For anyone visiting Tuscaloosa this season for a game, hope this helps!

I always post this and add to it every year as things continue to open and change around T-town. Tuscaloosa is changing and growing so fast it is hard to keep up with everything new that opens, so anyone that wants to add to the list please do. I hope it helps any of you planning to make the trip to UA for a game this year. Feel free to share with friends or on other websites.

FINE DINING/NICER RESTAURANTS (all are great):
-The Side by Side (inside the new Embassy Suites hotel downtown and run by famous chef Chris Hastings)
-Ephihany's
-Evangeline's
-Chuck's Fish (owner of Harbor Docks in Destin is a Bama grad and opened this place in Tuscaloosa)
-Southern Ale House


TUSCALOOSA FAVORITES:
-Nick's in the Sticks (excellent steak and get a Nicodemus!)
-5 (love this place - great atmosphere)
-Cypress Inn (Salmon is great)
- Surin (Thai restaurant on strip)
-Dreamland
-Archibald's (better than dreamland IMO)
-Moe's BBQ (located Downtown near the new Courthouse)
-Depalma's Italian (one of my favorites)
-The Bear Trap (rooftop restaurant that overlooks the Strip)
-City Cafe (great meat and three)
-El Rincon (typical mexican food but the margarita's are great AND CHEAP!)
-Iquana Grill (upper scale mexican restaurant with awesome decor and atmosphere - in newer Midtown Village shopping center)
-Hokkaido (Japanese steakhouse destroyed by the April 27th tornado but recently rebuilt on 15th street)

BREAKFAST:
-Waysider (get here early or plan on waiting a long time, The Bear use to eat here every morning)
-Rama Jama's (great location right next to Stadium)
-Another Broken Egg Cafe (Mtn. Brook staple that is open in the new River Walk condo project on the Warrior River right off campus near Manderson Park)

BARS (there are two central locations for the bars in Tuscaloosa, downtown in or near Temmerson Square or on The Strip. This is just a rough list, there are others on the Strip and downtown that I am sure I am forgetting)

Downtown Bars:
-Catch 22 (specialty drinks)
-Innisfree (probably my favorite bar downtown, great drinks and a TON of "scenery")
-The Booth (used to be a Strip favorite but moved to a new Downtown location near Innisfree and next door to the new Courthouse and Moes BBQ)
-4th and 23rd (always have a good band playing but can get really crowded)
-Carpe Vino (wine bar/upscale feel)
-Wilhagan's (good sports bar with lots of TV's. pool tables, etc)

The Strip Bars (all within walking distance to UA campus):
-Gallettes (this is more of the Greek bar so there will be A LOT of "scenery" here both Friday and Saturday. Be sure to get a Yellow Hammer!)
-The Houndstooth (voted the best college sports bar in the country)
-Egans (not my atmosphere but it has been a Tuscaloosa staple for years.Alabama Shakes performed a surprise show here last year)
-T-Town Music Hall (Formerly the Jupiter. This is the place for the bigger bands to play in Tuscaloosa besides the new amphitheater down town. If there isn't a good band playing do not waste your time here)
-Rounders (the closest thing to a club you will find in Tuscaloosa)

SHOPPING:
- University Mall (your typical indoor mall with all the name brand stores)
- Midtown Village (brand new outdoor mall with a lot of new shops and restaurants)
- Shoppes at Legacy Park (brand new shopping center in the city's city center. Many stores havent opened yet but some are starting to)
-The Tuscaloosa Galleria (upscale boutiques, fine dining, etc)
-Downtown Tuscaloosa (upscale boutiques, cigar shop, coffee shops, restaurants, etc)

THINGS TO SEE:
-Walk around the UA campus (Quad, President's Mansion, Sorority Row, The Walk of Champions, Gorgas House, etc. It is truly a beautiful campus with several buildings dating back to pre-cival war. The new frat and sorority houses are INCREDIBLE)
-Bryant Museum (great museum covering the history of Alabama football. A must for visiting fans IMO)
-Manderson Landing Park (great place besides campus to take in a good run. It is a beautiful park right on the Black Warrior River)
-Ride around the city and take in the massive damage done to the city by the April 27th tornado. A lot is starting to look more normal since things are building in place of the destruction but there is still a lot of visible scars left.

I know this has been long but hope this helps. For parking info, etc. check out www.uagameday.com. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer. HAVE A GREAT TIME!