The first time we ate at a Roly Poly franchise was in Seaside, Florida in the early 2000s while on…read morevacation. While none of them have tasted quite as good since then (something about working up an appetite on the beach?), we still really enjoy a rare opportunity to eat at one. I knew we would be ready for lunch after a morning at a local museum, so I had researched possible venues earlier that morning. I showed my wife a short list and she immediately gravitated to Roly Poly. That would have been my first choice too. This one (the last one remaining in Birmingham, apparently) is in the Homewood neighborhood / area. It is located on a busy street with shops and plazas lining both sides. These look like they were built no later than 1950 but have evolved and been renovated as new tenants cycled through. We did angled parking on the street out front, but there may be better / easier parking on surrounding side streets. The only issue we had was backing out into traffic when we left; it took a few minutes for a gap. You enter and order at the counter. They have menus available there for you to check out. They have a rack of chips available, plus maybe other sides? I didn't look beyond the chips. You then sit down and wait for your order. I guess they have call-ahead too. Seating is along the wall to the right as you enter. There is a long bench the length of the wall with separate 4-person tables spaced along it, with 2 additional chairs each. Our order seemed to take a while, but it may have just been what we ordered (hot sandwich) versus other simpler orders getting filled faster. I got the French Twist, which is my favorite. I only got a regular and not a large, but I think I could have finished a large. My wife got something else, chicken-based I think. We both enjoyed this a lot. If I lived in the area, I'd probably stop in here semi-regularly.

Chicken pesto roll was great and honestly had a hard time choosing because it all sounded so good…read more I will definitely be back. Service was quick and they brought the food to us at our table after we ordered at the counter. Only gave 4 stars because it's a tad pricey for what you get. Restaurant itself feels like a sandwich shop which I personally prefer for a good lunch spot. It also has some outdoor seating which looked nice.

If Brick & Tin has no fans then I am dead…read more.. I typically go to the location in Mountain Brook, but stumbled in here last week for lunch. I was craving the farro salad. It was a slam dunk, as usual. The smaller size of the salad has always been enough to fill me up. I typically add chicken, but I branched out for the brisket this time. The brisket here is incredible, order the brisket sandwich if it's your first time here. I'll stick with chicken on the farro salad next time tho, definitely not the intended pairing. I love coming here for that salad because it makes me feel hashtag healthy. Love a fast-casual vibe for lunch. The staff here was super efficient and kind. I've never had anything bad from here. The soups are outstanding.

The fried chicken sandwhich and autumn salad were on point. Really enjoyed the buttery bun and…read morecrispy chicken. Kinda similar to chicfila except with some extra pizzazz in the sandwhich. The salad was fresh, and I always enjoy the combination of goat cheese, berries, and nuts. We also had a batch of cookies for dessert, and they were very good as well.

I wanted to be a fan so bad! But maybe my expectations were a little too high. A friend and I…read morestopped in for lunch on a Monday. There was no line so we were able to quickly order. My friend ordered the chicken kabob entree but the man quickly told us it would be a 20 minute wait. I appreciated that he let us know since we were on a hour lunch break. He did recommend the lunch special alternative which she went with. I got the mushroom and Swiss burger. I absolutely loved the patio area. It's actually the only seated dining option since the inside is only big enough for ordering. Our food came out pipping hot which was nice! The burger and fries are a great portion for the price. I was a little disappointed that there was mustard on my burger. However that's my fault! It's clearly on the menu I just didn't pay close enough attention. I'm a huge mustard hater so that threw me off. The fries looked delicious but they were just a tad undercooked for my liking. Definitely not raw, just not cooked long enough. My friend enjoyed her food for the most part but it was nothing to rave about.

On my quest to try all the city's Mediterranean restaurants, Sam's Deli and Grille was on my radar…read morethis particular weekend. I used to frequent a bakery that was on this strip but I never saw this quaint little deli. The staff was pleasant as we looked over the menu. I ordered the chicken kebabs and my friend ordered the Philly with fries. Later he added a plain cheeseburger just to try it. He said his Philly didn't have much meat and he didn't care for the wrap. He thought it was going to be a traditional sandwich. However, my chicken kebab meal was flavorful and delicious. I didn't like the salad dressing that came on the salad, but that's just my particular preference. Everything was very fresh and was enough for two meals. I particularly enjoyed the outdoor seating on this nice Fall afternoon. We had differences of opinion on the burger. I thought it had a great taste-seasoned well, and fresh. My friend wasn't impressed and mentioned that it came out too fast to have been made fresh. I would love to go back and order one with all the trimmings to get a more accurate account as to how to rate it. I will definitely return to try more menu items.

