Alabama Eats

Bottletree

2009-11-30T14:54:00.005-06:00

cafe, bar, and venue!

specials change daily

award winning vegan chili, so good!

full bar and a huge beer selection

the green goblin: veggies, harvarti, pesto on grilled foccacia

cheesy goodness with sweet potato fries

daily special: tofu salsbury with rosemary mashed taters and fried okra. only $8.50

covered patio so you can dine al fresco even on a rainy day.

the mascot

always a ton of great shows to check out. you can discover new music by going to bt's website and watching the videos they have posted for upcoming shows.

Love me some Bottletree! Even thought their menu is great for vegetarians and vegans they also have a meat and seafood.......don't worry. Become a fan on facebook to stay in the know about future shows and food and drink specials.

Bottletree

3719 3rd avenue south

birmingham, al

205 533 6288

http://www.thebottletree.com

Lunch served Tuesday - Saturday (closed for lunch on Mondays)
Cafe & Bar open 4 pm on Mondays
Dinner served Monday - Saturday until 9 pm/ Bar menu 'til close

Chez Lulu

2009-10-21T10:49:00.004-05:00

al fresco dining in the fall

daily specials. soup #2 featured below

try and not eat the whole basket.....i dare you

peasant garlic soup. so good and the lingering garlic effect was not bad at all

the tarragon chicken sandwich is yum

i consider myself a connoisseur of nicoise salads and this one if up there

cucumber canape

the back room seems like a fine place for a large party to let the good times roll

they asked to paint out portraits while we were there..... weird, i know

fully stocked bars are the best. they also have a great wine list

some regulars

good ole' continental bakery right next door

This place is really cool and a nice change from the typical southern fare of bbq and such. I really enjoy the way you can get a combination of any of the soups, salads, and sandwiches. Being a bham staple I'm sure most have tried it but if you haven't definitely check them out.

Chez Lulu

1911 Cahaba Road

Birmingham, AL 35223

205 870 7011

http://www.chezlulu.us/

hours

Yogurt Mountain

2009-09-28T13:59:00.007-05:00

in the cahaba plaza village by maki fresh and them

you get a cup

you pick from a wall of yogurt. it's not a mountain

get some crunchies up on there

add some fresh fruit

and maybe some syrup if you really want to go for it

they weight it @ 45¢ an ounce and.....

wah-lah, you're done.

Yogurt Mountain is always packed out with teeny boppers and soccer moms but it's tasty and fun. All the yogurt is fat free and they also offer a sugar free strawberry which is the best so far in my opinion. yum

Yogurt Mountain

3000 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 120

Birmingham, AL 35243

http://www.yogurtmountain.com/

open till 10 Monday - Thursday, 12 on Friday and Saturday, and 9 on Sundays

The Taco Truck aka Taqueria Guzman

2009-09-15T13:00:00.006-05:00

welcome

look for the sign

the dining room

they post the menu of fillings in the window and cross them off as they run out. tacos are $1.75

best seat in the house

the taco truck has a fan page on facebook, ha!

try to fight the urge to stick your head in here after you finish........it can get hot!

this is the extent of their salsa bar. it seems like the heat and flavor tends to vary from trip to trip. try a little test of each first or do what i do and put tons of both.

so good

i don't know if this guy is the owner but he definitely runs the show.

a little tip for first timers you don't pay until you finish eating.....you might need another taco

barbacoa taco and carnitas quesadilla. my partner had to get fancy and stray from the taco. it is kinda worth it because the cheese is always perfectly melted and wonderful

the usual (i'm getting boring) carnitas and al pastor. i wish i had room for another because i forgot that the barbacoa is the jam here. they do have some of the best carnitas in town.

you might need more than one of these

hasta luego

The taco truck puts the biggest smile on my face. It's just always so tasty and delicious. The salsas, the carrots, the service, the tacos, everything! The only thing is there is nowhere to sit.....so what, it's easier to just stand near the salsas anyway because you are gonna want more.

Taqueria Guzman

215 West Valley ave

Birmingham, AL 35209

Parked everyday except Monday until about 8pm (give or take)

Out of Town Edition: California!

