I've been to the Railroad location before, but I was in the area and decided to try Red Cat…read moreCoffeehouse. Street parking was pretty easy to find, which was a plus. The space had a lot of people inside--many working or meeting up--so it had a lively, productive vibe. I ordered the superfood smoothie, which tasted good once I got it, but it did take a little while to come out. After ordering, I sat down for a minute before stepping out to the restroom, and it still wasn't ready for a bit when I returned. Overall, still a good experience and a nice spot to hang out, but the wait time was a bit longer than expected.

Are you a cat lover? If so, you'll appreciate the playful vibe of this coffee shop -- even though…read morethere aren't actual cats roaming around, the café leans into a fun feline theme with lattes named after different cat breeds. Meow! We ordered the Abyssinian Latte with vanilla and cinnamon, and it was absolutely the bomb -- warm, smooth, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet. The space itself is incredibly cozy and inviting. Colorful furniture, eclectic paintings, and musical instruments hanging on the walls give it a creative, artsy feel -- like they actually get used by a local band after hours. It has that relaxed coffeehouse charm where you could totally imagine Phoebe Buffay singing "Smelly Cat," yet it's also calm enough to have a real conversation or get a bit of work done on a laptop. Parking is street parking only, but we didn't have too much trouble finding a spot. They offer pastries and I noticed they also serve breakfast items, though we stopped in just for coffee this time. The shop was fairly full, which is always a good sign, but there were plenty of small tables that comfortably seat two to four people, so it never felt cramped. The baristas were super friendly and welcoming, adding to the overall positive vibe. My partner and I ended up lingering longer than planned while we talked through our day's plans -- always a sign of a great coffee spot. Warm atmosphere, delicious drinks, and kind staff make this an easy five-star experience. I'll definitely be back to try more of their cat-themed creations!

I come here pretty often as the HPL hosts craft classes here usually the third Thursday morning…read moreeach month. I always loved the ambiance of this place as it is not only very inviting, but they also seem to offer so many food and drink options. I came early to class this past Thursday so I could try some of the menu options finally. They had a summer drink menu, and I knew I had to try the Pink Drink. I also ordered a breakfast burrito. The pink drink I enjoyed, but the breakfast burrito I will not be getting again. It lacked flavor to me. My friend Linh ordered grits that looked good. Service was a bit slow, but I could tell the cashier was working very hard.

My favorite coffee shop on 280!! The staff is always so sweet here. The inside is spacious with t…read moredifferent types of seating from sofas to tables. They have food and coffee. Get the hazelnut latte with Nutella cold foam - trust me, it's life changing. I love coming here and spending the afternoon!

I only recommend this if you're short on time and the reason being that it's pretty pricey and you…read moredon't get a lot of food. With that being said, I'm almost positive the serving size you get for each order is normal/average, BUT i always have a large appetite, especially after a workout. This cafe is located within the gym. You can get a variety of foods such as sandwiches salads, noodle bowls, etc. You can also get a variety of smoothies, protein shakes, supplements, etc. They also have pre made meals that you can grab and go if you don't have the seven minutes it takes to prepare you meal. I ordered the soba noodle bowl with cilantro avocado slaw. It's a bit spicy but i'd say that spice is more for the flavor and not unbearable, i don't like spicy at all but i'll tolerate this. The noodle bole includes low mean noodles, peanuts, red pepper flakes and can add chicken for an additional charge. It's right around $9.00 and again, for the amount of food, i'd probably want to just go to a restaurant and pick up take out so i wouldn't be hungry after the meal.

This is Life time's onsite cafe, and it is open to members and non-members. They serve a variety of…read moresmoothies- protein shakes as well as healthy fruit smoothies and juices. They have a wide selection of protein bars as well as other healthy meals for breakfast and lunch that you can pick up on the go. They provide you with calorie counts and nutritional content on most of their foods. This is a great place to stop by after your work out, and they also have free wifi if you want to sit around and work on your laptop. The staff is very friendly and will help you out with substitutions on your meals or smoothies if you ever need any.

Quiet cafe to get some work done. I have not had the food here but I have had the beach bum…read moresmoothie, berry smoothie, banana mocha smoothie, London fog, iced coffee, flat white, cappuccino and caramel macchiato. Some are better than others. I would order them all again. They seem to have several regulars which I believe to be a good thing for businesses. Staff is nice each time and the space is clean.

