From the charcuterie (amazing rillettes) to the coconut cake with creme anglaise, the food was just superb. read more

Chez Fonfon - Coconut cake with creme Anglaise - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Great food and service. We enjoyed our cocktails. They are not super boozy, but very tasty. Beef tartare was excellent and the goat cheese tart is a must try. Simple yet delicious. Everything a French restaurant should be. read more

Birmingham is a true fine dining mecca. Just look at how many restaurants have received James Beard recognition. One of the top rated restaurants, Highlands, has been temporarily closed in 2022, so we weren't able to experience it on this trip. But I have wonderful memories of my first visit. The positive of this disappointment was dining for the first time next door at their sister restaurant: Chez Fonfon. This restaurant is intimate, beautifully decorated and staffed by polished servers. The French-influenced menu was incredible. My only criticism was the restaurant got warm and stuffy when the air conditioning wasn't running. We started with the Bear Creek steak tartare and amazing escargot. For entrees, we ordered the Roasted Red Fish, Steak Frites (which is a true signature) and Mussels. All were beautifully plated, perfectly prepared and oh so good. We could have ordered a second helping of Mussels. Dipping French Bread in the butter and white wine sauce was decadent. The dessert course was probably the highlight of our meal. The coconut pecan cake, chocolate caramel nut tart and the pear & almond tart were spectacular choices. read more

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So far this is the best food I've had in the Birmingham area. My local guides to Birmingham have been failing me very hard until recently when I finally connected with one that is also a Yelp Elite who has some excellent guidance for the area. This establishment fits nicely into the American French Bistro category and has a really nice selection of many French style dishes. They also do a really great cheeseburger although the frites/fries could be improved a bit with the using some goose or duck fat to fry the fries in. If you are looking for a nice burger in the Birmingham area this place can certainly help you with that quest. Reservations would be highly recommended as this is a smaller venue and it seems to stay VERY crowded as it does seem to be one of the better options in the area. Overall this is the best thing I've eaten so far around Birmingham but now that I've got a better local guide I look forward to better food during future visits. My video review of Chez Fonfon is here: https://youtu.be/nH6LIPqUiSk read more

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The restaurant vibes were great for a special occasion dinner. We went on a Friday night without a reservation, and only had to wait around 30 minutes for a seat at the bar. The food was amazing and came out perfectly timed. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar to watch the bartenders, and I highly recommend Chez Fon Fon for a nice night out. read more

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Everything about this place is worth every penny. The service amazing and the food was so good. They have a great wine list too. The ambiance was very nice. We will for sure go back! read more

Good LORD this place is SO GOOD! Frank and Pardis Stitt are still going strong after so many years. The restaurant is always packed because the food and service are magnificent and, in the scope of James Beard award winning restaurants, the price point is VERY accessible. We have been to all of his restaurants (RIP Highlands) and the food and service are first rate. If you cant get a reservation in the dining room just go and wait for seats at the bar where you will get dinner AND a show. The bartenders are knowledgeable and we would rather sit at the bar than in the dining room because of them. We started with steak tartare that was perfection. Raw, hand chopped beef with enough capers, cornichons and shallots to make it very savory and not too rich was served with toasted, homemade sourdough. We split the burger and the banh mi sandwich and they were both OUTSTANDING. I only wish we lived in Birmingham so that we could eat there and Bottega all the time. Go here, you will NEVER be disappointed! read more

Chez Fonfon - Half of a perfectly medium rare burger - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This wasn't my first time but it never disappoints. You have to get the coconut cake... it is the BEST thing on the menu. The burger is the best burger in town and the service is always exceptional. When the weather is nice the patio seating can't be beat. read more

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This is truly the best meal I have had in Birmingham! The food was pristine and the dessert (particularly the coconut cake) was to die for! We were served by Nathan, who was truly excellent. He was kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great atmosphere as well! Great spot for special occasions or date night! read more

