We stayed in Lauris for a week to attend a wedding at Domaine de Fontenille . We stumbled upon Chez Lulu at the recommendation of a local family. It was an incredible find. We went back multiple times and every time the meals were fabulous. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who's visiting the area. read more

I realized this week, that I might have problem. But the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Hello, my name is Will, and I love brunch. I mean REALLY love brunch. So much that this is my second review this week of a place I have been to on numerous occasions... just for brunch! So I will preface this by saying that I know Americans are known the world over for being served mass quantities of food at restaurants. So I can appreciate a French restaurant the doesn't crowd the plate with quantity, but with quality food. The breads are baked fresh. So anything you get (croissant, scone, sliced bread, etc.) is always of top quality. I have pretty typically enjoyed everything I have gotten. Even though I couldn't tell you all off the top of my head. Their Bloody Mary is decent, but not great. The inside (especially in the back) can feel a little cramped. But that adds to that cafe feel of the place too. Overall a cool, unique place that is unlike any other in Birmingham. read more

Chez Lulu - Back dining room. - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The salads here are delicious. The one thing this place has down really well are wine and salad combinations. The portions are small like other reviewers have mentioned but they compliment wine perfectly. I ordered the salad and tarte combo with the salad and half sandwich combo. I spent way more than what was socially acceptable for one person at lunch. That didn't mean I didn't enjoy every bit of it. The greens pie tartes du jour was perfect without the hot sauce but that's probably because I can't handle anything spicy. The slice may seem small but the richness makes up for it. The half sandwich eggplant and caramelized onion. Everything was warm, tasty, and mushy. Even though the flavor was decent, out of everything I had, the sandwich was the least impressive. The 2 salads I ordered were the Goat Cheese, Walnuts, Pear and Grapes salad which were beyond delicious. The goat cheese brought the entire salad together. The second salad was a scoop of chicken salad with mixed baby greens that blunted the saltiness and texture of the chicken salad. The service was prompt, polite, and excellent. This is the perfect place to grab Sunday brunch with friends and talk about anything for a few hours. read more

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After having dinner at another amazing Birmingham restaurant, we were looking for a place for dessert and coffee. Chez Lulu came up and displayed several items on the dessert menu. They did not disappoint. Everything sounded amazing from the creme brûlée to the pumpkin bread pudding. The three of us shared different items from the menu. All were delicious. Pumpkin bread pudding was the favorite of the regular bread pudding and caramel cheesecake. Those were very good as well. Service was great and the atmosphere was very quaint and cozy. Place is located in Mountain Brook village. They offer a full menu which is definitely worth checking out for a girls night out or dinner date with your significant other. Really enjoyed the evening here with friends. read more

I brought my daughter here for a mommy daughter date and she loved it. The Bohemian chic atmosphere makes you feel like you are in a quaint bistro in Paris. I love their garlic soup and tuna melt. They have a lot of French bistro favorites - tarts, quiches, nicoise and sandwiches on baguette. Walk next door to the bakery to bring home an assortment of breads and pastries. They also have macarons, Italian cheesecakes, and coffees. read more

Lovely, as usual. From the cheese plate to the silky smooth soup to the chocolate and coffee, this French Bohemian bistro never fails to impress. The service is spot on, and there is always an unusual cast of characters. If you're seeking a respite from the cold or just want to feel like you've been transported to France (seriously...Èdith Piaf quietly plays in the background), give Chez Lulu another visit. read more

Worst pizza in Birmingham. Very little cheese, cold and small. Could be better with more effort.

