If I could eat an actual establishment, it would be this one. Just look at this place. I literally walked in and audibly gasped. It is like a magical French bakery/general store, tucked away like a secret garden. Am I in south France or Birmingham? HARD TO TELL I don't know if I enjoyed the treats more or all the visual delights. The treats were just amazing. I brought my husband and all of my kids so we got a nice sampling of goodies from the cases. It was all perfection. Cookies were crispy on the edges, appropriately soft in the middle. The almond cake was buttery and sweet, but not too sweet. Muffins were excellent. The food is so well done. The ambiance here? Extraordinary. Every corner, every ceiling tile, every display has been so thoughtfully curated. This place was such a treat for my eyes and my imagination. I could sit for hours and just enjoy all the clever ways furniture is used. My kids played in the little play area- even that was done so beautifully! The store had such a wide selection of cute tea towels and little gifts. If you want to surprise someone with a beautiful little happy, or birthday gift, or Mother's Day gift, there's plenty to choose from here! I rarely buy things from little stores like this, but I purchased several gifts for girlfriends and my mom and an apron for myself. It's easy to get caught up! read more

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The General is such a cute niche coffee spot off of Clairmont Ave S. I would compare the atmosphere to that of The Continental Bakery in English Village. More of a simple southern antique style. Baristas were extremely helpful and patient as I pondered my order! I ended up ordering a delicious warm breakfast sandwich and a cold brew to drink with it! SOO delicious!! I am a sucker for a good breakfast and coffee! The menu was large and well diverse: they even had a cortado on the menu which I cant get at all coffee shops!   I am surprised not more people know about the place. I had never heard of it until I was scrolling through highly rated coffee shops on Yelp! The space inside is large and can seat lots of people! For being in Birmingham this surprised me; I feel like most coffee shops here are fairly small.    I also appreciated how relaxed and welcoming the environment felt. It would be such a great spot for studying, meeting a friend, or even having a casual work meeting. The music wasn't too loud, and everything felt clean and well-kept. Overall, I would definitely come back and recommend The General to anyone looking for a cozy, charming coffee shop with great food and even better service. read more

This place is such a gem! Dined here for breakfast. Street parking is available. We came early so there was no issue with parking. Indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the breakfast plate for $12 which includes eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes. For my beverage I ordered the sweet tea iced latte which is sweet tea with half and half. Inside is so whimsical. Plenty of seating and it is also a store. They have candles, aprons, jams, salts, different sauces, napkins, etc. The food was seasoned to perfection and I would highly recommend read more

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I was looking for a place to grab some lunch but didn't want a drive thru/fast food experience. This location was very close to my location and the reviews looked great! It's such a unique place with it being both a restaurant as well as a shop. It's got a very nostalgic feel to it with the decor and items for sale. I saw a couple students but when I visited I mostly saw upper class looking Caucasian ladies. Being very laid back, down to earth and often times socially awkward, I admit that it felt a little hoity toity, while also being a very welcoming spot. It's hard to explain, so you'll have to check it out for yourself. Also worth noting for the plus size community: the chairs are not plus size friendly. (See zoomed in photo) The employees there were on top of their jobs and super helpful. They cleaned up the tables that emptied quickly, as the lunch crowd trickled in. The food was good. I loved the creative presentation of the sampler plate! The pimento cheese was very cold and hard to spread but I still it. The toast triangles were delicious! While they offer a lot of excellent coffee choices. I only got a 1/2 & 1/2 tea. Even the restroom was really neat with the retro decor. I'd definitely go back. read more

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We stopped here trying to find a nice breakfast spot. We walked in and was greeted. We went to the cashier and asked for pricing. Decided on the breakfast plate. We all got the over sweet tea latte and we were pleased with both. We sat by the window and had a great view of cars and people walking by. Nice place to kick back and have a nice breakfast. read more

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A hybrid restaurant and tchotchke shoppe. It's the kind of stuff that people with plate walls consisting of flea market finds would like. You order at the counter. I got the daily special. A 'jack-elope' sandwich. It consisted of turkey, cheese, and apple butter. Delicious! The sponge cake dessert was also delicious. The crowd is mostly students, pairs of women, and me. Parking is meh. read more

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This place is awesome!!! Light, bright, homey. Good lunch/cafe style food and all of the coffee options you could want! There were several big tables, ideal for sitting down to study/work for a while. I'll totally try to come work here sometime with a yummy coffee. The lunch selection was great! I got the grilled cheese with a side of the daily soup (curry cabbage). Neither of these were mind-blowingly awesome, but hit the spot nonetheless. My dad got the special daily sandwich, the "Jack-o-lope" which was turkey with apple butter. This was delicious!! We're not putting apple butter on enough things. I forgot how much I love a warm turkey sandwich. We ended lunch with the buttercream sponge cake. Super good. The buttercream was so (hold of suspense) buttery. The cake itself was not super sweet at all, and the dusting of pretty sugars on top was the perfect touch. In addition to the coffee/kitchen side, there's a little gift shop on the other side. I'm definitely going to come back to buy some gifts! The woman working said that they'll be getting more inventory in soon. But it's dish/tea towels, pretty pot grabbers, greeting cards, pajamas. Nice hostess gifts or stuff for the Grandma That Has Everything. read more

