Metro Diner

Wife and I were downtown looking for place to eat after an appointment. Wife was interested in…read moresome vegetables. Went by Fife's it was about 12:15, we were expecting a wait. Only one person in line, restaurant was basically empty. Looked at menu and noticed meat and 2 was over$14.00. We decided maybe it was not the place for us, so we quietly left and went to Alpha Charlie's out by the airport which turned out to be a great experience. I've been to File's in years past and did not remember the place to be so dark and drab. Feel like this places days are numbered. Sure miss the Social Grill for the ones of you that are old enough to remember that place.

This was a short walk from my Airbnb and being from California. I'm not used to single digit prices…read moreon a breakfast menu. This is my idea of a perfect diner. Solid food made fresh. A bunch of regulars chatting at a table. I wanted to try the biscuits, but there weren't any. The sausage was my favorite part.

Sausage and eggs breakfast with grits and toast

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Ted's Restaurant

4.2(139 reviews)

8.9 mi

The food was delicious and had great portions sizes! The service was excellent with smiles on…read moreeveryone's faces (even in this extreme heat)! We learned about their Saturday brunches so we will definitely be bringing the family with us next time.

Classic cafeteria line, ideal for a quick weekday lunch downtown. You grab a tray, go thru the line…read moreto pick out your meat and 3, and sit down. The bring you a check to pay at the end and handle your drinks for you too. The fried chicken here is great. I'm normally a creamed corn lover, alas, none today. They have any sort of soul food classic you could want: cornbread, fried okra, pies, iced tea, etc.. It's not super huge inside, but things move fast. Parking is easy, there's a lot plenty big outside. It's been here over 50 years!

Just a few weeks earlier, Ted's celebrated its 50th anniversary. Today's decor would not be out of place back then.

Ted's Restaurant - Cafeteria serving line just as the place opens for the day. The steam table features several meats and about a dozen sides on any given day.

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Cafeteria serving line just as the place opens for the day. The steam table features several meats and about a dozen sides on any given day.

The Original Pancake House

3.9(356 reviews)

8.0 mi

It has been years since we visited The Original Pancake House. We used to go with our kids way…read moreback, and it was one of our favorites places, but it was difficult to get into because the lines were out the door. For a bit of nostalgia, we decided to go back, and we forgot what we were missing. This time there was no line, yay, and we got a table immediately! The portions were a nice size and the price was good. Alot better than other breakfast places around. I ordered the banana pancakes with the tropical syrup and a side of bacon and scrambled eggs. Food was really good, and the service was excellent!

I hadn't been to The Original Pancake House in years, mainly because Birmingham now has so many…read moregreat breakfast options. But I was craving their pancakes and breakfast potatoes, and they did not disappoint. Everything was just as delicious as I remembered. There was about a 20-minute wait to be seated because they were busy, but to me, that's a good sign, it clearly means people enjoy the food. I waited patiently, and it was worth it. My waiter was very accommodating and kept my coffee cup filled, which I always appreciate. I definitely won't wait so long to return next time. I'll be back soon!

Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich

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Pop's Neighborhood Grill

4.1(76 reviews)

8.0 mi

Food is fresh and definitely made with love. I've been trying different burgers when I come in…read morewhich are always delicious but decided this week to swap it up and get The Vulcan and was blown away! So good! Also worth noting, the owner is so kind and clearly cares about her customers and if they love the food. Service is legit 10/10 and the prices are extremely fair. The store has a cute and homey diner feel. One of the best lunch spots in Birmingham!

Decided to stop in on a quick lunch break. There were plenty of tables to inside. I was pleasantly…read morewelcomed in by the cashier. She was very helpful in picking menu options. We decided on The Country Club and the Slamming Bacon cheeseburger. It was definitely cooked to order and truly didn't take too long to get to the table. The fries were well seasoned and perfectly crisp. The burger was good but the sandwich was amazing! It was even better than I imagined and huge. Prices were pretty reasonable for the nice portion size too. For two meals we paid about $27. We will definitely be back to try their breakfast!

