This was the perfect dinner to carb‑load the night before our big 23‑mile hike, and it did not…read moredisappoint! We started with the baked feta dip, and as always, you can't go wrong--it arrived still bubbling at the table and was absolutely delicious. We each followed up with salads and pasta dishes, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed. The portion sizes were generous enough that we even had leftovers to take to‑go, which is always a win. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, offering recommendations when we had questions about the drink menu. Our server checked in on us multiple times and made us feel genuinely valued as guests. Great food, great service, and exactly what we needed to fuel up for the next day.

Another wonderful meal this evening with my wife. She enjoyed the shrimp fettuccine Alfredo and I…read morewent with the lasagna. Both entrees were outstanding. Large servings complimented with fresh bread and a side salad with the delicious blue cheese dressing made for a great dinner. Enough taken home for another meal. We need to eat here more often. Super service from Delaney. Highly recommend

Excellent food and love the atmosphere. Sawyer served us and did a great job. We will definitely be…read moreback for dinner! (We had lunch)

Who doesn't love a good bowl of pasta? Bettola does it right. I always applaud restaurants that…read morehave perfect length menus. I do not need millions of options, this is the correct amount. If you know me, you know that if there's burrata on the menu, I'm ordering it. Bettola's is one of the most unique I've ever had. It's almost soupy, and it's scrumptious. The wine list is good, and they serve good cocktails. My friends all raved about the espresso martini. This is a great place for date night or to dine with friends and family. They have an option for everybody. Service is great, no frills. I find parking to be very easy in this area. Like Hot and Hot, you do have to walk through a different hallway to get to a bathroom, a little strange but fine. I love the option of outdoor seating, but the inside is a fantastic atmosphere, too. I've yet to try any of the pizzas, but will have to come back at some point, of course :).

I stopped by Trattoria ZaZa for brunch on Sunday after church, and overall, I had a really…read moreenjoyable experience. There was a bit of a wait before my order was taken, but honestly, it worked out in my favor because it gave me plenty of time to look over the menu. There were so many tempting options that it was honestly hard to decide! I ultimately chose three items and enjoyed a few bites of each. Ham & Fontina Scone: This was my first time trying a scone, and I was pleasantly surprised. The texture reminded me of a dry biscuit, but the ham added a delicious savory flavor that I really enjoyed. Frittata Plate: The frittata was SO good! It wasn't too dry, and all of the flavors worked really well together. It was served with polenta, which reminded me of really fine grits, along with fruit. After trying it, I realized that one entrée would definitely be enough for me to enjoy on its own. Breakfast 'ZA: This was essentially a breakfast pizza topped with a fried egg, and the egg was such a nice touch. The 'ZA itself was really good, although I think adding something similar to a gravy or sauce would make it a little less dry. Even without it, though, the fried egg really took it to another level. Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso: I decided to try the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, which was the barista's pick. This was my first time having a shaken espresso, and I'm so glad I gave it a try! It was refreshing and perfect for a hot day. The inside of Trattoria ZaZa is nice, although it is somewhat small, so I opted to sit outside. It was a very warm day, but the awning provided plenty of shade and made the outdoor seating comfortable. I also appreciated that, even though the restaurant doesn't have traditional table service, someone periodically checked on me to make sure I didn't need anything else. Overall, I had a great brunch experience at Trattoria ZaZa. There were plenty of menu options, the food was flavorful, and I really enjoyed trying a few things that were new to me. I'd definitely be open to coming back and trying more of the menu!

We came for dinner before a show down the street at the Lyric. First time here. She had the baked…read moremacaroni and cheese with vegetables added and absolutely loved it. I had the daily special, which was a broken lasagna. Also very, very good. Mixed greens on the side rounded out our table. The pizza looked very good and reminded us of pizza in a shop we love in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. It's walk up service, no ordering from your table, which was fine. The menu has a nice variety. The store is a downtown casual vibe. We probably should've opted for outdoor seating, because the evening was so nice.

Don't walk, RUN! This place was absolutely amazing. My friend and I sat at the bar, and the…read morebartender was phenomenal, she was knowledgeable about the menu and made some incredibly refreshing cocktails. The staff and owner were also very welcoming and friendly. The food was fresh, flavorful, and authentic. The ambiance was dark, cozy, and perfect for a relaxing meal. And you HAVE to try the White Banana Bread ..it was unbelievable! I'm a picky eater, so that says a lot. I'm so glad we stopped here for lunch and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience.

Wonderful. Food was great, perfect wine recommendation. Friendly helpful staff…read more This is not an Olive Garden remake. Great Northen Italian

Food first, thoughts after... Phenomenal. The experience at…read moreBottega has created a core memory in our date night book. We will definitely be back. The interior design was beautiful. High ceiling spacious with purposeful lighting and decor. Love the attention to detail. My napkin was originally white but they swapped it out very subtly for a black one since I was wearing a black dress. The food was amazing. From the drink to the apps to entree and finishing dessert. Flawless. Worth the price and worth the reservation booking.

