**"BREAKING NEWS I went to 7 Brew for the FIRST time and…read moreaccidentally fell in love I ordered that large Funnel Cake Blondie with EXTRA caramel drizzle and cold foam... and baby when I say it tasted like somebody's grandma whispered a blessing over my cup?!?! Why didn't y'all warn me it was THIS good?! Now I'm about to be at 7 Brew every morning like 'Heyyyy it's me again ' If you see me shaking... mind your business. It's the caffeine. "**

I'm not really a coffee drinker. But I do enjoy the frozen drinks and milkshakes from 7 Brew. This…read morelocation is in my neighborhood. I like the vibe here. There's always upbeat music playing as you pull up. The staff is always so bubbly and helpful and that's very appreciated because I'm always so indecisive when I stop here, lol! I also like their reward system and the freebies that are offered on occasion. During their grand opening, we received free tshirts! Pro Tip: Join the 7 Brew group on Facebook that shares drink combos and recipes. I recently tried a drink that someone in the group recommended that tasted just like the old school orange push up pops. It was delicious!

What a charming bakery/coffee shop in a super cute almost European nook in town. If you're…read morevisiting, I definitely recommend taking a drive to this area. Progressive area - Seems to be... There wasn't line when we got there but the crowd usually follows us for some reason so by the time we left there was standing room only and a line out the door. The bakery items were very fresh and tasty. I loved the Swedish gingerbread cookies - light and crisp. The lemon bar was delicious. They also have sandwiches that liked really good. Coffee - I got a vanilla latte extra sweet (no lavender) and my daughter said it was one of the best. I thought it was pretty good. I would go again when back in Birmingham!

I often enjoy getting a pastry and a coffee here. I had a not so good experience last time but…read morewanted to try again. I was never greeted. More customers came in. The young girl making the coffee was loudly talking about someone who messed up their coffee order this morning and how frustrated she was. The only other employee was occupied with what seemed a large order of bread etc. When she finished what she was doing she looked at the now five customers, claustrophobically waiting, and said I'll be right back and disappeared. Leaving the one guy serving the one customer. It was 11:30 am on a rainy day. Figured I could do without a cream cheese croissant and coffee and left. Had already waited 5 as the only other person in there and did not want to wait another undetermined amount of time. I know one of the bakers. It's a shame the front has been so bad these last two times.

I was eating at a nearby restaurant and saw that this place was still open so I decided to drive…read moreacross the street to get me half a dozen breakup cookies. If you haven't had one before you definitely need to get some. It's the chocolate chip cookies, but they're salted. It gives them a different flavor. You can go inside and get something to go or eat it there because they do have tables for people to sit at. We came here on Mother's Day around 5 PM on a Sunday and it wasn't really busy. I will definitely be back.

Updating my review from six years ago (teary eyed face). I have so many good memories from hanging…read moreout with my friends here in high school. This was the spot we would all come to to do homework. It's still got that same warmth and charm. I came in on a Wednesday morning to sit and do some work. I ordered a cappuccino, bran muffin, and a breakup cookie to take home. The cappuccino is just as expected. Served at the perfect temp, great flavor. The bran muffin, which was my attempt to be healthy, was really a delicious stand-out. I would definitely get that again. And, of course, the breakup cookies are some of the best cookies in town. They bake all of the baked goods in-house, I believe, which gets a round of applause from me. A lot of the recipes are still the same ones I remember from 7 years ago. One thing I noticed that's even BETTER than I remember was the books and gift selection. A lot of the books caught my eye. It's a great curation of fiction, non, memoirs, birding books, children's, etc. They also carry the Village Apothecary candles, which are made locally and have some packaging I really love. Church Street is one of the Birmingham staples. I hope they're open for a million more years. They do what they do exceptionally well.

