Best Restaurants in Birmingham
Birmingham’s record-setting Vulcan statue points high into the sky as he towers over the city’s iron-manufacturing past, but unfortunately his arrow doesn't point out the city's hot culinary spots to newbies.
Find the best restaurants by exploring Birmingham with your nose—and an impeccable sense of taste for refined comfort food and down-home cooking.
Finger Lickin’ Barbecue at SAW’s
White BBQ sauce? It’s something not to be missed at this Birmingham smokehouse. SAW’s BBQ, with two Birmingham locations, is a place where old Southern favorites get a touch of polish. Order up a plate of smoked chicken smothered in white BBQ sauce or opt for the pulled pork and greens piled high with grits and fried onion strings. The taters here are far from boring—stuffed with anything from barbecue meats, homemade chili or veggies, plus all the fixings. Polish off your meal with a classic Southern dessert, knowing you’re getting a delicacy made with lots of butter, sugar and nothing less.
Soul Food in the Eagle's Restaurant
For Southern food newbies who may not have seen pork neck bones at their local meat counter, the tender meat with gravy resembles rib tips but has a savory, gnaw-off-the-bone flavor all its own. You'll find different specials each day of the week at Eagle's Restaurant, so you can't always count on getting those neck bones. One thing you can be sure of is having plenty of choices that may include ox tails, chitterlings, pigs' feet, pork chops, liver and more. Dinners come with cornbread and your choice of two sides, which can include black-eyed peas with okra, collard greens, butter beans or fried corn. Another thing you can count on: a line. But you know the saying; good things come to those who wait.
Food Truck, Redefined: Melt
Imagine not having to track your favorite food truck's movements on Twitter, and instead being able to walk into a restaurant and find the exact same flavors. Melt began as a food truck until migrating indoors—though the truck still cruises the city streets. The specialty is modern comfort food, such as fried pickles with jalapeño ranch and watermelon salad with feta and pistachios. Save room for melty delights like a blackened chicken breast with habanero jack on Texas toast or smoked ham and chorizo with a fried egg and cheese sandwiched between slices of sourdough. Creative cocktails put the exclamation point on your meal.
Burger Goes French at Chez Fonfon
Chez Fonfon's secret to creating the best burger in town is treating ground beef like they would a fine cut of steak, and the result is simple yet succulent, with pommes frites on the side. Of course, the French fries aren't the only Parisian-friendly dish at this warm, inviting bistro. Dare to try the escargot and chicken liver mousse for a starter, followed by a flavorful croque monsieur or madame sandwich. The names may be a mouthful, but you won’t regret it once you take a bite, because you’re getting a mouthful of a fancy grilled cheese. Signature cocktails include the Dijon Sidecar, and don't forget to ask about the evening's desserts.
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