Food 10/10. Service 10/10. Ambiance 10/10. My Beatie and I visited this spot for the 1st time on Friday, 7/18 and we absolutely loved everything about it. We ordered the brussel sprouts, truffle fries, wings, mushroom pizza, and chopped chicken/avocado salad.. ALL WERE BUST (meaning GREAT)! .. The manager Nate, the Bartender TJ, and our Server Byron made a VERY lasting impression. I'm from MS and she's from GA, we're already planning to meet here again in September! read more

Culinary Dropout - Dessert - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I give this place a 2 star. The atmosphere is great! TVs to watch games. Location is good. The food menu is very limited and not very interesting. Expensive cheese board for not great items. read more

Started with a Whipped Feta & Tahini Dip and a Cali & Tay Margarita...Both were awesome. I ordered a side of the Strawberry and Spinach Salad that to my surprise did not come with any spinach that I could find, rather it was made with Romaine, otherwise ok. For the main, I opted for the Korean-style ribeye Cap for $34. The description was great, but when it arrived I was immediately disappointed. My pre-sliced ribeye was scant on meat and sauce, looking completely different in size and presentation when compared to my tablemate's who ordered the same thing (odd this wasn't noticed server who delivered both entrees, one in each hand). Then we had to wait at least five minutes for the last tablemate to be served before were able to politely eat. The taste was good, but my portion was too small and did not come with a side. Lastly, I spent another 20 minutes with an empty drink before the waiter asked me for another cocktail. The setting is fresh and modern. However, many of the servers seemed unprofessional and more into talking to each other than working...think Applebee's or Chili's caliber. All in all, a real disappointment considering a $300 tab for 4 people. Countless better places at this price point without the fast-casual level of service. read more

I made reservations for one on last Saturday. But opted to sit at the bar. Place packed. Ordered my usual sausage/pepperoni pizza to dine in/spicy vegan curry to go. Pizza wasn't what I was used to experiencing, so when asked I told server at the bar. The Simone Biles twin mgr. came to check on me to inquire about my order...I assured her I t was okay...I'll just pay for my order and keep it moving..instead..she comp my order and apologized profusely bc she remembered me coming in on more than one occasion, and if you saw me..I'm quite unforgettable and you'd agree. But it was such a delightful unexpected pleasure to see an act of genuine kindness. And for that ..I am sincerely grateful...and ILL BE BACK read more

Outstanding establishment! The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the entertainment amazing Cannot not think of one thing that didn't measure up. I hope this place is open for a very long time!! Going back this weekend! can't wait.... read more

The Culinary Dropout was a pleasant surprise. The Detroit Style Black Truffle Mushroom Pizza & The Butternut squash and Kale salad was amazing! read more

The name itself should have been an indicator of what to expect. Everything here is excellent... except... the food. Service, ambience, staff... all excellent. It seems to be a very popular place for dining. Crowded friendly guests I ordered pizza. Can't go wrong here.... Not. Very disappointed. I prefer thinner crust. Mine was like a thick sandwich bun loaded with cheese and salami. My friend ordered ( tiny) popcorn shrimp and ( tiny slithers) of fried okra. Nothing special that you could prepare at home. The menu is very limited. Not much appeal in choices. The dessert choices were just as limited. Soft serve ice cream!!! Over cinnamon squares aka monkey bread. The best thing on the menu is the alcoholic drinks. I think the idea behind the restaurant is good and maybe as time goes they can use reviews as opportunities. The food was just so disappointing. read more

