I had the opportunity to patronize Slide Cafe this past weekend. It was Valentine's Day weekend, so…read moreI expected a longer wait time. I decided to order on-line to help minimize the wait. My order was placed 10:26 and would be ready by 10:41 a.m. The email stated to come to the pickup counter once my order was ready. I arrived at 10:40 and looked for a pick-up station but I didn't see that area to directly go to. I found an "order here" area with individual kiosks that allowed for ordering prior to sitting. I walked near the bar and was greeted, asked did I have a to-go order and my food was bagged and ready as promised. Service and speed were on point. The previous location was smaller, so I was excited to see the newer location. The popular of the business has grown in the Birmingham community so it's grand to see the business elevate upward as well! The decor was amazingly designed, with black and white colors with an accent of yellow. This instantly created a warming spirit from within. There was ample seating, some located near the window which I loved. The remaining seating areas were spaced out great and even had a seating in a separate section that could host a wedding party, baby shower or birthday celebration. The restaurant offers a different ordering vibe, as mentioned earlier with the kiosks. There was a host present to assist with menu explanations, suggestions and order processes. I think this is smart, to prevent people from order errors and skipped bills, allowing the customer to be directly in charge of what the kitchen sees. There are plenty of options like, sauce on the side, omit and add items during ordering. There are some menu items that are specifically crafted by the chef so no modifications can be made to these items. However, so many items are available that something that may be wanted may be purchase a la carte. The kitchen receives the order electronically and the guest is given a number to place on their table. There are servers to bring the food to the table as well. The owners are the final point of expediting, which is brilliantly done. They provide the final quality control before the meal reaches the guest. This remains me of Gordon Ramsey service because it doesn't meet Chef Racquel's standards, it's not going out! With a name like Slide Cafe, the menu does include different brunch or lunch slider options, like steak and eggs (steak=brisket), chicken & waffle slider and break-fast slide with bacon and Conecuh sausage! How about a burger, grilled chicken or crab cake slider if breakfast is not on your mind. Omelets, breakfast platters (small or large), seafood options like shrimp or salmon and grits, pork chop & gravy, signature hash skillets topped with various house-made sauces and vegan options as well! Bottled soda, tea and lemonade were available as well as a full bar for mimosas and mixed drinks. They even have a soul food menu on the weekend with whole fried okra, lamb chops, jerk oxtails and more. I think that is perfect to take home if you come to dine in for brunch! Now, let's take about the food. I ordered the Catfish and grits, Chicken and Gravy slider w/ a fried egg and cheese and a House Lemonade. My total was less than $30, which I feel is ok with the amount of food provide. The slider was packaged in a Styrofoam container. The Catfish & Grits were accented nicely with garnish is a plastic meal-prep container, perfect to reuse for something else. The slider, yes, amazing any day. They are called sliders, but they really are sandwiches! The chicken breast was seasoned in and out, fried beautifully, crispy and juicy. The biscuit was definitely homemade and moist, fluffy, yet firm to hold everything together. I ordered the gravy on the side, which came in a 4-6-ounce bowl and used a dunking action to indulge. The gravy is homemade, rich and peppery. 10/10! The lemonade was not just powered Country Time lemonade. There was a real tangy and not overly sweetness to it. I drink some of it down and added water and it still had a nice flavor! Now, let's talk about the main course, the Catfish and Grits. This was definitely the start of the show for me. The fish is REAL USA farm-raised catfish, not that swai fish people sale as catfish. The fish was fried to perfection, crispy, flaky, seasoned and just right. I was nervous that the Cajun roux would make the fish soggy, but it was like the fish batter was perfect to still remain its texture. The Cajun roux was fire, with the perfect balance of peppers and onions. THOSE GRITS: Smooth, silky, cheesy, perfectly salted. I did NOT have to add any salt or pepper to anything. Slide Cafe receives 10/10 for me. Don't just take my word for it, go try it yourself! They are open Wed-Sunday 9-3! -DASC

