3.5 overall Great…read morelocation and patio space. I came for lunch and I agree that the service is a bit slow. I opted for the farro bowl, but was hesitant about the beets--cause, well, beets are not my jam-- but the kitchen put them on the side for me! (Thank you!!). I added braised pork. The bowl is a very creative and i loved the concept but the execution just need a bit of tweaking. The bowl was just too greasy. And I don't think the grease was only coming from the pork. The farro was about 1 or 2 minutes overcooked for my taste; however, I would try it again maybe with just the egg. I hear great things about thw smash burger so I'll come back and try my luck. Wednesdays are half off bottles of wine!!

Service personable and waitress answered any questions helpfully. Given the name "porch," it…read morereminds me of family gatherings on the literal porch, and this atmosphere was similar: lots of large family tables and groups. We were one of two double seater tables that were reserved, it was really cute honestly. It has been a while since I got duck confit, and I loved the luxuries of tasting it without the price tag tonight. Only $8 to add some on to either the caesar or house salad options. Husband got the sweet potato fries and blackened flounder sandwich which were all tasty as well. Fries were shoestring style and sprinkled with brown sugar - yum. PSA to DEFINITELY try the cookies, my hubby is a chocolate chip connoisseur and said these were top of the list now. So warm and fresh. The fried pie was delicious as well and I enjoyed my cocktail selection. Great date night selection!

Lag's feels like a special place when you step inside. Even though I'm not a Bham native and never…read moreexperienced the Lag's of old, this place feels like nostalgia. I tried the burger and fries, and they were delish. The burger had excellent flavor. One thing to note is that there is not much seating inside- one table and then bar-style seating by the windows. Worked for what we needed, but just something to be aware of in advance. We will definitely be back!

Good Burger! The staff is great! Easy parking and the service was very good. The three of us…read moreenjoyed our lunch and my son is a regular.

This morning, Sunday, February 15, 2026; My wife and I went to "The Essentials" for Sunday, Brunch…read more I have not eaten at "The Essentials" for a few years now. We don't like going out on holidays like Valentines Day so we usually do something the day after. Food: I got the Steak & Eggs. They were great. I did think the "Potato Cake" on the plate was a bit dry but I did eat it all. I was surprised that no Toast was provided for this item. Just an after thought. My wife go the Banana Bread French Toast. She also loved it. Service: This is where "The Essentials" understands what their clients want. Our server was outstanding. I looked around and felt the entire staff really knew how to work with their guests. Refreshing. Ambiance: At first, I thought the restaurant was a bit noisy. Yet my wife and my conversation was not strained. The Ambiance was upscale casual. Value: I thought the prices were a bit high yet the real story was, once I was finished, my mind was asking when the next time I would return. Cost a meal is in direct portion to how much you enjoyed it. I enjoyed my meal very much. Eat well, Drink well and stay healthy.

This is a great spot in Birmingham. The menu was not clear, but the staff worked with us to figure…read moreout what they could make without seed oils and gluten-free options. I ended up with a bunless burger. The Caesar salad with chicken was my first choice, but both the dressing and the chicken had seed oils - not good. Still, the vibe was great, and we made the best of what was available. Thanks to the chef for working with us.

This place is my type of vibe!…read more Trattoria ZaZa has been on my list of places to stop at for several years. Parking often deters me but after attending the Italian Festival earlier that day, we had a craving for pizza. I ordered the combo that includes 2 slices of the day with salad. Since I wasn't overly hungry, I offered him one of my slices and he added another slice to the order. We paid and were given a number to place on our selected table. Jazzy music played in the background while we waited on our order to be brought to the table. The natural lighting, while beautiful, made it a little warm in the building. One of the waitresses propped the door open that leads to the restrooms (which are in the hallway near the elevators) in order for cooler air to make its way in. That wasn't a deal breaker, but do be aware of that on warmer days. Our food came out after a short wait. I kept my 3 cheese slice, and gave him the pepperoni one. The cheeses were very rich and the salad, while simple without the frills, was perfectly sized and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette that was just the right amount. While I enjoyed my meal very much and the ambiance, he wasn't overly impressed with his. He didn't want the fresh herbs on his slices and knocked all of them off, lol. He's a simple guy with simple taste. This is definitely a place I will be revisiting with one of my girlfriends and not him next time as he didn't appreciate what ZaZA had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and courteous. Our food, including drinks, was around $28, which was not bad for a cute, eclectic spot downtown. If you haven't been, make sure to try them out soon. Just don't wait as long as I did to visit!

