We had a spectacular evening at chez fon fon. My mom and I were blown away by the ambiance, service, fresh drinks, and the curated culinary masterpieces we ordered. When you walk in, you're greeted with a warm welcome and transported into an old, cozy cafe in a small French town. Our waitress, Holly, was delightful and knowledgeable about the menu. I started with a Pimm Rose Spritz and thought it was light and refreshing - I was afraid it'd taste like an Aperol spritz but it didn't - no bitterness at all. Mom got an alpine daiquiri and raved about it. We opted for escargots, a fresh baguette, and marinated olives as apps and couldn't have loved them more. The bread was warm and made a nice vehicle for the garlic sauce leftover from the escargots. I got the trout amandine and it was as divine as I remember. I had this dish back in 2020 (I know that specifically because we had to sit outside in a plastic tent to dine here) and have been thinking about it ever since. Would highly recommend. The trout is buttery and flaky and has a light almond-like sauce with slivered almonds on top. Mom got the roasted chicken and veggies and loved how it was cooked to perfection. Everything is so simple yet exquisite. Parking wasn't a huge issue, especially for it being downtown. There are spots in front of the building that you pay for on an app (it was $2) and they offered valet as well. I would absolutely have a reservation (it may even be required). We went on a Tuesday at 4:45 and it was packed by 5. We will be back time and time again! read more

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Chez Fonfon has been open for forever for a reason. It's got everything going for it: a cool, chic vibe that appeals to all age groups, great service, and exceptional food. My mom and I came for lunch on a Friday to celebrate my late grandmother's 99th birthday. My mom got the redfish (on special) and I had the trout. Both were great, but the trout was the standout. Perfectly cripsed up with fresh green beans and tasty fried potatoes on the side. I would 100% recommend the trout, and it was a great serving size. We each had some iced tea and finished lunch with a slice of the coconut cake, which they decorated for grandma :). The coconut cake reminds me of my favorite cake of all time, which is an Italian wedding cake made by a family friend. Outstanding. I'm normally not a huge coconut fan, but still thoroughly enjoyed it. Parking can get difficult over here, but I do thing either them or the neighboring restaurant offer valet. I imagine it can get quite loud in here, but it was fine while we were here. And I rarely say this, but it seemed almost overstaffed in here. As in, service really was outstanding. I hadn't been here in years, but now I want to go back for dinner ASAP! read more

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Went for a mid-week father's-daughter lunch and had a great time. Service, food and valet were outstanding! We ordered drinks: Paradise Punch (favorite) and Negroni And lunch: Moules en Frites and Coq Au vin (favorite) Definitely recommend! read more

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! read more

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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! read more

Chez Fonfon - Short rib - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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

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:) read more

Chez Fonfon - Burger - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Food- hangar steak, cooked to perfection. Appetizer of tuna-TDF! Drinks - excellent as were the bartenders! Charm oozes out of every corner. A delight to enjoy all the senses in one lovely location. read more

This place gets busy so make a reservation if you don't want to be disappointed. I came with with a big group and we enjoyed the lovely food and great service. The charcuterie board is absolutely fantastic but pretty large, so share with the table. I enjoyed the coq au vin, and tasted The banh mi (which does need a little more seasonings and accoutrements besides just a few shredded carrots, jalapeno slices and cilantro). The escargot, while texturally perfect, needed a touch more salt. The bread service was delicious! Excellent butter and the bread.... I wanted more! Great restaurant if you're in the Birmingham area. read more

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. read more

Chez Fonfon - Trout amandine, haricots verts & brown butter Fried potatoes and green beans. - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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

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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. read more

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Cozy French bistro with warm and inviting atmosphere and vintage French decor. We started with wines from the well-curated list which paired well with our entrees. The steak frites were perfectly cooked and flavorful, with crisp, golden fries. The trout almondine was buttery, delicate, and topped with toasted almonds that added just the right texture. For dessert, the Basque cake was subtly sweet and satisfying. Service was friendly and attentive. Simple, well-executed food and great ambiance. Chez Fonfon never disappoints and is always exquisite. read more

