The Refinery in Birmingham is steadily becoming one of my regular spots, and it's easy to see why…read more Between the creative cocktails, solid food menu, and rotating experiences, there's always something that makes a visit feel a little different. One of my favorite things about The Refinery is their Monday pop-ups, which feature chefs from different local restaurants and food businesses. On my most recent visit, I had the opportunity to try Flava Yaad, a local Jamaican chef bringing authentic island flavors to the table. I ordered the Pepper Shrimp, and it was delicious -- flavorful, well-seasoned, and a great introduction to the pop-up. I love when restaurants create opportunities to showcase other local culinary talent, and this is such a fun way to experience something new. The cocktail menu is another major highlight. The Wealth Espresso Martini is, without a doubt, one of the best espresso martinis I've had. It isn't always available, which can be a little disappointing, but I can appreciate that a cocktail with a more involved preparation may not be offered every day. I also enjoy the Glass Pavilion, where the menu seems to rotate somewhat seasonally, making it another reason to return and see what's new. The regular food menu is just as impressive. My personal favorites are the Grilled Chicken Miso Sandwich and the Club Croissant, both paired with the Truffle Fries. My boyfriend has enjoyed the Smash Burger and most recently tried the Shrimp and Grits during Sunday brunch. We also like to split the Caesar Salad, which is a generous portion and works well as something to share before the meal -- although we almost always have leftovers. The staff have consistently been great. I've seen different bartenders depending on the day, but everyone I've interacted with has been friendly, attentive, and welcoming. With the rotating pop-ups, creative drinks, dependable food, and consistently good service, The Refinery is becoming the kind of place where I can stop in for a cocktail, plan a meal, or try something completely new. Definitely a spot worth adding to your Birmingham rotation.

Staying in Homewood. Looked around for a low carb option. The Refinery hit the spot. Tuna,…read moresquash medley, and a side salad for the person looking for low carbs. I had a delicious pork chop with black eyed pea, corn, okra, and tomato succotash. A glass of red wine and a bottle of beer. Small dining area with a warm welcoming feel. There are tables outside when the weather cooperates. It was a little warm outside for us. The service was good! Our only issues were rounding the block a few times for find parking and 18% gratuity being included with the bill.

Dude the food was amazing. The server was awesome; shes…read morefrom the bay like me! The ambiance was just a chill vibe. If I ever am in town again, I am coming back for more.

First, know that there is parking behind the building. We didn't know and apparently for the number…read moreof cars trying to squeeze into nonexistent spaces, many others didn't either. We walked up the street with a half dozen other diners. Wooden City is definitely not in the best part of BHM. Walking to the restaurant was a little sketchy, no need for a detailed description. Although we had reservations, the hostess looked at us like we had three eyes. She found a small table for us in the far back of the restaurant. No problem, at least we were seated. Our server greeted us quickly and went over the menu. We ordered drinks, blistered Hungarian peppers and a sausage and mushroom pizza. We told him that we were going to a concert and were on a little bit of a tight schedule. By the time our server checked on our food, the second time, we went from a little bit tight to full "gotta get out of here" mode. I guess the delay in getting our food was to give the kitchen time to burn our pizza. Over half of the thick, chewy crust was inedible. The bottom of the pie didn't fare much better. The peppers, on the other hand, were amazing. (not so much so at 2 am but that's just me!) They are a do not miss. We were at least able to settle our bill quickly and made it to the concert with time to spare. Overall, would we go back? Only if in the area - those peppers were amazing. Still, I definitely would not make a special trip.

Porch has the best brunch in Birmingham! In addition to brunch items like eggs, bacon, French toast…read moreetc you can also get shrimp & grits or the BEST hamburger in town! Give it a try next time you're heading out for Sunday brunch.

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!!

My son and I were looking for a place we had never been... That had great food and we found "The…read moreBattery!" I got the pork chop and it was absolutely amazing... Crispy yet still juicy! The brussels sprouts were by far the start of the show... you should not leave there without trying them. It's an open air restaurant that is a little loud... But super casual and great food! Definitely recommend

I come to the Battery for lunch quite often, normally as a client with my coworkers. We are always…read moretaken care of there. They change the menu up from time to time which is nice because I like to try everything on the menu. Cannot go wrong with Mama's chicken, unless you have something to do that afternoon. My current go to's are the fish sandwich (red fish), or a caesar with blackened chicken.

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!!

The Thai Chicken nachos are my absolute favorite from here! I have also tried other things but I…read morejust keep going back to them. I've only been for lunch but plan to visit for dinner soon. A must try!

Came for lunch today! Love the garage doors and outdoor seating. Fast-casual, order at the front…read more The murals and decor are cool, definitely suit nighttime better. They have a nice cocktail menu, and a lot of the seating is lounge style (couches with coffee tables). This would be a fun spot to watch some football. The food was satisfactory. I had the garlic noodles with chicken, $17 for lunch. My dad ordered the banh mi with fries. I'm assuming these prices are the same for dinner, but I really think they should be lower for lunch. I'm even fine with a slightly smaller portion, but Tuesday lunch shouldn't be more than $15 anywhere. I'll definitely be back to try something else! I love the outdoor seating. I'd forgotten about how jam-packed this block of Lakeview is with restaurants and bars.