2009-09-11T12:05:00.007-05:00

WAHOO'S FISH TACO (Costa Mesa)

beer battered maui onion rings. county fair worthy

blackened fish tacos. I have been eating at Wahoo's for about 20 years now! The original location was in my home town and now there are over 50.

#1 chicken taco with rice and black beans. white rice never tasted so good....for reals! i love it so much that i got a summer job at the huntington beach location back in the day.

TACO MESA (Costa Mesa)

they have an amazing salsa bar that includes the best escabeche ever that's filled with jalapenos, carrots, cauliflower and onion......mmmmmm

it was noon in birmingham

the usual suspects: carnitas and al pastor. They also do a crazy good burrito covered in sauce and crema.

MATSU (Huntington Beach)

sharing the teppan table

they have the same tricks at every one.

i'm not a fan of huge corporate restaurants but in this instance i gotta give it to benihana. however a with a cold beer and cold sake all is good.

IN-N-OUT

a true west coast gem. you don't know what you got till it's gone....

even the employees are super

i got so excited about my animal style french fries that i forgot to get a pic of my grilled cheese with extra tomato and grilled onions....holla!

JANS HEALTH BAR (Huntington Beach)

these are seriously the best chips ever. they have this wonderful soy essence and a mystery surrounding their origins.

soy turkey sandwich with the works! they have real meat too. OMG I want one of these right now.

delicious sides. Jan's also does fresh juice and insane salads that leave the table covered goodies

ALEXANDERS BRITE SPOT (Echo Park)

they had the nerve to be closed but this is an awesome late night eats spot.

BURRITO KING (Echo Park)

hallelujah

I have never eaten a hotter (temperature) taco in my life. After several whisky drinks it was a total tease to wait for them to cool. deliciouso

the king

love. one of the beautiful things about los angeles is that there are a million places like this that are all open late. rolled tacos with guac from benitos on beverly!!!

THE BEST FISH TACO IN ENSENADA (Los Feliz)

the best menu ever. lunch cost me 3 bucks

i love me a salsa bar!!!! my favorite here is the radish salsa

always

their website has better pictures of the wonderfully simple operation

under that pile of cabbage is 2 perfect fish tacos

there is a shortage of taco shells in new zealand.

ahhhhh.....home sweet home. I bet you are wondering.......is this girl going to turn into a taco.....maybe. It's just so hard to pass because I don't know when my next Taco Mesa taco is coming and it was kinda like vacation. Excuses aside, all these place are fantastic. If you are ever in the greater Los Angeles or Orange County area give em a try.

Dyron's Lowcountry (Brunch)

2009-08-23T00:01:00.005-05:00

i wish every morning could start like this

breakfast cheer

lowcountry eggs benedict

louisiana crawfish tails on cheddar parmesan grits

shrimp and crab omelet with creamed spinach and swiss cheese

extremely knowledgeable bar staff

plenty for everyone

Dyron's lowcountry is amazing! The food, staff, and vibe are all wonderful. They do not accept reservations so get there early if possible. I've also had dinner here and it was crazy good. The full menus are available on the website.

Dyron's Lowcountry

121 Oak Street

Mountain Brook, AL 35213

205 834 8257

www.dyronslowcountry.com

tue - sat 11am - 10pm

sun 10am - 2pm

Bottega Cafe

2009-08-19T13:47:00.003-05:00

warm tasty foccacia

try new wines....just ask your server, they know.

seared beef carpaccio with arugula and horseradish sauce

the best nicoise salad a.k.a tuna salad

someone is not that adventurous but extremely happy

the end

Bottega cafe is consistently awesome. I don't know why people think you need to wear a suit or a prom dress to go to a cafe? It's casual and open to everyone. Next time I have to get the "white pizza" with fennel sausage, caramelized onions, ricotta, and provolone!