The overcooked 3 strips of bacon on the Pop's Bacon BLT with the less than hunk of bacon

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Lunch Menu

Al's Deli and Grill

4.0(262 reviews)

8.2 mi

I got the combination chicken and beef potatoe it was huge I ate it for lunch and I ate it dinner…read morejust good !! Still have left overs !!

First time getting takeout or hearing about this place. It was ok. I love bakers and the potato was…read morehuge. I did the grilled chicken baked potato. My only complaints were there was no seasoning beneath all the toppings. Also the bacon bits were artificial. Yuck. The potato had so much potential but may go back to try something different. The order was ready upon arrival so I applaud that.

Bar-B-Q Grilled Chicken Baker

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Yo' Mama's

4.7(595 reviews)

9.3 mi

The crowd spoke and the crowd was right. Yo Mama's serves up some tasty morsels at a reasonable…read moreprice in downtown Birmingham. I couldn't make my mind up so I got half hot chicken and hot regular. The regular was like Kentucky fried chicken on steroids. The crispy outer coating was really quite good and the food came out piping hot. For an affordable price you can right at Yo Mama's! Would love to come back and try some of the other dishes here. French fries were also tasty.

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.

Counter

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Waffle + 6 pc chicken wings underneath + house made syrup

The Harvest

4.0(119 reviews)

9.4 mi

Harvest was one of the best dining experiences I had in Birmingham. One thing worth mentioning…read moreright away is that it's located inside the historic Redmont Hotel. That wasn't immediately obvious from many of the reviews I read beforehand, so don't let the hotel location deter you--this is a destination restaurant in its own right. I ordered the braised short rib (without the grits), and it was outstanding. The meat was incredibly tender, packed with flavor, and cooked to perfection. It easily ranks among the better short rib dishes I've had. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and struck the perfect balance of being available without hovering. The dining room has an upscale yet comfortable atmosphere that makes it just as suitable for a business dinner as it is for a date night or special occasion. If you're visiting downtown Birmingham--or staying at the Redmont--don't overlook Harvest just because it's inside a hotel. It's proof that hotel restaurants can absolutely compete with the city's standalone dining scene. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Birmingham.

This place was honestly a surprise. My husband and I were in the area looking to get dinner but the…read moreoriginal restaurant we wanted to go to was booked. We ended up here. I will say this is one of the best steaks I have had up to date so far. Cooked just the way I liked it.

Cute but chic ambiance

Beef tartare

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Scenic View Cafe

4.4(9 reviews)

9.6 mi

I came her for lunch because I had just duty and it was right by the courthouse. I really couldn't…read morefind any info ( menu, pics of the food etc...) online. I've always seen this place in passing, but was never able to make it there because they're only open from 7am-3pm. I'm honestly had a burger in mind because most lunch spots serve burgers. I only had an hour for lunch and this was the closest spot. When I walked in the owner and workers were making the announcement that because it Jury Monday they only had grilled beef hotdogs available. In the combo you get 2 beef grilled hotdogs and chips for $6.60. I was very hesitant because they already had the hotdogs wrapped in foil sitting by the register. I knew then it would be a hit or miss. I was hungry and decided to go with this meal. She asked did in need condiments and I said yes. I asked for ketchup, mustard, relish, and sour kraut . I look in my bag to find 2 packs of ketchup and mustard and a small container of relish and kraut. I'm a ketchup person and one little pack per hotdog wasn't it. Also I asked for plan chips and was given bbq. The food itself was underwhelming. How can you go wrong with. Hotdog?? I ate it because I new I would be sitting for a couple of more hours. If I ever have jury duty I will definitely pack my lunch....this was a waste of $6.60.