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I've heard good things about Culinary Dropout since they opened a few years ago at the The Summit. Unfortunately, my visit was disappointing. We dropped in at 3:00 to take advantage of the happy hour pricing. After being seated we were told it was only available to people at the bar. We didn't want to be rude and leave our waitress - so we stayed put. The food was expensive and disappointing. My wife described her Classic Chicken Caesar Salad as a bag of salad and pre-cooked chicken taken from Publix. My M.A.C. Burger was all bread and overcooked. This especially fell short for a $19 burger (pay that much at Chez Fonfon's burger and fries which are considered best in the state). Also - the waitress offered fries or truffle fries without noting the up charge on truffle fries (felt fooled). My sister's BBQ Pork Belly Nachos was well done and could have served all three of us. For the mid-afternoon - the ambiance was fine. We didn't expect anything special at the time of the day. Overall, we spent nearly $100 (this counts a generous tip) for three people (no cocktails - only sodas) read more

My wife and I stopped by Culinary Dropout for brunch and had a great experience. I ordered the fried chicken meal, and she had the breakfast pizza--both were delicious! The food was fresh, flavorful, and really hit the spot. We're already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend if you're in the area and looking for a solid brunch option. read more

Food: ? Service: Negative 1M Ambiance: ? My friends and I were in town for a girls weekend trip to Birmingham. And decided to give culinary dropout a try. We arrived. We were immediately seated outside and waited about 20 minutes and no one ever showed up to take our order or ask if we wanted anything to drink. so we walked out. . read more

Save yourself (and your time & money)! What a terrible experience. Bad service, bad food, but they make up for it with overpriced meals and drinks. Went for Easter brunch. It took the waiter three times and over and hour to get a requested mimosa to our table. First they brought something they were pushing for brunch that was not a mimosa. Then they tried to drop the same thing off again (minus the peep they had floating in the first drink). Finally after I explained to the waiter what goes in a mimosa, they brought the correct drink. What was irritating is that the waiter tried to charge us for the first drink he brought - which wasn't close to a mimosa. The server only came to the table when a member of our party flagged him down. Any request required at least one additional reminder (always separated by no less than 10 minutes). Took 20+ minutes just to pay the bill. Among the worst dining experiences I've ever had. read more

1st time at culinary dropout. NOT A FAN! Terrible service at the bar. Ordered 2 drinks, one being an old fashioned that was full of ice and watered down. Following that we waited 15min for our order to be taken (mind you this place is practically empty since it's 4th of July). The bartenders were walking past us and had not checked on us. One guy finally asked us if we have been helped and I told him we would like to order. He nodded, smiled and walked away. Are we ghosts? lol like worst service. I had to interrupt what seemed like a 30min conversation with a bartender and customer to ask if I could please be helped. 2 different couples came in after us and were served drinks and food immediately. 40min without any appetizer. Finally, one girl was great. Candice came in and simply asked if we needed anything and checked on us more than once. Just for that we were grateful. We found out that the people we had before her were ready to get off their shift so that's probably why they did not care to serve us. I was so disappointed. Food wise. I loved my pigs in a blanket and my antipasti plate. The MAC burger was clearly burnt and is basically a Big Mac. Pork belly nachos flavor was amazing but soggy. Overall food was a good 3.5/5 and service I would rate 1/5. Don't know if I would be back. The summit has so many places to eat...why waste my time, money and good energy on a place that doesn't care about their customers. We were honestly ready to walk out. I wish we did. read more

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Okay, so this place makes me happy! I love the diverse staff who all provide service to every table! When an employee would walk by, whether we were their table or not, they inquired if we were good. I love that type of service. The food was good too! It was fresh, and the presentation was definitely on point. read more

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Really nice restaurant. Loved the bar area. We were hoping to sit there but it was full. Three restaurant is very big and they have outdoor seating so fortunately we didn't have to wait for a table. Our server, James, was very good. He made good recommendations and really took care of us. For dinner, I got yesterday's soup which was chicken tortilla. It was really good with a little bit of heat. I also got the house salad which was a nice salad. Good sized with actual vegetables in it. Not just lettuce. Hubby got the prime rib sandwich. I tried a bite and it was really good. I would definitely recommend it. read more

Great ambiance and a fun place for an outing. Food portions are small and not our favorite as far as flavorings. Will try again.

One of my favorites when passing through Birmingham! Always great staff with even better food!