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I love this place. Every time I visit Birmingham I eat here. It is in my top 10 places in the Southeast. The restaurant is nicely located on the Southside of Birmingham on the same block as 5 Points South. Street parking is at a premium, but they have valet parking for free. Making reservations is easy and they typically give you 2 hours for your meal. Pro tip: If they are out of reservations online, call them. They hold some. The inside is nicely decorated and has a good vibe. The noise level is comfortable even when they are operating at capacity. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and many of them have long tenure. I think that speaks volumes about management and it is reflected in the quality of the experience and the product. Our waiter made several recommendations, shared details not on the menu, and his description of the swordfish meal sold it to my son. The food in a word: "amazing". The escargot is great and a couple of our party tried it for the first time. The garlic ratio is always spot on. The charcuterie plate is as unique and flavorful as the restaurant name. Exploding flavors on every bite. The goose pate is my personal favorite. I had the beef cheeks and the richness of the flavor left me feeling pleasantly satisfied. The rich deep flavors accompanied by perfectly prepared beef were in every bite. The lemon dessert was the perfect ending to another meal. I will return and you should visit them as well. read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner here at Chez Fonfon. I came here with my husband, sister, and her husband. Everything was really good. My sister got the escargot. She said it was great. For dinner I got the vendredi special which is bouillabaisse. So glad I did! The sauce it came in was fantastique! For dessert, I tried the coconut pecan cake. It was good, just didn't wow me. What really made this a 5 star experience was our server, Patrick. He was so wonderful and just made our experience so great. Would request him as our server next time we go because we will be back! read more

Chez Fonfon - Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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My FAVORITE FRENCH restaurant for Steak & Frites! If you're in Birmingham, Alabama...you should! You're welcome!

Loved the authentic bistro atmosphere. The food was delicious and service was spot on.

Had a friend visiting that is a Chef that wanted to see if Bham could live up to her reputation as a Foodie's town? Made our reservations for 60 mins after their plane was supposed to land. I kept pushing it back every time the airline's website updated his arrival time. We finally gave the valet my car 2 hour later than my original reservation. The hostess softly cheered when we arrived. I couldn't believe she remembered me in detail from previous times?! Talk about an employee making a great impression on a customer? She even told me my favorite desert was on the menu!? (She remember correctly.) We could sit at the bar immediately or wait for a table shortly? I'm glad we decided to wait because before my friend could finish accurately reviewing the menu and decide their preference, we were seated. The restaurant isn't that large but the music and background sounds are pleasantly satisfying. Low conversations, the clicking of silverware on China, collections of laughter and sounds of pleasure about the food drifted around us. We both stopped mid sentence whenever a server walked past with plates of food. We agreed to split the Shrimp and avocado salad as an appetizer. He insisted the best judge of a restaurant is how they prepare Eggs and Burgers but we could not agree to split those dishes so we each ordered separate entrees. He had the Escargots and Trout. Their breads and desserts are made in the house daily and are outstanding. Needless to say we didn't hesitate to order a 2nd basket of bread and extra butter for our salads. Making a small shrimp sandwich might embarrass others, but we suggest they put it on the menu! I was full after our appetizer. I regretted I had ordered their burger until it arrived. The cheese was perfectly melting over the thick juicy pinkish patty. I gave in and gave my guest a taste of my perfectly prepared burger so he could enjoy it too. He didn't believe the fluffy bun was house made? I refrained from tasting his meal simply because I don't like any of it. Not fish or snails but he gave compliments to the kitchen. I did take his roasted mushrooms and peas home to enjoy with my almost otherwise untouched burger and fries. I took everything out the fridge the next day and ate it for breakfast at room temperature except for the fries. My coconut & pecan cake was eaten first. It never disappoints and it IS one of my favorites. He is a tee totter like me but liked their wine list as well as their listed mixed drinks. The consensus of our first of many meals was it will be hard to top this excellent experience. The service was outstanding, the food was superb and although we were late, the dining room was packed but it didn't impede on our pleasant conversations. We didn't have any problems and have agreed to come back before he leaves. Unfortunately one of his pet peeves are people taking pictures of their meals to supplement their reviews of restaurants . (Shhh). As an industry insider he was impressed and as a consumer I concur 100%. read more