I wish I could give The Refinery a proper review, but unfortunately they made that pretty…read moredifficult. When I walked in they handed me the full menu... and then immediately told me I couldn't order from it. Apparently they're running on a very limited menu right now, which consisted of maybe three or four things. Bit of a letdown since I came specifically because I saw pictures of their smash burger and had dreams about it on the drive over. Instead I settled for the tacos, which were actually pretty tasty. No real complaints there. The drinks leaned pretty sweet, which makes me think there's a heavy hand with the syrups. The space itself is very small. It's decorated nicely, but you'll definitely feel like you're accidentally best friends with the people sitting next to you. The staff was fine overall, but very close and boisterous with each other. In a room that small, if one of the servers has the cackle of a woman who skins Dalmatians on the weekends... maybe don't pair her up with the funniest coworkers on the planet. All in all, a fine experience but not ideal. Call ahead if you actually want access to the full menu.

Chill atmosphere with great food and service. Want some good cocktails? We were alcohol free…read moretonight but they looked pretty good! Want truffle fries? They've got that too. Want to splurge on a smashburger or go light with a salad? Want some sports television on three big screens? You know the answer by now. Lunch menu is served all day and they have a weekly dessert (I forgot to ask, I failed the mission darnit) . Very personable and small space - less than 30 seats in the house - so be prepared for the close quarters if you have a larger party. For hubby and I we had the perfect spot for two and enjoyed the industrial touches. Bathrooms were in the back, single rooms, and they were well taken care of and beautifully arranged. Thank you as always Birmingham.

Limited menu but nice to have a location downtown. I got and egg and cheese croissant. It was good,…read moreand the side salsa made it even better. They were mildly busy at lunch but quick. Order at front, get a number, find a seat.

I work in downtown Birmingham and this location in the Financial Center is one of our favorite…read moreplaces for lunch. My coworker and I ate here Thursday, 02/01/24 for lunch. Soon as you walk in, you see packaged desserts in both full cakes and slices. They had several King Cakes, so we immediately decided to split a slice. Decided that first before what we're actually eating. #priorities Last time I ate here, I got the Chicken Quesadilla and it was so good. But a couple of my coworkers got the Marilyn Monroe, a sandwich with "turkey, pepperoni, mozzarella & marinara sauce on cheddar bread". So I went with that this time, same as my coworker. Concept here is that you order at the counter, they give you a number to display on your table, then another server will bring your order. Service was fast. The sandwich looked a bit small at first, but it was stacked with turkey and pepperoni, so the portion size was actually just right. It comes with marinara sauce on the side for dipping, which is good, because it keeps the sandwich from being too messy, but it was a bit odd because it was cold, in combination with the warm sandwich. I kinda wish the sauce had been warmer. It comes with a bag of chips and your choice of another side, which I chose fruit. I don't care for melon, so I picked around that and ate the grapes out. Next time I might get another side. And finally... it was King Cake time. We had picked a cream cheese slice and it was SO good. Had a cinnamon taste mixed in, but to be fair, this was my first King Cake so I actually have no idea what to compare it to. This dessert made me so happy. Two things I need to figure out: why is this sandwich called the Marilyn Monroe and when can we eat here again.

My son had never been here before so I decided to have a visit after we saw clue at the BJCC…read moreconcert hall. The only negative is they don't open until 4 PM on Sunday so we had to wait around. Kallie was our waitress, and she was very attentive and personable. Surprisingly, there was no sweet tea so my son got a strawberry limeade that he absolutely loved. I just got the salad bar while my son got the full dinner. The cheese bread was delicious and this is coming from a daughter of a Brazilian mom. Some of the sides that are brought out are garlic, mashed potatoes, french fries, and fried plantains. Honestly, the salad bar has so much cold and hot food. It's really enough for a person unless you're really into eating meat it was very clean and organized. You have a chip that is red and green. You leave on green when you want the meats. The salad bar has lobster bisque which is so delicious I will definitely be back and enjoy the salad bar. I encourage you to make a reservation prior to your visit. The bathrooms were very clean. Everyone that worked there was so pleasant.

4.5 stars....went on a night that was not busy. I have seen it be packed on other days so today was…read morea blessing! The food was delicious and I loved everything. The server was a little bit out of it but that's ok. We had a very good dinner and the atmosphere was great. The meat servers were all professional and nice. The meats were the star of the show. My fave was the beef rib. I forget what it was called. It was so tender and smooth like butter. The other nice thing is they came around at least twice for everything so if you missed it or wanted more, you had another chance. I loved their dessert selection. I like coming here for the food, experience, and location.

