Sessions is an awesome cocktail bar. The drinks are always spot on and very good. They have added…read moresome more contemporary cocktails to the menu which is fun! The staff are evidently all friends who seemingly love being there and being with each other. The atmosphere is positive and fun while also being relaxed but nice enough for a date. If you do not love your drink you can swap it for a different one.

This place looks so unassuming from the outside but it's so cool inside! Trendy and upscale with…read morefreshly made mixes. I love they support a different cause each month by using proceeds from a specific drink of the month. We went on Wednesday which happens to be whiskey Wednesday- lucky us! We tried the Southern Baptist, the Hightower, and an old fashioned. The Southern Baptist is fantastic if you like ginger, which I do!! The Hightower was light and refreshing with a touch of honey. The old fashioned was classic! This is a fun place to hang out!

Came highly recommended and it didn't miss particularly for their infused drinks. Tried the peach…read morebourbon and it was good. Plenty of options to pick from and a great for the price as well.

Go see Bailey! The place is imperfectly perfect and will have to enjoying your night.read more

I had been meaning to try this bar for some time. Ran out of the house while some work was…read morehappening at home and I needed a great afternoon stop to kill some time. Made the decision to turn in and try Sanctuary; how fortuitous! First, this isn't just a music venue! It's a classic bar with real cocktails (mocktails, as well), but also a great reincarnation of an old church. And they serve awesome food!! Second, the drinks and food are top notch! Try a Paper Plane! It's my new favorite way to drink bourbon, TBH. You will absolutely feel distinguished while you do. I overheard many professionals around me, too, so it's definitely a place to run elbows with University types. Finally, I love music. This place has different musicians all the time. But my favorite is Dr. Warren Ertle's Corpse Revivers, an old fashioned Jazz band! They play two shows a night, almost every Tuesday! I say "almost" because, well, ...just check the Sanctuary's facebook page before you invite friends to a show. (Ask me how I know!) Overall, it's a great time, try the tacos!!

After another big Alabama Crimson Tide baseball win--bringing out the brooms and finishing the…read moresweep on Sunday--my wife and I met up with some friends at The Sanctuary on 25th to celebrate. We've eaten here before and have been wanting to make it back, but between their popularity and our schedules, it's felt like trying to line up a dentist appointment during tax season. Tonight, though, everything finally clicked. We got there early and were greeted by two cheerful hostesses who promptly sat us in the corner... felt a little like we were back in kindergarten for talking too much, but we made it work. Oh--and if you're into live music during dinner, this place delivers. There's something about enjoying a good meal with live music in the background that just elevates the whole experience. It's also the kind of setting where local artists get their start, and you never know--you might be listening to someone on their way up. Once our waiter came over, we held off ordering while waiting on our "fashionably late" friends--who, for the record, treat arrival times more like loose suggestions. Eventually, the crew assembled and it was game on. I kept it simple to start: water, no lemon. Let's not contaminate perfectly good H2O--I want it 100 proof. For appetizers, we ordered the Fried Cauliflower and Fried Okra to share. And by "share," I mean I ordered them and then immediately abandoned that concept. Only child tendencies die hard. Both dishes were excellent. The fried okra, paired with their Creole ranch, absolutely stole the show--seriously, that sauce deserves its own fan club. The cauliflower was also very good, and the homemade remoulade held its own... just not quite on the Creole ranch level. Our friends ordered the Street Corn Dip, and while I didn't personally get any (again... sharing isn't my spiritual gift), I can confirm it was outstanding based on the fact that the dish came back cleaner than a whistle. One of the coolest parts of this place is the atmosphere. The building still carries that old church feel--you can almost picture folks sitting in pews listening to a sermon. These days, though, the only preaching happening is coming from the kitchen, and there's a "sinful" bar running along one wall that probably wouldn't have made the original blueprints. For the main course, my wife went with the Lobster Mac and Cheese, and I ordered the Chili Lime Shrimp. The mac and cheese was a solid choice--rich and flavorful--but just a touch on the dry side. A little more cream would take it to the next level... perfect, but not Jesus-walking-on-water perfect. The shrimp, on the other hand, was good but didn't quite live up to expectations. It started strong but didn't finish the game, and I ended up handing off the last few bites like a reliever coming out of the bullpen. All in all, The Sanctuary on 25th is a great addition to the Tuscaloosa food scene. Between the unique setting, strong appetizers, live music, and overall experience, it's definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared--it stays busy, and if you plan on sharing food, make sure you're sitting with better people than I am.

Great beer list. Friendly locals. Nice quiet ambience. Very chill compared to most of Tuscaloosa.read more

There's no food - so don't arrive expecting to eat and drink. That is the only drawback…read more The actual bar experience is a welcomed relief from the college kids - just very chill and laid back. The bartenders are super attentive and the drink variety is exceptional. One half is a quiet restaurant type area and the other half has pinball and video games. I tell anyone coming to town who wants a break from students but a chill place to drink that this is the spot.

