This place is my type of vibe!…read more Trattoria ZaZa has been on my list of places to stop at for several years. Parking often deters me but after attending the Italian Festival earlier that day, we had a craving for pizza. I ordered the combo that includes 2 slices of the day with salad. Since I wasn't overly hungry, I offered him one of my slices and he added another slice to the order. We paid and were given a number to place on our selected table. Jazzy music played in the background while we waited on our order to be brought to the table. The natural lighting, while beautiful, made it a little warm in the building. One of the waitresses propped the door open that leads to the restrooms (which are in the hallway near the elevators) in order for cooler air to make its way in. That wasn't a deal breaker, but do be aware of that on warmer days. Our food came out after a short wait. I kept my 3 cheese slice, and gave him the pepperoni one. The cheeses were very rich and the salad, while simple without the frills, was perfectly sized and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette that was just the right amount. While I enjoyed my meal very much and the ambiance, he wasn't overly impressed with his. He didn't want the fresh herbs on his slices and knocked all of them off, lol. He's a simple guy with simple taste. This is definitely a place I will be revisiting with one of my girlfriends and not him next time as he didn't appreciate what ZaZA had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and courteous. Our food, including drinks, was around $28, which was not bad for a cute, eclectic spot downtown. If you haven't been, make sure to try them out soon. Just don't wait as long as I did to visit!

Where to start? Went on a weekend, place was packed. The…read moreBad: 1. SLOW. Waited in a line inside of 4 people in front of me. There was someone at the podium at the end who i thought was a server. Was not. After a 15 minute wait (why did it take that long?), we got to the podium person. And found out they were there to take our order, not seat us. Can only assume the 15 min delay was because people were trying to figure out what to order. No signage anywhere saying, please have what you want ready while you wait in line. 2. No menus, anywhere. Yes they can be printed and people in line could take one and figure out what they want. Yes, the menu could be put on the wall behind the server in large lettering. But no, they make you scan a QR code on the wall and view the menu on your phone, so that's inconvenient and a bit obtuse. 3. When we finally place an order for pizza, was told that, "they dont serve pizzas on the weekend, but we could order their "brunch pizzas", instead. Which on the counter, was small anemic cut slices of thick bready pizzas on the cutting board/table. Those each were $8.50 according to the menu. Figure the math of 2 small slices of pizza per person for 2 people vs just ordering a large pizza. But they don't serve pizza during brunch- Trattoria literally has the word "Pizza" in their last name- twice actually- yet you have to order a nearly $9 slice of pizza sitting out on a table for who knows how long, and of the flavor of their choice, not yours. It was flat out insulting to go to a pizza based establishment and be told they won't serve whole pizzas. We left and went to Uptown to a pizzaria there, and had a really good whole pizza, salad, dessert, and drinks, and all for half the price then if we had gone to Trattoria. Wanted to give this place a chance for years, but did not work out the way i had expected it to.

Wonderful. Food was great, perfect wine recommendation. Friendly helpful staff…read more This is not an Olive Garden remake. Great Northen Italian

The menu on their website doesn't match the menu they served. I was looking forward to the burrata…read morewith cucumbers and cherry tomatoes and the rigatoni with ragu because that's what the online menu had, but when I got there the burrata they actually had was with beets and walnuts. I don't eat beets and walnuts unfortunately. Also the rigatoni wasn't on the menu at all. So I got the hangar steak instead with potatoes and arugula. The steak was great and so was the arugula. But the potatoes were very oily and left a puddle in the middle of the plate that was spreading to the steak and arugula. We didn't have a reservation and they said they were fully booked so we sat at the bar and the service there was very good. They were constantly checking on us and filling our water. The decor was nice lots of big artwork on the walls and good music playing.