The staff is always so friendly and the food is delicious. I am not sure if you guys still serve…read morethe beef stew, but it was my favorite a few years ago. The strawberry banana smoothie is a go to.

We took an impromptu road trip to Irondale Cafe for lunch and we were not disappointed…read more Located near an old train depot in downtown Irondale, it was a nostalgic location. We walked right in, menu is a meat and three served cafeteria style. Restaurant was clean and buzzy with busing hospitality. I chose the catfish, hush puppies, cream corn, and mashed potatoes and gravy. My wife got the country fried steak, fried okra and mashed potatoes. We took our trays and chose a table, and we were immediately met by our waiter. He brought us Diet Cokes in a glass bottle and extra sauces. Super friendly. Dining room was decorated with historic photos and very clean. Catfish was crisp in outside and flaky white meat on inside. Hush puppies had som jalapeños with a nice bite. Mashed potatoes were fluffy with a warm brown gravy. Cream corn was excellent. Country fried steak was cubed steak that was breaded and fried served with brown gravy. Fried okra was hand breaded and cooked nicely. Yeast rolls were warm and buttery! No complaints all around! Highly recommend if you're in the area, you won't be disappointed!

How have I never been here before?!? This place was packed OUT for lunch, too!! Classic southern…read morecafeterias will always have my heart, and this one was pretty good. The food line moved pretty quick, they obviously have a lot of regulars. I had the fried chicken (which was impressively puffed up, but could have used some more flavor/spice), creamed corn, fried okra, and mac and cheese. They earned their five stars on that mac and cheese alone. Everywhere else (I know I sound crazy here) makes it too cheesy. My preferred, home cooked mac is much eggier, lighter in texture. I'll always be a fan of creamed corn. My dad and I split a slice of the toasted coconut pie, which was scrumptious. I've had so many good coconut things lately, I'm starting to think I don't dislike coconut. My dad said the fried green tomatoes were pretty good. This is kinda a hike out from Birmingham proper, but if I'm ever in the area again, I'll certainly be back.

Cala Coffee was such a great first visit! I stopped by to try their matcha and wasn't sure what to…read moreorder, but the barista recommended her personal favorite: an iced half strawberry/half vanilla matcha with oat milk (my usual substitute) and extra sweet. It ended up being perfect--sweet but not overly sweet, and really flavorful. I also signed up for their rewards program and got $5 off my first order, which was a nice bonus. I originally wanted to sit outside since the weather was so nice, but ended up sitting inside. Next time I'll try to get there earlier to grab an outdoor spot. Parking is pretty tight--the front lot is small--but I was lucky to find a spot, and I noticed some people parked on the surrounding streets. Overall, it was a really good experience and I'm excited to go back!

unpopular opinion alert…read more People rave about this place so my expectations were set pretty high I won't lie. Unfortunately my go to order is an iced latte with skim milk and they don't have skim. I was hoping to get a little treat to go with my coffee but they were all piled on top of each other in the display case which made them look really unappealing. I am not talking croissants on croissants or muffins on muffins, I mean everything on top of each other which also makes me feel like options for people with allergies may be limited. The staff were really kind and the barista suggested 2% or almond milk as alternative options for me which was very kind but just not my favorite. The interior and outdoor seating are very cute. They have mini prints and larger prints for sale. I really think the larger prints would make a great locally made present! Ultimately, I don't think this is my spot due to dietary restrictions but it might be good spot for you.

Came in for brunch on a Sunday. Got there just before 11 and there was a bit of a wait, but it…read moremoved pretty fast. Service was friendly and quick, even though it was busy. Portions were generous and prices were decent. They were also great about accommodating gluten-free. I ordered the Farm Breakfast with bacon and gluten-free bread, it was filling and really tasty.

We arrived 1:45pm on a Thursday and it was empty except for another party. We easily found street…read moreparking outside the restaurant. I ordered the Banana Puddin' cold brew that was really good. They also serve pour over! Vanilla-Cinnamon French Toast came with 2 small bread slices - I liked that the portion was small and manageable. We also ordered the Quinoa & Black Bean Burger and the BE Hive Quinoa Bowl. They are great options for vegan / plant-based / vegetarian members in your party. The Biscuit Board comes with 4 mini biscuits and 4 different spreads, which was nice to share with the group. We all liked that the restaurant was quiet and bright and airy.