Stopped here on our last day in Birmingham for a coffee and breakfast. Coffee was good, service…read morewas quick and friendly, and the food was decently priced and tasty. I got a breakfast sandwich with egg and sausage. S.O. got just scrambled eggs and fruit. Good place for a quick meal and a caffeine injection.

2 grilled beef hotdog combo

Grilled beef hotdog

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Enjoyed the muffuletta panini so much!!

Current Charcoal Grill

4.4(125 reviews)

8.9 mi

•$$$

Great service. Great food. Great drinks. The bar is where I always sit. It's faster (in my opinion)…read more Kendall was the bartender on duty during my recent Wednesday evening visit. She's amazing!! I really enjoyed the crab claws app- $23. They are served chilled & steamed. This was the perfect little snack. I also had a nice glass of sparkling wine. It paired well with the crab claw appetizer. I always have a great experience whenever I come here. Current is definitely worth checking out if you are in Birmingham, Al

My friend, Julia, and I tried current the other night! We walked in and immediately loved the vibes…read moreand upscale, quirky, modern feel of it all. High ceilings and exposed brick are a few of the ways to my heart. If you've seen a post about this place, you've probably seen a picture of the crackly round, artistic dish and wondered what it was. There are dumplings on the underside of it and you break each one off of the crackly part to enjoy. We did enjoy these but I would've loved a soy sauce to dip them in. They came with chili crunch, peanuts, and green onions but I wanted an actual sauce. They were very standard tasting dumplings and there was nothing extraordinary about them unfortunately. As always, we'd looked at the menu beforehand and decided what we wanted. It does state on their website that their menus can change due to freshness and availability. But we'd both decided on an app and entree we wanted only to get there and have none of them on the menu. I do appreciate a rotating menu to accommodate local items, but I would also love for those to be updated on a regular basis. So after rerouting, we decided on the chicken skewers as another app with the dumplings. These were chargrilled, flavorful, and had a nice crust on them. I got shrimp fried rice and Julia got spicy beef noodles. It was fine but I wish the shrimp wouldn't have been cut up. It felt like they chopped them up in order to not put as many in the dish. At $25 for this, I'd like whole shrimp please. There were a few pieces of raw spinach with pepper on the top. I would've loved a sauce of some kind. I would've preferred shrimp hibachi with fried rice from a Japanese place that included vegetables and sauces. This was not *bad* there was just SO much room for improvement. We both agreed that nothing was awful, but for these prices and the hype, we expected more. Our waitress was super friendly. Bonus points because they had match boxes at the host stand! There was a paid parking lot diagonal from the restaurant, so we had to walk through an intersection to get there. There are some spots up front if you can snag one. Overall, we enjoyed our time here but won't be sprinting back.

Awesome. Just awesome atmosphere

Skewers

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Bar view

Cafe Dupont

4.4(238 reviews)

9.1 mi

•$$$

September 12th husband and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary with Cafe Depont. Samantha and our…read moreserver were amazing. The atmosphere and food as always simply excellent.