Bottega Cafe

2240 Highland Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35205

205 933 2001

http://www.bottegarestaurant.com/cafe

Sexton's Seafood

2009-08-10T15:14:00.006-05:00

dry goods

b.y.o.c.

shrimp for days

the sign

sea of love

red snapper and rainbow trout

the best staff, they always know their stuff and are willing to help and give suggestions

all yer boil needs

brrr

right down from yankee pizzeria and them

before

after

Sexton's Seafood is the best ever! Since I have a fear of seafood already wrapped in plastic (how long has it been in there really?) this place is perfect.

Everything is always FRESH and staff is seriously awesome. In addition to the oysters we grilled huge pieces of grouper simply rubbed with fresh herbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper....yum!

Sexton's Seafood

3164 Heights Village

Birmingham, AL 35243

205 967 3437

Urban Standard

2009-08-03T15:11:00.005-05:00

full coffee bar

bagels and scones. breakfast is also served from 7am - 1oam

table for two

open to 2nd avenue north

ding, pick it up

art and antiques

chotchkies

#1, my team is too

urban lunch

butternut squash soup

urban garden salad with chicken salad and homemade mediterranean dressing

chicken salad sandwich with orzo pasta salad

next time.....your mine

I think that Urban standard might be my new favorite place. It's a casual place with a great vibe. The lunch menu is small but it has all the right stuff. A friend told me the vegetable panino is a must but it is only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 2nd Avenue North also seems to be the one area downtown that is headed in the right direction with Rouge Tavern, What's on Second, and a hand full of great lofts all on the same block.

Urban Standard

2320 2nd Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205 250 8200

www.urbanstandard.net

New York Pizza

2009-07-22T12:07:00.005-05:00

right next door to saw's bbq

greek salad

ying and yang

statue of liberty. hold the onions add tomatoes

landing on mars

spicy

mine

whole wheat crust

we missed the rush

kid friendly. don't worry they sell beer

someone tell me what is up with the hippie / pizza connection?

While New York Pizza was tasty I think I will be reserving it for take out only. Since I do not have have kids the vibe doesn't quite suit me. If you do have kids, a large party or just want to escape the scene absolutely go!

New York Pizza

1010 Oxmoor Road

Homewood, AL 35209

205 871 4000

http://www.thenewyorkpizza.com/

Monday - Thursday 11am to 9:30pm

Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm

Sunday 4pm to 9:30pm

Free Delivery 5pm to close

Saw's BBQ

2009-07-17T14:09:00.008-05:00

open table, grab it while it's hot

no loyalty just football and bbq

small kitchen, big plates. i saw some ribs coming out....holy cow!

lunch is jamming, expect to wait in line a few minutes

legend has it that this sauce was the inspiration for the operation

condiments are great but my meal didn't require any extra attention

smoked chicken sandwich with white bbq sauce. i'm in love!!

cole slaw and deviled eggs

saw's original pulled pork sandwich

with potato salad

the good ice. is there a better term than pellet ice?

sour cream pound cake from a distance

I've heard so many amazing things about Saw's and it definitely lived up to it's reputation. The service is fast and friendly and most importantly the food is great! In addition to the sandwiches and plates they also serve up gigantasaurus stuffed taters and even a carolina dog with chili and slaw. I'll be back (insert governator voice)!

Saw's BBQ

1008 Oxmoor Road

Homewood, AL 35209

205 879 1937

http://www.sawsbbq.com/

Monday - Thursday 11am - 7pm

Friday & Saturday 11am - 9pm

Doodle's Italian Ice

2009-07-02T10:41:00.008-05:00

located behind the Olive Branch

the menu

rustic seating

i hope the truck plays this song

peachy

there is green apple underneath that grape

small vs large

soccer mom secret

i really want one that is just straight up ice

if only we could sit in the ice truck.......

Doodle's Italian Ice

3238 Cahaba Heights Road

Birmingham, AL 35243

Mudtown

2009-07-01T12:27:00.008-05:00

open 7 days a week, nice!

patio dining with a view of Green Valley

bourbon smash: fresh raspberries, maker's mark, and lime. It was way past noon.....

this isn't gonna work as a sandwich is it?

fried green tomato sandwich with bacon of course

grilled tilapia sandwich with crispy fries and rings

Between the bourbon smash and the mater sandwich I am officially won over by Mudtown. The dining room is small so it's best to go during off peak hours.

