The Garage is a great little place that has a local feel with local folk. The sandwiches are good, especially after a few drinks. I give it 3 stars because it is a cash only joint. Who carries cash? There is an ATM, but it isn't the most convenient thing. Good for large groups. Nice outside area. read more

If you go... you must sit outside. This is a great place to hang out with friends and have some drinks. They serve sandwitches and everyone tells me they are amazing ( i just dont eat sandwitches). The inside is too dark for me..... so if you go sit outside... look in the windows at all the amazing collections of antiques and old and brokern sculptures. read more

I'm a big fan of the atmosphere - unique in the truest sense of the world. It's like sitting in an eclectic, at times private, expansive garden/junkyard. My problem: cash only. read more

It has always taken a while to get food at this place, but I dont care. I love the atmosphere, the location, and the vibe. Yes, the vibe. It is hard to go there for lunch if you are on a tight schedule, but you should check this place out. read more

Eh...not great not horrific. Entertainment is the only reason I'm giving it a 3rd star. I could make these food offerings at my own home and hang with my talented friends for entertainment. read more

We have a drink under the stars every time we go to Birmingham. The outdoor patio is full of sculptures and stone bits and pieces, Lots of wisteria providing a pretty canopy. I must admit we prefer a weeknight and when it's a bit cooler so we can huddle around the firepit. Nothing fancy here just a cute little place. read more

One of my favorite places in Birmingham. It has a big outdoor area with cool looking antiques. It's a great place to take a date. Awesome food. Good beer selection and the bar staff are excellent. Sick spot for lunch, as well as late nights. You can never go wrong coming here. read more

Nice patio outside. One time I was there I saw a roach at the register so I will only order drinks, not food, from now on. Also, they only take cash. Will someone tell them it's 2009??? read more

Amazing, we stumbled in to a great set of live music, beautiful and strange surroundings, and nice folk--reminds me of the stone statues and overgrown courtyards of Midnight in the garden of good and evil read more

This my favorite place to go hands down in Birmingham. The drinks are always good and a good value. The sandwiches and soup are always great. The incredible patio is not to be missed either. The best thing about this place is the staff though. Where else can I have a drink waiting for me when I walk in the door read more

First time stopping here I wasn't impressed. I've been back multiple times, because I always hear such positive things about it. Not a huge fan of the rusty abundance of objects out on the patio. I can envision a really cool hip outdoor space there and it just doesn't exist. However, this place is unique and a local favorite. The sandwiches are delish and the beer selection is decent. I do wish the beers would change more. read more

Great atmosphere, love that they only take cash....come here at least twice a month for lunch and a beer.

One of Birmingham's best kept secrets. Known for great sandwiches by day and neighborhood watering hole by night, the garage is the best way to end any night in Birmingham. read more

Definitely a dive, but a great one! Fun, welcoming local hideaway. Just what we love! Best sandwich ever!!! Literally, walked in, asked if it was ok to bring an infant in, said I'd heard about their sandwiches, and boom, from the start, funny barkeep, smiling faces at bar. No frills atmosphere, order at counter, however, again, best sandwich, cheap beer. Lots to look at too! I had a vegetable on toasted wheat, so yummy. My daughter had smoked turkey, yummo. The infant, well he enjoyed a beer, kidding! Will definitely go back without tge infant and hang at thus place! read more

Loved this place. Had a grilled cheese (swiss on rye with spicy mustard), soup, and a delicious bloody Mary!

Tucked away dive bar with a unique atmosphere and one of the best sandwiches in town in The Fritz. No draft beer but still a great selection of cans and bottles. The courtyard out back is what makes this place stand out. There isn't a better place to sit outside and have a drink in Birmingham. read more

My favorite bar in Birmingham mainly because of the fantastic patio area and the great service. A very local place where the bartenders remember you and interact. The patio is the best in Birmingham and has so many interesting nooks and crannies that you could spend all day snooping around or you could just enjoy the great weather out there. It's not just a nighttime watering hole either. They make fantastic sandwiches for lunch and dinner. I highly, highly recommend this place to everyone in Birmingham and it's the first place I take my out of town friends. One word of advice, bring cash as they don't take cards. read more

Definitely a place to go to if you have never been! Full of history, it used to be an actual garage with multiple spots for cars that are now filled with antiques!!! Every once in a while they open the garages up and you can peruse the antiquities and purchase what you like! Excellent sandwiches and a great beer selection, I highly recommend you check out the Garage Cafe!!! read more

Cold beers and hot soup. Love this place! The potato soup rocks today, still steaming after I finished off a bowl.

