The first time we ate at a Roly Poly franchise was in Seaside, Florida in the early 2000s while on…read morevacation. While none of them have tasted quite as good since then (something about working up an appetite on the beach?), we still really enjoy a rare opportunity to eat at one. I knew we would be ready for lunch after a morning at a local museum, so I had researched possible venues earlier that morning. I showed my wife a short list and she immediately gravitated to Roly Poly. That would have been my first choice too. This one (the last one remaining in Birmingham, apparently) is in the Homewood neighborhood / area. It is located on a busy street with shops and plazas lining both sides. These look like they were built no later than 1950 but have evolved and been renovated as new tenants cycled through. We did angled parking on the street out front, but there may be better / easier parking on surrounding side streets. The only issue we had was backing out into traffic when we left; it took a few minutes for a gap. You enter and order at the counter. They have menus available there for you to check out. They have a rack of chips available, plus maybe other sides? I didn't look beyond the chips. You then sit down and wait for your order. I guess they have call-ahead too. Seating is along the wall to the right as you enter. There is a long bench the length of the wall with separate 4-person tables spaced along it, with 2 additional chairs each. Our order seemed to take a while, but it may have just been what we ordered (hot sandwich) versus other simpler orders getting filled faster. I got the French Twist, which is my favorite. I only got a regular and not a large, but I think I could have finished a large. My wife got something else, chicken-based I think. We both enjoyed this a lot. If I lived in the area, I'd probably stop in here semi-regularly.

Chicken pesto roll was great and honestly had a hard time choosing because it all sounded so good…read more I will definitely be back. Service was quick and they brought the food to us at our table after we ordered at the counter. Only gave 4 stars because it's a tad pricey for what you get. Restaurant itself feels like a sandwich shop which I personally prefer for a good lunch spot. It also has some outdoor seating which looked nice.

I wanted to be a fan so bad! But maybe my expectations were a little too high. A friend and I…read morestopped in for lunch on a Monday. There was no line so we were able to quickly order. My friend ordered the chicken kabob entree but the man quickly told us it would be a 20 minute wait. I appreciated that he let us know since we were on a hour lunch break. He did recommend the lunch special alternative which she went with. I got the mushroom and Swiss burger. I absolutely loved the patio area. It's actually the only seated dining option since the inside is only big enough for ordering. Our food came out pipping hot which was nice! The burger and fries are a great portion for the price. I was a little disappointed that there was mustard on my burger. However that's my fault! It's clearly on the menu I just didn't pay close enough attention. I'm a huge mustard hater so that threw me off. The fries looked delicious but they were just a tad undercooked for my liking. Definitely not raw, just not cooked long enough. My friend enjoyed her food for the most part but it was nothing to rave about.

On my quest to try all the city's Mediterranean restaurants, Sam's Deli and Grille was on my radar…read morethis particular weekend. I used to frequent a bakery that was on this strip but I never saw this quaint little deli. The staff was pleasant as we looked over the menu. I ordered the chicken kebabs and my friend ordered the Philly with fries. Later he added a plain cheeseburger just to try it. He said his Philly didn't have much meat and he didn't care for the wrap. He thought it was going to be a traditional sandwich. However, my chicken kebab meal was flavorful and delicious. I didn't like the salad dressing that came on the salad, but that's just my particular preference. Everything was very fresh and was enough for two meals. I particularly enjoyed the outdoor seating on this nice Fall afternoon. We had differences of opinion on the burger. I thought it had a great taste-seasoned well, and fresh. My friend wasn't impressed and mentioned that it came out too fast to have been made fresh. I would love to go back and order one with all the trimmings to get a more accurate account as to how to rate it. I will definitely return to try more menu items.

Great selection of salads, soups and sandwiches. I couldn't decide on what sandwich so the server…read moresuggested half of one and half of another. Excellent idea. Great cuban as well as their version of a Philly cheesesteak. Nice, relaxed and comfortable environment. You do order at counter but staff will bring food to table.