I've waited a few weeks to give this review for several reasons. I wanted to make sure I was no…read morelonger upset once I shared my experience. My girlfriends and I came to Bham for the weekend to enjoy a concert. We were all traveling. I was born and raised in Bham, lived there for 35 yrs until I married so I was looking forward to seeing what new places my hometown has now. I never visit unless it's a family situation & never get to enjoy a sit down restaurant while in town. One of my girlfriends picked this place in advance before we made it to Bham and we saw the location while grabbing dinner Friday night once we all arrived. She was very excited to try Slide Cafe. She also lived in Bham for years while attending school so it was nice for us to see new places to try. Once we arrived the hostess (JB) explained the process to us and we were seated. I ordered a Coke Zero. The hostess brought everyone drinks to the table and I noticed I didn't have a Coke Zero but a Diet Coke and every drink except the coffee was bottled. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are not the same but no problem. Just inform the buyer what they're paying for in case they rather choose something different. While the hostess is delivering our drinks + (1) coffee...he's holding the tray incorrectly, he leans with the coffee still on the tray, and the coffee falls, the lid comes off, and coffee is spilling continuously. It's now burning the hostess leg running into his socks and shoes but it's also spilling into my friend's purse that was positioned in the chair the hostess was standing over. Hot Coffee has filled her purse, ruined everything inside including her Air Pods, her wallet, and everything else inside. Here's where I become appalled....No one came to discuss this matter until 30 minutes after the incident. It was an awful feeling. We waited and waited and it only made the (4) of us more and more upset. We had not gotten our food yet because this happened as soon as we sat down, only our drinks were served. By the time the Co-Owner decided to come over, it was pointless. She showed little to no concern about how she would correct the incident nor did she show compassion to a woman just like herself. They decided to pay for her food. We wouldn't be there if we couldn't afford our food! She offered to clean her purse but did not think her air pods were damaged or her purse should be replaced. The coffee had so many grinds at the bottom of the cup as if it was the last of the coffee poured and it was also all over her things inside the purse. This experience was awful for all of us. The way we were treated is what made the incident 10 times worse. Had someone walked over to us immediately to help us understand the incident was NOT her fault and apologize on behalf of what happened and showed sensitivity to a woman who just had her things ruined, I would have shared a great experience in spite of what happened but that is not the outcome. I lived in Bham for 35 yrs and I watched places open and close often. If this management doesn't understand that this is not how you treat customers then this too will be another place that opened and closed. If I ever visit Bham again, I will never visit Slide Cafe! BTW, my Salmon was very dry. Salad was nice but after such as awful experience, none of us could enjoy our food even if it was good or bad.

Classic cafeteria line, ideal for a quick weekday lunch downtown. You grab a tray, go thru the line…read moreto pick out your meat and 3, and sit down. The bring you a check to pay at the end and handle your drinks for you too. The fried chicken here is great. I'm normally a creamed corn lover, alas, none today. They have any sort of soul food classic you could want: cornbread, fried okra, pies, iced tea, etc.. It's not super huge inside, but things move fast. Parking is easy, there's a lot plenty big outside. It's been here over 50 years!

My folks and I made a run down to Birmingham to catch the tail end of the French Moderns exhibit at…read morethe BMA. Ted's was our pick for lunch! We arrived fairly early, shortly after opening, but the place was already bustling and the hot bar was full of yummy-looking and smelling food. It has a pleasant, sort of old-timey feel, which makes sense given it's been open since the 70s. This is a "Greek and three," fairly common in Bham, so they offer country cooking favorites like fried chicken in addition to Greek foods like souvlaki. You order as you move through the line in front of the hot bar. The food is protected from guests by glass so it doesn't feel as icky as a buffet does (to me, at least). The folks working the hot bar were pleasant and working diligently. There was one waitress who was suuuuper bossy and a little short with me (she really didn't want me to stand still and look at a paper menu, apparently), but she eventually warmed to us after my dad chatted her up while she was getting our drinks. I ordered fried chicken with yams and fried okra. My mom also got fried chicken, hers with mashed potatoes and cabbage. My dad tried the baked Greek chicken with green beans and macaroni and cheese. I snagged a roll and a sweet tea to drink. The tea was refreshing and not overly sweet. The food was overwhelmingly quite solid. My fried chicken breast wasn't ready when I ordered it so I had to wait a while for it to be prepared, but on the bright side it arrived piping hot and super crispy. It was great fried chicken, clearly brined and flavorful throughout, not just on the crunchy batter. The yams were nicely spiced and not overly soft. The fried okra was a delight as well, crispy and plentiful. The roll was average, but nbd. My parents were also quite happy with their meals. My mom RAVED about the cabbage and ate all her mashed potatoes and gravy. The macaroni and cheese was outstanding (I wish I'd gotten three sides and it been my third). The Greek chicken was succulent and light. The only so-so item was the green beans, and even those were decent. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Birmingham! One of the better meat and twos/threes I've had in a while.