I tried Bocca for the first time two weeks ago and have already been back each visit was for a…read moredifferent purpose but both were great. My initial visit was for an anniversary dinner and we noted this on our reservation, they were kind enough to place us in a more intimate setting away from crowds this was a Saturday and they were pretty busy but it didn't feel overly busy or loud in the area we were seated. Upon arrival the hostess was very nice and welcoming to the restaurant. We had a selection of drinks all of which we were pleased with. The first round included: Botanica 9.5/10 ($16) it was similar to a gimlet light and refreshing Circa 1975 9/10 ($15) a nice spin on the classic French 75 using Hennessy in place of gin. Second round: Espresso Old Fashioned 8/10 ($17) it had a good flavor and was different and something to get used to with the Espresso. Bocca Russo 8.5/10 ($15) still light and refreshing but felt like something was missing. Food: We split the caesar salad ($16) and it was really good, but size wise was smaller than some other restaurants, you do have the option of anchovies. We did choose to have them I think they had always add to the overall flavor of the ceasar salad. Pan Snapper Destin Florida Red Snapper ($43) was paired with creamy risotto, white wine butter sauce and over dried tomatoes. It had some broccolini on it as well and all the flavors melted together. I was very pleased with the selection I made. I would give it a 9/10 overall. Cast Iron Seared Tuscan Ribeye ($56) paired with tomato butter, artisanal mushroom, and Potato Gratin it also included broccolini. We opted to not have dessert on this visit but hopefully in future we will be able to check out that menu as well. The most recent visit was to check out their Happy Hour which is Tuesday-Thursday 4:30-6:30 pm. It includes a caesar salad, wine and pasta for $29. We selected the red wine for the wine selection but you have the option of red or white. It is a house wine so you don't have a large variety it's literally two options but still for the price it's worth it. The Caesar Salad was a decent portion no complaints there. There are maybe six pastas to choose from and you have the option to add protein to each if you decide. Garganelli with Asparagus (added Chicken $6) 10/10 Primavera (added shrimp $10) 10/10 the pasta had amazing flavor. I would say the $10 for 3 shrimp did seem like a lot but I just know for the future to select chicken of choosing to add to pasta.

Disappointed with our last visit there, which was for our 20th anniversary dinner…read more First, we were offered complementary champagne, but we don't drink. Most nice places have started accommodating for non-drinkers with a mocktail or NA menu. They didn't have one, so I asked our waitress if the bartender could make me something. We were surprised when we were charged the same price as the alcoholic drinks, especially when we were offered free champagne in the beginning. Second, I ordered something I hadn't ordered before, the chicken piccata. I knew it was lemon, but this had cooked lemon slices on the top that made it SO strong & it was also so salty, I couldn't eat a lot of it. Worst thing I've eaten here, by far. Third, the couple sitting behind us was extremely chatty with their waiter & tried getting into a political discussion & the waiter took the bait for a bit. Not the place for politics! Let people eat in peace!

This was the perfect dinner to carb‑load the night before our big 23‑mile hike, and it did not…read moredisappoint! We started with the baked feta dip, and as always, you can't go wrong--it arrived still bubbling at the table and was absolutely delicious. We each followed up with salads and pasta dishes, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed. The portion sizes were generous enough that we even had leftovers to take to‑go, which is always a win. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, offering recommendations when we had questions about the drink menu. Our server checked in on us multiple times and made us feel genuinely valued as guests. Great food, great service, and exactly what we needed to fuel up for the next day.

The place was doing a ton of takeaway for holiday parties -- good for them. I went with the classic…read morelasagna. It is a very good pasta dish to be sure. Added a glass of wine which brought the whole meal to $20 plus tip. Alas, such is the cost of lunch these days. You order at the counter as you enter, which is fine as it keeps things moving. There is one large table. Today it was occupied by a group of men my age who were holding forth about the college football. So boring.

Who doesn't love a good bowl of pasta? Bettola does it right. I always applaud restaurants that…read morehave perfect length menus. I do not need millions of options, this is the correct amount. If you know me, you know that if there's burrata on the menu, I'm ordering it. Bettola's is one of the most unique I've ever had. It's almost soupy, and it's scrumptious. The wine list is good, and they serve good cocktails. My friends all raved about the espresso martini. This is a great place for date night or to dine with friends and family. They have an option for everybody. Service is great, no frills. I find parking to be very easy in this area. Like Hot and Hot, you do have to walk through a different hallway to get to a bathroom, a little strange but fine. I love the option of outdoor seating, but the inside is a fantastic atmosphere, too. I've yet to try any of the pizzas, but will have to come back at some point, of course :).