Infinite amount of stars for the food but negative one star for how slow they are. So very hard to…read morerate this place. So here is the downfall. It might have been the slowest dinner I ever had in my life. I had a 7:00 PM reservation and I arrived early and sat down at 6:50. After being greeted and ordering wine I placed an order of the pork belly appetizer at 7:05. The pork belly appetizer came out at 8:00, 55 minutes after ordering. I placed the entree order at 7:30 and it came out at 8:30. There were only 3 other tables in the restaurant. Two three tops and a two top so not even large tables. Why on earth is it taking an hour to get out an order. I have my credit card at 8:50 and got it back at 9:15. 25 minutes to charge a card? I mean I guess you can get busy but the 4 tables here had 3 people helping with them. At no point when the server came by my table did I ever say I needed another minute. So, a 2.5+ hour dinner as a single diner was ridiculous, especially considering they were not busy. The food here was truly incredible, some of the best I've had anywhere I've traveled. I absolutely loved it. You can tell they source fresh, local ingredients daily, and that commitment clearly shines through in the quality of every dish. I started with the pork belly appetizer, which was outstanding. The cut had the perfect balance of meat and fat, expertly cooked with the fat beautifully rendered. The flavors were exceptional as well, finished with a maple glaze and paired with a sweet potato cornbread that was completely unique and memorable. For my main course, I ordered the smoked ribeye, and it was flawless. The quality was top-tier, with gorgeous marbling that truly reflected a prime cut. The smoke flavor was perfectly balanced--present but never overpowering. It had a beautiful crust, was expertly seasoned, and cooked to an ideal temperature. It honestly could not have been better. They also offered a few amuse-bouches that were equally impressive. A single bite of cherry tomato with lamb bacon was one of the best bites I've ever had. To finish, I was served a watermelon and muscadine sorbet with a St-Germain finish, an incredibly thoughtful and skillful dessert. There is an immense amount of talent in this kitchen. You will never be disappointed by the food here. My experience seemed to be overshadowed by the slow service and near the end I was so ready to just leave. However I might consider returning just for the food.

Dining

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The Sorbet

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

19 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Abigail C.

154

8 years ago

Let me start off by saying that the food here was AWESOME! That's why there are stars. So we arrived at 5:00 and had a group of 4. The hostess greeted us asking "So is it just the 4 of you?" She seemed new and may have greeted us beforehand so I did not think anything of it. We then asked if we could sit outside because it was a bit chilly inside the restaurant. The hostess looked at this guy that seemed to be the manager and asked if we could sit on the patio. His response was "Yeah they can if they want, it's just hot outside." And it sounded like he was saying it as a "what's wrong with them." We were seated and the waitress got our drink orders. We ordered our food and waited. They brought the food out and 30 seconds after our food was put on the table, our waitress asked us if we needed boxes. We all just looked at each other because we haven't even had time to taste our food. So 2 minutes later, she brought some boxes and put them on the table next to us and said "no rush!" At this point we were all annoyed because it seemed like we were being rushed. Then a minute later she asked how many checks we were going to be on, we told her, and then she brought the check out and said "no rush!" My brother in law wanted to order a different meal because he was not satisfied with the huevos rancheros. So she put in the order and didn't ask if it was to go or if he wanted to eat it. She brought the order out in a to go box and we had to tell her that he wanted to eat it here. So she brings the box over and said "do you want me to bring another plate?" And we were like uh yes. Did she expect him to eat it out of the box? So we were pretty annoyed because the restaurant was not even busy so we were trying to figure out why we were being rushed. The food was good but if this is how it is going to be every time then we won't be back. read more

Heather M.

198

7 years ago

Great menu great food Sometimes it can be really busy and you may have to wait for a table but the service is always really good I said at the bar last time and eat and watch them cook and they were all super sweet workers and work really hard we will definitely be back again this is a family favorite read more

Rita S.

9 years ago

The food is wonderful. The service is great. You should definitely give it a try, get the chicken and waffles or the Philly cheesesteak. Ask for Mariah. She's knowledgeable and an excellent waitress. Did not have to ask for one thing. read more

Bailey M.

2 years ago

Great service, the servers were all super nice. The food came out fresh and hot like always. My favorite spot to come and eat breakfast with friends or family! read more

Don J.

9 years ago

Went back on 9/16/17. Same great service, and this time the food was great too. I know every place has an off night and last week was it. We'll be back. read more

K T.

5 years ago

Have gone here a few times and have had takeout too. All experiences have been meh. There are too many other places to go to that are much better. read more

Peter E.

4 years ago

Can't go wrong with the Bissell Breakfast anytime of the day. Seriously the best. Thanks to Mike for the tip and keep up the great service. Cheers read more

Amy S.

7 years ago

My first time trying this place out. The food was delicious, the service was great. A much nicer ambiance than I expected. I will be back!