I finally got a chance to come by and try this new to Birmingham restaurant out. I came by for lunch and started with the Tijuana Spa Water cocktail. I enjoyed it, but it definitely didn't seem like $15 worth of a drink. Next I ordered the Chicken Cacio e Pepe. I asked the bartender if they happened to have any veggies that I could also order with my pasta and he suggested the brussel sprouts. I just didn't realize that he was going to put in an appetizer order of the crispy brussel sprouts for me to have as a side. I definitely would have loved to save my $12 on that one. The pasta was good, and really hit the spot. But I wasn't a fan of the Brussels. Whatever sauce they added to them seemed greasy and wasn't my favorite. I would probably go back and give it another try. Especially brunch, but I just wasn't wowed by this experience. This was a bit of a letdown after attending a Yelp event the previous month and the food and service was much better. read more

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Glad to have this chain in Birmingham! I got the mushroom pizza. It was fairly greasy but the flavors were delicious! The staff were all super friendly and had great customer service. I would say the real thing that makes this place stand out is the ambiance and decor. The lighting is great, and the room is unique with a great feel! We waited longer than expected, but it was worth the wait to try it out! read more

Culinary Dropout - Black Truffle Mushroom Pizza - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Someone mentioned Culinary Dropout this morning at my hotel and it piqued my interest and appetite. It wasn't what I thought it would be as far as ambiance and what I was looking for tonight for my husband but the food made up for it. I had the fish and chips while my husband had the steak frites. The coleslaw that came with my food tasted homemade and was delicious. The fish was amazingly seasoned and crispy on the outside while juicy on the inside. Perfect "non heavy" dinner for me tonight. I forgot to take pictures before dinner so I snapped a couple from the to go box. Lastly, the service was great. read more

Culinary Dropout - Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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First time trying this place out. I had a late reservation but never felt rushed. Excellent service! The spicy shrimp crispy rice is a must try! Unique drinks and a diverse menu, it's a must try spot. read more

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The food (Spinach Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, and salad along with cocktails was delicious and tasty. The service was excellent. Kudos to the waiters and waitress for amazing job. Ambiance of Culinary Dropout was very relaxing and pleasant. Listening to a variety of music soothes the mind. Thanks to the Yelp community manager, Jasmine and district manager for the wonderful job with the Yelp event at Culinary Dropout. I enjoyed my first Yelp event meeting new friends and watching a historic baseball game on TV at the same time. Peace... read more

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Excellent service, food, atmosphere, and prices! I highly recommend their turkey pastrami sandwich and the their meatloaf dish!!!! My boyfriend and I have been there three times in 2 weeks. We will be there tomorrow for sure. Joyce read more

The food was delicious. We had the fried chicken, ribs and pulled pork nachos for an appetizer. The service was exceptional and very attentive. Relaxed but somewhat loud inside. read more

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Greeted by super sweet hostesses and were seated fairly quickly. We sat on the patio because the weather was so fabulous! Andrew was our attentive server and took care of everything we needed in ample time. Had a cocktail called "Room Service" and it was wonderful! My hubby had a house salad to start it off and we shared an appetizer of house-made chips with a great dip! We also shared a pepperoni and sausage pizza that was so incredibly flavorful. We will be back! read more

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This is my first try at Culinary Dropout. I am very demanding of restaurants in general but always fair. Let's take a look together of this new place in the Summit. Food: We started with the Pretzel bits with cheese. This is usually not my thing; however, it was surprisingly good. Great way the start. The unique cocktails were also surprising. I don't drink a lot but I did very much enjoy the cocktails. I can't remember what I got, which is a good sign of a great drink. All kidding aside, it was refreshing and spicy hot at the same time. The main course were BBQ ribs which my son said were great, Fish and Chips which were in my opinion very good and steak what was also very good. Service: Our server was outstanding in every way. Check in with us but did not rush us. We were sitting outside and it was a lovely night. The server seemed to know when to check in. Ambiance: The food was very good but I really liked the Ambiance of this place. Both inside and outside. It has a nice vibe. If you want to try someplace new, this is a great choice. Eat well, drink well and stay healthy. read more