This little gem is just minutes from downtown Birmingham- packed with unique French inspired dishes, coupled with the quaintest ambiance inside and out. It might be just one of the best kept secrets for Sunday brunches - was there this past weekend and it was so easy to get a table! Oh- did I mention the service is top notch- friendly and attentive/ the cup of java was already kept warm/never empty! read more

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Chez Lulu is a cute, casual French bistro in Mountain Brook, AL. We love it for Sunday brunch (hello authentic French crepes!), but this week we visited for a quick lunch. It's been freezing in Birmingham this week, so we all opted to try one of their soup specials, tomato saffron- delicious! We also tried the salmon salad, potato and leek tart, and roasted pepper and brie sandwich. They are quite accommodating, as one of us preferred goat cheese rather than brie on the sandwich, and our substitution was made without hesitation. The sandwich is served with chips- we ate them all and negated our earlier hard workout . One detail we found adorable: the bills are presented in cute passport cases- nice touch! It was a great meal, so soon as the weather warms back up, we'll be back to sit outside to manger dehors. Thanks Chez Lulu! read more

Chez Lulu - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food is great, but I think pizza is the thing to order here. I got a sandwich but so many tables around me opted for pizza. By the time I left I was craving pizza. On my next visit, I got pizza, and I really like it. No matter what, I feel like you can't go wrong with this place. And to too it off, my Watermelon Martini was very good as well. Also, I love the restaurant itself. The decor, design, every sense of the interior is so inviting, relaxing, and intriguing. Possibly one of my favorite restaurants based on atmosphere. read more

Chez Lulu - Not just great food. Watermelon Martini. - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My friend and I eat here regularly - usually when we are looking for a lighter lunch. It is quaint and wonderfully decorated. While our service here has been hit or miss in the past, today it was fantastic. She was both gracious and informative. I enjoyed the beet salad - small portion but delicious. I also always enjoy their tarragon chicken salad. read more

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Chez Lulu is one of my favorite spots in Birmingham. Small but not tight, the ethos will make you feel like you are immediately transported to the heart of Paris. The drink menu is delightful - a great assortment of cocktails, wine, and beer that are all very reasonably priced (read: not cheap, but the same as you would pay at any other mid priced restaurant. The food menu is varied but not overwhelming. My personal favorites are the goat in the orchard salad paired with the brie and red pepper sandwhich. And, of course - the dessert menu. Y'all. That dessert menu. Hard to beat in Birmingham. There is very rarely a wait here as it is not on the hot new circuit of Bham restaurants, but let that be an encouragement to you! One of the few places in Bham where you can get an excellent meal (and I've never had bad service) without waiting for years. Oh - and make sure to check in on Yelp for 10% off! read more

I loved the bread pudding and almost got two. Will have to try pizza next time I go. I can't seem to say no to Bahn Mi when I see it so I tried that. I wasn't offered bread and oil because they were busy but when next table came in by me and were offered it they noticed and brought it to me. read more

Best crepes in town! If you want to stop by Chez Lulu, I would recommend only going on Sunday Brunch. This little French café is nestled in English Village of Mountain Brook. The inside is quaint and intimate, but I love to sit outside the best. It's ideal for a crisp spring or fall day to sit outside and enjoy your meal. We've even brought our friend's dog - so dog friendly establishment! I'm not a huge fan of the lunch or dinner options, but their brunch is perfect. Chez Lulu also has wonderful coffee. Let's get down to the crepes...my absolute favorite crepe Chez Lulu offers is the Ham and Mornay. If you're looking for a savory dish that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, try that! They also offer fruity crepes that aren't too weighted down with sugars or syrups. It's the perfect blend. Pair any of the brunch offerings with their coffee and you can't go wrong. It's strong and packs a punch. Should you decide to order an alcoholic beverage from Chez Lulu, be prepared to spend $$. $9.00 for a watered down Bloody Mary is one of the only pitfalls I would say about this place. I'll pass on that next visit. Bottom line is BRUNCH. Do brunch at Chez Lulu. read more

Stiff (borderline hard) carrot cake, cold creme brûlée, and dirty food encrusted tables. I mean, we stayed and finished the desserts, but only because we have an addiction and can't be blamed for our crazy choices. Despite the texture (carrot cake) and temperature (clearly made hours before creme brûlée) the desserts had good flavor and marginally good presentation. Were it not for the disgusting tables, our rating would surly have been higher. It was the lack of cleanliness and attention to detail that ruined the experience. The weathered paint chipped tables would have been quaint were it not for their need to be scrubbed and flossed. There is a difference between shabby chic and grimy gross. read more