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

Chez Fonfon - Chef special with tuna. The flavors complimented each other so well. Sweet and salty - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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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! read more

Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The food is very good. Great service from a friendly staff. It has the feel of a French country inn. The prices will pleasantly surprise you. This is a very nice place! read more

Everything was incredible as usual at Chez Fonfon. My wife and I met for lunch and we had the king salmon and their burger. Both were exquisite. The salmon was one of the best cuts of fish I've ever had. Very flavorful but mild at the same time. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium. The fries were crispy and salty. Everything was amazing. The service is impeccable as always and the ambiance is just what you'd expect laid back but fancy at the same time. A+ read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Chez Fonfon - Trout Amandine - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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 read more

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Service was excellent, food came out at a good pace, never had an empty drink, waters were constantly refilled, great experience. We just did a bunch of appetizers, the roast beef tartine and charcuterie board were both excellent, the beef tartar was actually just ok, but the fish paillard and mussels were amazing! Normally i'm not a huge fan of mussels, but these were by far the best ones we have ever had. Huge wine selection so just pick out what you want, will for sure be back in the future we loved this place. read more

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. read more

Chez Fonfon - Coconut cake - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This is my favorite place everytime I visit. We always agree on the first course and entree. Tonight we couldn't decide on a dessert, so we got them all! read more

Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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One of Birmingham's prized fine dining restaurants! Fonfon is super popular, so make sure to make a reservation and come early to find parking. The service here is always consistent and reliable. The wait staff is very nice and attentive; I always ask for their recommendations before deciding on a meal. I've had everything from their cheese board, daily fish special, burger (which is claimed to be the best in the city), and almost all of the desserts. Their absolute best item is the coconut pecan cake. I've gotten a slice after my meal, to-go, and even ordered a whole cake for an event! read more

Chez Fonfon - Burger with Egg - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I just had a fantastic meal at Chez Fonfon It was my first grouper meal and it was excellent. I particularly appreciated the sauce the chef used with the grouper. It is a wonderful rare treat to be able to completely enjoy a delicate seafood that is complimented instead of overpowered by a sauce. Compliments to the kitchen... and the service at the bar was excellent read more

Chez Fonfon - Grouper, most excellent! - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My husband and I went earlier this week for an anniversary dinner and had an amazing time. We had heard good things and were afraid it was overhyped but not at all! The hostess and our waitress were both amazing, wished us a happy anniversary, and brought mini flutes of complimentary champagne with dessert. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and our questions, and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend the experience. read more

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

My favorite restaurant in Birmingham. Literally everything on the menu is amazing and you cannot go wrong with a single option. Escargot, trout, and steak frites are some of my favorite options. If they have the grouper as a special of the day, try it as well. This place is legendary! read more

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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.

From the charcuterie (amazing rillettes) to the coconut cake with creme anglaise, the food was just superb. read more

Chez Fonfon - Coconut cake with creme Anglaise - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Good spot if you can tolerate 5 points. We got the baguette and butter for a starter, solid run of the mill bread. Then I got the fonfon cheeseburger with Fritas. Burger was good with grilled onion and trimmings and I liked the sauce that came with the Fritas, the only problem was all the fries were nubs and broken bits. I told my wife they were fancier Steak 'n Shake fries so they're good but wish I would've gotten long fries instead of fry bits. All in all it was good but nothing special and not a place I'm dying to go back to. Good if you're in the area read more

Chez Fonfon - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Great food and service. We enjoyed our cocktails. They are not super boozy, but very tasty. Beef tartare was excellent and the goat cheese tart is a must try. Simple yet delicious. Everything a French restaurant should be. read more