This place lived up to the hype! There was a 45 min wait for a table, but we were able to find 5 seats at the bar for our group. I'm glad we did because Shannon and the rest of the bar staff were great! The vibe is real chill with a hint of upscale. It's a cool spot for a date or hanging out with friends or family. There are different seating options indoor and outdoor to accommodate your party. Try making a reservation to reduce the wait. Now for what's most important - food and drinks! Vegetarians, between the custom charcuterie board, salads, and vegan dish, there are some options. I opted for the kale salad and truffle fries. I was very impressed by the salad. It was so delicious. The flavors mixed well together. The truffle fries were good, and the ketchup had a sweet taste. My drink was delicious. I watched all the bartenders make drink after drink. They all looked delicious and had beautiful garnishes. I will definitely go back. If you're there at the bar, ask for Shannon or Greg! read more

Culinary Dropout - Tijuana Spa Water - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Took a friend for her birthday today for lunch and everything was perfect. The food was fabulous. Had the tahini dip and the crispy popcorn shrimp appetizers. So good. We had the fish and chips and pepperoni/sausage pizza and they were excellent. The service was spot on with food timing, drink refills and just overall attentiveness. read more

Consistency is usually the key to success in a multi-location restaurant concept but for Culinary Dropout the consistent experience of poor service we've received across THREE different locations and half a dozen visits is astoundingly bad for business...usually. I can literally copy paste the review from our last visit. If this pizza didn't have an Andre the Giant chockhold on my taste buds I'd never come back. See yall soon! read more

We had reservations on a Sunday right after they opened for the day, we didn't have to wait long at all to be seated but were seated right beside the speaker for their sound system which was cranked up, it took a little while for us to be greeted once at our table but when we were our server was friendly. The atmosphere is very casual and an almost rustic warehouse type vibe which doesn't entirely match the price point but the serving sizes are about what you would expect for the price. The food was good but not anything uncommon or unforgettable. We enjoyed our time with our friends and we had something to snack on while we chatted. I would go again if part of a group decision but would definitely request to either dine outside or away from the stage area. Undecided if I would eat in on my own again; likely just pickup read more

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I have come to Culinary Dropout twice, so I have two experiences to report on! First, my friend and I came during Happy Hour to pregame before an event. We both got an El Bee Si. It was strong and very enjoyable! We snacked off of things on the Happy Hour menu - salad, bread, and Brussel sprouts. I don't have any critiques. The Cheap House Salad was particularly impressive - perfectly dressed in ranch and a nice size for the Happy Hour price! We were hungry and we really enjoyed everything! Our server was good - albeit, the bar (we sat at the bar) was quite busy, so sometimes we had trouble getting her attention. The atmosphere is really nice. It has a natural light, airy feel. I also LOVE how each server/bartender can rock their own style - they killed it!! It adds so much to the personality of the restaurant. I returned the next day with two friends for brunch. We sat outdoors, and it was very pleasant! I ordered the breakfast burrito. I thought it was just ok. Big and filling, though, which is a plus! My friend tried to order something they were out of, and the manager came by and comped her meal which I thought was so nice! We had a really good experience and will be back! read more

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Great spot! The bar service was on point, and the staff (TJ specifically) were genuinely friendly throughout. If you go, don't skip the pastrami sandwich--it's a must. read more