Came here for lunch with a coworker on a Tuesday around 11:15 a.m. and it was already crowded!…read more This is located in the Pepper Place district and it's easy to get to and there's a large parking lot in front, but it was almost full by the time we arrived. Service was kind and very professional, but this is one of those somewhat fancy places where service is more helpful and professional, but not necessarily fast. It's nothing against the server, it's just the atmosphere of the place. Seating is crowded and you almost feel like you're sitting with the other people dining (you know, the strangers you didn't come there with). And the restaurant noise is loud. All of this combined reminded me very much of Bottega on Highland Avenue in Birmingham. I ordered the Bistecca (panini), minus caramelized onions. It was good, I polished it off and enjoyed it. Overall 4 stars because of the loud, crowded interior and the length of time everything took. If you need a quick lunch, you'll need to go somewhere else.

This morning, Sunday, February 15, 2026; My wife and I went to "The Essentials" for Sunday, Brunch…read more I have not eaten at "The Essentials" for a few years now. We don't like going out on holidays like Valentines Day so we usually do something the day after. Food: I got the Steak & Eggs. They were great. I did think the "Potato Cake" on the plate was a bit dry but I did eat it all. I was surprised that no Toast was provided for this item. Just an after thought. My wife go the Banana Bread French Toast. She also loved it. Service: This is where "The Essentials" understands what their clients want. Our server was outstanding. I looked around and felt the entire staff really knew how to work with their guests. Refreshing. Ambiance: At first, I thought the restaurant was a bit noisy. Yet my wife and my conversation was not strained. The Ambiance was upscale casual. Value: I thought the prices were a bit high yet the real story was, once I was finished, my mind was asking when the next time I would return. Cost a meal is in direct portion to how much you enjoyed it. I enjoyed my meal very much. Eat well, Drink well and stay healthy.

This is a great spot in Birmingham. The menu was not clear, but the staff worked with us to figure…read moreout what they could make without seed oils and gluten-free options. I ended up with a bunless burger. The Caesar salad with chicken was my first choice, but both the dressing and the chicken had seed oils - not good. Still, the vibe was great, and we made the best of what was available. Thanks to the chef for working with us.

Their gelato is amazing but I would love if they had just had plain strawberry. The place was also…read morepretty clean. And our server was very nice!

Salice (formerly known as Luca) is delicious! I've been here quite a few times and have always had…read morea great experience. I love sitting out on the patio on a nice day! The fries & dipping sauce are one of my favs along with the Hugo Spritz! I've also had the Campanelle pasta and 4 cheese pizza and both were delish! I have yet to try their happy hour, but planing to make a trip soon with 1/2 off wine, beer, and pizza!

I have been here multiple times over the last many years. This week my family was driving through…read moreBirmingham and asked for me to take them to dinner somewhere. I told them we would go here and I was so glad to take my family(who's from out of state) to this local restaurant. The food is always delicious and the vibe in here is always so relaxing and nice. This place can be hard to come to because the reservations get tied up all the time by almost every single option. That is because it is loved by so so many people so I will always recommend for anyone to go to this place for sure.

We hadn't been to Gianmarco's in quite some time. The place was hopping and crowded. The bartender…read morehelped us quickly with a drink while we waited for our table despite the bustling patrons. Once seated, we realized just how warm it was in the small restaurant. I was a little uncomfortable. A temperature more indicative of a diner, not a nice dinner venue. Anyway, the food was...good...not as special as I'd remembered, but, then again, we were visiting from New Orleans. Our server was just professional enough, but, a bit surly...maybe he was tired. It was packed. For the price and atmosphere, I think we may choose to try something new next time.