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The cold brew is so good. Just plain with some heavy cream I drank it so fast I wish I had a second one. The cashier was so nice and generous. The breakfast was so good and a good portion. They gave me fruit instead of toast because I have a gluten allergy! They sell cute trinkets (way too expensive though). So much seating and room. I love this place I will be coming back!!! read more

General - Cold brew - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I love the ambience at General! Part shop and part cafe, this is cozy space offers breakfast, lunch, and coffee and tea. I arrived at 1030 and lunch starts at 11, so I ordered a cookie and tomato tart and an iced chai (both delicious!), and settled in to kill some time before an appt. I was still hungry when 11 rolled around so I ordered an egg salad sandwich and pasta salad. I feel like these were both pretty bland but not terrible. My only complaint is that they offered to heat up my tomato tart but then forgot to bring it to me. After 20 minutes I finally went up and asked for it and it was pretty obvious they had completely forgotten about it. Not a big deal, but there were not many people there when I placed my order at all! All in all, it was a good experience and I'll probably go back read more

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I just love it here. The ambiance, the aesthetics, the coffee, the food, the people. All A+ across the board. I came in the morning to do some work, had a cold brew then decided to stay for lunch. Chelsea is the chef there and they are so thoughtful about the fresh, local ingredients used in each dish. I like the fact that the menu changes based on what's available and seasonal. Prices are reasonable and there is so much seating. Beautiful idea that is doubles as a general store, obviously hence the name. I don't even live close, but this place has become my new stomping ground! Support local! read more

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Great lattes and cute vibe! It's a cute shop with great coffee, baked goods, and small menu. read more

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Aww this place is adorable. Stopped by for a treat and the lavender lemonade was just that - a lovely treat.

This is one of my favorite places to eat and I insisted that my daughters and I eat there for a Mother's Day breakfast and was very disappointed. They got our order wrong which was not a problem but one of the co-owners that brought us our food out was very rude to us and let us know that they were a small business and there was a price difference in what they brought us and what we ordered.We would have gladly payed the difference and did if he would have asked us. This definitely put a damper on our Morher's Day celebration. read more

Quaint lunch spot that reminds me of a European cafe. The BLT and chicken salad sandwiches were excellent! read more

General - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I stumbled across this store after the coffee shop I had been wanting to try was unexpectedly closed. And I'm so glad I did. I'll have to go back when I have a bit more time to stop and eat. I browsed for a few minutes after I got my iced coffee. I loved the variety of items they had available for sale. It reminds me of a general store I came across while traveling in North Alabama. It's just such a cozy, welcoming space to stop by for a treat or a unique gift read more

General - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Small local shop/cafe, staff is super friendly and helpful. They have a very small menu but good quality, did the breakfast wrap and it was great. Also a lot of coffee options and a small baked good section. I liked the small play area for kids to keep them distracted. If you are in the area its worth grabbing a coffee and simple breakfast sandwich at, but wouldnt go out of my way to come here. read more

General is absolutely my favorite Birmingham summer vibe! The bright, fresh flowers, the cute cafe feel...all of it! You can't go wrong with the Salad Sampler plate because you get the best of everything...pasta salad, chicken salad, and pimento cheese! The service is always fast, and the staff are so friendly. Highly recommend! read more

General - Door - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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this place is a combination of gift shop in restaurant. I had an egg in a basket for breakfast and it was delicious. The bacon was excellent. I went back for lunch and had chicken salad, and it was also scrumptious. read more

Super cute, old south charm with delicious coffee and breakfast options. A hidden gem for sure! The children's play area was very nostalgic! read more

General - Order area - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I'm a fan! I like the ambience, the people were nice, and they refilled my water in my tea twice. I'll go back.

It's the perfect combination I've ever experienced--a cozy café with a little shop, all housed in a beautifully refurbished building with its own plant shop. What more could you need? The food selection just keeps getting better and better. There's also a small terrace, and the service is consistently great every time! read more

The coffee scene in Birmingham is pretty competitive and while this place's decor is awesome the food leaves a lot to be desired from the items I have tried. The paper plates and sloppy plating and reheated up pastries that get super dry just don't do a lot for creating a dining experience that matches the ambience. That said, the space is rad. The coffee is decently prepared. There is plenty of seating and street parking a cool part of town. Certainly worth checking out. For the record this would be 3.5 stars if I could rank in half star increments. Once the food improves I'll amend. read more