Was in town for training and had lunch before leaving to drive back home (6/15/24). Pretty underwhelmed, though the service was welcoming and hospitable (kind of). Ambiance: airy, spacious, open and pleasant. The area it's in is fairly nightmarish, from a big business/over commercialized/ traffic-snarled/ so-trendy-the-Trader-Joe's-is-there area. The staff: the hostess was cool, and not in a good way. Yeah, I'm an elder Millennial, but I couldn't help get the impression that there was an interior guffaw she couldn't suppress when I waited in line to make sure I could have lunch at the bar by myself. Feelings ain't facts, however, so this didn't have any bearing on the rating. The bar staff was personable, conversant, and welcoming. I enjoyed two brief conversations with two different bartenders and they were gracious with their time. All told, the bar staff was the most valuable asset of the experience. Looking around, the rest of the staff seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. On the one hand, it's good to see a supporting environment; it allows me believe that the back of the house and GM are leaders, not managers. On the other hand, it was loose enough that it seemed that some of the staff were there to hang out and lacked focus on the work (and the fruits of this this may have reared its head with the fried chicken part, below). Between correlation and causation, however, I'm not going to attribute taste-deficiency to the causal relationship between a lack of focus and what hits the table- but it's hard not to do so. The food: here's where it gets all over the place. Went gluttonous and had an app and a main by myself. The pigs in a blanket (waygu and sesame with a slightly light sour-cream-ish sauce). The crisp outer shell with the seeds was delightful. Soft and chewy on the inside, so great texture contrast before the firm, buttery hot dog. But two things: 1) the last bit of the bread before the hot dog was, well, wet, and fell apart. The preztelish croissanty outer kind of withered if not sliced on the bias with a knife and eaten. Taste was very good, but, it's like the meat of the hot dog lacked the sumptuousness that I expected from Waygu. In all honesty, Costco sells a wonderful hotdog: texture, taste, value, all that jazz. But not waygu. And that's what I tasted here. Very good, but very Costco. And all told, if you'd have taken the crème that they offered with it and put it on a Costco food court hot dog, I'd go with that. For 1/12th the price. On to the main: the fried chicken. Let's get to it straightaway: it was over breaded and it killed the whole thing. To steal outright from Alton Brown, what I was hoping for was GBD. If you look at the pics, two included from different angles for exposition, it was just dark Brown. No Golden. And not Delicious. They offered a half chicken, and all three pieces had the same symptoms. The breading was brittle, slightly bitter, and dark brown. The seasoning was completely covered up (not hidden or masked, opening up through the bite) by the grease and burn. Juicy on the inside, but all for not when phase 1 presented what it did. The mashed potatoes were mashed potatoes with a touch of horseradish (I think), the gravy good. The biscuit was dense, chewy, great. And, this said from a carnivore, the slaw was the best of the offerings. It's a hybrid vinegar/mayo variety, done exceptionally well. Crisp, light, but with a panoply of elements to enjoy through the taste. The vinegar had something special to it. My genuine belief is that they really do use the niche-y super premium ingredients that the menu would lead to believe. But when the process that brings them together fails, the ingredients fail. That's my take on the food. Final gripe: the name Culinary Dropout made me think this was a kitschy, irreverent eatery offering "screw you CIA!" takes on upscale classics. (Maybe this is why one shouldn't talk smack about CIA or other standard bearers of the culinary academy, however). Some whim and caprice. Some slap-dash necessity met with creative irreverence. Not on them that I didn't do my research, not on them that I was fooled. But the name seems more marketing than genuine. More sizzle than steak. More science than art. If I'm ever back in Birmingham, I'll be certain to try again. Or one of their other locations in whatever trendy part of a trendy town (Austin! Meh meets passé. Nashville! Soulless, Californian. Somewhere in North Carolina! Which image-curated one? Etc.) they've situated another location. read more

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I really liked the look and feel inside and out of the restaurant. Modern, clean, and spacious. The food is very good though a bit overpriced in my opinion. We started with the homemade chips and onion dip app. This was a pretty good starter and the dip was a unique taste. Wife and I split the shaved prime rib sandwich with fries. The beef was really tasty with the au jus for dipping. Daughter got a $10 kids meal that consisted of a bowl of macaroni and a few sliced apples. A bit extreme but not a dealbreaker. We'll probably come back eventually but we can find as good of food and better value elsewhere. read more