Mike O.

8 years ago

Great place for breakfast. Great options to choose from. Very tasty. Very fresh tasting and they'll definitely fill you up

Aakarshan S.

5 years ago

It's really good! I really enjoyed eating here. Food and service was both great. Will probably come here again.

Cheryl W.

4 years ago

Food was cold. Waiter was rude and very slow. Will not go again. Disappointed in the whole experience

Thomas H.

9 years ago

Awesome service, good and huge portions! Have had breakfast here two times and for sure a 5 star.

Kat B.

221

9 years ago

One of the best breakfasts we have had! Amazing seasonal selections, incredible food and coffee!

David D.

4 years ago

Loved the chicken and waffles! The service was great and everything was quick! Great experience.

Jonathan H.

2 years ago

Great place to eat¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very great service and very nice people. Quick service

Allison N.

8 years ago

Love, love, love this place! Great food, great staff! We go here at least once a week!

Heather J.

116

9 years ago

Great service, fast and good food, and great atmosphere! Will be going back soon!

Hunter S.

358

4 years ago

Had an amazing meal here. Try to sit with Mike as your server. He was the best!

John S.

7 years ago

Second time here...amazing food, and service. I will be back.

Metro Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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4.0

(65 reviews)

This brunch spot is AMAZING! It has exceeded all expectations! The French toast is ELITE!!! And the…read morefried picked okra is a pleasant surprise! Don't miss out on all of the spectacular drinks from the bar! Like the pineapple whiskey! Or the many specialty lemon drops. And a special shout to our chef for today. Chef Savannah really did her big one! This is now my #1 brunch spot!

I've waited a few weeks to give this review for several reasons. I wanted to make sure I was no…read morelonger upset once I shared my experience. My girlfriends and I came to Bham for the weekend to enjoy a concert. We were all traveling. I was born and raised in Bham, lived there for 35 yrs until I married so I was looking forward to seeing what new places my hometown has now. I never visit unless it's a family situation & never get to enjoy a sit down restaurant while in town. One of my girlfriends picked this place in advance before we made it to Bham and we saw the location while grabbing dinner Friday night once we all arrived. She was very excited to try Slide Cafe. She also lived in Bham for years while attending school so it was nice for us to see new places to try. Once we arrived the hostess (JB) explained the process to us and we were seated. I ordered a Coke Zero. The hostess brought everyone drinks to the table and I noticed I didn't have a Coke Zero but a Diet Coke and every drink except the coffee was bottled. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are not the same but no problem. Just inform the buyer what they're paying for in case they rather choose something different. While the hostess is delivering our drinks + (1) coffee...he's holding the tray incorrectly, he leans with the coffee still on the tray, and the coffee falls, the lid comes off, and coffee is spilling continuously. It's now burning the hostess leg running into his socks and shoes but it's also spilling into my friend's purse that was positioned in the chair the hostess was standing over. Hot Coffee has filled her purse, ruined everything inside including her Air Pods, her wallet, and everything else inside. Here's where I become appalled....No one came to discuss this matter until 30 minutes after the incident. It was an awful feeling. We waited and waited and it only made the (4) of us more and more upset. We had not gotten our food yet because this happened as soon as we sat down, only our drinks were served. By the time the Co-Owner decided to come over, it was pointless. She showed little to no concern about how she would correct the incident nor did she show compassion to a woman just like herself. They decided to pay for her food. We wouldn't be there if we couldn't afford our food! She offered to clean her purse but did not think her air pods were damaged or her purse should be replaced. The coffee had so many grinds at the bottom of the cup as if it was the last of the coffee poured and it was also all over her things inside the purse. This experience was awful for all of us. The way we were treated is what made the incident 10 times worse. Had someone walked over to us immediately to help us understand the incident was NOT her fault and apologize on behalf of what happened and showed sensitivity to a woman who just had her things ruined, I would have shared a great experience in spite of what happened but that is not the outcome. I lived in Bham for 35 yrs and I watched places open and close often. If this management doesn't understand that this is not how you treat customers then this too will be another place that opened and closed. If I ever visit Bham again, I will never visit Slide Cafe! BTW, my Salmon was very dry. Salad was nice but after such as awful experience, none of us could enjoy our food even if it was good or bad.