I got incredibly incredibly lucky to find this place on my first day in Birmingham…read more It'll go down as one of the best experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. My friend and I sat at the bar and got five star service; incredible recommendations for food, drinks and even other great spots to check out in town. We were befriended by several other guests at the bar who were locals, and overall the ambience was classy and professional, but the prices weren't too overwhelming. The bartender recommended a great bottle of wine and the spaghetti, and I truly believe it's the best spaghetti I've ever had, it will be hard to top. Can't wait to come back.

I've heard so many great things about Bottega--from the food to the top-tier customer service--so…read morewhen my friend was in town for a lawyers convention and suggested dinner, this was one of the first places I recommended. We were deciding between here and Lapeer, and she ultimately chose Bottega because of its reputation. We had reservations for 8:30 PM and weren't seated until around 8:40, which wasn't a huge issue. However, once seated, the service quickly became disappointing. Our waiter took our drink order, dropped off the drinks, and immediately walked away without asking if we wanted to order anything else. He eventually came back and asked us for our appetizers. While waiting, we noticed the table next to us receiving significantly more attentive service--frequent check-ins, questions about their food, and overall engagement--while our table was largely ignored. When our appetizer arrived, it was dropped off without any follow-up. It's like he had the zoomies. He never came back to ask how everything was, which is something I'm not used to. At 9:29 PM, I stopped the waiter to ask if they were about to close (closing time was 9:30). That's when I realized we were never even asked if we wanted to order entrees. His response was that he thought we were "enjoying our food and we could still order if we wanted to ," but from the energy, we chose to go someplace else. To be clear, the food was excellent--I'd give it a 9/10. Unfortunately, the service was a 3/10. I considered whether timing played a role, but since the table next to us received attentive service during the same time frame, it was hard to overlook the contrast. I'm not sure if it was because we were black and the only minority there, but the difference in treatment stood out. I live not too far and truly wanted this to be a go-to spot, but the experience didn't reflect the "one of the best restaurants with the best customer service in Birmingham" reputation I've heard so much about. I might consider returning to the café side to see if the experience is different, but as of now, I left feeling underwhelmed. I'm sharing this in hopes that it helps improve consistency in service, because the decor was beautiful and the food itself is worth it. We had the Parmesan soufflé which was delicious and very comforting, so were the oysters.

North Italia is a great date spot... which was mildly awkward because I went with a buddy whose…read morepants I was NOT trying to get into. The lighting is low, the tables are cozy, and the vibe basically demands deep eye contact and meaningful conversation. At one point I'm pretty sure he thought the night was going somewhere... and I had to subtly remind him this was a friendship risotto, not a romance risotto. Aaaaaanyway... the restaurant itself is excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive the whole night. I ordered an old fashioned that came with the proper large scube... always a sign the bar knows what it's doing. For dinner I had the braised short rib risotto and it was a knockout. The short rib was so tender it basically collapsed if you looked at it too hard, and the risotto was creamy and full of flavor. All jokes aside, it's a really solid spot and perfect for a date... or apparently a very emotionally confusing dinner with a friend. If I'm in town long enough on this work trip, I'll definitely be back.

North Italia's food has the been consistently fantastic! We've been going since they opened. Every…read moretime, without fail, the food hits the mark. That said, pricing has always been outrageous, and it's becoming harder to overlook. For example our most recent trip, we had two mains, and an appetizer, and the bill was $90. Had we gotten drinks, desserts, or any extras, we'd be looking at $150+. I asked for extra tomato sauce to go, and I was given what was literally two tablespoons of sauce, charged at an outrageous $3.50. I get that things are pricier now, but tomato sauce is one of the cheapest ingredients, organic or not and as a chain, I can guarantee you this isn't small batch, nor locally made. The markup here was just shocking. I know things cost more these days, but the price does not match the value. For this price point, you would expect much higher quality dining and you can get that easily in Birmingham. It's still a great dining experience, but we're increasingly cautious because the pricing has been a concern for years. Just something to keep in mind if, like many of us, you're cautious about budget.