re: Birmigham Restaurants

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On another note. We're spending two nights at Cheaha State Park. Anything around there? How are the rooms? I think we all have cabins.

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Can't help you much on the rooms there.

As far as restaurants, there isn't a ton that isn't just a chain for your generic interstate exits.

I have been to the Cheaha state park restaurant years ago and remember it being pretty good I think. It has a great view on top of the mountain.

I've heard good things about Garferick's Cafe in Oxford. Supposed to be pretty good. Other than that, may just want to yelp places close to you when you are there.

Thanks.
I thought it was possibly born out of liquor licensing, or something along those lines. Hopefully that trend dies out.

The Saigon Noodle house on 3rd switched from counter ordering to table service and it makes it a much more enjoyable experience, at least from my perspective.

Also, a decent place to get lunch, OP. Best pho I've had outside of the westbank and the Banh Mi is not too shabby either.

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Not sure I'd recommend pho or Vietnamese food before getting back on the highway. It doesn't do anything to my stomach, but I know it doesn't agree with everyone. Guy in our office barely made it back after lunch there once. Then had to go home.

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That's the way it is for me. I can eat the spiciest stuff no problem most times, but if I go to Surin, the next day will be a struggle.

Speaking of Surin, they've finally added the chicken noodle bowl to the menu full time. No longer is it just a lunch item


If you've never had it, order it (I ask for it extra spicy as I love spicy food. It isn't killer spicy by any means, just a good heat/curry flavor) and get a side of rice. Pour rice into bowl, mix thoroughly. Eat it all. Hate yourself. Profit.

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Speaking of Surin, they've finally added the chicken noodle bowl to the menu full time. No longer is it just a lunch item

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When did they do that? It's years overdue. It's probably my favorite lunch item in all of Birmingham.

It was a fairly recent change. I went to the 5 points one about a month back and they had a menu supplement with it on it.

A lot of high quality places have already been mentioned. So I'll suggest a place more for the experience than the food:

Tip Top Grill in the Bluff Park area of Hoover. It sits literally on the side of a mountain and the view is amazing. It overlooks the driving range and clubhouse of the Oxmoor Valley golf course, which is a Robert Trent Jones course.
Also directly next to a historic location known as Lovers Leap.

The building was a tiny old service station dating back to the 50s and the kitchen is about the size of a food truck kitchen, so space really limits what they can do quality-wise.

But they still have one of the best breakfasts in town (just get there before 10:30.) I always recommend the breakfast over the lunch because it's all good. Real grits, real southern white gravy, great biscuits. Only breakfast item I would say not to order is the pancakes as they aren't real.

If you're a hotdog guy, they may have the best hot dogs in town. Their sauce recipe was influenced and helped by Pete himself of the historic Pete's Famous before he passed. They make the slaw, chilli, and sauce almost daily.
The only competition for hot dogs in terms of quality left in Birmingham is Gus's Hot Dogs in downtown.

The rest of the lunch is nothing special, although the fries are some of my favorite anywhere in town. Other than the hot dog toppings the only lunch item that tip top makes themselves from scratch is the chicken salad, and if you're into that its great.
The burgers are good and they use fresher toppings than most places, but if you're looking for specifically a good burger theres several places I would recommend before Tip Top (Baha Burger is my top local burger place, I don't think its been mentioned yet). Good chicken fingers too, but again nothing special. Everything is good, but outside of the hot dogs nothing is elite. The hot dogs are worth the trip. But the view is what draws people.















Some other non-fine dining places Id like to recommend:

Bluff Park Diner - a meat and three directly across the street from Tip Top Grill. I saw one person mention it and would like to second.

My others I didn't see mentioned:

Paw-Paw Patch- on the subject of meat and threes, this is my favorite. Located in Homewood

Niki's West- a Birmingham institution around since the 50s. Meat and three style cafeteria, but much mlre variety and high quality than the average place. Good seafood, great steak. The only drawback, and its a huge one, is the location. The part of town its in, the West End, has gone to hell since the place opened in the 50s. Terrible, sketchy, ghetto area,


Purple Onion and Al's- two different restaurants, but I put them together because theyre basically the same thing. American plus Mediterranean. Good burgers, and wraps, and baked potatoes, as well as good Mediterranean food like gyros and falafels, tabouli salad, humus, stuff like that. Al's only has one location, behind UAB, and is open 24/7 and is an institution in Birmingham late night, after bar, drunk good. Purple Onion has several locations, including one downtown literally on the same block as Al's. A couple of them are 24/7, but all are open late. Not every location has the same menu so for Purple Onion I recommend the downtown location and the one in Hoover on Hwy 31.


Baha Burger- I mentioned it above and it is my favorite burger place. Everything made fresh from scratch daily, highest quality ingredients. The classic burgers are incredible, but they also have some interesting menu options like a Salmon Burger. They are located in Hoover, but literally just opened a second location in Vestavia which I haven't been to yet. The new location also serves sushi but idk how recommended burger joint sushi is (although knowing how demanding owners are theres no doubt it's at the least high quality and fresh ingredients.)

Kool Korner Sandwiches - Cuban sandwich joint that was originally located by Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The owner is a Cuban immigrant who has been this nearly 50 years. People say its the best and most authentic Cuban Sandwiches in the US outside of NYC.

Wait, there's Big Bad Breakfast outside of Oxford??

I work over by it. I wouldn't say it is bad, however I've never ordered anything and walked away thinking that was worth what I paid for.

The shrimp & grits are not terrible.


There are just so many better breakfast places in birmingham. Have you been to Metro Diner yet?