Food and people are amazing. Activities for the kids and adults.read more

It's Glasnost-to-Go: I found something NEW - a sure magnet for lovers of all things Baltic and…read morebeyond. It's the ST. NICHOLAS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH--ANNUAL RUSSIAN/SLAVIC FOOD FESTIVAL! Having found it, I went...and was glad, although I took the trip alone. It was a pleasant drive with a delicious ending. It's held each year on the first Saturday - Sunday of November (times are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Noon - 5 p.m., respectively) in the Parish Hall. [It began in 1981 as a bake sale and until recently it somehow, somewhere, some way eluded me.] Just got back, but it's still going strong tomorrow! (On Sundays, visitors can see a bit of Russian dancing on the grounds, located about 30 minutes northwest of Birmingham...I was sorry I missed the dancers, but my schedule was wild that week). Following what is estimated as a couple months' prep, the ladies of the "Sisterhood of St. Olga" - some of whom you may espy in native peasant dresses - roll out trays full of Ukrainian-Slovakian delights. These bonnes bouches de babushka are based on vintage recipes bequeathed by relatives and friends who immigrated to the area, drawn by potential employ at the local coal mines. Comestibles included beet-infused borscht, shschi (Russian soldiers' cabbage/meat soup - VERY GOOD), pirozhki (buns filled with various ingredients), blini (pancakes of a sort), pelmeni (filled dumplings), and kolbasa, which you may recognize under its Polish name, kielbasa. I chose the grand-slam "Imperial Platter," which boasted halupki (stuffed cabbage), kolbasa, kraut, pirozhki, halushki (dumplings & cabbage), cucumber salad, and pigachi for only $14. I LOVED IT... Other, smaller platters, including a vegetarian selection, are priced accordingly, and many of the pastries (Imperial squares, medivnyk, Russian teacakes, pascha, and bulochki) are individually priced. The smaller pastries run $2, while the larger breads are at $5. Very reasonable! The bakery area, itself, is reason enough to go. Plan to bring extra money just for this. I did, and I was broke...but I took an armload home, with my favorite a toss-up between the nut-filled, Slovakian rozky and the kolach, a rolled bread that, per my choice, was stuffed with almonds... YUMMM. Onsite you'll discover a store known as the Beriozka, where you can find imported tchotchkes (e.g. matryoshkas, or nesting dolls; iconography; hand-painted ornaments) and other more practical imports, such as books and woolen shawls, from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova. I picked up one of the Russian cookbooks and will be utilizing it soonly... Call Father Benedict or Matushka Brigid Davis at the numbers above to get more info. Then it's time to dust off your samovar and head to St. Nick's!

Fantastic service! Person was walking out to leave or break and I came to the counter and there was…read morea line and they literally put everything down, opened a register and checked me out. Whole huge bag for $22 and everything I bought has been fantastic!

This is a great new Indian grocery store. It's large, clean, and well-lit; sort of a mini-Patel…read moreBrothers. Good selection of items. Staff is friendly enough. This is a good option in Bham!

Oh, Mercado is a great store. The staff are really friendly and the store has hard to find Latin…read morefood items and meats. The chorizo is out of this world. Also, if you're lucky, the taco stand out, front will be open and you can have authentic tacos, not the gringo, kind that you usually find. Also, check out Maria's jewelry store inside. She is super friendly and has amazing jewelry that you can't find in other places and great deals on cologne and perfume. She is a real style setter.

What a cool little market! We went here initially to find some interesting and unusual meat to…read morethrow on the smoker. While there was nothing too outlandish, there were some delicious options. I left with two huge racks of ribs, a couple of pounds of pork feet, and a long length of chorizo. While it was all good, the chorizo was my favorite. Everyone working here was very polite and helpful. There was definitely a language barrier, but it didn't negatively effect my shopping experience at all. Aside from the extensive meat options, you can get all of the other grocery store necessities as well. Muy bueno, El Mercado.

I was in Alabama for a week and coming from Los Angeles and Chinatown being a short drive for me, I…read morecan be hard on establishments when it comes to authenticity. Sometimes I won't post at all cause I know it's sometimes difficult to get traditional ingredients as it would be unfair for to give someone a bad review for something they can't help. This place though is pretty legit! I'm glad to say Hometown is excellent! The food is good, portions are abundant and the boba is legit. If your looking for good Chinese food in Birmingham this is the place!

I'll give it a four star because it hasn't been as good as it used to be! I still love the Szechuan…read morebeef noodle soup!

Childhood staple. I've been going to this store since I was born with my parents. Many fond…read morememories here. Many changes over the years. Owners and inside structures. Always great prices of meats. One of the joys of having a store with a meat market. You will find great prices on certain other items as well sometimes. But for meats this is where I go. I now live in Alabaster and I drive all the way here to shop for meats and Ziegler plantation sausage. It's not sold in Alabaster any where. Thanks Franks aka 4th ave supermarket.

I come to City Meats and Vegetables for the family meat packages that they have that range from…read moreabout $20 to about $90. For leas than $60, i received ground beef, leg quarters, drumsticks, chicken wings, tilapia, bread, a 2 little drink, 6 frozen pizzas, a box of corn dogs, chicken nuggets (that taste just like McDonalds), hash browns, and a bag of biscuits. I took one of my items off and replaced it. You are allowed to remove two items per package. The meats appear to be freshly cut in store and that's one of the reasons I love coming here. They also have prepackaged meats, pizza, and other snacks available for purchase. They sell vegetables, but I never purchase them from here. If you're in the neighborhood, check it out. It's a small local store that has been around for decades.

I'm new to the city and went looking into this place today, and it was great. Wide meat selection…read moreand family packages prices range from $20-90. Everything was packaged fresh and the store was decent. I was able to get porchops, chicken leg, wing, thigh, and leg quarters, fish, and steak( all having 15 pieces or more) for around $48. I Will be going back!

This is a nice little coffee stand in the Lowder building of Children's Hospital. They serve a…read morevariety of coffee options as well as some baked goods, snacks, and a few grab and go sandwiches. The are open from 6am-4:30pm on weekdays. I got a caramel macchiato here the other day, and it was delicious.

This was the first time I got to experience this Farmer's Market…read more The weather was perfect. And the atmosphere was so peaceful. Music was playing in the background and every Vendor and person we came across was so kind. We got ourselves a few treats as well! Sourdough, Seasonings, Strawberries, healthy organic juices, and a little dessert treat. Over time I am sure this market will grow more and the options for vendors will increase. I was a little sad not to see the Organic Chicken Farmer Vendor, but overall was very pleased with the experience. I look forward to seeing.this market more often!

This farmer's market is constantly growing. There are a few produce vendors and goods. There is…read morealso coffee, a churro station, and of course, beer!! Bring the whole family because there was painting for children which was so neat. Today's offerings included various mushrooms, crawfish, tomatoes, peaches, squash, jams, breads, lotions and soap. Keep supporting local!