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Visiting Birmingham
Posted on 5/7/19 at 10:18 pm
Posted on 5/7/19 at 10:18 pm
I grew up there but I have lived there in 15 years. I go there at least twice a year but that’s to see family. I don’t ever get to go do anything. My wife and I are going for about a week. We are already planning to do the following:
Sloss Furnace
Botanical Gardens
Vulcan
Oak Mountain
Kayaking the Cahaba.
Is there anything else we should do and what about good places to eat? We like farm to table or just locally owned places.
Sloss Furnace
Botanical Gardens
Vulcan
Oak Mountain
Kayaking the Cahaba.
Is there anything else we should do and what about good places to eat? We like farm to table or just locally owned places.
9
Posted on 5/8/19 at 12:47 am to TizzyT4theUofA
First and foremost go by your local National Guard and grab an armored transport. Then go by a local military surplus store and grab a kevlar helmet and vests for the whole family. Should be good then.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 5:57 am to TizzyT4theUofA
Catch a Legion match.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 8:20 am to pvilleguru
Go eat at the Bright Star in Bessemer and Highland Grill in Southside.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 8:21 am to pvilleguru
McWane Science center, the Bham Zoo, Regions baseball field if the team is in town. Good Peoples Brewing is right there if you like a beer. And railroad park This weekend there is the golf tournament. If you like the Bot Gardens, go to Aldredge Gardens in Hoover. Not sure if the Ala Softball team will play another home game, but its just an hour up the road if they do. Usually something going on at the Bham Theater. There are a lot of good places to eat. Depends on what you like.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 8:55 am to TizzyT4theUofA
Sounds like you like outdoors stuff. Red Mountain Park in Homewood also has some really nice hiking trails. They do zip line tours as well. If the Barons are in town, Regions Field is a really nice park to take in a baseball game. Good People Brewing is right across the street, and has a food truck most nights and all day on weekends.
Restaurant recs....
HIghlands Bar & Grill - expensive and you need reservations.
Bottega and Botega Cafe
GianMarco's - Italian place in Homewood
Root To Tail - farm to table place. It can be hit or miss though.
Bomboo On 2nd - great Asian food
El Barrio - great Mexican
Ollie Irene - small, varied menu...really good
Ovenbird - small plates, close to Sloss. great place for brunch
Hot & Hot Fish Club gets a lot of pub, but I've never been all that impressed with it.
Saw's BBQ - there are 3 locations. My favorite is the Crestline one called Saw's Juke Joint. The Avondale one is cool as well, though very small. Most seating is outside.
Post Office Pies is next to Saw's in Avondale and is my favorite pizza in town.
All of these are local places.
Restaurant recs....
HIghlands Bar & Grill - expensive and you need reservations.
Bottega and Botega Cafe
GianMarco's - Italian place in Homewood
Root To Tail - farm to table place. It can be hit or miss though.
Bomboo On 2nd - great Asian food
El Barrio - great Mexican
Ollie Irene - small, varied menu...really good
Ovenbird - small plates, close to Sloss. great place for brunch
Hot & Hot Fish Club gets a lot of pub, but I've never been all that impressed with it.
Saw's BBQ - there are 3 locations. My favorite is the Crestline one called Saw's Juke Joint. The Avondale one is cool as well, though very small. Most seating is outside.
Post Office Pies is next to Saw's in Avondale and is my favorite pizza in town.
All of these are local places.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 9:05 am to IB4bama
I'm gonna focus on restaurants for now.
The best, in my opinion, is Highlands Bar & Grill. Don't let the name fool you - Frank Stitt is an internationally recognized chef who combines French cooking techniques with Southern cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended, and it usually books up a couple of weeks in advance.
Also in the Five Points area is Hot & Hot Fish Club and Ocean. As you might imagine, both feature seafood prominently in their menus.
There's one other restaurant that I'd recommend in the Southside area - Bottega. It's another Frank Stitt-owned restaurant, and you'll see similarities in the menus between it and Highlands.
The Bright Star was already mentioned, but I'll second it.
Coming down the gustatory ladder a bit, there are a multitude of really good places to eat that aren't quite as highbrow as those I just mentioned. If you want great fresh seafood without paying for atmosphere, The Fish Market is an excellent choice. They get the same fresh seafood as the high-end places, and cook it just as well, but they're not as hoity-toity as the other places. They have locations in Hoover, Greystone (on Highway 280) and downtown.
For Mexican food, I like The Little Donkey (Greystone, Highway 280 again) and Cozumel Grill in Pelham off Highway 31.
The best, in my opinion, is Highlands Bar & Grill. Don't let the name fool you - Frank Stitt is an internationally recognized chef who combines French cooking techniques with Southern cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended, and it usually books up a couple of weeks in advance.