The ambiance was comfortable and casual. We tried some of their desserts and they were delicious. You could taste the freshness of the ingredients. The fruit on top of the buttermilk pie was perfect- not too sweet or soft. Cute neighborhood. The service and customers were very friendly. Like the different rooms, very unique. Outdoor seating, indoor pillows, bar. Bathrooms clean and quaint. I would recommend desserts and coffee. read more

Chez Lulu - Coffee - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Best Sunday Brunch I've had in Birmingham. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for savory and sweet food. This is more on the pricey side but it makes up for the location, amount of food you get, quantity and quality of the food is also amazing. I would definitely come back and try more options on the menu! read more

Chez Lulu - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My absolute favorite restaurant in Birmingham. The pizzas are stellar. Try the Zorba the Greek on a spent grain crust. Wowsers! Start with a traditional Niçoise socca and a glass of rosé. You'll be transported to the South of France. In the winter time don't miss steering peasant garlic soup, and count yourself blessed if they have greens pie. Easily Birmingham's best brunch. Chez Lulu is consistent, eclectic, and fantastic. read more

Delicious food with a friendly, attentive staff. I enjoy this little spot of heaven in Birmingham. The interior is very reminiscent of 1930's French cafe society culture. This restaurant is definitely a gem in our city. read more

Let's start off by saying the banh mi is where it's at. The desert was on point. The creme brûlée was exquisite. They had a very interesting interior design. Everything was very eye-candy to look at. I definitely will be coming back often. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in Birmingham hands down. I go here time and time again whenever I can and I have never been disappointed a single time. The restaurant has the most perfect relaxed and romantic atmosphere perfect for any occasion big or small, the service is always wonderful and the wait staff is always kind, helpful, and attentive. And the food is out of this world. Close your eyes and land on anything on the menu and I promise you'll love it. The food is fantastic, and do not skimp out on desserts!! I've never left this place any less than completely full and happy and always looking forward to my next visit. read more

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Let me start by saying , when we walked in only 1 person greeted us and that was after 2 people just looked at us like we did not belong. I definitely felt out of place which is a terrible feeling when you want to try a new restaurant. Despite that feeling we decided to eat here anyways . It took about 7-10 minutes before our server came and asked for drink orders. I asked for a recommendation on a sweeter beverage and she recommended a drink so i took it. My date ordered something different. It took about 10-15 minutes for our drinks to come out so we rush to order because we saw they were pretty slow. Upon tasting my drink I realized it was not sweet at all and it actually tasted like rubbing alcohol so I informed my server of this and asked for something else. She took the drink back (which I thought was no problem) then brought me the new beverage. It took about 20 minutes before our subpar mediocre meals came out. I was so done with the restaurant at this point and just ready to go. We finished our meals and our server passed by several times so finally I flag her down and ask for the check. When she brought the check , she gave it to me in a dirty passport book which I used the napkin to slide my receipt out of. I saw that the drink I sent back was still on the receipt so I flagged her down again to inquire about this. She says 'the bartender won't let me take that off so you have to pay for it' I tell her 'well ma'am , I only sipped it and I sent it back so if I'm still required to pay for it you should have told me that before you took it back and I would have kept it. Can you bring it back since I have to pay or let me speak with the bartender?' She snatched the ticket from my hand and told me to hold on. When she came back she tells me that the bartender let her take it off but usually he doesn't and dropped the new check on the table. I definitely will not be going back. The food was basic but the server was AWFUL! read more

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I can't gush enough at how grateful we are for our experience at Chez Lu Lu today, on Mother's Day 2021. We were at a different establishment earlier and before even ordering we were made to feel so unwelcome and uncomfortable that we left. As soon as we walked up to Chez Lu Lu, our already fragile nerves somewhat frayed due to Mother's Day being difficult for us, we were made to feel so welcome and appreciated that it completely felt like a blessing and we are already so grateful to be here. So far, our drinks and eats have been so welcoming and delicious. We are beside ourselves to be here. Thank you Chez Lu Lu. Thank you Phyllis and Rebecca read more

