Bottega Restaurant ★ 4.7
Bottega Restaurant on Highland Avenue is Frank Stitt's 1988 Italian sibling to Highlands, in a Highland Park mansion with a wood-fired oven.
Signature: Wood-oven pizza, House pasta, Pimento cheese
The restaurants worth the trip in Birmingham. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Birmingham
Chez Fonfon ★ 4.6
Chez Fonfon on 11th Avenue South in Birmingham is Frank Stitt's casual French bistro sibling to Highlands, with steak frites and a Five Points South patio.
Signature: Steak frites, Burger, Tarte Tatin
Hot and Hot Fish Club ★ 4.7
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.
Signature: Hot and Hot tomato salad, Shrimp and grits, Soft shell crab
Automatic Seafood and Oysters ★ 4.8
Automatic Seafood and Oysters in Lakeview Birmingham won Adam Evans the 2022 James Beard Best Chef South, with a Gulf-anchored menu and a half-shell raw bar.
Signature: Gulf oysters, Whole fried fish, Shrimp and grits
Helen ★ 4.7
Helen on 2nd Avenue North downtown Birmingham runs Rob McDaniel's hardwood-coal Southern grill, Michelin Recommended since 2025 and a Beard semifinalist.
Signature: Hardwood-grilled steak, Smoked oysters, Wood-fired vegetables
Bayonet ★ 4.7
Bayonet on 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham is Rob and Emily McDaniel's spring 2025 seafood and raw bar sibling to Helen, in the NYT 50 Best Restaurants 2025.
Signature: Oysters on the half shell, Tableside martini, Crudo
OvenBird ★ 4.6
OvenBird at Pepper Place Birmingham is Chris Hastings's live-fire sibling to Hot and Hot, with Spanish, Portuguese, Uruguayan and Argentine grill traditions.
Signature: Asado plates, Wood-fired vegetables, Sherry pour
Cafe Dupont ★ 4.5
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.
Signature: Soft-shell crab, Crab cake, Pommes Anna
Galley and Garden ★ 4.4
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.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Pan-roasted scallops, Lamb
Bottega Cafe ★ 4.5
Bottega Cafe in Highland Park Birmingham is the walk-in patio counterpart to Bottega, with wood-oven pizzas and the Stitt-style casual Italian menu.
Signature: Wood-oven pizza, Beef carpaccio, Chicken scaloppini
Saw's Soul Kitchen ★ 4.5
Saw's Soul Kitchen on 41st Street South in Avondale Birmingham is the 2012 sibling to Saw's BBQ, mixing Alabama white sauce barbecue with soul-food sides.
Signature: Pork and greens, Pulled pork sandwich, Banana pudding
Saw's BBQ ★ 4.5
Saw's BBQ in Homewood near Birmingham is the 2009 Mike Wilson original, the room that introduced Alabama white sauce on smoked chicken to the city.
Signature: Smoked chicken with white sauce, Pork ribs, Pulled pork sandwich
Niki's West ★ 4.6
Niki's West on Finley Avenue West in Birmingham has run the canonical meat-and-three since 1957, with a cafeteria steam table by the Alabama Farmers Market.
Signature: Fried catfish, Turnip greens, Cornbread
Eagle's Restaurant ★ 4.6
Eagle's Restaurant in Smithfield Birmingham is the Black-owned soul-food anchor since 1951, with Friday catfish and weekday meat-and-three plates.
Signature: Smothered pork chop, Fried catfish, Greens and cornbread
Brick and Tin ★ 4.4
Brick and Tin on Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Birmingham is the casual Southern sandwich counter, with pimento cheese and tomato-pie seasonal plates.
Signature: Pimento cheese sandwich, Avocado tartine, Tomato pie
El Barrio ★ 4.5
El Barrio on 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham runs a modern Mexican menu downtown, called best Mexican restaurant in Alabama by the convention bureau in 2024.
Signature: Spicy chicken tostada, Mole de pollo, Chunky guacamole
Surin West ★ 4.3
Surin West on 11th Avenue South in Birmingham has served Thai cuisine since the 1990s, with broad vegetarian options and the Tofu Coconut Soup signature.
Signature: Tofu coconut soup, Pad Thai, Yellow curry
The Essential ★ 4.4
The Essential on Morris Avenue downtown Birmingham is Kristen Hall and Victor King's 2018 neighborhood cafe and bar in the Mercantile on Morris.
Signature: Seasonal vegetable plate, House sourdough, Brunch egg sandwich
Yo' Mama's ★ 4.4
Yo' Mama's on 4th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham runs a soul-food kitchen with a deep gluten-free menu and Saturday brunch service twice a month.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Smothered pork chop, Banana pudding
Bistro V ★ 4.4
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.
Signature: Foie gras, Duck breast, Crab cake
Demetri's BBQ ★ 4.3
Demetri's BBQ on 28th Avenue South in Homewood Birmingham has run a Greek-American meat-and-three since 1973, continuing the 1961 El Rancho BBQ tradition.
Signature: Pulled pork plate, Greek salad, Banana pudding