Service was excellent! Food was prompt and very good! I will go back soon. We did not have a…read morereservation but were seated within ten minutes.

I have to give 5 stars because the service was just wonderful. We had a little snafu at first…read morebecause we didn't like where we were sitting but the manager came and made it all better (Admittedly, I was the problem haha I like to sit in a booth lol). But they were sooo accommodating and even gave me a cute birthday card. It was thoughtful! The food is also quite tasty. Every dish I had was quite good!! The standouts were the spinach and artichoke dip, the crab cake, and the cilantro rice. I loved the shrimp too!! I must come back and try the dessert cookie skillet. It looked delicious. Portions are huge and prices are definitely decent. I enjoyed lunch and will return for dinner!

Staff is always personalble and friendly. I always get the Philly but tried a burger today. It's a…read moredouble smash burger, cheesy and a little spicy but not too hot. I think the sauce, onions with the jalapeno, and potato bun really make it! I opt for tater tots but their fries and sweet potato fries are great, too. The bathrooms are spotless clean and they have hooks for handbags and the locks work easily. It's amazing how the little things really make a big difference. Music was upbeat at lunch. There's sports on every TV. On occasion, like a major event like the Super Bowl, they will play the sound of the TV through the speakers. I love the indoor and outdoor space and how it all flows together. It's a great place for groups or show up alone or meetup for a casual meeting or lunch date.

I hadn't been in this area for lunch in a while and had not heard of this place. It had taken over…read moreanother restaurant we had been to in the past. Met my wife here for lunch and it was a nice surprise. The inside is a little small, so if they are busy, you may have to sit outside. The inside is decorated... festive? And they have TVs on to catch a game if you're so inclined. I got the philly sandwich for my lunch. It was tasty, though I wish they had some slightly better hot sauce to put on it. I'd definitely come back though and try something else on the menu next time.

Wow! This burger joint is amazing and better than Jack Browns imo…read more We ordered the cowgirl - American cheese, horseradish aioli, bacon, 2 waygu beef patties. Absolutely delicious and crave worthy. The burger was juicy and flavorful everything I wanted. The bun was toasted to perfection. My husband got the regular hand cut fries and I got the sweet potato fries. Literally the best SP fries I've ever had they were crispy and perfect balance of salty sweet. Yum! I wish we had one in HSV guess I'll have to drive back just for the burgers lol. They also serve different styles of hotdogs and fried pies for dessert. They have a few beer options and fountain drinks. Our food came out quickly and the whole place had a funky cool vibe.

Visited: July 25, 2026 Location: Whiskey Foxtrot Burger…read moreShoppe - Homewood, Alabama This was my first visit to Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Shoppe, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The highlight of the meal was definitely the burgers. The Wagyu beef patties were excellent--juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. We also tried one of their hot dogs, and it was very good as well. The bun was soft, fresh, and really complemented the toppings. The fries were crispy and tasty, making for a solid side. For our meal, we ordered the Chili Ray Cyrus burger with fries ($13.29), an Al Capone hot dog ($8.79), a Blueprint burger ($11.29), and two fountain drinks ($2.79 each). Our total came to $48.69, including tax and tip. The only thing keeping this from being a five-star review is the pricing. While the quality of the food is undeniable, almost $9 for a hot dog felt a bit steep, especially considering it's just the hot dog without a side. If the prices were a little more reasonable, I'd have no problem giving this place five stars. Overall, the food quality exceeded my expectations, and I'd definitely return when I'm in the area. If you're looking for a well-cooked Wagyu burger or a quality gourmet hot dog, Whiskey Foxtrot is worth checking out--you'll just want to be prepared for the premium pricing.

I'm not a beer drinker but I do respect a fun place to squat and people watch. And this place fits…read morethe bill! Back Forty is huge-with plenty of seating to accommodate large crowds, couples or even families with little ones. There's plenty of big screens to watch the games on, and I would really love to come back during football season to do just that. I ordered their infamous Back 40 cheeseburger on this visit. While it wasn't my favorite, for a brewery it was definitely above average. It was juicy, made to order and fresh. I didn't care for the sauce nor the stringy onions so I would order it plain next time or try something else on the menu. The shoestring fries were well seasoned with something like garlic parmesan. They were my delicious! The staff were friendly and helpful as we placed our orders. This is a cool spot to hang with your friends, drink, eat and watch some sports or watch the trains go by. I enjoyed my visit and I'm looking forward to coming back.

Not sure about the glowing reviews…read more Service is inattentive, and slow moving - a "that's not my job" attitude. Had to ask for the menu. Then had to ask for service. Staff very busy talking amongst themselves. Once service came (once) it was efficient and friendly. We tried the burger and the pizza. Loved the honey pepperoni pizza but the burger does not live up to the hype. The beers are indeed very tasty and, if we come back, we will only order those and the pizza.