Bottega is one of those spots that is frequented by Ye Olde Birmingham Crowd. It's like the…read moreBirmingham Country Club's satellite office. I hadn't been to the dining room for many, many years and forgot how upscale it is. Traditional italian food, with some interesting twists, notably the parmesan souffle. I was here with a large group of 12, but service was still quick and attentive. Our waiter was awesome and did a great job of keeping everything sorted. We all had several rounds of drinks, I had the sancerre, which could have been served in a crispier glass, nonetheless was delish. We got several orders of the focaccia and olive oil. The focaccia was unlike any I'd had before, much more cake-like, less bubbly-sour-salty than usual focaccia. It was good, but I missed that salty flavor. The oil was also good, but I could have done with a bit more of it, we sopped through our little dish only 60% through our loaf. I pride myself on being a great orderer, but I do believe I failed this time. For the sake of trying different things, I ordered two appetizers instead of one entree. I tried the crostini plate, which was ok... but none of the three bites really wowwed me. I also tried the ravioli, which was one giant ravioli. It was quite stunning, the egg yolk inside broke halfway through, bleeding onto the plate. Wow! All in all, Bottega has earned it's spot as one of Birmingham's premier, legacy, high-end restaurants. My consensus: this is where you bring your parents and grandparents for fancy occasions, it will please everyone. But, Bottega lacks an air of youthfulness and exploration that you may find elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, this has its place. I will certainly be back for lunch on the cafe side.

This spot is a little hole in the wall not too far from the Honda dealership off I20. The guy…read morerunning the place is a one-man cooking machine and he knows what he's doing. Burgers, pastas and a few other things, all done extraordinarily well. Like shocking amounts of flavor. If you're in the area and you have a chance to try it, don't hesitate. It's easy to find, there's plenty of parking, and you'll get to sample a truly local hidden gem where the owner is working the grill and putting his eyes on every plate. Stop in and try it. You'll be glad that you did.

My friend and I visited here after seeing a review on Yelp. We do not live on this side of town and…read moredrove about 15 minutes to get here. Here are my thoughts: Pros: Alfredo had a good taste. Plate was heavy, albeit mostly noodles. Philly was made with whole chunks of steak and not ground meat. Plenty of seating inside. Soothing music played on the speakers. Coho or sockeye salmon was used, so chef didn't skip the health benefits of wild-caught fish. Cons: Philly looked to be missing the toppings. One portion looked like it was missing meat. Paid $9 more to add 3 stems of broccoli and 1 piece of chopped grilled chicken. I asked for my salmon to be cooked well done, but it was not due to the cashier typing "well done" under the broccoli add on. Meal was kinda pricey and while I did not mind paying for what I want...the amount of additional food vs the cost didn't add up. $4 for 3 stems of broccoli isn't right. One day, if we are in the area, I may return to try something different on the menu. Don't take my word for it. Try this restaurant out and leave a review on what you think.

Wanted to try something local and give it a shot, overall presentation was good but the pizza…read moreitself was average at best. The hostess was friendly and my pizza was ready when I got there. The temp had dropped a bit so it wasn't pipping hot. The restaurant itself seemed nice kinda dimly lit if you just want an outing not too far from home it may be worth a shot. The outside patio was a nice touch.

An amazing place to go in eat lunch, supper or dinner with your family wonderful waitresses…read morewonderful the whole thing. It's just a wonderful experience so please go.

The ABSOLUTE best pasta!!! My friend and me came here during their pasta happy hour ( look it up)…read moreand we had the most amazing experience! The hospitality was top tier. The hostess girl who seated us was really friendly & accommodating. Our server, Becca took such great care of us from drinks to apps to entrees to dessert. She did such a great job throughout our time here. I had their bolognese dish /caesar salad/ red house wine with the HH special. The pasta and Caesar salad were prepared and plated with perfection! I ate every bite... literally!!' The ingredients were all so fresh & I really could go on & on. I won't! Haaha The dining space is classy and decorated nicely. The ambiance provided the perfect mood for a fun night with great food/ drinks /great company! I already know I'll be returning to Bocca real soon.

New happy hour alert!…read more We tried Bocca's new Pasta Happy Hour (Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-6:30 PM), and it did not disappoint. For $29, you get wine, salad, focaccia, and pasta--a great deal for both the quality and portion sizes. We ordered the house wine, Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and the Garganelli with asparagus (plus added shrimp). Since it was such a beautiful day, we sat out on the patio, which I didn't even realize they had! The service was stellar, the food was delicious, and we left completely full. They also offer complimentary valet, which is always a nice bonus with downtown traffic and parking. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back!

Red Bird's was a tasty surprise and a surprisingly (and pleasantly) healthy find. Our sandwiches…read moretasted fresh and flavorful, the service was prompt and cheerful, and the ambiance was cozy.

Fast service. Friendly staff. Portions seemed a little small compared to competitors nearby. We had…read moreThe Four Corners sandwich with potato soup and The California Club. The potato soup was very watery and not creamy at all. I'd go somewhere else for lunch next time.

The ambiance was upscale, chic, but not stuff. I had the meatball and it was delicious. My server…read moreWes attentive without being overbearing. I had a pleasant evening and will return.

WES IS THE BEST!!!! Patio 10/10. Vibes 10/10. Must TRY. Seriously love so much. We celebrated two…read moreof our best friends getting engaged - seriously, Wes is the best.