Pelham Diner

4.3

(160 reviews)

This is our spot! Frequent this location, often during celebrations and Veterans Day and other…read moreyearly experiences. The food is always on point. The pancakes are always fat and the waitress is sometimes funny depending on their mood at the time of your visit. This is a hidden gem in a community. Sometimes we can get a few looks when we walk into the building from guest like we were unicorns. But, There's a lot of diversity among the staff and we enjoy being there and feeling welcome by them.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the Pelham Diner is a great spot to…read moregrab that all important meal. It is a smaller diner, but the service was friendly and the food was good. It has that old school diner feel to it, which I can definitely appreciate. This place has a lot of positives, so I would definitely recommend here.

Big Bad Breakfast

4.4

(63 reviews)

Wonderful location filled with fantastic workers. My waitress Tiffany was incredible. And the food…read morewas 5 stars. We were there spending quality time and having a great experience. Music was great and the shrimp and grits were my favorite things of the entire week. I'd recommend this for effective service and proper food handling. Glad, I was able to be there with a special group of people.

ProTip -- if possible, join the waitlist (via Yelp!) before you get there! I didn't realize that…read morewas even an option so I landed an estimated 45 minute wait upon arrival. Hostess was very pleasant. Line to get on the wait-list moved efficiently. Our waitress, Caitlin, was wonderful! She was patient as I needed more time to decide on my order & as my two-year very s l o w l y placed his order request for pancakes. I ordered the avocado toast & enjoyed it! The restaurant is bright and has modern light fixtures. I really enjoyed the music! I'm an 80s baby & heard many of the songs that were popular when I was in grade school.

Craft’s on Church Street

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(45 reviews)

Craft's is a great casual option in Crestline. Service was fast and located in a great spot. While…read morethe main focus is chicken, they prepare it many different ways - wraps, bowls, sandwiches, etc - which makes it easy for everyone to find something they like. We ordered the Caesar wrap and the hot honey wrap. They were both very good! Also really enjoyed the sides of Mac and cheese and fried okra. Will definitely return to Craft's in the future.

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Ruby Sunshine Brook Highland

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Always great food. I always enjoy our food and come about once a month. There can be a wait during…read morepeak times so I recommend going early.

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Salem's Diner

4.5

(163 reviews)

I was looking for a breakfast spot this morning after an appointment, when I found this place. This…read moreis a busy little area with shops on all the small connected streets. Thankfully free parking was available. I walked in at the perfect time, just as the breakfast grill was shutting down and the lunch grill was heating up. I was 5 minutes pass breakfast, as told by the waitress. She was so kind and told me that she would ask, if they (he) could prepare a breakfast for me. The answer was yes, but no grits. Oh well, let's try the omelette and hash brows. I'm really not into hash browns but these were delicious! Crispy and perfectly round. The omelette was also good and fluffy. The coffee was a good robust cup of coffee. This is a real old school diner. Counter seats with a few booths to the side. No frills here. Decent diner food with great friendly service. By the time I finished my breakfast, the lunch crowd was starting to come in for a seat at the counter and booths. I heard someone say, this is the best Philly cheesesteak in the area. Anyways, this was a pleasant place to have a good simple meal with some awesome service. The only reason I'm not giving 5* is because of not being able to get the grits, which was my fault for not getting there a little sooner. I will definitely come back.

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Fife's Restaurant

4.1

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Ruth's Cafe

4.0

(66 reviews)

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.

Pop's Neighborhood Grill

4.1

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