Also in the Five Points area is Hot & Hot Fish Club and Ocean. As you might imagine, both feature seafood prominently in their menus.
There's one other restaurant that I'd recommend in the Southside area - Bottega. It's another Frank Stitt-owned restaurant, and you'll see similarities in the menus between it and Highlands.
The Bright Star was already mentioned, but I'll second it.
Coming down the gustatory ladder a bit, there are a multitude of really good places to eat that aren't quite as highbrow as those I just mentioned. If you want great fresh seafood without paying for atmosphere, The Fish Market is an excellent choice. They get the same fresh seafood as the high-end places, and cook it just as well, but they're not as hoity-toity as the other places. They have locations in Hoover, Greystone (on Highway 280) and downtown.
For Mexican food, I like The Little Donkey (Greystone, Highway 280 again) and Cozumel Grill in Pelham off Highway 31.
This post was edited on 5/8/19 at 9:06 am
Posted on 5/8/19 at 9:21 am to Sauron
Thank you guys I really appreciate it! We will definitely be trying some of these out!
Posted on 5/8/19 at 9:22 am to The Spleen
quote:
Post Office Pies is next to Saw's in Avondale and is my favorite pizza in town.
Davenport's and Tortuga's is legit too.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 9:38 am to TizzyT4theUofA
Hit up the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 9:59 am to TizzyT4theUofA
I moved back after 29 years and it’s a different place. Lots of new restaurants, entertainment and watering holes. Catch a concert at Iron City or at Avondale Brewing (saw John Paul White of The Civil Wars a few years ago). Nice outdoor venue.
The Marble Ring is a cool place to have a drink and chill. Have a burger downstairs at Fancy’s afterward.
The Collins bar is small and usually crowded late on weekends, but they always have a great classic rock playlist going.
The Woolworth
Red Mountain Park for trails and zip lining
The old dark dive The Blue Monkey has its place.
A few others that come to mind:
Chuck’s Fish on 280
Seasons 52 at The Summit has a good weekday happy hour (it’s a chain so not exactly local).
Ocean on Southside (local chef George Reis)
Babalu for tapas and tacos in a casual setting (also chain but a small one)
Five Bar for a Bloody Mary on Sunday
P.S. Restaurants and bars in the city limits can now serve alcohol beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday
The Marble Ring is a cool place to have a drink and chill. Have a burger downstairs at Fancy’s afterward.
The Collins bar is small and usually crowded late on weekends, but they always have a great classic rock playlist going.
The Woolworth
Red Mountain Park for trails and zip lining
The old dark dive The Blue Monkey has its place.
A few others that come to mind:
Chuck’s Fish on 280
Seasons 52 at The Summit has a good weekday happy hour (it’s a chain so not exactly local).
Ocean on Southside (local chef George Reis)
Babalu for tapas and tacos in a casual setting (also chain but a small one)
Five Bar for a Bloody Mary on Sunday
P.S. Restaurants and bars in the city limits can now serve alcohol beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday
This post was edited on 5/8/19 at 10:20 am
Posted on 5/8/19 at 11:22 am to BFANLC
quote:
First and foremost go by your local National Guard and grab an armored transport. Then go by a local military surplus store and grab a kevlar helmet and vests for the whole family. Should be good then.
What a dummy
Posted on 5/8/19 at 1:09 pm to TizzyT4theUofA
The food scene is very good in Birmingham. The guys have pretty much given you very good recommendations, so I'll just add that I hope ya'll have a great time and enjoy your visit 
Posted on 5/8/19 at 7:32 pm to gumpinmizzou
Can't believe no one has suggested Saw's in Avondale. Their Sweet Tea Marinated Fried Chicken Sandwich w/ White Sauce would be my last meal if I had a choice.
Posted on 5/8/19 at 7:41 pm to Gary Busey
quote:pizza for lunch and the zoo is our typical day trip when home visiting.
Davenport's
Posted on 5/9/19 at 8:20 am to Fells
It's been mentioned.
But the pork n greens is the best item on the menu there. Or the smoked wings.
But the pork n greens is the best item on the menu there. Or the smoked wings.
Posted on 5/9/19 at 9:38 am to The Spleen
I still love me some Niki's West! 
Posted on 5/9/19 at 5:02 pm to stomp
It closed down recently. My dad loved that place.
Posted on 5/9/19 at 8:32 pm to TizzyT4theUofA
NOOOOOOOO! Nikki’s was the bomb!
Has anyone mentioned Roots and Revelry yet? My wife and I used to go there for special occasions.
Has anyone mentioned Roots and Revelry yet? My wife and I used to go there for special occasions.
Posted on 5/9/19 at 9:14 pm to TizzyT4theUofA
Nikis west didn’t close, wtf are you talking about
This post was edited on 5/9/19 at 9:15 pm
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