We wanted to dine somewhere nice in Birmingham and saw this restaurant listed on a couple articles so decided to check it out. We made a reservation in advance. Nice ambiance inside, feels like an upscale restaurant to take somewhere for dinner. French Blonde (cocktail): It was a little sweet for me, would try something else next time. Fish Paillard: We really enjoyed this! Nice way to try some delicious seafood without committing to a full entree-sized portion of it. Steak Tartare: Delicious! Served with plenty of toasted bread and arugula. Mussels: These were okay, not a standout. Cheeseburger: The waitress described it as a very honest burger. Not entirely sure what that means, but it's a really good burger! Thick patty, good flavor. Side of fries with it. Overall, nice meal and our waitress was really friendly. read more

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The restaurant vibes were great for a special occasion dinner. We went on a Friday night without a reservation, and only had to wait around 30 minutes for a seat at the bar. The food was amazing and came out perfectly timed. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar to watch the bartenders, and I highly recommend Chez Fon Fon for a nice night out. read more

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Everything about this place is worth every penny. The service amazing and the food was so good. They have a great wine list too. The ambiance was very nice. We will for sure go back! read more

Good LORD this place is SO GOOD! Frank and Pardis Stitt are still going strong after so many years. The restaurant is always packed because the food and service are magnificent and, in the scope of James Beard award winning restaurants, the price point is VERY accessible. We have been to all of his restaurants (RIP Highlands) and the food and service are first rate. If you cant get a reservation in the dining room just go and wait for seats at the bar where you will get dinner AND a show. The bartenders are knowledgeable and we would rather sit at the bar than in the dining room because of them. We started with steak tartare that was perfection. Raw, hand chopped beef with enough capers, cornichons and shallots to make it very savory and not too rich was served with toasted, homemade sourdough. We split the burger and the banh mi sandwich and they were both OUTSTANDING. I only wish we lived in Birmingham so that we could eat there and Bottega all the time. Go here, you will NEVER be disappointed! read more

Chez Fonfon - Half of a perfectly medium rare burger - French Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Birmingham is a true fine dining mecca. Just look at how many restaurants have received James Beard recognition. One of the top rated restaurants, Highlands, has been temporarily closed in 2022, so we weren't able to experience it on this trip. But I have wonderful memories of my first visit. The positive of this disappointment was dining for the first time next door at their sister restaurant: Chez Fonfon. This restaurant is intimate, beautifully decorated and staffed by polished servers. The French-influenced menu was incredible. My only criticism was the restaurant got warm and stuffy when the air conditioning wasn't running. We started with the Bear Creek steak tartare and amazing escargot. For entrees, we ordered the Roasted Red Fish, Steak Frites (which is a true signature) and Mussels. All were beautifully plated, perfectly prepared and oh so good. We could have ordered a second helping of Mussels. Dipping French Bread in the butter and white wine sauce was decadent. The dessert course was probably the highlight of our meal. The coconut pecan cake, chocolate caramel nut tart and the pear & almond tart were spectacular choices. read more

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So far this is the best food I've had in the Birmingham area. My local guides to Birmingham have been failing me very hard until recently when I finally connected with one that is also a Yelp Elite who has some excellent guidance for the area. This establishment fits nicely into the American French Bistro category and has a really nice selection of many French style dishes. They also do a really great cheeseburger although the frites/fries could be improved a bit with the using some goose or duck fat to fry the fries in. If you are looking for a nice burger in the Birmingham area this place can certainly help you with that quest. Reservations would be highly recommended as this is a smaller venue and it seems to stay VERY crowded as it does seem to be one of the better options in the area. Overall this is the best thing I've eaten so far around Birmingham but now that I've got a better local guide I look forward to better food during future visits. My video review of Chez Fonfon is here: https://youtu.be/nH6LIPqUiSk read more

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This wasn't my first time but it never disappoints. You have to get the coconut cake... it is the BEST thing on the menu. The burger is the best burger in town and the service is always exceptional. When the weather is nice the patio seating can't be beat. read more

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This is truly the best meal I have had in Birmingham! The food was pristine and the dessert (particularly the coconut cake) was to die for! We were served by Nathan, who was truly excellent. He was kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great atmosphere as well! Great spot for special occasions or date night! read more

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