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.

The Essential was such an unexpected find during our trip through Alabama. We weren't expecting to…read morestumble across such an elegant restaurant serving truly elevated food, but it ended up being one of our favorite meals. I ordered the seafood pasta, and you could immediately tell the pasta was homemade. It was fresh, perfectly cooked, and the seafood was beautifully prepared. My daughter had the spaghetti, and my husband ordered the Waldorf salad, which was just as thoughtfully put together. Our waitress also recommended the hummus and house pickles, and I'm so glad we listened. Both were fresh, unique, and the perfect way to start the meal. From the food to the service, everything felt polished without being pretentious. It was one of those meals where every dish was executed with care and attention to detail. Overall, The Essential was such a pleasant surprise and proof that you can find five star dining experiences in the most unexpected places. If you're anywhere near Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth the stop.

Really cool place with a quaint atmosphere and great service. My wife and I split the chicken…read moresandwich, grits and a hash brown. All were really good. We got the sauce on the side for the sandwich just in case, but it was really good. Definitely a place I want to revisit. Saw the smash looking burger and pancakes at tables and they both looked amazing!!

This place is the best spot I been to downtown birmingham. Ive visited a few times now and the only…read moretime it wasnt great and smooth was sunday morning. I foun d out later that theyre very popular and busy for brunch so keep that in mind if you go for weekend brunch. I would suggest trying to get ahead of the 11 oclock rush or after the 1pm rush The pizza is amazing the owner cares a great deal and the menu is inspired

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!

The good- Pet Friendly, unrushed and a few really cool stores near by…read more The bad- service. I won't name her. Had to wave her down to order, wave her down to pay, they charge 4% for credit card, so went to pay her in cash. She didn't say what the total was. Honestly- when a restaurant doesn't pay attention to bad wait staff- it affects their business. Food was decent.

Stopped by for dessert but also ordered a slice of cheese pizza. Our server was attentive and…read morefriendly and we were seated quickly with our waters. The cheese pizza was amazing. I only ate half but I did take the other half with me. Our dessert of choice was the brownie sundae which was always our favorite. I'm not sure why we hadn't been here in awhile, but now I know that I'll be back, sooner rather than later. Vibes are casual, good for date nights or family outings. Heated outdoor seating is available.

If I could eat an actual establishment, it would be this one…read more Just look at this place. I literally walked in and audibly gasped. It is like a magical French bakery/general store, tucked away like a secret garden. Am I in south France or Birmingham? HARD TO TELL I don't know if I enjoyed the treats more or all the visual delights. The treats were just amazing. I brought my husband and all of my kids so we got a nice sampling of goodies from the cases. It was all perfection. Cookies were crispy on the edges, appropriately soft in the middle. The almond cake was buttery and sweet, but not too sweet. Muffins were excellent. The food is so well done. The ambiance here? Extraordinary. Every corner, every ceiling tile, every display has been so thoughtfully curated. This place was such a treat for my eyes and my imagination. I could sit for hours and just enjoy all the clever ways furniture is used. My kids played in the little play area- even that was done so beautifully! The store had such a wide selection of cute tea towels and little gifts. If you want to surprise someone with a beautiful little happy, or birthday gift, or Mother's Day gift, there's plenty to choose from here! I rarely buy things from little stores like this, but I purchased several gifts for girlfriends and my mom and an apron for myself. It's easy to get caught up!

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.

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!

This place is just Wonderful!! Very family friendly. And food is always great! It's great place to…read morehangout and have a few drinks. And there's toys to keep your kids entertained while you do it!!

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.

We arrived 1:45pm on a Thursday and it was empty except for another party. We easily found street…read moreparking outside the restaurant. I ordered the Banana Puddin' cold brew that was really good. They also serve pour over! Vanilla-Cinnamon French Toast came with 2 small bread slices - I liked that the portion was small and manageable. We also ordered the Quinoa & Black Bean Burger and the BE Hive Quinoa Bowl. They are great options for vegan / plant-based / vegetarian members in your party. The Biscuit Board comes with 4 mini biscuits and 4 different spreads, which was nice to share with the group. We all liked that the restaurant was quiet and bright and airy.