My friend invited me to a fundraiser they were having last night at Urban Cookhouse. This was the…read moreperfect opportunity for me to revisit UC after about 10 years. The location is easy to find in homewood square, plenty of parking (they have a lot or park in any of the surrounding areas), there is a drive thru as well. The restaurant itself was spacious and clean, however, the women's restroom needed attention. Staff smiled and work diligently. The gentleman with the locs was the main one I saw interacting with individuals. Very professional and had a warm personality. My order consisted of half a BALT (bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, aioli toasted sandwich) with a half mandarin crunch salad (lettuce, cabbage, green onion, mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles, honey sesame dressing). Both items were fresh and straight to the point. I enjoy having a meal that isn't overly complex every now and then. A light dinner while supporting a friend.

I wish I could give The Refinery a proper review, but unfortunately they made that pretty…read moredifficult. When I walked in they handed me the full menu... and then immediately told me I couldn't order from it. Apparently they're running on a very limited menu right now, which consisted of maybe three or four things. Bit of a letdown since I came specifically because I saw pictures of their smash burger and had dreams about it on the drive over. Instead I settled for the tacos, which were actually pretty tasty. No real complaints there. The drinks leaned pretty sweet, which makes me think there's a heavy hand with the syrups. The space itself is very small. It's decorated nicely, but you'll definitely feel like you're accidentally best friends with the people sitting next to you. The staff was fine overall, but very close and boisterous with each other. In a room that small, if one of the servers has the cackle of a woman who skins Dalmatians on the weekends... maybe don't pair her up with the funniest coworkers on the planet. All in all, a fine experience but not ideal. Call ahead if you actually want access to the full menu.

Chill atmosphere with great food and service. Want some good cocktails? We were alcohol free…read moretonight but they looked pretty good! Want truffle fries? They've got that too. Want to splurge on a smashburger or go light with a salad? Want some sports television on three big screens? You know the answer by now. Lunch menu is served all day and they have a weekly dessert (I forgot to ask, I failed the mission darnit) . Very personable and small space - less than 30 seats in the house - so be prepared for the close quarters if you have a larger party. For hubby and I we had the perfect spot for two and enjoyed the industrial touches. Bathrooms were in the back, single rooms, and they were well taken care of and beautifully arranged. Thank you as always Birmingham.

Met my friend here for lunch. Inside is nothing fancy. Nice outside area with tables but it was a…read morelittle too chilly for us to sit outside. I got a cheesesteak which was served with chips and a pickle. I really enjoyed it. Our server was really nice. I would come here again. I'd like to try other things on the menu. Lunch was affordable. It was pretty busy at lunch but we were able to get a table right away.

I got a 1/4 muffuletta and it was exactly the savory craving I needed to curb. Chips are the…read morestandard side btw. The ladies were very sweet, attentive and polite. Plenty of tables to choose from inside and outdoors as well. A great pit stop during our road trip!!

I haven't been to McAlister's Deli in a long time. I went for soup and salad. I must say, I'm not a…read morebig fan of the chicken tortilla soup. However, I definitely loved the salad. The staff was friendly and did everything they could to recommend different options. They had a big crowd, and the space was able to support everyone. I will go back soon.

I have always loveddd McAlisters! The ladies and guys behind the counter are so welcoming the…read moresecond you walk through the doors. They are also attentive once seated. I also enjoy their spacious patio for outdoor dining!

Service personable and waitress answered any questions helpfully. Given the name "porch," it…read morereminds me of family gatherings on the literal porch, and this atmosphere was similar: lots of large family tables and groups. We were one of two double seater tables that were reserved, it was really cute honestly. It has been a while since I got duck confit, and I loved the luxuries of tasting it without the price tag tonight. Only $8 to add some on to either the caesar or house salad options. Husband got the sweet potato fries and blackened flounder sandwich which were all tasty as well. Fries were shoestring style and sprinkled with brown sugar - yum. PSA to DEFINITELY try the cookies, my hubby is a chocolate chip connoisseur and said these were top of the list now. So warm and fresh. The fried pie was delicious as well and I enjoyed my cocktail selection. Great date night selection!

3.5 overall Great…read morelocation and patio space. I came for lunch and I agree that the service is a bit slow. I opted for the farro bowl, but was hesitant about the beets--cause, well, beets are not my jam-- but the kitchen put them on the side for me! (Thank you!!). I added braised pork. The bowl is a very creative and i loved the concept but the execution just need a bit of tweaking. The bowl was just too greasy. And I don't think the grease was only coming from the pork. The farro was about 1 or 2 minutes overcooked for my taste; however, I would try it again maybe with just the egg. I hear great things about thw smash burger so I'll come back and try my luck. Wednesdays are half off bottles of wine!!

