Israeli-Mediterranean$$highway-280Mon, Wed-Sat 10:30-20:00; Sun 11:00-19:00; closed Tue
Eli's Jerusalem Grill on Highway 280 east of the city runs an authentic Israeli kitchen with a vegetarian-vegan plate of falafel, hummus and baba ghanoush.
Signature: Falafel plate, Vegetarian plate, Lentil soup
New American$$$downtownMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; closed Sat-Sun
The Grill at Iron City on 22nd Street South is the 22,000-square-foot entertainment-venue dining room downtown, with a pre-show prix-fixe and Gulf seafood.
Signature: Pre-show prix-fixe, Alabama Gulf snapper, House burger
French regional$$$mountain-brookThu-Sun 17:00-21:00; Sun 11:00-15:00 high tea; closed Mon-Wed
Chez Lulu on Cahaba Road in English Village is a French-Riviera bistro next door to Continental Bakery, both opened by Carole Griffin in the 1980s and 1990s.
Signature: Mediterranean pizza, Bistro salad, Continental sourdough
New American$$downtownMon-Sat 11:00-20:00; Sun 11:00-15:00
The Pizitz Food Hall on 2nd Avenue North runs more than a dozen counters in the 2nd Avenue North District, from ramen and poke to Ethiopian and Cajun.
Signature: B'ham Chicken counter, Broad Street Peaux Boys, Ono Poke
American diner$$highway-280Daily 07:00-14:30
Big Bad Breakfast on Highway 280 is John Currence's Birmingham branch of the Oxford-Mississippi original, with Conecuh-sausage gravy and weekend brunch lines.
Signature: Pork chop and eggs, Conecuh sausage gravy, Pancake stack
Italian$$highland-parkTue-Sat 11:00-21:30; closed Sun-Mon
Bottega Cafe in Highland Park is the walk-in patio counterpart to Bottega Restaurant, with wood-oven pizzas and the Stitt-style casual Italian menu.
Signature: Wood-oven pizza, Beef carpaccio, Chicken scaloppini