Ohhh how I love you, Chez Lulu ... But ohhhh how I must remember - that amazing bread and olive oil is just a "starter" and I must not eat 3 baskets full! For the most amazing bread Birmingham has to offer, everyone would tell you to go to Continental Bakery - and I whole-heartedly agree with that. And, as such, the most amazing sammiches on that amazing bread can be had at Chez Lulu! It's a sister restaurant righ tnext door. Great chick-food (yes, dudes like it too, but for the most part, this is the place for a girls' lunch). Salads are awesome as are the soups. Start your lunch / dinner off with the Med Plate, which is the roasted red pepper spread, olive tapenade, some cheese, arugula, hard boiled egg and bread. One could make a meal of this alone for not a whole lot! If I'm with others, and I have to share that, I usually get the tarte and soup combo, and if the peasant soup is on the menu (and in the Fall it always is), that is my choice for soup. I've loved all the tartes, so don't worry about which one is best when orderings. Also available for a combo plate are salads and sandwiches. I prefer the chicken salad or tuna melt for sandwiches. They've introduced a cool kid's menu with cute things like ants on a log (you remember this - celery filled with peanut butter and raisins on top!), and apple slices and peanut butter. While I don't have any tykes at my house, I did see a PB&J sandwich at the table next to me from their kid's menu and it was decorated! I usually have the cheese plate for dessert, but all of their desserts are FABULOUS (and some of those such treats can be found next door!). The kiddo next to me had a scoop of ice cream (so apparently, they have a kid's dessert menu too). I cannot tell a lie or mislead you ... this place is just perfect for anything - not just girlie dates, but also real-deal dates with the Hubs (or your SO)! read more

The best bread pudding in town. I went for dessert the other night. It was rich and satisfying but not too large a portion size.

You can't go wrong with Chez Lulu. The bakery next door makes awesome bread, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the people who make the restaurant work are pleasant as well. The food is fresh, well conceived and well plated. There are a lot of 4 star reviews for what amounts to food court places in Birmingham. So I felt like I had to give this one 5 stars. Its definitely a cut above what you'll find a lot of other places in Birmingham. Try it. Also try and ignore the fuzzy pictures that got posted of the food at Chez Lulu on yelp. I promise. The food was admirably unfuzzy. at least mine was. perhaps they have special fuzzy days that I'm not aware of. read more

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Love this quaint spot. Order the sampler to try all the green goodness or the cheese plate...

A long time favorite of my family's, even my 2 year old loves brunch at Chez Lulu. The crepes are varied and wonderful, light & tasty. Perfect with a Mimosa or cup of their French roast coffee. My favorite is the blueberry...or maybe the ham & fromage blanc. And the grits are excellent, a little frenchy nod to us Southerners. Go again for lunch or dinner and have the brie & kalamata olive sandwich. It was the first thing I ever tried there, and I pray they never take it off the menu. And if someone considers brie 'dull', I would question their palate. If French food with a little Southern twist sounds good to you, you won't be disappointed. read more

We researched the place and determined beforehand that we would share a thin crust pizza for a nice dinner out. We arrived to find a very cute French cafe setting with a white haired man playing an accordion. We were promptly seated and drink and appetizer orders were taken. We ordered our pizza and the waiter informed us 5 minutes later that they ran out of pizza sauce. REALLY? Half the menu is pizza...how does that happen?? There was really only soup, sandwhiches and salads on the menu if you couldn't have pizza. So... we ate our garlic soup appetizer and drank our wine and spent $15 in 15 minutes. We went down the road to Salvatores for a pizza and were not too let down. Definitely not the same ambience but at least they had pizza. We do want to go back but next time I'm calling ahead to make sure they have sauce. :/ read more