Wonderful location filled with fantastic workers. My waitress Tiffany was incredible. And the food…read morewas 5 stars. We were there spending quality time and having a great experience. Music was great and the shrimp and grits were my favorite things of the entire week. I'd recommend this for effective service and proper food handling. Glad, I was able to be there with a special group of people.

ProTip -- if possible, join the waitlist (via Yelp!) before you get there! I didn't realize that…read morewas even an option so I landed an estimated 45 minute wait upon arrival. Hostess was very pleasant. Line to get on the wait-list moved efficiently. Our waitress, Caitlin, was wonderful! She was patient as I needed more time to decide on my order & as my two-year very s l o w l y placed his order request for pancakes. I ordered the avocado toast & enjoyed it! The restaurant is bright and has modern light fixtures. I really enjoyed the music! I'm an 80s baby & heard many of the songs that were popular when I was in grade school.

yum yum and affordable pricing. The previous shop was closer to home but wanted to try this…read morelocation. Nice parking. Right off the main road. Had my taste buds ready for bbq chicken but settled for fried white meat chicken. It was crispy and tasted good to me. Had greens and yams. Price was under $15 with tax. They kept replenishing the food. The line moved fast. Inside the was basic diner atmosphere.

I've eaten here so much that it I can honestly say everything is delicious. Sundays the meatloaf is…read morefantastic, Saturday's the Beef tips and rice are amazing, fried bologna breakfast sandwich always hits, the fried chicken is so good. Pick anything and you won't be disappointed...

They have the best cakes I've ever had. The Red Velvet cake was absolutely incredible. If you get…read morethe chance, be sure to order the blackened chicken salad either for the table or to take home. It's just as amazing. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely mouthwatering. I can't wait to go back.

My mom and I used to attend church in Bessemer, and Bre's was on our rotation of places to eat…read moreafter service. I haven't visited here in about 4 years before my mom passed. Mom would buy hundreds of dollars in gift certificates every Christmas for her church friends to enjoy a lunch or two on her. I remember the owner being super sweet and accommodating to my dear mother and her requests. Top notch customer service! As for the food, the rotation varied daily. Most of my visits were on Sundays, but I do remember a couple of trips during the week to try the lasagna, which was delicious. I really enjoyed the Mac and cheese, and Caribbean grilled pork chops. The desserts were great too, however I think I remember the owner partnering with another business to supply the cake slices, so the choices varies. The inside was always very clean and classy and pleasant to sit and enjoy your meal. I miss this place! I will visit soon to add some photos to my review.

Great place to enjoy a home-cooked meal. You might have to wait in line, but you get a chance to…read morehave great conversations with the people you meet. Let's talk about the food. I had turkey wings, cabbage, dressing, rice with gravy, and cornbread. I'll give the meal a 10/10; everything reminded me of eating at my grandmother's house on a Sunday. I can't wait to go back and try some more dishes. I placed a takeout order but they have a nice area for dine-in.

I made a last minute order for a half pan of Mac for Thanksgiving and that was some amazing…read morestuff!!! It was cheesy, gooey and done the right way. They offered service half pan options from meat, sides to desserts. Very quick responses and great service for my need. I've visited the Sunday meal before and was very yummy too!!

Food is fresh and definitely made with love. I've been trying different burgers when I come in…read morewhich are always delicious but decided this week to swap it up and get The Vulcan and was blown away! So good! Also worth noting, the owner is so kind and clearly cares about her customers and if they love the food. Service is legit 10/10 and the prices are extremely fair. The store has a cute and homey diner feel. One of the best lunch spots in Birmingham!

Decided to stop in on a quick lunch break. There were plenty of tables to inside. I was pleasantly…read morewelcomed in by the cashier. She was very helpful in picking menu options. We decided on The Country Club and the Slamming Bacon cheeseburger. It was definitely cooked to order and truly didn't take too long to get to the table. The fries were well seasoned and perfectly crisp. The burger was good but the sandwich was amazing! It was even better than I imagined and huge. Prices were pretty reasonable for the nice portion size too. For two meals we paid about $27. We will definitely be back to try their breakfast!

It's my favorite casual place to stop and eat when I go through Birmingham. They offer the classic…read moremeat and three but I also like some of their Greek dishes and they serve breakfast as well! A nice family owned restaurant that is a local favorite!

Been here twice in past week, food was great, 2 different cashiers and neither had any manners or…read morecustomer relations skills. it doesn't take much effort to be nice