First time at the General for lunch didn't disappoint! They serve coffee/tea, light lunch items and pastries in a cute little shop. You order at the counter on the far back wall, take a number for your table, then they deliver the food to you. They have a long bar with counter seating and a few tables for 2-4 towards the front of the shop. I went with the weekend special, the Croque Madame (the Croque Monsieur with a fried egg). It was open faced, so it was a little hard to eat like a normal sandwich but very tasty! I also ordered the coconut creme tea, which was mild but good! I also tried the chicken salad sandwich, and the bread was great and the chicken salad was nice and chunky. The service was attentive and kind. My only issue is that I wish they had other sides besides plain chips (or add side salad) and it kinda took a while for a chicken salad sandwich. Overall really good first visit to the General, we'll be back! read more

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The food and coffee were good. Got the BLTJ and it was actually really great. However, I heard someone cursing out other people in the back of kitchen. Extremely inappropriate workplace environment and also not appropriate for the clientele who frequent this shop. read more

It's a cute spot. It reminds me of the dime store where I grew up. It's a combination of a sandwich shop and a general store. The service was good and the food was good! I'll definitely visit it again. read more

I love General coffee! Came to get breakfast but kitchen is closed Sundays. Hard to find a menu/offerings online so adding their hours read more

General - Kitchen closed Sundays Brunch Saturdays 10:30-1:30 M-F breakfast 8-10, lunch 11-2 - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Love this place for brunch and lunch! Their general store is so lovely and so many cool and unique finds. The food for brunch and lunch is really yummy and their homemade pastries are delicious! The owner even gave us an extra biscuit just to try. Service is wonderful, helpful and accommodating and you can tell they enjoy working there. read more

General - Pecan scone and Irish hazelnut cream latte! - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Cute little sandwich shop in Birmingham. The decor is beautiful. I got the pimiento cheese sandwich which was really good, but I couldn't finish it because it was so much cheese. The pasta salad is absolutely delicious and makes me wonder if they sell it in larger to-go quantities. We also got the seasonal veggie sandwich and the sweet tea iced latte but I didn't get a picture of them. The sandwich was delicious and the latte was interesting but good. Imagine a regular iced latte but instead of coffee, sweet tea. They also had a little kids corner with a dollhouse and little kid sized bean bag chairs that my friend's daughter enjoyed playing with. Will be back! read more

General - Pimiento cheese sandwich and savory pasta salad - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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A great new cafe/coffee shop/gift store in town! Stopped here to get some work done while drinking coffee and having a snack. The aesthetic inside is amazing and excellent for getting work done. I found the staff very friendly and helpful. They serve light lunch (think soups/salads/sandwiches), a full coffee bar, and baked goods from Last Call Bakery, which is one of my faves. There was a ton of seating inside as well as some small cafe tables out front on the sidewalk. Beyond being a great place for lunch or coffee with friends or to get work done, General is also a general store! They have a ton of cute gift type items, mostly things for home or for the kitchen, think candles, sauces/jams, cooking ware and other small knickknacks. This will definitely be one of my new go to coffee shops to study at! read more

General - Iced coffee and coffee cake! - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I wanted a nice pastry as a mid day treat and not only did I get a great suggestion from the sweet boy behind the register but sat on a beautiful couch listening to comforting music. It was the perfect relaxed setting to sit and reset my brain before going back home to get some work done and enjoy a moment to treat myself. read more

General - A perfect little Shortbread cookie in a beautiful setting. - Gift Shops Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I decided to stop for a quick treat today. I love the overall vibe and the employees working the front are always so nice! However one of the employees, possibly the chef, was incredibly disrespectful to another customer in front of me. I was mortified. I will never go to general again after seeing that. She was very aggressive toward everyone and after seeing how she acted, i would honestly never eat there again. Maybe if the food was good I would understand her smug attitude but it's not.... Such a disgusting experience. read more

Delicious sandwiches served with a smile and a huge helping of ambiance! Then go next door to Shoppe for unique gifts and plants.

A fantastic hidden gem. Super local. Super down to earth, friendly warm vibe. Not bad internet, too! Great brunch/lunch/coffee place alone or with a friend. Highly recommend. read more

I have tried this place more than 5 times now -- thinking maybe it was just that the people behind the counter were having a bad day but literally every time I've gone they are rude, untrained and act like it is a major inconvenience to even make a drink. I live in the area and will now reroute my walk over a mile the other way to ohenrys. read more

Love the coffee great atmosphere for a small lunch. I suggest the pimento cheese!! YUM

What a gem! My husband and I came here for a little lunch date and had such a fantastic experience. He got the new upgraded steak sandwich which he devoured and raved about. I jumped on the veggie special when the chef said it included sautéed veggies in basil olive oil with herbed goat cheese - AND added bacon per our servers recommendation. It was drool-worthy. One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. It was toasted and buttered to perfection as well. So excited to have this place so close by. Great service great food great vibe! read more