Great food, crappy service. Seriously, the food is something else awesome but it really feels like you are in France getting treated like crap because you're an American. Everyone around us was served and we waited 30 minutes for someone to even pour us water! On top of that we got cold coffee, no bread and our waiter seemed very unconcerned about that. If you want good food, go to Chez Lulu. If you want crappy service, cold coffee, have 3 hours for lunch...go to Chez Lulu...if you were wanting to be treated well, then I'd recommend somewhere else. Maybe the Citgo? iHop? At least you get your meal in under 3 hours. :/ read more

So I knew I had to review this place as soon as I got my drink. I don't remember the name of the drink I ordered, but I do know that it had a ripe strawberry and some honeysuckle vodka in the mix. Ill have to say I've ordered quite a few drinks from quite a few places and never had one so strong yet so full of flavor at the same time. It was amazing! They gave us bread with some olive oil as an appetizer and we ordered a cheese plate as well. It came with a variety of fruit and cheese, some walnuts, and some really good crackers. The most astonishing thing about this place is the artwork displayed everywhere. The paintings on the walls, the little nooks in random places, and the coolest part for me, the couch in the bathroom! There's a very cozy eating area toward the back of the restaurant too. Oh and the French themed music that plays makes it that much better. I LOVED this place and will definitely be going back! read more

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It takes A LOT for me to leave a one star review. I always try to be as unbiased and constructive as I can with my reviews, especially when I left a 5 stars review for this place from prior visits. Unfortunately a recent Sunday brunch outing here left a very sour taste in my mouth. Half of our brunch group arrived around half past noon to get a table. When everyone arrived moments later we were told that the staff were a bit dismissive and it took awhile to get notice. Chalk it up to being busy, that's fine. We were seated outside and at the time every table outside was filled as well. It took our server 15 minutes to come to our table and take our orders, while in that time I noticed every other table has had their server checked up on them at least twice. Honestly, our server looked as if he didn't want to serve us. After 45 min. of being told we will be brought bread to munch on as we wait, nothing. Not a single check up, no bread, every glass was empty. Some of us wanted to get up and leave at this point, but we decided to be patient, as not to be rude. I was tired and told another server to get ours and finally 5 min. later he arrives with the food. Everything was cold at this point and honestly, his attitude has made me lost my appetite so I'm not commenting on the food. Also, literally throwing our checks on the table was a bit much, especially when our table was more than patient with him. A friend decided to go and speak to management and was told that there was a hold up with the kitchen. Okay? You didn't think it was appropriate to rely that to your server so that he can inform tables that that was the issue? It also doesn't excuse the pathetic service and appalling attitude. The server's name is Josh H. by the way, if you're going to HAVE to dining here, at least don't do yourself a disservice and suffer through his service and ask for a more competent server. read more

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This is the sort of very reliable restaurant that makes me want to get adventurous and order different things every time I go. Today I had the garlic soup and bahn mi with a french blonde cocktail. Besides the excellent menu options, they have soups and tarte specials which are always surprising and delicious. I have never been disappointed and I always leave feeling that I've had a wonderful meal. There's a selection of interesting cocktails! And perhaps most important, they have a consistent team of just the nicest most attentive wait staff. read more

Visited Birmingham recently and followed reviews to Chez Lulu. Once to the bakery (had a killer Almond Croissant) and once to the bistro next door (had the beef stew with vegetables). The food was great, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the service was just fine. Both the bakery's pastries and the bistro's plates are unexpected European flavours that I never would have expected to find in Birmingham. Highly recommend. read more

This is a small, quaint restaurant located in English Village. Decor and atmosphere reminds me of being in Europe. We were there one Friday night just for coffee and dessert. My table ordered 3 different desserts and decided to share them to be able to taste all three. We ordered the chocolate bread pudding, pumpkin spice bread pudding and the creme brûlée cheesecake. All three were just fair. The size of the bread puddings were rather small for the price. The pumpkin bread pudding was tastier than the chocolate, however both were below par to me. The cheesecake was just regular cheesecake with a thick ribbon of caramel on top. The server was very pleasant and gave us great service. However, I wish the desserts match up with the atmosphere. read more

