History
Pimento cheese is the canonical Southern cheese spread, codified in the early 20th century when industrial cheddar and jarred pimentos became widely available. It moved from Junior League cookbooks to restaurant menus across Birmingham in the 1980s and remains a Stitt-era classic. Bottega Cafe runs the Italian-Southern version; Brick and Tin in Mountain Brook makes it a sandwich signature; most Birmingham brunch and lunch counters keep a version on the menu.
Book a food experience
Tours, tastings and classes from the cities on this page, bookable on GetYourGuide.
Common allergens: Dairy, Eggs
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 300g sharp cheddar cheese, grated coarse
- 120g mayonnaise
- 60g cream cheese, softened
- 70g jarred diced pimentos, drained
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon hot sauce
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne
- Black pepper to taste
- Crackers, white bread or celery sticks to serve
Method
- Grate the cheddar by hand (not in a food processor); the texture matters.
- In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, cream cheese, drained pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce and cayenne until smooth.
- Fold in the grated cheddar with a wooden spoon; leave some texture, don't overmix.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve with crackers, white bread, celery sticks or as a sandwich on toasted bread.
Tip from the editors. Hand-grated cheddar gives the canonical texture; pre-shredded supermarket cheese has anti-caking agents that turn the mixture chalky.
Where to eat pimento cheese
Pimento Cheese in Birmingham
Bottega Cafe ★ 4.6
Bottega Cafe in Highland Park Birmingham runs a deep Italian by-the-glass program from the Stitt cellar, with a casual patio menu next to Bottega Restaurant.
PourChianti Classico by the glass
WineItalian regional and Stitt-cellar pours
FoodWood-oven pizza, antipasti, pasta
Brick and Tin ★ 4.2
Brick and Tin on Cahaba Road Mountain Brook Birmingham runs casual weekend brunch with the pimento cheese sandwich and tomato-pie seasonal plates.
OrderPimento cheese sandwich with tomato soup
Bottega Restaurant ★ 4.7
Bottega Restaurant on Highland Avenue Birmingham is Frank Stitt's 1988 Italian sibling to Highlands, set in a Highland Park mansion with a wood-burning oven.
Book2 weeks ahead
Pimento Cheese in Charleston
Husk ★ 4.9
Husk in Charleston opened in 2010 under Sean Brock and rebuilt Southern fine dining on heritage grains and hyper-local produce. Located in Downtown.
OrderThe cast-iron cornbread, plus whatever the wood grill is running.
Book3 weeks ahead
TipBook on the website. Bar seats walk-in at 17:00 and serve the full menu.
Magnolias ★ 4.5
Magnolias on East Bay Street is the Charleston brunch institution since 1990. Sunday brunch only: banana pudding French toast, crab cake Benedict.
OrderBanana pudding French toast, crab cake Benedict, shrimp and sausage over grits with tasso gravy
TipBook on Resy 2 weeks ahead. The shrimp and grits is the canonical version; bottomless mimosas at the bar.
Slightly North of Broad ★ 4.6
Slightly North of Broad in Charleston has run on East Bay Street since 1993. Brunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
OrderThe shrimp and grits with stone-ground grits and house kielbasa, on the menu since the 90s.
TipBrunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit ★ 4.2
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street runs Charleston's miniature biscuit counter. Located in Upper King. Open mon-fri 06:30-14:00, sat-sun 07:30-15:00.
OrderCheese-and-bacon biscuit, country ham biscuit, cinnamon biscuit
TipCounter only; one or two stools. Pair the country ham with a Counter Culture latte from across King Street.
Pimento Cheese in Charlotte
Haberdish ★ 4.7
Haberdish on N Davidson runs the NoDa Southern brunch programme Tuesday to Sunday in Charlotte, with biscuits and gravy, fried chicken plates and a strong.
OrderButtermilk biscuits with sausage gravy and the brunch fried chicken plate.
TipWeekend brunch fills early. Walk in at 11 on Saturday for the easiest seat.
Pinky's Westside Grill ★ 4.1
Pinky's Westside Grill on West Morehead is the Charlotte burger institution open until 11pm Thursday to Saturday, with a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
OrderA burger stack with fried pickles to share.
TipCloses at 22:00 Sunday-Wednesday. Late hours run Thursday through Saturday.
Pimento Cheese in Greenville
Soby's New South Cuisine ★ 4.6
Soby's anchors the Main Street dining scene in Greenville: Carl Sobocinski's 1997 New Southern flagship in a former dry-goods store, with she-crab soup.
SignatureShe-crab soup, Spicy pimento cheese, Fried green tomato Benedict
Tupelo Honey ★ 4.4
Tupelo Honey runs scratch-made Southern on the North Main corner: fried chicken biscuits, shrimp and grits, sweet potato pancakes. Asheville-born group.
SignatureFried chicken biscuit, Shrimp and grits, Sweet potato pancakes
Pimento Cheese in Nashville
Husk Nashville ★ 4.3
Husk Nashville takes a modern approach to Southern ingredients, with an ever-changing menu drawn from Tennessee purveyors and farmers and Southern foodways.
OrderDinner finished with one of the homemade desserts, alongside a hand-crafted cocktail or a local beer.
TipThe Stables at Husk, a historic carriage house, hosts private brunches, seated dinners and cocktail receptions; tables book on Resy.
Peg Leg Porker ★ 4.5
Peg Leg Porker is a barbecue restaurant at 903 Gleaves Street, Nashville, TN 37203, in the neighborhood known as The Gulch.
Loveless Cafe ★ 4.2
In 1951 Lon and Annie Loveless began serving made-from-scratch fried chicken and biscuits west of Nashville; the cafe still uses their unaltered recipes.
OrderCountry Ham, 22-hour Tennessee Hickory smoked BBQ and the scratch-made biscuits.
TipFor 9 to 32 guests, contact a cafe manager; larger groups book the Harpeth Room through Loveless Events, with family-style service.
Edley's Bar-B-Que ★ 4.6
Edley's Bar-B-Que in 12 South serves Nashville style bar-b-que until 10:00pm on Friday and Saturday, 'til the last drink is poured, near busy open-air patios.
TryNashville style bar-b-que
TipSunday to Thursday it closes at 9:00pm, so come early in the week; on nice days the 12 South patios fill up with locals and visitors.
Pimento Cheese in Savannah
Husk Savannah ★ 4.7
Husk Savannah, at 12 W Oglethorpe Ave, serves modern Southern cuisine with heirloom ingredients of coastal Georgia and brunch Sat-Sun 10am to 2pm.
Crystal Beer Parlor ★ 4.3
Crystal Beer Parlor is a restaurant at 301 W Jones St serving Southern-style food, beer and wine, open Tuesday to Sunday, first come, first served.
TrySouthern-style food, beer and wine
Vic's on the River ★ 4.3
Vic's on the River at 26 E Bay St serves Contemporary Southern Cuisine and fresh, local seafood in an old cotton warehouse overlooking the Savannah River.
OrderShrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes or She Crab Soup.
TipReserve a window table for river views; online reservations cover up to 4 guests and larger parties should call.
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