We rarely go out to dinner at a fine dining restaurant. It is not just the expense; it is the past two (2) years of isolation. Hard to break the mold. Chez Fonfon was an excellent choice. This meal pre-Valentine's day is what we do prior to a holiday rush at restaurants. The Vibe was very classy, like being in a bistro in Paris fell. Tables with chairs, small dining room and a very warm bar. I love they have valet which in 5 Point is no little thing. The Manager would walk around and really notice how guest were reacting to the food. The Service was great. That means giving enough time to have a pre-meal cocktail, never rushing the meal, great suggestions and limited engagement. The waiter has a slight accent and that added to the feel for the meal. The Food was very good. This is why I only gave this visit a four star. My meal was outstanding. The appetizer was seared tuna with a lovely bit to it. It had just a hint of heat. I had the Steak which came with fries that were some of the bests I have ever had and a salad on the same plate. I ordered a bread for the table, and it was from the best baker in town Hinkle. My desert was the famous coconut cake which was just OK. Was not as moist as in the past. My wife ordered the trout Almondine. It was slightly overcooked which was disappointing and lowered the stars to four. Drinks: I got a martini called "The Orange Thing". I loved it. Not on the menu but everyone knows about it. All in all, a lovely and much deserved night out on the town which we used as our Valentine Meal. Eat well, drink well and stay healthy. read more

I usually do not leave reviews for places, but after my experience eating here I knew I had to. I came in to celebrate my 21st birthday with my boyfriend and this was the best dining experience we both have ever had. I was a bit nervous going to a fancier place, but my nerves instantly went away when entering. The restaurant was beautiful, the food was INSANELY GOOD, and the drinks were so yummy. But my favorite thing was the service. From the moment we got into the restaurant we were treated so well. The host gave me drink recommendations, we constantly had our water refilled, and our server was probably the best server i've ever had. She was funny, answered all our questions and made our night so fun. At the end of the night when we ordered our cake "Happy Birthday" was written on the plate. I'm assuming this is something done for any birthday but this honestly made me feel so special. Highly highly highly recommend this place. Could not have asked for a better way to celebrate my birthday! read more

Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I ate in the bar for lunch today. I had the cheeseburger which is rated as the best in Alabama. It's at least top five. It was very good. Maybe the fries could use a boost- crispier with fresh coarse salt (and homemade ketchup!) but overall one of the best lunches to be had in BHM. Really attentive and fun bartender. Very nice French bistro atmosphere . Would recommend all day. read more

Yes, here's another 5 Star review of Chez Fonfon. But if you've ever enjoyed a dining experience here, you didn't need me to tell you how wonderful it is. And if you've never been, you need to go ASAP. Every single thing about Chez is amazing from the time you walk in you'll feel the vibe, smell the food, notice the beautiful drinks people are enjoying. Once you're seated you'll experience the wonderful service from a smiling server. No matter what you eat, it will be fabulous. Enjoy read more

Absolutely love the burger. We always walk in and sit at the bar and have a great time. Great hospitality.

When you enter Chez Fonfon, you will be transported to a fine French cafe. The wait staff here is amongst the most professional and refined that can be found in any Resturant in our state. The interior is a well appointed and authentic French cafe. The food is absolutely an epicurean delight. The craft cocktails here are fabulous. Chez Fonfon is a rare gem. Give it a try folks - you will not be disappointed. read more

Chez Fonfon - A Lil' pot of chocolate that is quite tasty indeed!! - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I was in Birmingham for work and gladly found this amazing restaurant near my hotel. The chicken liver mousse was so good! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in y! read more

Chez Fonfon - Chicken liver mousse - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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By far our favorite restaurant in Birmingham, truly a great price for an amazing meal. We've recommended to everyone that comes to visit!!