The concept of this place is certainly novel for Birmingham, but being a non-local who has traveled extensively, I wasn't all that impressed. The Parisian kitsch decor is understandably a crowd pleaser, but the food is really quite average and the service is absolutely abominable. I'd likely return here in the future if I happened to be in the area, but I'd probably just restrict my purchases to the bakery counter next door. Food: Chez Lulu is a European Cafe featuring fresh sandwiches, salads, pizzas, soups, and pastries, most of which is either locally sourced or made next door in the Continental Bakery. The menu is impressive at first glance, but the final product leaves somewhat to be desired. My dining partner and I opted to start with the Mediterranean Sampler, which included roasted red pepper spread, feta, and olive tapenade - the spreads were flavorful, but meagerly portioned for the price point. For an entree, I opted for the honey baked ham and swiss sandwich, which was incredibly underwhelming - the swiss was virtually non-existent, the ham was flavorless, and the focaccia was harder than a rock - breaking bread should not mean that you have to use the side of the table. Service: Young and inexperienced. Although perfectly friendly, our waiter was less than capable of providing even a basic level of service - the water glasses sat unfilled, the appetizer was served with only three measly slices of bread, and the entrees were delivered before the appetizer was even finished. Atmosphere: Although quaint and artfully decorated, the interior of this place is unbearably cramped - to the point where we both had to sit perpendicular to the table because there wasn't enough room for us to put our legs beneath it. The tables aren't any better - we actually had to hold the appetizer plate above the entrees in order to finish it because the table wasn't even big enough to accommodate three plates. I understand the management's desire to adhere to the French theme, but adjustments to the service structure and organization of the dining room could easily fix these issues. Cost: Moderately priced. Hors d'oeuvres are $5-$10, while entrees are $10-$15. The total lunch bill, excluding tip, for my dining partner and I was slightly less than $40. Other: Chez Lulu is closed on Monday and 3:00PM-5:30PM, Tuesday-Thursday. Hours of operation are 11AM-9:30PM, Tuesday-Thursday, 11AM-10:30PM, Friday-Saturday, and 10AM-9:30PM on Sunday. The restaurant features various special events throughout each month, including a live accordion player every Sunday evening. Reservations are only accepted for parties of 6 or more and the restaurant will not provide separate checks. read more

I went to college in Birmingham and used to love this place. Let's face it though, there are SO many new and fab places that have entered the restaurant scene since my time in the 'Ham, this no longer ranks in my top ten. BUT it's still good. Stayed in Birmingham after an Alabama game last night, and visited Chez Lulu for brunch today since everywhere else was packed. No wait here--done! Food is fresh and local, but there are not a lot of options. Lots of breads and pastries, but if you want an egg I hope you like it boiled. That's about the only kind I saw on the menu. I opted for the 1/2 sandwich/soup combo. Very good, but I left still hungry. Granted, this was me eating for the first time today at 11am, after a late night and long day yesterday that involved drinking. So you see how I wanted a little more than fancy brunch food. Decor is definitely shabby chic French which I usually don't mind, but it kind of grosses me out when there are pillows in the booth. Supposed to add to ambiance I guess, but they had spilled crusty food on them. Nasty. Get rid of those and I'd go back when I'm not that hungry. read more

I ate a late lunch with a friend here. It was easy to get a seat outside and the server was very good. She suggested some solutions to my indecision. I had a salad (excellent) and sandwich (also very good). I spent a little more than I wanted to. Still, this is an excellent option for a meal or drink, where one wants a good atmosphere. read more

Not a good brunch choice Very limited menu Our waitress was not helpful on info and had our order incorrect read more

This place is really cute ! I loved the atmosphere! Inside has a European style to it. The food was delicious! Definitely recommend this place ! read more

Chez Lulu - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama