Great place! Awesome food! Even better people! Has become my go to place for breakfast in…read moreGardendale. So many options!

From the owner: We serve country food at its best Hot and fresh biscuits…read moreserved every day in Breakfast menu: Bacon egg and cheese, cheese grits, Gravy biscuits, Real egg made to order Lunch: Served Southern country style food, 4 different meats and veggies everyday Meatloaf, Chicken and Dressing, Hamburger steak, Catfish, Beef tips and Rice Etc. Name the few

The Essential was such an unexpected find during our trip through Alabama. We weren't expecting to…read morestumble across such an elegant restaurant serving truly elevated food, but it ended up being one of our favorite meals. I ordered the seafood pasta, and you could immediately tell the pasta was homemade. It was fresh, perfectly cooked, and the seafood was beautifully prepared. My daughter had the spaghetti, and my husband ordered the Waldorf salad, which was just as thoughtfully put together. Our waitress also recommended the hummus and house pickles, and I'm so glad we listened. Both were fresh, unique, and the perfect way to start the meal. From the food to the service, everything felt polished without being pretentious. It was one of those meals where every dish was executed with care and attention to detail. Overall, The Essential was such a pleasant surprise and proof that you can find five star dining experiences in the most unexpected places. If you're anywhere near Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth the stop.

Really cool place with a quaint atmosphere and great service. My wife and I split the chicken…read moresandwich, grits and a hash brown. All were really good. We got the sauce on the side for the sandwich just in case, but it was really good. Definitely a place I want to revisit. Saw the smash looking burger and pancakes at tables and they both looked amazing!!

Today, Saturday June 27th, I took 2 of my girlfriend to brunch. Everyone on staff was great! I…read moreasked for the manager on my way out, so I could brag about a couple of them in particulier. They are Lauren and Micael .....sorry Micaela. They were extreamly helpful, kind and professionnel, in each of their respective jobs. Craig Everett, please do something nice for them. I'll be back because I like the place. It looks as friendly a place as it really is. The prices aren't that bad either. PLEASE don't forget about Lauren and Micaela. ​Thank you

My first time here. Don't know why I haven't come before. It was very good. I had the King Cake…read morebeignets. They were outstanding. I also had the Trifecta Eggs Benedict. It was really good. Had to take some of it to go. It's a lot of food. Coffee was very good. Food came out quickly. Caelyn was my server. She was great. Very personable and had great recommendations. Restaurant is pretty large. Outside tables as well. It's an upbeat environment. I loved it.

Everything went well during my lunchtime visit to Yo'Mama's restaurant. The Hot wings and French…read morefries was delicious. The waitress was cordial to make sure I enjoyed my "first" visit. The ambiance of the restaurant was calm and pleasant. There are several dining tables to choose and enjoy the scenery.

The menu had a good variety of options including fish, hamburgers, chicken, and more, though I…read moredidn't notice any salad options available. Parking is primarily street parking in the area, but there is also a public parking deck nearby. I'm unsure what the current cost is for the deck, but it's worth knowing if you're visiting during a busier time. I ordered the fish tacos with black beans and chose the cheese grits as my second side. Everything tasted fresh and had lots of flavor. The real star of the meal, though, was the sweet potato cake. It was incredibly moist and delicious. Honestly, I could've eaten four of them without shame or hesitation. My colleagues ordered burgers and fries. They both really enjoyed their burgers, but neither cared much for the fries. They had also requested a couple additional items after the food arrived, but those items never made it to the table. The decor is bright and fun, though it didn't quite seem to match the style of food being served. Just my personal observation. They also have a robot that helps deliver the food alongside the servers, which felt a little unexpected for the casual atmosphere and southern comfort food vibe. They were fairly busy since it was lunchtime on a Friday, but the wait really wasn't bad at all. Would I go back? Yes. Was it my absolute favorite? No. But there were definitely things I enjoyed, especially that sweet potato cake that nearly made me consider ordering dessert first next time.

This place is the best spot I been to downtown birmingham. Ive visited a few times now and the only…read moretime it wasnt great and smooth was sunday morning. I foun d out later that theyre very popular and busy for brunch so keep that in mind if you go for weekend brunch. I would suggest trying to get ahead of the 11 oclock rush or after the 1pm rush The pizza is amazing the owner cares a great deal and the menu is inspired

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!

Wonderful biscuits made from scratch that have a noice crust and malt I your mouth. It's our served…read morewith their homemade jam, which seem to be a blackberry that was extremely tasty and one could tell it was homemade. The grits bowl was outstanding with very creamy cheese grits, a soft egg and smoked sausage. Ordering is done at the counter, and then your order is brought to the table. Great coffee selections Wonderful Experience!

Do I think the food is yummy? Yes, BUT I've had 2 seperate incidents of hair in my food which makes…read moreme hesitant to go back. I did mention it to the girls at the front once. The other time I ordered to go and couldn't go back so I sadly had to waiver my $30 breakfast. Beyond that, I enjoy the grits and it's a cute little spot for dine in or take out.

The vanilla iced latte was perfection, and the food was so good we didn't take photos before…read moredigging in. The ham and Swiss was the perfect balance of meat to cheese, and the onion jam was a welcome addition. Loved it all!

Stopped by about 15 minutes before they closed one Saturday afternoon. The staff is amazing, and…read morealthough I could tell they'd already pretty much cleaned up for close, they were happy to make us a couple of drinks. We both got a blackberry lavender iced matcha, per the recommendation of the wonderful barista. It was great! My friend commented that it tasted a bit like fruity pebbles. I'm normally hesitant of lavender flavored things as I fear they'll taste like soap, but this might have changed my mind. Delicious, great service, and a cool vibe inside! I'd love to come here and sit and work some time!

I've eaten here so much that it I can honestly say everything is delicious. Sundays the meatloaf is…read morefantastic, Saturday's the Beef tips and rice are amazing, fried bologna breakfast sandwich always hits, the fried chicken is so good. Pick anything and you won't be disappointed...

yum yum and affordable pricing. The previous shop was closer to home but wanted to try this…read morelocation. Nice parking. Right off the main road. Had my taste buds ready for bbq chicken but settled for fried white meat chicken. It was crispy and tasted good to me. Had greens and yams. Price was under $15 with tax. They kept replenishing the food. The line moved fast. Inside the was basic diner atmosphere.