Where to start? Went on a weekend, place was packed. The…read moreBad: 1. SLOW. Waited in a line inside of 4 people in front of me. There was someone at the podium at the end who i thought was a server. Was not. After a 15 minute wait (why did it take that long?), we got to the podium person. And found out they were there to take our order, not seat us. Can only assume the 15 min delay was because people were trying to figure out what to order. No signage anywhere saying, please have what you want ready while you wait in line. 2. No menus, anywhere. Yes they can be printed and people in line could take one and figure out what they want. Yes, the menu could be put on the wall behind the server in large lettering. But no, they make you scan a QR code on the wall and view the menu on your phone, so that's inconvenient and a bit obtuse. 3. When we finally place an order for pizza, was told that, "they dont serve pizzas on the weekend, but we could order their "brunch pizzas", instead. Which on the counter, was small anemic cut slices of thick bready pizzas on the cutting board/table. Those each were $8.50 according to the menu. Figure the math of 2 small slices of pizza per person for 2 people vs just ordering a large pizza. But they don't serve pizza during brunch- Trattoria literally has the word "Pizza" in their last name- twice actually- yet you have to order a nearly $9 slice of pizza sitting out on a table for who knows how long, and of the flavor of their choice, not yours. It was flat out insulting to go to a pizza based establishment and be told they won't serve whole pizzas. We left and went to Uptown to a pizzaria there, and had a really good whole pizza, salad, dessert, and drinks, and all for half the price then if we had gone to Trattoria. Wanted to give this place a chance for years, but did not work out the way i had expected it to.

Pretty decent food and good prices reign here !…read more The lasagna is my favorite here. I know a lot of people like their Pizza. I've never tried it so I can't compare it. I don't eat here a lot, but about two or three times a year. (I've never really had bad food here but it's just not near my house.) The service is always been good here too because it's a small place. This is not expensive place and it's always busy. It's got a great atmosphere with a really cool outdoor space.

We were passing by and stopped on impulse. I was wearing a pretty ratty house dress and we had our…read moretiny dog. This place is in our beloved former neighborhood and though we didn't see anyone we knew, we felt welcomed, comfortable and enjoyed the great vibes. One tv had on funny videos and we got silly over them. The service was quick, despite the crowd, unobtrusive and attentive. I had a delicious and huge grilled chicken, baby greens, apple and pecan salad that lasted two days. My husband had the largest muffuletta sandwich ever!He ate that for several days. We didn't drink alcohol so the bill was quite modest. All in all, the stars converged at this special neighborhood place and we had a wonderful time. Our little dog was served a whole chicken breast! He was already happy and that made him delirious! It was quite memorable and so fun.

The General is such a cute niche coffee spot off of Clairmont Ave S. I would compare the atmosphere…read moreto that of The Continental Bakery in English Village. More of a simple southern antique style. Baristas were extremely helpful and patient as I pondered my order! I ended up ordering a delicious warm breakfast sandwich and a cold brew to drink with it! SOO delicious!! I am a sucker for a good breakfast and coffee! The menu was large and well diverse: they even had a cortado on the menu which I cant get at all coffee shops!   I am surprised not more people know about the place. I had never heard of it until I was scrolling through highly rated coffee shops on Yelp! The space inside is large and can seat lots of people! For being in Birmingham this surprised me; I feel like most coffee shops here are fairly small.    I also appreciated how relaxed and welcoming the environment felt. It would be such a great spot for studying, meeting a friend, or even having a casual work meeting. The music wasn't too loud, and everything felt clean and well-kept. Overall, I would definitely come back and recommend The General to anyone looking for a cozy, charming coffee shop with great food and even better service.

I was looking for a place to grab some lunch but didn't want a drive thru/fast food experience…read more This location was very close to my location and the reviews looked great! It's such a unique place with it being both a restaurant as well as a shop. It's got a very nostalgic feel to it with the decor and items for sale. I saw a couple students but when I visited I mostly saw upper class looking Caucasian ladies. Being very laid back, down to earth and often times socially awkward, I admit that it felt a little hoity toity, while also being a very welcoming spot. It's hard to explain, so you'll have to check it out for yourself. Also worth noting for the plus size community: the chairs are not plus size friendly. (See zoomed in photo) The employees there were on top of their jobs and super helpful. They cleaned up the tables that emptied quickly, as the lunch crowd trickled in. The food was good. I loved the creative presentation of the sampler plate! The pimento cheese was very cold and hard to spread but I still it. The toast triangles were delicious! While they offer a lot of excellent coffee choices. I only got a 1/2 & 1/2 tea. Even the restroom was really neat with the retro decor. I'd definitely go back.