I'll be back!

Mudtown

3144 Green Valley Road

Vestavia Hills, AL 35243

205 967 3300

www.mudtownalabama.com

11a - 9:30p Sunday - Thursday, till 10:30 Friday and Saturday

Pepper Place Farmers Market

2009-06-27T12:59:00.006-05:00

plenty for everyone

Snows Bend Farm

Hudman Farms

Crocker Farms in Bryant, AL. Kobe?

blackberries, now swimming in my iced tea with fresh mint

Jones Valley Urban Farm. Spicy Arugula!

will someone make me a peach pie please?

heirloom tomatoes make me sooo happy :)

summer sangria

mmmm

eat it fast before it melts away

Snows Bend tomatoes

Country Fresh!

tater salad

Red Rubin Nursery Cullman, AL

the colonel

free entertainment

I have been on the hunt for the perfect egg ever since trying the uova da raviolo (ravioli with an egg inside) at Osteria Mozza. Heaven!

cheese farmers

I get a little emotional thinking about how amazing the farmers market is. A lot of markets say they support local farmers but the majority of their produce comes from California a week after it has been harvested. This on the other hand is directly from the farmers (families). I didn't see one stand that wasn't from Alabama. Stop paying the middle man and support local farmers! Oh, and if you want okra get there early...it's a hot item.

Pepper Place Farmers Market

2829 2nd Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35223

http://pepperplacemarket.com

every Saturday 7am - noon until October 10th

Alabama Summer Salad w/ Herb Vinaigrette:

Jones Valley arugula

Snows Bend cherry tomatoes

Bulger Creek pecan goat cheese

Herb Vinaigrette:

Red Rubin basil, mint and rosemary

garlic

while balsamic vinegar

extra virgin olive oil

salt

pepper

and a little sugar

The Olive Branch

2009-06-26T13:40:00.006-05:00

you say Vestavia I say Cahaba Heights

baklava. sugar and nuts

love the staff

gyro origins

specials come with hummus, pita, wild rice, fresh fruit, and salad or tabouli

hot day remedy

grilled snapper special server in a pyrex dish!

everything about this dish was amazing

can't stop staring at it

gyro. this was far and away the best lamb gyro I have ever tasted.

house dressing

chicken lunch special. $6.95

al fresco dining

I'm so happy we have another great restaurant on our list! The Olive Branch is casual Mediterranean Cuisine at it's finest. Everything we had was wonderful including the service. They also get a bonus for being open on Mondays.

The Olive Branch

3236 Cahaba Heights Road

Vestavia, AL 35243

205 967 4600

Mon - Sat 11 - 2:30 / 5 - 9

Taqueria Mi Casita

2009-06-17T12:01:00.005-05:00

in the Palisades next to a barber shop that is always strangely packed

the inaugural bite

i'd love to have a bday party here. table for 20 please.

especiales de la casa

los condimentos

gotta have a cerveza

mmmm beer

asada, al pastor, y chorizo

barbacoa, asada, y pollo

traditional accoutrements: salsa verde, escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots), and onions and cilantro

under that pile of cheese is a chilie rellano stuffed with al pastor (you get your choice of filling)

plenty for everyone

pass the onions and cilantro please, i'd like to cover my plate with em

the great remainder

pepto not included

more cold beer

every great restaurant has cds and vhs for sale, right?

keep your eye out for Samantha and co.

need to call home?

In my opinion Mi Casita is the best Mexican food in the Ham, or should I say best tacos? It's authentic, super affordable (2 people can eat and have a few beers for under $20), and they are open 7 days a week! My mouth is watering just thinking about a tasty carnitas taco! GO!

Taqueria Mi Casita

360 Palisades Blvd.

Birmingham, AL

35209

205 870 4406

Acapulco Bar & Grill

2009-06-10T13:23:00.005-05:00

chips, salsa, and queso dip.....the best part of the meal.

crystal ball

Goal!

margarita? or sweet and sour with a splash of tequila? severed by the pitcher.

veggie quesadilla

combo thingy

salty chicken nachos

steak quesadilla (actual size)

beef nachos supreme

chicken enchilladas. visually the tastiest dish

can you guess what this is?