In town for a conference and the restaurant was a block from my hotel…read more Inside is very casual. Kinda bar-like with a nice restaurant vibe! We sat at the bar since it was packed. Service at the bar was good considering every seat at the bar was taken. We ordered our food and it was out within 15-20 minutes. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken, but subbed the sides for the whole fried okra and Gouda grits. When I say those grits and okra hit.....somebody in that kitchen knows what they're doing! The chicken breasts were juicy and flavorful. The spice level was typical for Nashville hot chicken, which I sometimes I can't take. But I loved the flavor so much I couldn't stop eating it. I will eat here again when I return to the city!

I found The Southern Kitchen & Bar completely through Yelp and the Yelp reviews, and I am glad I…read moredid. When I came in, the place was crowded, which is usually a very good sign. It had a good energy right away. I had been looking at a few things on the menu and was really going back and forth. I was interested in the hot chicken, the Brussels sprouts, and also the ribeye Philly cheesesteak. They told me both were really good, and I ended up going with the ribeye Philly cheesesteak. Great choice. I also got a side salad with the chipotle ranch dressing and that was very good too. Picture below. For dessert, I was planning on getting the key lime pie, because that is usually my move, but Hayden my server talked me into trying the blueberry cobbler cheesecake instead. I am glad he did. It was very good. Picture below. Between the crowded room, the good service, and the food, this was a very strong experience all the way around. I am giving The Southern Kitchen & Bar 5 stars.

Great selection of salads, soups and sandwiches. I couldn't decide on what sandwich so the server…read moresuggested half of one and half of another. Excellent idea. Great cuban as well as their version of a Philly cheesesteak. Nice, relaxed and comfortable environment. You do order at counter but staff will bring food to table.

My friend invited me to a fundraiser they were having last night at Urban Cookhouse. This was the…read moreperfect opportunity for me to revisit UC after about 10 years. The location is easy to find in homewood square, plenty of parking (they have a lot or park in any of the surrounding areas), there is a drive thru as well. The restaurant itself was spacious and clean, however, the women's restroom needed attention. Staff smiled and work diligently. The gentleman with the locs was the main one I saw interacting with individuals. Very professional and had a warm personality. My order consisted of half a BALT (bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, aioli toasted sandwich) with a half mandarin crunch salad (lettuce, cabbage, green onion, mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles, honey sesame dressing). Both items were fresh and straight to the point. I enjoy having a meal that isn't overly complex every now and then. A light dinner while supporting a friend.

All the reviews on here are from over a year ago and I disagree with the bad ones. First time at…read morethis location and I had a wonderful experience. I wanted to order on the app since I had a coupon so I went into the store to confirm the address then sent in my order. They started making it and all I can say is thank you for actually reading what I wanted. I watched them make it and the lady asked if everything looked good; I said yes and she, again, looked at the receipt for my order to make sure she had done everything right. I did ask for extra green peppers and she saw that and actually added more. I'm from NYC and they're EXTREMELY cheap with giving ingredients so this was a wow moment for me. I love that she saw what I asked for and made sure I got it. They put my sandwich in a bag with napkins and I went back to my hotel room to eat. The sandwich was delicious. Bread was soft, all ingredients were fresh.........it was a good sandwich. Would definitely go back if I'm in the area.

I came in at 12:30 on 3/17/26 to grab lunch with some coworkers. The older black lady was not…read morewearing gloves half the time and touching our food, and the older Indian gentleman had both of his ear buds in on the phone the entire time while messing with his Apple Watch preparing food. Service was subpar and watched multiple health code violations happen in real time.

Service personable and waitress answered any questions helpfully. Given the name "porch," it…read morereminds me of family gatherings on the literal porch, and this atmosphere was similar: lots of large family tables and groups. We were one of two double seater tables that were reserved, it was really cute honestly. It has been a while since I got duck confit, and I loved the luxuries of tasting it without the price tag tonight. Only $8 to add some on to either the caesar or house salad options. Husband got the sweet potato fries and blackened flounder sandwich which were all tasty as well. Fries were shoestring style and sprinkled with brown sugar - yum. PSA to DEFINITELY try the cookies, my hubby is a chocolate chip connoisseur and said these were top of the list now. So warm and fresh. The fried pie was delicious as well and I enjoyed my cocktail selection. Great date night selection!

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!!