I had read that The Garage was one of top bars in the U.S. had to see! Loved the venue. Excellent food. Nice local bar. Not crazy about cash only and serve yourself bar because it does get a little crowded. read more

Nice atmosphere, good staff, good group of regulars. The sandwiches are excellent. The only negative is the owner - he's manic depressive and has a drinking problem. Catch him on a bad day and he can be a real a-hole. read more

I was there at the very beginning!! I have watched this from the very first and everything it has been till now. This is the best of all the different stages. Good Luck !!! read more

I'm a Garage regular along with many others at my firm for lunch. Don't sleep on their sandwiches cause it will be your loss. It would be nice if they took debit/credit cards but thats part of the charm. They are able to offer good food and fun the old fashion way. They aren't bombarded with the fees that come with using credit/debit card machines and thats how they can give you a good meal for $7.10 (sandwich & chips). Plus if the power goes out it doesn't matter to them "cash please" read more

As far as bars go, this place is great! Atmosphere is cool and weird. It reminds me of the type of place you would find in Austin, TX (yes, thats a very good thing.) That patio is large, but yet very private. There is a lot of junk out there, which adds to the ambiance. Good beer selection. Its a must visit when the weather is nice. read more

Great place to hangout in Birmingham. It's not a rowdy late night spot, just an interesting place to relax outside on a patio with friends. Very unique atmosphere and a pretty good beer selection. This place has a ton of character. read more

Interesting mix of folks in a very unusual setting-I can't really describe it, you have to see for yourself (regardless of weather, visit the courtyard.) read more

The garage feels like going home. They have an simple bar (mosty beer) menu and sandwich menu that is seriously one of my favorite meals in town. You might as well try their one of their delicious soups too while you're at it. read more

What a great place! Friends recommended it to us and I'm glad for once I listened to them! My wife had to have tests run at the university, we're tired and decided to listen to our friends, they didn't do the Garage justice, it was so much better than they told us! The staff was great, the food was great, the drinks were great but the atmosphere was so much better than advertised! It was exactly what we needed after a stressful day with doctors. I was so relaxed there that I could have napped in the courtyard...and I don't think anyone would have minded. I saw someone that was later identified as the owner but I couldn't help but notice that he looked a lot like Hugh Hefner. That didn't have anything to do with the service or experience but it was just something funny I noticed. I don't think he stopped smiling the while time we were there. If you are looking for a laid-back bar that serves the smoothest drinks and best sandwiches, here it is. We'll be back in a month for my wife's follow up exam. read more

Great little sandwich place. They don't accept debit/credit cards though. Be sure to have cash or be ready to use the ATM inside.

Watch your head, watch your step, take a first date there to test their mettle, great place for two to five ladies to hang out and chat it up after work without a plethora of aggressive Freddy types circling, more like spotting the occasional lecherous creepy leer from an academic-no woory they rarely approach, many interesting and intelligent locals frequent the hibachi bar pit but probably just want to drink and may shoot the shit with you, don't be a baby if they don't (brain trust is established and can kill with a word) bring cash, eat, seriously, its good, and for Gods sake you need to tip very well m'kay...sweet family business feel, it's a miracle it still exists, powered by love occasional sloppy hookups and sparkling conversation, don't ask to buy any of the miscellania out back, Uber, all of the soup rocks, don't hog the bar unless you are welcomed by a regular, and please just attempt to slide out of the way so I can order a beverage man.. That said, one of the best bars I've ever been in. Anywhere. On par with all time greats like The Chukker, Nobles, Parkside, Egans... In fact if you all start going there it'll probably start to suck so scratch the above, it's not that cool. Hipsters and such read more

Went to this place to catch up with an old friend after the Tom Waits show earlier this summer. One of the more unique bars I have ever been to. The kind of place you wished you lived within walking distance of because you would go there all the time. Having a beer in the courtyard of this place was almost as unique an experience as seeing Tom...I will definitely be back. read more

This is a great local bar. As of the last time I was there, they did not take credit cards, but they have an onsite ATM.

Went for a drink. Sat on the patio and was nearly attacked by the roaches. Will never, never eat at this place. Ever.

The Garage is one of my favorite places to go. Amazing staff and atmosphere. Great soup and sandwiches too. Treat them right and they will treat you. RIP Jimmy Watson read more

Wonderful place, great food, large beer selection (no draft) with a killer back yard.