AE hasn't ever featured a contributing eater but when you pick up the check for 9 people you get a BIG hellz yah!

Acapulco is mexican food for gringos. The food is not overly special and I don't think I would ever suggest it, BUT I also wouldn't turn it down if someone else invited me. They did seat 9 of us the minute we walked in the door and the service was super friendly. If I do go again I'll stick with the cerveza and salsa.

Acapulco Bar & Grill

430 Green Springs hwy. suite 1

Homewood, AL

35209

205 941 1183

Magic City Brewfest 2009

2009-06-07T15:56:00.006-05:00

designated drivers receive free admission including drinks and food. good idea!
historic landmark sloss furnaces
watering hole
live music
i have 2¢ for the ABC board
more please
serving up the hops
whatever works
the j. clyde arriving in style
showing up late = no more food. those who arrived on time tasted offerings from bottletree, moe's original bbq, area 41 pizza company, the j clyde, big sky bread company, cafe firenze, and blackwell's.
i only had a chance to sample 2 beers...sad i know but, check out the complete list of beers here.
tasting cup. can i get a pint please? oops, no. from the brewfest site: Respect the two ounce pour rule.
food for sale from fatstuffs
mafiaoza's slingin slices
see ya next year brewfest!

although it was my first year and i was only there for 30 minutes i would definitely return next year to check sample different beers, taste the local offerings, work on my tan, and catch up with friends. check out the brewfest website for more pictures and event info.

Magic City Brewfest @ Sloss Furnaces

Twenty 32nd Street North
Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: (205) 324-1911

http://www.magiccitybrewfest.com

Moe's Original Bar B Que

2009-06-05T12:26:00.005-05:00

former home of the Lakeview Oyster house
order at the counter and have a seat
simple menu. basically you get a sandwich or a plate. both come with 2 sides and a drink.
awesome sides
super friendly staff
the smoker
the fried pickles are not pictured but I tried one later, oh yah!
their bbq sauce is soo good!
pulled pork with collard greens, skillet corn, and corn bread.
smoked turkey sandwich and chips
on top of old smokey
dudes hangin on the patio probably having the $1 blues brew

Now I'm not from the south and I haven't had much BBQ but this place is amazing! Loved the food, loved the staff, loved the vibe. Gotta throw out the live music warning, if you are not a fan go early and if you are go later. Definitely check this place out.

Moe's Original Bar B Que

731 29th Street South

Birmingham, AL

35233

moesoriginalbbq.com

205 252 5888

post dinner cerveza across the street at Innisfree

Innisfree Irish Pub

710 29th Street south

Birmingham, AL

35233

http://www.myspace.com/innisfreepub

Gordo's Market

2009-06-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

Hola!
Traditional latin beverages: jamaica (my favorite), horchata, and melon.
Authentic meat choices including Pollo, carne asada, al pastor, carnitas, barbacoa, lengua, tripas, chicharrones, and cabeza.
They hand you a house made corn tortilla filled with your meat of choice and then you help yourself to the toppings. Onion, cilatro, radish, cucumber, limes, and jalapenos. Iye!
Smoking hot salsa! all very delicious but make sure you have a cold drink on hand. The creamy avocado salsa was probably what they would call the mild.
carnitas y al pastor
clockwise from top: barbacoa, pollo, y asada.
The winners: al pastor and the pollo (b's pick)
Gordo's also has a market downstairs with a modest produce section perfect for salsa making.
got beans?
mess around with these spices in the kitchen if you haven't. smokey, sweet, spicy, yum!
I feel silly for ever being intimidated to check this place out. The staff was awesome, the food was good, and the tacos are $1.70 a piece. Don't worry about missing your favorite telemundo program.....they'll have it on there.