Food and service was fantastic when we visited. The ambiance was very much just dining in at someone's home and was very welcoming. The service was absolutely amazing and we left so full. read more

Lunch was absolutely phenomenal. Best meal I've had in years. Had a salmon imported from Scotland. It essentially ruined all other salmons for me! Atmosphere was lovely, and service from N. Angel was best of the best. Coconut cake for dessert all day every day. Husband ordered their burger paired with the perfect red. His lemon tart was the stuff of dreams with the most beautiful executed meringue. Go treat yourself! read more

Chez Fonfon - Outdoor dining patio - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

BEST Escargot, BEST Steak Tartare, the Croques, the chicken liver mousse, the Salmon, the steak, everything is good. You cannot go wrong. Best place to be adventurous with food! Add the ambiance and the level of service and its always a memorable meal. Spectacular! read more

We went here to celebrate a birthday and had a great time! The food was great and our server was amazing and extremely helpful! Be prepared-- everything is in French!! Even the bathrooms! We even had to ask our waiter/look up a couple things from the menu. Also there's $5 charge per person at the table even if u want to bring in your own cake to celebrate. Overall, nice food and atmosphere Steak frites and fries 10/10!!!!! read more

Chez Fonfon - Steak frites - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My favorite place I've tried in Birmingham since I moved here 7 months ago. If you want a perfect date night / nicer dinner out, this is the place. Hard to get a resy but SO worth it. Best coconut cake I've ever had in my life. Service is also amazing our waiter was amazing and so sweet. read more

The best of the best in French cuisine in Birmingham! Authentic atmosphere, and impeccable service. It's always a delight coming here. read more

Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I'm pretty generous with my reviews, but I don't often hand out "Best in Birmingham" compliments. This is without a doubt one of the best meals I have had in Birmingham. I came with one of my foodie friends. We like to try a bunch of things and split everything, so that's what we did. We had the steak frites and trout amandine as our main courses. The operative word here is BUTTER which makes sense at a French establishment. They douse you in butter but balance everything with the correct amount of acid so you can't stop eating! The sauces, the textures, the cook on everything was divine. When I thought it couldn't get better, we ordered dessert. The strawberry trifle - DELICIOUS! And we took a chance on the basque cake which was recommended by our excellent server. Call me plebeian, but I had never heard of a basque cake. The description sounded ho-hum. But we took our server's advice, and I am so glad we did! The basque cake tasted like the most heavenly sugar cookie of your life had a baby with a French loaf pan. It was melty, fluffy, and rich. I seriously never wanted it to end. I had to get my friend a basque cake for her birthday a few months later because it was just that memorable. The staff are SO nice, even if you are picking up takeout in your sweats. (They actually bring your food to your car for you.) I can't believe I lived in Birmingham for over 8 years before trying Chez Fonfon. Do yourself a flavor - I mean, favor - and come here. I can't wait to come back. read more

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My bestie wanted to come here for the cake lol. I on the other hand wanted to eat eat. Please make a reservation via resy. They are obviously really busy and popular. The server was amazing with trying to help us settle on a wine we liked. We settled on a Rosé and mixed drinks lol. I ordered the Beaujolais salad-lettuces, lardons, soft boiled egg & garlic croûtons. The salad was good but it was dressed or it was extremely lightly dressed. The soft boiled egg was a great addition to the salad as well. My friend refused to eat hers so. I had 2 eggs. Lol. S&P those babies and enjoyed myself. Trout amandine with brown butter, brabant potatoes & haricots verts. The almonds were substituted for capers (which are my favorite) so I was elated when he offered it. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY and the green beans were well prepared as well. I also had a bite of Amber's burger bcus she swore it was magnificent and it most definitely was. Perfectly cooked medium well burger. She got her cake to go and most definitely loved it like she expected too when we talked the next day lol. Definitely recommend. read more

