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.

My absolute favorite meat and three (or two) Birmingham restaurant. With each visit the food is…read moreconstantly being cooked and rotated out to refill the cafeteria style options of the day. Each plate is always served fresh and hot. It has also quickly become my Dad's favorite as well. Conveniently located on the edge of downtown but away from the hustle and bustle of Med Center. The tables are constantly being cleaned and there is always a place to sit even during peak hours. The food options will make your taste buds sing "Hallelujah" it's SO good. Even writing this post is making me want some of their perfectly prepared fried chicken. They also offer a separate Brunch menu on Saturday.

Decent meat n 2. Nothing overly great. Employees seemed either bored or tired. Too pricey for a…read moresimple lunch.

The Original Pancake House is a Birmingham classic, and for good reason! Their food is predictable,…read moredelicious, and well-priced. In addition to this, the staff is friendly and pretty flexible on accommodations. I visited on a Wednesday morning, and there were about 7 other tables filled. In the past, when I went on a weekend, I usually had to wait around 15-20 minutes for a table, so if you are able to, I recommend visiting on a weekday. Today I got the vegan sausage, eggs, and pancake combination. It came with two eggs, two pieces of sausage, and three pancakes, which was plenty of food. I ended up bringing home my leftover pancakes, and they heated up quite nicely in the microwave when I ate them later. They also provide ramekins for different sauces and syrups if you want to bring any home, which was very nice. Our server was very kind and proactive at refilling water, checking on us, and getting the check to us quickly, especially because he knew that we had to leave relatively quickly. I also love the ambiance of The Original Pancake House. The seating, artwork, and general atmosphere provide a sense of hominess and southern charm. The seating can be a bit cramped, and I think it's better to have party sizes less than eight, otherwise you may get turned away or have to sit at separate tables. Overall, I highly recommend The Original Pancake House, especially if you are taking someone who has never been to Birmingham before; it's a classic for a reason!

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!

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!

One of the Best Burgers in town a little busy at lunch. Worth the wait. Hotdogs are pretty good I…read moreshould mention

They barbecue chicken and beef baker is probably the best potato I have ever had, everything was so…read moregood, and the price is perfect for the amount you get

While searching for a vegetarian restaurant in the Birmingham area, Al's Deli & Grill popped up, so…read moreI gave it a try. Al's is right by UAB's campus and serves American and Mediterranean food. Their exterior is nice in theory, with a fountain and a pretty fence, but it needs some cleaning up. Their parking lot could also be better. It's a small lot hidden behind the building with some potholes and invisible parking lines. The interior is quite small, but they still have enough seating. I came in with the intention of trying a vegan menu item, but I was informed by a kind man working behind the desk that he wasn't sure what they had that was vegan. He asked another employee if they had falafel at the moment, but they didn't. He was very helpful, but I was still disappointed that they didn't have falafel since I've tried it before and enjoyed it. I continued to look at the menu and finally decided on the veggie burger. The price was nine dollars and some change, which was baffling to me as I only ordered the burger and nothing else. I only had to wait a couple of minutes for my order, and I took it to go. The burger was packaged with care, large in size, and had plenty of toppings. The burger tasted good and didn't have that weird taste that some vegetarian meat patties have. I really enjoyed the bun of the burger in particular since it was really soft, not soggy, and had lots of sesame seeds. The veggie burger is a pretty good vegetarian option on their menu!

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.

I specifically chose Yo' Mama's because I'd heard great things about the food and also wanted to…read moresupport a Black-owned business -- and I'm so glad I did because the food absolutely did not disappoint. We ordered the hot chicken sandwich with a side of coleslaw, and both were packed with flavor. The slaw was light, crisp, and not overloaded with mayo, with just a slight peppery kick that made it incredibly tasty. The hot chicken sandwich itself wasn't overwhelmingly spicy, but it was finger-licking good -- juicy, well-seasoned, and satisfying down to the last crumb. We truly enjoyed every bite. The ambience with its bright green, purple and white colors added to the experience. The restaurant was lively and full of people, which is always a good sign. I also caught glimpses of other patrons' dishes, and everything coming out of the kitchen looked just as delicious as what we ordered. Service was friendly and welcoming, which made the visit even better. Staff members seemed genuinely happy to be there and kept things moving smoothly. The location is right in the heart of downtown Bhama, so parking is metered street parking, but the prices were reasonable and worth it for the quality and uniqueness of the food. Overall, this spot delivered on food, atmosphere, and service. Big thumbs up from me -- I'll definitely be back!

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.

Food was delicious and great gluten free options. The Manhattan was the perfect end to the work…read moreday. Service was excellent.

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.

SCENIC VIEW CAFE, across from the Courthouse, Art Museum, ASFA…read more.. It's worth a trip to the Downtown Birmingham/BJCC area between 6 AM and 3 PM, this is where to experience Yum. My Mufuletta, panini with ham, salami, Swiss cheese, olive salad cooked into a bread with a side of fries (under$12) made me happy and sad. I was happy to be able to experience this gastronomic wonder, yet at the same time, I was sad that everyone I know and love wasn't able to share the experience with me. The next best thing to me treating you to a lunch at the Scenic View Diner, would be for you to drop in on them sometime and enjoy some food that is prepared and served with love. The owner, the chef and all of the staff make me feel like I am family every time I have lunch there. They make certain that their restaurant meets the needs of the community. In case you don't know, visits to courthouses can be stressful for any number of purposes , and the diner sells a variety of snacks and headache, remedies, stuffed animals for newly adopted or newly placed children, and even items if you need to take someone a razor or toothbrush. I could say a lot more because I like their products and services and mission, plus I am convinced it is owned and operated by wonderful people.

My God, I thought fine dining had finally died, especially after covid. Current Charcoal Grill is…read morethe first restaurant I've been to in years that still understands and executes on everything that makes eating out enjoyable. The service is *excellent* with a capital "E." We ate at the bar, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about every single aspect of the restaurant. They have tried everything on the menu themselves. They can describe any one of the imported liquors up on the wall. These are real deal professionals who illustrate just how important the people in a restaurant's front truly are. The food? Delicious. It's a wild grab bag of East Asian fare - Chinese, Japanese, Thai - and it's all done extremely well. The portions are small, which is good, since you'll want to try half a dozen things on Current's very deliberately thought-out menu. The Peking Duck is some of the best I've had. The cocktails are also excellent, with my favorite being a delicious, earthy combination of coconut, lime, and pandan. It's like an extremely upscale tiki drink. I cannot recommend this place enough. Absolutely perfect. 5 stars.

Another favorite to add to the list…read more Loved the space. Loved the concept. Cocktails (specifically Air Tokyo) were outstanding. We went for the "favorites" menu which a $65/person was an absolute steal. You get two starters, dumplings and cured red snapper is what was offered. Two entrees, the bo ssam and banana leaf wrapped redfish, and one dessert, the miso tart. Everything was quite good and more than enough food. The dessert was a real winner. I thought about it days after. Looking forward to going back.

This was the best food experience I have had in the Birmingham area. The waiter was courteous, fun…read moreand friendly. The started of with bread from the Birmingham Bread works with a goat cheese and butter spread, then came a amuse-bouche that was BLT, a cherry tomato with a basil cream, topped with a piece of ham and balsamic dressing. Follow by a sorbet mango and passion fruit with rum. I ordered the smoked grilled ribeye stake topped with a black garlic compound butter and veal sauce, with rosemary infused scallop potatoes, Brussels sprouts and to top it all off a passionfruit crème brûlée. The ambiance was warm and inviting great for datings, wedding anniversary dinners and much more. The food was to die for, I loved everything about it can't wait to go back!

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.