido Key in Fla. Birmingham was a planned stop to see all of the racist stuff. The church that was bombed, the park, and the Civil Rights Institute. We also spent time at the Sloss Furnace place, and the Mcwane Science Center (if you have kids that age, you MUST, MUST, stop here for few hours.)

Our first mission was to find a snack before hitting the Science Center. There is a food court across the street from the place. Knowing nothing, we walked into the food court. I rethought Alabama as soon as I stepped foot in the door. This was The Pizitz Food Hall, and I was almost blown away. I expected corn dogs and puck burgers, but it was more sushi, Indian, Ethiopian, Israeli, AND, a freekin Biscuit stall, a homemade mini pie stall, and a homemade poundcake stall, and more. After perusing wares, we strapped in for Ethiopian food, in a food court, in Albama, y'all! And guess what? It was damn good. The owner chatted us up a little since the place was empty. He felt us out, and really tried to push us towards one of his lamb dishes, but wife 1.0 is just not into lamb, so we had an extra spicy beef/veggie dish along with a stewed lentil dish with two pieces of injera. (Let me just say right now that I apparently need to resize all of my photos before throwing them in here, and I'm too lazy to do it now.) The gent asked how hot we wanted it to be, and we both said, "Hot!" at the same time, so I think he knew we were not fakers. What we got was stir fried beef strips with lots of red onion, green pepper, and fiery, fresh jalapeno slices. The stewed lentil dish was very mild. The injera was perfectly sour and chewy. We sweated through this beef dish though, and really enjoyed it. The sauce was burnin hot, and tangy. The beef was a bit on the chewy side - my only complaint. As we left, he asked if we liked it. I had a nice bead of sweat rolling down my brow, so I got close enough for him to see it, and pointed it out to him, and said, "this means it was good." He laughed and clapped. I'd go back there ANY time again. This place was called Ghion Cultural Hall.

After getting sizzled, we wanted to try some treats. Sauntered over to the pie lady's stall, and she offered her mini pies for 5 bux a pop, but, if you ordered a 5 pack of pies, it was 20 dollars, so, that was an easy decision. She also wrapped them up all fancy. Each had its own lil box, and then she stacked them up, and wrapped them like a gift with ribbon. We ate the pies later that night, and tbh, more sizzle than steak. BUT...

The Pound Cake Lady. Yeeeaaaaah buddy!
Her stall had little plastic trial cups lined up, for you to try anything. Her "thing" was a mason jar filled with a treat. Like, a single serving of bread pudding, or banana pudding in a mason jar for easy mobility. She had a few different flavors of pound cakes, and bread puddings, like caramel, german chocolate, cherry. As soon as I tried her cookies and cream bread pudding, it was all over. It was a, "listen, dear, I'm getting that cookies and cream bread pudding, and I'm eating it now. Get whatever you'd like, but that bread pudding is happening, and I don't plan on sharing it. you can try it, and you can get anything else you want, but the bread pudding is 100% happening." She knows I mean business when I am that direct. not mean, but I'm just trying to explain that her counting on the whole "sharing is caring mentality" might be problematic. Let me tell you something: that sh!t was good. Standard bread pudding, with some chunks of a chocolate cookie, drizzled with a white chocolate frosting. The frosting was overkill, but there's no way I wouldn't get that thing again. The wife settled in on a banana pudding in a jar. She LOVED it, but I didn't try it. Didn't need to. That bread pudding sated me. All good. again, pictures will come - just too lazy right now. This food hall place was more in the style of Revival than local mall. I'd 100% stop in here again. No question.

After the Mcwane Science center (again, bring your kids here, definitely,) we visited the park with the memorials across the street from the 16th street church. After strolling the park and reading the memorials, we hit The Fishmarket, and it did not disappoint at ALL. It was pretty much like being at Boston Fish Market, and everyone at the table was happy I knew about it. We ate very well, and definitely recommend this joint. It's pretty big, but very well run. Proudly Greek. Pretty much the same deal as Boston Fish Market, but with more side choices, like fried okra, and greens. Standouts were the grilled octopus (plated as one big ol' tentacle for us to hack up ourselves - loved it!)
my 1/2 dozen fried oysters - pretty much counted double digits of them - big and juicy, and fresh, the paella - even though it had no good crispy rice bits, it was WELL flavored with saffron, and...oddly enough, the collard greens and black eyed peas! The collard greens were out of this word. Listen, they were obviously flavored with a fake smoke - I'm going too guess it was a fancy smoke powder, not like a liquid smoke. At first forkful, I thought I was going to be disappointed, but they grew on me big time. I didn't share. I thought I was slick, but the fam brought it up the next day. Someone mentioned me "hogging that side of greens last night." I normally share when things are good - but when they are REALLY good, I keep quiet. My cover was blown. Anyway - fully endorse The Fishmarket. Dead ringer for Boston Fish Market, but with some Alabama twists (again, pictures are coming.)

Day two was a tour of the Sloss Furnace place, and a trial of Alabama BBQ. Saw's BBQ.
This stuff was REAL. The place was about as big as your living room, with 4 or 5 tables stuffed into it. But this stuff was real. I got the sampler, which, mouth watering right now, excuse me. Pulled pork, couple wings, little pulled chicken. This was my first trial of "white sauce" and I am a believer. I thought it was gonna be all nasty and sweet, but their was full of fresh black pepper, and only a hint of sweet, far more savory, and the pepper was very pronounced - loved that stuff. Also of note were the cheese grits. Fam was happy I found this joint - REALLY happy. As good as the chicken with white sauce was - that pulled pork was borderline insane. Really juicy, no sauce, and smokey. Succulent and smokey - best way I could describe it. This place was for real. (pictures coming.)

Birmingham has some real food - TRUST. Way better than I thought it would be.

https://www.sawsbbq.com/

http://www.thepizitz.com/food-hall

http://www.thefishmarket.net/

https://www.mcwane.org/

Really nice, seebee. I felt like I was along with you and your family.

I chatted briefly with a physician in town from Birmingham, and when I told her I occasionally drive through Alabama and once stayed the night in Birmingham, she was keen to offer recommendations. The only one I remember is Carrigan's, which I'd like to try next time I'm there.

Carrigan's Public House
2430 Morris Ave, Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 440-2430
http://www.carriganspub.com/

Carrigan's was recommended to us by the locals several times. I even helped someone FIND Carrigans after they stopped me in that memorial park. They were from out of town, and had no internet service on their phone so couldn't use gps. I legit tried to be helpful, but I probably sent them halfway to Mobile, even though Carrigans couldn't have been more than a mile or two.