Are you a cat lover? If so, you'll appreciate the playful vibe of this coffee shop -- even though…read morethere aren't actual cats roaming around, the café leans into a fun feline theme with lattes named after different cat breeds. Meow! We ordered the Abyssinian Latte with vanilla and cinnamon, and it was absolutely the bomb -- warm, smooth, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet. The space itself is incredibly cozy and inviting. Colorful furniture, eclectic paintings, and musical instruments hanging on the walls give it a creative, artsy feel -- like they actually get used by a local band after hours. It has that relaxed coffeehouse charm where you could totally imagine Phoebe Buffay singing "Smelly Cat," yet it's also calm enough to have a real conversation or get a bit of work done on a laptop. Parking is street parking only, but we didn't have too much trouble finding a spot. They offer pastries and I noticed they also serve breakfast items, though we stopped in just for coffee this time. The shop was fairly full, which is always a good sign, but there were plenty of small tables that comfortably seat two to four people, so it never felt cramped. The baristas were super friendly and welcoming, adding to the overall positive vibe. My partner and I ended up lingering longer than planned while we talked through our day's plans -- always a sign of a great coffee spot. Warm atmosphere, delicious drinks, and kind staff make this an easy five-star experience. I'll definitely be back to try more of their cat-themed creations!

I've been to the Railroad location before, but I was in the area and decided to try Red Cat…read moreCoffeehouse. Street parking was pretty easy to find, which was a plus. The space had a lot of people inside--many working or meeting up--so it had a lively, productive vibe. I ordered the superfood smoothie, which tasted good once I got it, but it did take a little while to come out. After ordering, I sat down for a minute before stepping out to the restroom, and it still wasn't ready for a bit when I returned. Overall, still a good experience and a nice spot to hang out, but the wait time was a bit longer than expected.

Cute place with great coffee! The service was great and it was nice to get to sit outside and enjoy…read morethe morning.

Like food, there are things you eat or drink that you remember, which stays with you because of how…read moregood it was, and those become the baseline for the bar future things should meet in order to be held to that same standard of quality. I've had good coffee, great coffee, exceptional coffee, mediocre coffee, and questionable things called "coffee". O'Henry's on Highlands is a standard small coffee shop inside, nice ambience, cute. Staff is friendly for the most part. Has usual stuff like food/pastries, etc. While all nice, the one thing I've never liked was their coffee. It's standard tasting, basic B level, and when i'm in the area and have to have a coffee right now, I end up ordering a flavored coffee there, because it masks the lack of flavor of their actual coffee, which is what I really wanted in the first place. If you are an average Joe and just want a cup of coffee and there happens to be coffee shop you're parked next to, O'Henry's will do the job. But if you're looking for a great cup of coffee or even a good cup of coffee, don't bother coming there, because you won't find it, sadly. Scale of one to ten- Shop itself: 8, Coffee: 3-4

I don't know who decorated this place but they did an amazing job and the whole spot is just…read moredripping with warm and cozy vibes. Inside there are several rooms with couches for lounging. The patio out back has some nice tables as well as a stage for occasional events. I caught a 3 piece jazz band here and they were killing it! It's also got great coffee, (beans from June), and great pastries, (from Last Call), so you can be sure that if you stop in for your morning caffeine fix that you'll get top of the line goods across the board. I've tried a few things on the menu and so far it's been all hits and no misses. Aside from that, at night the bar opens up and they've got a well curated list of interesting cocktails that should satisfy anyone looking to get a few drinks and enjoy the evening. So this place kind of has it all. Coffee and cocktails, cozy vibes inside, a good backyard patio surrounded by trees, and a genuinely friendly and welcoming staff that seems to be doing a great job. Easiest 5 star in a while. Get down there.

I like this place and I drive out of my to come here. However, I've been by here multiple times…read morewhen Google says you're open but you're not. It's frustrating and something you should fix.

The General is such a cute niche coffee spot off of Clairmont Ave S. I would compare the atmosphere…read moreto 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.

I was looking for a place to grab some lunch but didn't want a drive thru/fast food experience…read more 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.

Came in for brunch on a Sunday. Got there just before 11 and there was a bit of a wait, but it…read moremoved pretty fast. Service was friendly and quick, even though it was busy. Portions were generous and prices were decent. They were also great about accommodating gluten-free. I ordered the Farm Breakfast with bacon and gluten-free bread, it was filling and really tasty.