Love this place located on the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. Great for a an after-work wine down or a group…read moreget-together. I went on a Wednesday and surprisingly, it was busy. There was a birthday party/dinner and a company wine-down all so there's plenty of room for large groups. Although it took a while to get someone to my table; the service ended up being pleasant. The crab cakes were a little salty but very good and the brussels paired well with them although my meal consisted of an appetizer and a side. Overall it was a chill atmosphere with great views. I recommend going during sunset.

Loved the view and comfort of sitting outside. Impeccable service. Appetizers, especially the…read morewhipped feta was delicious. Spinach dip was on point also. I do wish they had a larger menu. I want to go back and try several other things like the flatbreads and salads.

I was not particularly impressed with this place when a friend and I visited on a Friday night…read more The atmosphere is very relaxed and cool, which I did really like. Their decorations give off high-end vibes and make the place feel more up-scale and sophisticated. Because of this, I found the music playing not fitting for the evening. When we walked in, it was club style music that I would rather dance to, not sit, chat, and have a few drinks to. It did not match the vibe and took away from the atmosphere. We ordered a mexican pharmacy at the bar, which my friend had recommended to me. I was not impressed, but that is on me, as I should have paid more attention to the menu. I did appreciate watching the bartender make the drink, as they obviously had great expertise behind the bar. My biggest complaint was that the drink was about 6 oz and cost me $15. My overall impression of this speakeasy was just a feeling of being underwhelmed. It is obviously popular, and I would love to try more from the expert bartenders, but I struggle paying their prices and find the atmosphere in contrast to the point of the bar.

Went in tonight for drinks at 11pm and got basically cussed out by a worker off the clock or…read moresomething. A couple of friends and i walked in around 11pm, and i don't know if i was a worker off the clock or something but there was this woman sitting at the bar with her feet on another barstool, on her laptop, halfway through a cocktail and clearly drunk. As soon as we came up the steps, she yells, "How the f*ck do people keep getting in this is the third group!" Mind you, the door was unlocked and wide open. Then, she finally acknowledges us and says "sorry we're closed." I work at a very busy bar here in Tuscaloosa, and I can understand being annoyed, but saying something like that in front of customers coming into your establishment is so incredibly gross. I had an offer to work here and this completely turned me off I will not be coming back.

While we were making the move from Texas to North Carolina we stopped in Tuscaloosa for the night…read more I wanted to try a restaurant downtown since it was our first time in this town and the Avenue pub came highly rated. Parking is manageable, but you'll need to find parking either in front or to the side of the restaurant. When you walk in it has the feel of a polished, upscale pub. We were seated and immediately ordered the bacon burger (which comes with a 1/2 a pound of ground beef with provolone and bacon). I also would recommend adding grilled onions to the burger and upgrading the fries to pub fries (seasoned fries topped with shaven Parmesan, mozzarella, and chopped bacon). The peppercorn ranch that is especially good and tied everything together. If you are looking for a craft burger spot in the heart of Tuscaloosa, I can't say enough good things about this place and it's absolutely worth checking out.

Me and wife came here for lunch after seeing reviews…read more I'll start with staff. They were very friendly and we were seated right away. For food I ordered the chicken club and wife got the fish and chips. The club was good not amazing. Both the sandwich and fries were a little too salt heavy. The fish and chips were ok. Not the best but not bad. Again fries little to salt heavy. I'd go back if someone really wanted to eat there but wouldn't choose this place.

My family is from Tuscaloosa, Ala so this is home whenever I'm here I make sure I make my presence…read moreknown.......................................................... ..................................roll tide roll.....................................................

Came here to have drinks for my birthday.it was a Thursday night so they were doing karaoke and…read moreplaying some r&b music.the vibe was nice,but I think the night was really for the old heads

I loved this restaurant! A must stop in Tuscaloosa! The salmon and creme brûlée were amazing!!…read more The service was also terrific and it was a beautiful restaurant!

This was our first visit to Forte in Tuscaloosa, and I really wanted it to be love at first bite…read more The restaurant itself sets the mood perfectly -- clean, stylish, and with a bar area that practically waves you in for a drink before you can say "just water for me." The outdoor seating is a gem, especially on these cool October evenings when the humidity finally gives us a break. Dinner started off strong with a Caesar salad that hit all the right notes -- crisp, fresh, and flavorful. The croutons, though? Let's just say they could double as home defense. Then came my Mushroom Cream Pasta, rich and delicious in flavor, but the noodles were a bit too enthusiastic about staying firm -- more "al dente" than I ordered. My wife's Pan-Seared Salmon fared better -- flaky, well-seasoned, and politely reminding my pasta who's boss. The staff, to their credit, were wonderful -- friendly, attentive, and even comped my dish (which I insisted wasn't necessary). Despite tonight's hiccup, I'll be back. Forte has the charm, the service, and the potential -- I just hope next time my pasta decides to soften up a little!

Everything about Hopper's Corner Bar is what you want for your night out in Tuscaloosa!!…read moreHopper's provides unbelievable customer service while providing some of the best crafted cocktails available anywhere in town. If you've never visited this absolute Diamond of what a bar should be in Tuscaloosa, you've missed out! Go check it out. You'll find your new go to once you experience a night at Hopper's!