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    Chez Fonfon

    4.6 (521 reviews)
    PriceyFrench, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Chez Fonfon Photos

    CHEZ FONFON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chez Fonfon

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    Ali L.

    Tucked in on a side street is the best little French bistro in Birmingham, Alabama called Chez FonFon. This place oozes yummy... from the excellent service staff to the .. well food! I had to look up what the name meant and it loosely translates to at the home of (chez) and FonFon is an affectionate nickname.. which also means sure sure. The owners include a James Beard winning chef and his lovely wife and since 2000 they have been creating incredibly good food and fun. We were treated well and fed even better. A must stop for this foodie for sure!

    Short rib
    Kathryn S.

    Another delicious dinner @ Chez Fon fon. We started with steak tartare , asparagus and baguette! Not a bite left! Entrees ordered short rib. Steak frites swordfish special and of course the hamburger. The best fries in town! Sorbet and coconut cake to end the night! Fabulous service as always!

    Burger
    Sarah M.

    Amazing food! The burger patty was cooked perfectly medium rare, like I asked. Best burger I've had! The service was great, our waitress was amazing and attentive. The ambience was upscale, vibes were good, and it was beautiful for the christmas time:)

    Trout amandine, haricots verts & brown butter Fried potatoes and green beans.
    Iseo Y.

    I was there with friends for late lunch and I ordered Trout amandine, haricots verts & brown butter with Potatoes and green beans, it's good but I wish it's not heavy on coating it's too grainy. Service is good and our waiter is very attentive, ambiance is okay but way too loud when it gets too much people as tables are too close to each other. Parking can be hectic but that's the way it is.

    Part of the menu

    The food and service was amazing. Would I go back or recommend this place? Absolutely.

    Faye Y.

    What a divine experience! I'm not an expert in French cuisine but I absolutely adored this restaurant. The ingredients were so fresh! Our waiter was knowledgable and the patio with the lights created such a calm atmosphere. Definitely a must try experience.

    Chef special with tuna. The flavors complimented each other so well. Sweet and salty
    Jana G.

    The atmosphere was great and the service was exceptional! Great suggestions for food and made sure to explain the chef specials for the day!

    Jenna L.

    Visited Chez Fon Fon for the first time after seeing the raving reviews, and my family found this restaurant to be quite underwhelming. Pretty small space, but has a cozy and homey vibe to it. Not sure if it's a Southern thing, but every dish was overwhelmingly salty, including the side salad that came with the hanger steak. The hanger steak and veal were very tender though. The avocado shrimp salad was flavorful, but very salty and could've used more avocado. The vegetables that accompanied the veal were very oily. The bearnaise sauce was extremely salty as well, to the point where it was left completely untouched. The hamburger was pretty good, and the fries were great -- very crispy. We ordered the Pinot noir and it was alright. The basque cheesecake was also very disappointing, it simply tasted like a flavorless pound cake. We had mixed feelings about the service -- we weren't greeted by the lady standing at the front of the door, but were warmly greeted by a different employee who sat us. Our waiter was interesting, didn't check on us after the food was brought out but swung by when we were finished eating. Overall, this place was pretty disappointing and underwhelming because it felt like it didn't live up to the hype, but maybe we'll just have to give it another try!

    JJ G.

    Outstanding! Great experience. Had a great meal and a great time the menu and the food is superb. The staff is wonderful better than some of their competitors and those other higher end places. One of the best restaurants in Birmingham. I will definitely be on the return to this place. The bar staff is amazing. The hosts are very welcoming and great and even assist at bar seating and other options. The Food's a little bit more higher and so that comes with price. They do upsell drinks, but it's worth the experience. My only feedback is the fries were horrible and nasty. Other than that everything was excellent.

    Trout Amandine
    Camille U.

    Warm and friendly service. Flavorful and delicious dishes. The outdoor patio is like a getaway in the heart of the city. The rich, decadent desserts are worth the calories.

    Pot au cream
    David J.

    Best French food I have had for years. It is a lovely place with almost every detail perfect (only flaw; bare wooden tables...they beg for a tiny vase of flowers for decoration) Food is authentic French done very well. Special lamb soup was delicious. Duck confit was a bit salty but very yummy. Crisp skin succulent meat on a luscious bed of giganti bean puree plus more whole beans and more Everything was done to perfection. Crisp attention service by servers in bistro uniforms.bathrooms clean with nice details We loved it and hope to go back

    Coconut cake
    Yorke W.

    I ate at one of my most favorite restaurants last week. Chez Fon Fon in Birmingham Alabama. I had reservations and went there with 6 ladies. We had requested an outside table on their beautiful patio. When we got there, we were disappointed that it was not available. But the staff at Chez Fon Fon even after we'd already sat down at a table and ordered our drinks came and got us when a table on the patio became available. They were so kind and nice and they moved us from inside to outside and we had excellent service and a wonderful night on the patio. Most of us ordered the trout because it's absolutely delicious but somebody ordered the oyster poor boy and liked it. The service was really above and beyond for just such a fine restaurant. We are so lucky to have it in Birmingham.

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    11 days ago

    The food was outstanding! The wait staff were always available and very friendly. We ate outside on the patio and it was very quaint.

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    7 months ago

    Everything! So delicious' so yummy! Excellent service, outstanding food, great location! Staff is so friendly and suberb

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Classic and fantastic! Sat at the bar, and was treated so well. Service was perfect, next time I'm in town a revisit is top of the list.

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    Chez Fonfon - french - Updated May 2026

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