It was my first time going here. Meeting a colleague at the locale because it was on his way home…read moreto Leeds. It was a "Back to the Future" experience. As I walked in the bartender yells at me, "What part of banned for life don't you understand....?" Fortunately, the PTSD keeping me on perpetual edge kicked in immediately and I responded, "Hey you're wearing my t-shirt you... give it back. And, how can I be banned from a place I've never been before?" The bartender and I then got down to the long history of Marty's PM (formally in Five Points), the legal and jurisdictional control of lifetime bans, and general 'long time no see, how you been?' chit chat. The place is situated in a nearly empty strip mall, which gives it a slightly post-apocalyptic vibe. It was nevertheless pretty crowded. They seem to be serving the same healthcare professionals/biker crowd that used to populate the 5-points version back in the day. I didn't try the food, but it looked pretty good. The prior version had one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches to be found. My only knock on the place would be the lack of draft beers. I toughed it out drinking Jack and Cokes. It's a little out of the way for me, but I suspect I'll be back sooner rather than later.

I definitely needed to refresh my Marty's GM review. I'm back loving them again! This is easily…read moreone of my favorite spots to grab a drink , food and just be around a fun group of people. The atmosphere is chill unless a Bama football game is on! I really enjoyed watching the bama vs mizzou game here a few weeks ago. The staff is fun and personable. As of recently, the food menu has been updated. They now have ballpark nachos and they are outstanding. TRUST ME!!! Marty's GM has my heart again.

If you haven't checked out this gem in Cahaba Heights yet you must! Our server was amazing, wish I…read morehad gotten her name. We enjoyed their patio and they even have games set up below for kids to play. Food and cocktails were delicious and the prices were so reasonable! Will definitely be back!

Recently heard about this new establishment through "What's Happening in Cahaba Heights" facebook…read morepage. Wasn't sure at first, however I'm glad we stopped by. The staff is very welcoming and kind, and seem to really love the place which speaks volumes. We went the for a brunch, had coffee, the deviled eggs, chicken sandwich and yellow curry chicken salad. It was exquisite. As we were finishing, we were thanked for stopping by, and invited back for possibly dinner. They answered every question and gave a bit of history as to the name of the place. Now I won't spoil it for you, just go and trying. The ambiance is great. Lastly, the prices are super reasonable, and we'll certainly be back. Hope you enjoy!

Came in for brunch on a Sunday. Got there just before 11 and there was a bit of a wait, but it…read moremoved pretty fast. Service was friendly and quick, even though it was busy. Portions were generous and prices were decent. They were also great about accommodating gluten-free. I ordered the Farm Breakfast with bacon and gluten-free bread, it was filling and really tasty.

Frothy is tried and true. Such a good vibe, fantastic employees/service, and great food/drink…read more My parents live right around the corner and we always swing by for a coffee or a meal. I've never had a bad experience and this place is always lively. Big fan

So we got the Low Country Skillet and Huevos Rancheros and oh man... they were SO GOOD…read more The low country skillet comes with a side bread of your choice and we chose the biscuit which I'm so glad we did. The biscuit was so soft and you get to choose from an assortment of jam, which tasted so good with the biscuit. I just felt like it was bursting with flavor and so savory. The huevos rancheros were really good and satisfying. Our waitress suggested that for the egg we choose Sunny side up so that you can pop the yolk and it will bleed into the rest of the dish. It did not disappoint! The inside of the restaurant was super cool. I loved the vibe. It's actually a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There are two floors. I actually felt like upstairs felt very open with the big windows. The people working there are super nice. There are so many dishes that looked so exciting to me, and I will be back to try some more. So many cool options!

Overall, I love breakfast, and while the portions are very generous, they were a bit heavy for me…read more My favorite dish was the biscuit crumble. It had so many layers, and the tomato added the perfect balance, preventing it from being too salty or overpowered by the bacon. I've actually developed a newfound love for tomato gravy. In comparison, the Jack Benny was too salty for my taste. I really enjoyed the fried hash cake, but with the ham, the saltiness was all I could taste. I loved the décor, and this experience definitely doesn't deter me from coming back to try more dishes.