Gordo's Market

433 Valley Ave.

Birmingham, AL

35209

205 916 0707

Whole Foods demo: Veggie Sliders

2009-06-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

Testing the Veggie Sliders for the Sliders and Cervezas event this Thursday 6/4/09

Thursday, June 4th 5:30pm-7:30pm
It's official - Alabama has freed the hops! While new beers are slowly rolling into the market, we thought we'd take the chance to bring together our favorite beer distributors and taste some cerveza and pair them with mini-slider burgers. Alabama Gas Light and Grille is providing the grills for the sliders and Black and White City Paper will be there with giveaways. A $5 suggested donation benefits the Alabama Environmental Council.

Black Bean Veggie Sliders
The rings of Saturn: ketchup, mayo, and mustard.
explaining that veggie sliders are in fact vegetarian
Demo Specialist and Whole Foods employee extraordinaire Stephanie Minderhout!

Whole Foods Market

3100 Cahaba Village Plaza

Birmingham, AL

35243

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/birmingham/

Rojo!

2009-06-01T20:16:00.000-05:00

Great patio to sit back and have a few or three. ok, four...whatever!
Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla. Pleasantly surprised by the fresh spinach and melty cheese. mmmm
Another big surprise from B.......the Chicken Quesadilla! Tried a bite. Simple but tasty, nice smokey flavor.
Rojo BBQ Sandwich with Pork. American Carnitas :)

Spinach Burrito with pico de gallo, rice and beans topped with queso and salsa. Rave reviews.
Dogs are allowed on the patio. Don't forget they're thirsty too!

I've had more drinks than meals here but the food is consistent, honest, and amazingly well priced. Rojo is a great place to meet friends for a drink and grab a bite. The menu is half Latin (tacos, cheese dip) and half American (burgers, salads). The staff is always friendly.

http://www.rojobirmingham.com/

2921 Highland Ave S

Birmingham, AL 35205-1901

Take-out Edition: Baha Burger

2009-05-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

Grilled pork loin burger with ginger lime aioli, provolone, and romaine. So Good! The ginger lime aioli set it off! Juicy, well seasoned, and definitely the subject of future cravings.

Chicken burger with tropical salsa and arugula. wah wah wah......... sadly the chicken burger was dry and the salsa did little to help.

Sweet Potato Fries with some okra hiding in there....mmmmmmmmm! They also have curlies, salad and fruit as sides.

Build your own burger. Next time: Tomato chutney, arugula, and provolone.

The Standards.

Over all Baha delivered. Next time we'll enjoy it on their patio with a cold beer.

The Colonnade

3439 Colonnade Parkway

Birmingham, AL 35243

205 969 7998

Cantina

2009-05-15T21:06:00.000-05:00

Last night being a lovely spring night, the beau, our friend B, and I headed over to Cantina which is located in the Martin Biscuit building at Pepper Place.

After placing our order at the counter, we were sad to find no tables outside. We stared at all the people the were finished hoping they would move on but all we got were a bunch of "I ain't getting up till I'm good and ready" stares. So we sat inside and after about a minute I got over it because the food came out really fast.
B ordered the the cilantro chicken (big surprise there, he ordered chicken) and really enjoyed it. The dish was the cilantro marinated chicken over saffron rice with poblanos, corn, and cheese.
I'm trying to get ready for a beach trip next weekend so I ordered the salad with grilled chicken. It had sprinkles of corn and red onion. I didn't care for the vinaigrette so I just used more salsa. It was pretty boring but when you order a salad at a mexican joint there is going to be some disappointment .
L. ordered his usual as well, carnitas tacos. He liked them but I don't think he's ever met a taco he didn't like. Personally I prefer corn tortillas for my tacos but we'll get into that very soon after our next visit to the taco truck......

Over all Cantina is a really cool spot with a great vibe, nice patio, and friendly staff. Even though I'm not crazy about the food I'm always down to go. There are many tempting offerings on the menu I haven't tried like the cuban sandwich or grilled shrimp quesadillas. It's definitely a good spot to meet up with friends and have a few drinks.

2901 Second Avenue South

Birmingham, AL

http://www.birminghammenus.com/cantina/