We arrived 1:45pm on a Thursday and it was empty except for another party. We easily found street…read moreparking outside the restaurant. I ordered the Banana Puddin' cold brew that was really good. They also serve pour over! Vanilla-Cinnamon French Toast came with 2 small bread slices - I liked that the portion was small and manageable. We also ordered the Quinoa & Black Bean Burger and the BE Hive Quinoa Bowl. They are great options for vegan / plant-based / vegetarian members in your party. The Biscuit Board comes with 4 mini biscuits and 4 different spreads, which was nice to share with the group. We all liked that the restaurant was quiet and bright and airy.

Stopped to get my lemon custard ice cream but they were out. Was told it may be January before they…read moreget more. May return to get the grape sherbet. Mouth was fixed for lemon custard so left pouting. Ha Ha

Closing in on the end of another year. I'm happy to report , I FINALLY made it to Crestwood…read morePharmacy and Soda Fountain! It was soooooo worth the anticipation. The location is right next to a bookstore. I even accidentally walked into the bookstore! lol Apparently, this happens all the time. This is literally is some of the best ice cream in town. IMO. The lemon custard is so creamy and so balanced. I couldn't shut up about it. One scoop is a good amount of ice cream. I really enjoyed it very much! The quality is top tier. Very much! Friendly staff. If you are looking for yummy ice cream dreams in a nostalgic setting, come here and thank me later.....Oh and don't accidentally walk into the wrong store!

This place is my type of vibe!…read more Trattoria ZaZa has been on my list of places to stop at for several years. Parking often deters me but after attending the Italian Festival earlier that day, we had a craving for pizza. I ordered the combo that includes 2 slices of the day with salad. Since I wasn't overly hungry, I offered him one of my slices and he added another slice to the order. We paid and were given a number to place on our selected table. Jazzy music played in the background while we waited on our order to be brought to the table. The natural lighting, while beautiful, made it a little warm in the building. One of the waitresses propped the door open that leads to the restrooms (which are in the hallway near the elevators) in order for cooler air to make its way in. That wasn't a deal breaker, but do be aware of that on warmer days. Our food came out after a short wait. I kept my 3 cheese slice, and gave him the pepperoni one. The cheeses were very rich and the salad, while simple without the frills, was perfectly sized and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette that was just the right amount. While I enjoyed my meal very much and the ambiance, he wasn't overly impressed with his. He didn't want the fresh herbs on his slices and knocked all of them off, lol. He's a simple guy with simple taste. This is definitely a place I will be revisiting with one of my girlfriends and not him next time as he didn't appreciate what ZaZA had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and courteous. Our food, including drinks, was around $28, which was not bad for a cute, eclectic spot downtown. If you haven't been, make sure to try them out soon. Just don't wait as long as I did to visit!

Where to start? Went on a weekend, place was packed. The…read moreBad: 1. SLOW. Waited in a line inside of 4 people in front of me. There was someone at the podium at the end who i thought was a server. Was not. After a 15 minute wait (why did it take that long?), we got to the podium person. And found out they were there to take our order, not seat us. Can only assume the 15 min delay was because people were trying to figure out what to order. No signage anywhere saying, please have what you want ready while you wait in line. 2. No menus, anywhere. Yes they can be printed and people in line could take one and figure out what they want. Yes, the menu could be put on the wall behind the server in large lettering. But no, they make you scan a QR code on the wall and view the menu on your phone, so that's inconvenient and a bit obtuse. 3. When we finally place an order for pizza, was told that, "they dont serve pizzas on the weekend, but we could order their "brunch pizzas", instead. Which on the counter, was small anemic cut slices of thick bready pizzas on the cutting board/table. Those each were $8.50 according to the menu. Figure the math of 2 small slices of pizza per person for 2 people vs just ordering a large pizza. But they don't serve pizza during brunch- Trattoria literally has the word "Pizza" in their last name- twice actually- yet you have to order a nearly $9 slice of pizza sitting out on a table for who knows how long, and of the flavor of their choice, not yours. It was flat out insulting to go to a pizza based establishment and be told they won't serve whole pizzas. We left and went to Uptown to a pizzaria there, and had a really good whole pizza, salad, dessert, and drinks, and all for half the price then if we had gone to Trattoria. Wanted to give this place a chance for years, but did not work out the way i had expected it to.