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A very solid dining experience all around. Lovely service. Nice ambiance, could've been a little more interesting decor wise but overall nice and functional space. We enjoyed the escargot, hamburger, and hanger steak. I would've liked for a more interesting aioli to come with the hamburger. Give me peppery or garlic or parm fries. Give me a watercress aioli. Give me something more interesting. It was very solid all around but didn't wow me. The grilled onions and pickles were nice and I recommend that you add them and try the burger with everything included. My husband's steak was very tasty, the salsa gave it an interesting element. Well prepared, all in all. I genuinely appreciate when restaurants properly prepare a medium burger or a medium rare steak. We were, unfortunately, too full for dessert. All in all a nice dining experience. I know many have Fonfon as their favorite restaurant in town but it won't steal that top spot for me. I may have to return if I see some seasonal menu items that catch my eye. read more

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I was in town for a business trip, and I am so glad I chose this restaurant! I ate at the bar since I didn't make reservations, which I highly recommend you do if you do not want to sit there and have advance time to plan. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my bar seat as the bartender, Chris, was fantastic. He was highly knowledgeable of the menu down to the very last herb (and that's an understatement), and wine pairing selections were fabulous. Chris took the time to let me take photos of the bottles for my Vivino app. The food was amazing! I had the steak tartare and Coquille St. Jacques. Both dishes were incredible. Even though I was ridiculously full, I ordered a pecan coconut cake to go and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this restaurant. 10 stars and Chris would be a millionaire if he received a dollar for each time he smiled at a customer. Good service is hard to find these days and excellent service is almost extinct. Chris provided service so rare, I can't remember the last time I experienced it. Kudos! read more

Good ambiance. I was seated in a bit of an odd spot, and due to my peculiarly small chair, I felt like I was constantly in the way of the wait staff. I also went to the bathroom and was only in there for like 2 mins but a line of 4 dudes was outside when i left. Dont know what that has to do with the restaurant but just found it weird. The lighting was good, cocktails were too expensive, but food was well priced. Food was good, appetizers good, entree was decently portioned and I was full after. The salmon was really good, worth the price. The waiter was very friendly and I liked her. Only problem really was where we were seated. 3/5 Would go again, just to get something different. read more

Love the atmosphere. Wish that it was a larger space as it feels a bit crowded as the seats are close. Food was excellent! read more

This is a place to go for a taste of French cuisine. I choose the breakfast route with a very tasty omelet. read more

My bday was good because I went here to eat lunch by myself. I sampled and ate til my heart was content. The service was good and the staff were helpful in making suggestions on what to try. It was a suggestion from my lawyer but the ambiance I was not expecting an authentic experience that had a France feel to it with not only real ingredients but cray paper for the table. read more

Perfect lunch of shrimp salad with remoulade and basque cake for dessert. Left feeling satisfied and happy!!

Of the three Frank Stitz spots here in town, this one is my least favorite. All that said, it's still an awesome French bistro/cafe in the heart of 5 Points South which is going through quite a revitalization right now. So, what to expect? American interpreted French cuisine that has some seasonality to it. The menu isn't gigantic and there's certainly something for everyone, even picky eaters. Decor? Back to American interpreted Frenchness... Parking? There's a shared valet with the sister eatery next door, Highlands Bar & Grill. Price point? A touch on the spendy side. read more

Went for dinner with some friends. We expected a wait on a Saturday night. We were told it would be an hour to an hour and a half wait. Two and a half hours later we were finally seated. We would have gone elsewhere had we known the wait was so long for a party of 4. We were given a free order of fries because we had waited so long which was nice, but I would have preferred an appetizer once we were seated as we were handed the fries on a plate while we were standing. I got the trout and was blown away at the flavor of it. It was probably the best trout I've ever had. We did have a nice waiter and he was apologetic regarding the wait we had. This was my second time to eat here and I'll be back, but not on a weekend. read more

Chez Fonfon - Trout #bhamfoodguy - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Weird how I've gotten this far in my reviewing life without an ode to Chez Fon Fon. No more. First thing's first. If you work for Chez Fon Fon, thank you thank you thank you for now having reservations. Second, every meal is memorable. Every cocktail is made with elan. Third, the atmosphere is awesome. Ridiculously beautiful people everywhere you turn. Highly recommended. read more