I ordered a variety of 12 lunches for a company meeting. Everything was wonderful! The sandwiches…read moreand wraps were delicious. Several folks in the meeting commented how good the salsa was. It was all exactly as I ordered and they had it waiting on me when I arrived. The lunches were well packaged and since I ordered a variety, I appreciated the color-coded napkins. I will definitely order from them again!

Great box lunches for meetings small or large. Good selection, consistent in their quality and…read morepresentation. Easy to work with and the food will please a diverse crowd!

I can't believe I haven't been here, but I can finally say I have been to Momma Gs!…read more With the original Momma Goldberg's opening in 1976 in Auburn, this location of the popular franchise is located right on 18th St South across from Homewood Toy & Hobby and right next door to O'Henry's Coffee. MG's has all the qualities of a quaint little hometown eatery with it's "wood" floors and paneling on the walls. Space is a premium inside with only about 8 small tables scattered throughout. On one wall is a self service soda/tea/condiment area. One interesting note was the disposable cutlery. Each one of the plastic forks, knives and spoons were individually packaged. Never seen that before (yes I need to get out more often). The opposite wall is littered with local band posters and ads giving you a nice college bar feel. There's a couple of tables right outside when the weather allows, but you que to place your order, pay, grab your liquid refreshment, have a seat and wait for you name to be called. If you're in the mood you can even stand close to the line and "watch" how they make their famous Nachos! I did. It's basically a layer of Doritos chips on foil with pepper jack cheese on top, then jalapenos and then the final step... the entire ensemble is steamed in the same steamer that warms their sandwiches. This nicely spreads the cheese and softens the Doritos giving the chips a softer but still retaining that nice crunch. The dish is so simple, yet delectable! Vasha ordered a side of their famous Nachos so I got to taste and it was as good as Vasha hyped it to me! He also got one of his favorite go-tos the Turkey Delite. The sliced turkey with mozarella on a honey wheat hoagie looked pretty good. I was in the mood for and ordered their Chicken Salad sandwich. Their own unique homemade chicken salad strays from what I would consider a "traditional" chicken salad, but I admire that they made it their own with chicken cut into cubes instead of shredded. Add American cheese, shredded lettuce, fresh tomatoes in a grilled roll and you got yourself a contender! The side salad I got was a sandwich box half of shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, red onions and croutons was on par. Their menu boasts a few other sandwiches that I would love to try like the Momma's Love (roast beef) and Pastrama Momma. Looking forward to returning soon.

I wasn't really a fan of Momma Goldberg's. However, it was packed when I got there. The location is…read morevery small so we weren't sure if there would even be a seat available for us. Luckily one opened up. The person who took our order wasn't rude but he wasn't friendly. Not a problem but noted. I felt very rushed picking my sandwhich even though there wasn't anyone behind me. You should definitely know what you want before you get in line. We got our food and they messed up my friends order so we had to wait for them to correct it. You usually go up and grab your food but she was nice enough to bring it out to us. The sandwiches are pretty small. I thought I saw a soup option online but that wasn't an option in person.

If Brick & Tin has no fans then I am dead…read more.. I typically go to the location in Mountain Brook, but stumbled in here last week for lunch. I was craving the farro salad. It was a slam dunk, as usual. The smaller size of the salad has always been enough to fill me up. I typically add chicken, but I branched out for the brisket this time. The brisket here is incredible, order the brisket sandwich if it's your first time here. I'll stick with chicken on the farro salad next time tho, definitely not the intended pairing. I love coming here for that salad because it makes me feel hashtag healthy. Love a fast-casual vibe for lunch. The staff here was super efficient and kind. I've never had anything bad from here. The soups are outstanding.

The fried chicken sandwhich and autumn salad were on point. Really enjoyed the buttery bun and…read morecrispy chicken. Kinda similar to chicfila except with some extra pizzazz in the sandwhich. The salad was fresh, and I always enjoy the combination of goat cheese, berries, and nuts. We also had a batch of cookies for dessert, and they were very good as well.