New American is where Birmingham's reputation as a dining city was made, much of it tracing back to Frank Stitt and Chris Hastings. Hot and Hot Fish Club at Pepper Place and Cafe Dupont, Helen and Galley and Garden across downtown and Highland Park define the upper tier, while The Essential and The Grill at Iron City show the more casual end. The Pizitz Food Hall downtown gathers a newer generation of cooks under one roof.
New American restaurants in Birmingham
10 new american places in Birmingham we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Birmingham · New American across every city.
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Hot and Hot Fish Club
- ★ 4.7
- $$$$
- Pepper Place
Hot and Hot Fish Club at Pepper Place in Birmingham is the Chris Hastings flagship since 1995, with the chef-counter tomato salad and 2012 James Beard.
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Helen
- ★ 4.7
- $$$$
- Downtown Birmingham
Helen on 2nd Avenue North downtown Birmingham runs Rob McDaniel's hardwood-coal Southern grill, Michelin Recommended since 2025 and a Beard semifinalist.
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Cafe Dupont
- ★ 4.5
- $$$$
- Downtown Birmingham
Cafe Dupont on 20th Street North Birmingham runs Chris Dupont's French-Southern menu out of an 1870s downtown storefront with a strong plate-craft reputation.
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Galley and Garden
- ★ 4.4
- $$$$
- Highland Park
Galley and Garden on Highland Avenue Birmingham runs a New American tasting menu out of the 1908 Merritt House near the Stitt Highland Park rooms.
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The Essential
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Downtown Birmingham
The Essential on First Avenue North downtown Birmingham is Kristen Hall and Victor King's all-day neighborhood bistro, serving guests since 2018.
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Bistro V
- ★ 4.4
- $$$
- Vestavia Hills
Bistro V on Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills Birmingham runs a date-night New American room, with a strong by-the-glass wine program and seasonal plates.
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The Essential
- ★ 4.5
- $$$
- Downtown Birmingham
The Essential on First Avenue North downtown Birmingham is Kristen Hall and Victor King's neighborhood bistro and bar, serving house pasta since 2018.
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The Grill at Iron City
- ★ 4.0
- $$$
- Downtown Birmingham
The Grill at Iron City on 22nd Street South is the 22,000-square-foot entertainment-venue dining room downtown, with a pre-show prix-fixe and Gulf seafood.
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The Pizitz Food Hall
- ★ 4.1
- $$
- Downtown Birmingham
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.
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Hot and Hot Fish Club
- ★ 4.5
- $$$$
- Pepper Place
Hot and Hot Fish Club at Pepper Place is the Chris Hastings flagship since 1995, with the chef-counter tomato salad that became a Birmingham signature.