Culinary Dropout - Shaved Prime Rib Dip - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Very cool and trendy spot I visited while I was visiting home for the week. The bar was in the middle of the restaurant with outdoor seating available, and I chose to sit at the bar and have a drink after I left the movies nearby. The bartender was very nice, and the service was prompt. I ordered a snack of chilled asparagus, which was very delicious and tasty. The prices of the drinks were reasonable, and the only reason I didn't give a full 5 stars is only because I haven't had a full meal as of yet, but I heard good things about it. I'll definitely be back. read more

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My family and I stopped by after church, and we had about a 30 minute wait. Once seated, our server promptly arrived and took our drink orders. She quickly brought our drinks, and we asked for a few more minutes to order. After placing our orders, the food came out in a timely manner and was correct. We all enjoyed our meal. My only complaint is we didn't see our server after the food was served. We sat there for a while after we were done eating with empty glasses. I think she was attending to other tables but I'm not sure. She finally came back, and we asked for our soda/water in to go cups. The experience was okay other than the intermittent service. read more

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Went back for a second time and had an amazing experience! I got the burger and salad and it was really good but the star was the appetizers! When my friends ordered the onion dip (our waitress recommendation) I was not super excited but man it was AMAZING. Best onion dip I've ever had. The cheese and pretzels and pigs in a blanket are really good too! It's so hard to pick just one. We had a reservation end of December and were seated promptly and it was such a cool ambiance. Loved the guitar player and our waitresss had the best drink and app recommendations! I am now a huge fan and will for sure be a repeat customer: read more

My sister and I had lunch today, the food and the service was spot on..Love the atmosphere too. We will go back again.

We decided to give the newest restaurant in our area a try after hearing so much about it. We went during lunch time and had about a 20 minute wait. The restaurant looks beautiful and a great atmosphere. We started out with drinks which I had the Two to Mango which was just ok. For our appetizer, we went with the antipasti which was a choice of items for a charcuterie board. Our selection was devil eggs, salmon dip and pimento cheese. The odd thing was it did not include any chips or bread so we had to add it. I would rate it a 7/10 with the eggs being my least favorite (too much mayo!). For entrees, we had chicken pasta and meatloaf. Both were really good and my only disappointment was the portion size of the pasta... I needed more! Overall I think Culinary dropout is good restaurant and I will return in the future. read more

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TJ, behind the bar, is the absolute best!!! He has a wonderful personality and makes amazing drinks.

I was excited to see that a Culinary Dropout was coming to Birmingham, as I've always wanted to try it in Atlanta. Well, the design and ambiance was top tier. The aesthetic was nice for a girls or date night. There was a live band that was playing country music while we were there. The service was 5 stars. Danni really took care of us. Note to the food. We were offered the antipasti, but declined. We began our meal by ordering the SOFT PRETZELS & PROVOLONE FONDUE, which was pretty good and enough to feed about 4 people. It was only 2 of us, so we took over half of it to go. We were told this was one of the best sellers. For my main course, I went for the ribs. It's typically a favorite among Culinary Dropout customers. To me, it was good, but not the best rib I've had. It's a pleasant texture. Not too fall off the bone, but also not tough. The sauce is really what stands out. It came with a side of fries and coleslaw. I subbed my sides with the Brussels sprouts, not ended up getting all three. The Brussels were definitely a hit for me. Very flavorful and cooked just right. The coleslaw was decent and the fries were just fries. For dessert, I ordered monkey bread. It was delicious, but if you aren't a fan of baked fruit, the apple may catch you by surprise. I'd suggest you order this about halfway through your meal, as it takes about 15 minutes to come out. It took ours a little longer, and we received a complimentary s'mores ice cream. I honestly think we enjoyed the s'mores ice cream more than the monkey bread. All in all, I will be back. I believe this will be a nice spot for a happy hour. I didn't have a drink, but sat close enough to the bar to see what was coming out. I look forward to trying their cocktails in the near future. read more

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