What a charming bakery/coffee shop in a super cute almost European nook in town. If you're…read morevisiting, I definitely recommend taking a drive to this area. Progressive area - Seems to be... There wasn't line when we got there but the crowd usually follows us for some reason so by the time we left there was standing room only and a line out the door. The bakery items were very fresh and tasty. I loved the Swedish gingerbread cookies - light and crisp. The lemon bar was delicious. They also have sandwiches that liked really good. Coffee - I got a vanilla latte extra sweet (no lavender) and my daughter said it was one of the best. I thought it was pretty good. I would go again when back in Birmingham!

I love Chez Lu lu, but get no pleasant feelings about the bakery…read more I love many good things they make, but they seem to get so much pleasure in making us jump through so many hoops Here too early, here too late, minimum orders, maximum orders. You must see the love in my eyes, why not be a little kinder and appreciate that we love what you proffer. We are not the enemy, we celebrate you. I'll keep trying, especially to just acquire a slice or three of coconut cake, I can't eat the whole thing.

One of Birmingham's only true creameries, where they're making all the ice cream in house. I am a…read moreself proclaimed Ice Cream Snob, but Big Spoon checks all my boxes. Unique flavors, classic flavors, the smell of fresh waffle cones inside. Big Spoon does a ton of business, as they should. The location here in Avondale is great, but not super walkable from any really good restaurants. I would love to see them open another spot on 2nd Ave. I had the strawberry tres leches in a waffle cone and it was delicious. I appreciate the care and craft that went into making sure every bit down to the bottom of the cone had ice cream in it. 10/10.

The Sweet and the Absurd: A Birmingham Creamery's Baffling Economics…read moreTo step into Big Spoon Creamery in Birmingham is to subject oneself to a masterclass in both artisanal delight and bureaucratic absurdity. On my visits--a pilgrimage undertaken reliably every month and a half--the front-line staff have never been anything short of exemplary. They are the cheerful stewards of a deeply baffling system, executing their duties with a warmth that almost distracts you from the institutional quirks around them. I say "institutional" because the management themselves are entirely phantom. They are never seen on the floor. Perhaps this is a calculated evasion; if they were ever present, they would surely have to field a relentless, exasperated inquisition regarding the tragic and ongoing absence of their finest creation: the "Magic City." Why an ice cream parlor would willingly suppress its undisputed masterpiece remains an enduring mystery. Even if the economics of its ingredients demanded a premium surcharge, "Magic City" ought to be enshrined as an immovable staple on the menu. Instead, the menu is a restless, ever-shifting carousel. I concede that a relentless churn of novelty is a virtue to a certain type of customer, but the soul of a great neighborhood institution relies on the comforting reliability of a few anchor flavors. At Big Spoon, just as you develop an affection for a flavor, it vanishes into the ether. Then, we must examine the rewards program, an endeavor so poorly conceived it borders on the avant-garde. The mathematics are punishingly flat: one point per order, regardless of whether the patron spends a single dollar or one hundred. The rational response to such a broken incentive structure is, naturally, to weaponize the system. To extract any genuine value, the savvy customer is forced into a theatrical display of micro-transactions, paying for each scoop separately. It is a loophole that needlessly punishes the very staff who make the establishment shine, forcing them to run the register three or four times for a single family's dessert. Finally, there is the creamery's bizarre pricing taxonomy. A close study of the board reveals an accidental arbitrage opportunity: the customer is objectively better off purchasing two distinct pints of ice cream and two empty waffle cones to assemble on their own time, rather than engaging in the straightforward, intended transaction of ordering ice cream scooped directly into a cone. Whoever is pulling the levers behind the curtain at Big Spoon clearly fancies themselves a clever operator, disrupting the traditional ice cream parlor model with dynamic menus and gamified loyalty. But in their pursuit of perpetual novelty and labyrinthine economics, they have embodied the old proverb perfectly: they are entirely too clever by half.

Always a great choice to stop at K & J's! New cupcake selections made each day. If you miss the…read morestore hours, no worries. Just get something out of the vending machine! If you want to sit down and enjoy your treats, you'll enjoy all the beautiful pink decor and relaxed atmosphere.

Such a cuteeeee dessert lounge! The staff were extremely polite and helpful with me making a…read moredecision on what to try since they have an endless amount of variety options to choose from. This pastry lounge is really clean and the splash of pink everywhere is amazing! I will most definitely go back to try other items!

Do I think they're pricy? Maybe just a little but I also think they're super delicious and such a…read moreworthy snack. If they were closer, I'd stock up on them daily. Every time I go there's a cheerful person ready to watch me indulge in all the carbs. I really enjoy their pop tarts. They're kinda hidden if you didn't know what to look for. Definitely a local gem. Very chill.

Really enjoyed this moment with coffee and a piece of quiche. Was greeted as soon as I came in an…read moreinformed what they had left. Good place. The coffee was hot, fresh and very flavorful.

I went to Insomnia Cookies specifically for the oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookie, and when I…read moretell you it did NOT disappoint, I mean it! Insomnia is located downtown, and while the parking situation isn't the best, the moment you walk inside and smell those fresh cookies, it's all worth it. My cookies were warm, soft, and crispy all at the same time. Truly hit the spot!

Ordering ahead on the app was super easy. The staff were busy ensuring orders were brought out. The…read morearea was clean as well inside. My suggestion: It was slightly confusing figuring out where pick up and ordering for the first time was. I believe having a section of the counter reserved for pick up will allow the team at this location to make the pick up process smoother. I was waiting with others who had yet to order. The cookies and ice cream was soooo good! the package was perfect for travel back to my home. Just delicious 10/10.

Such a cute ice cream shop! The young ladies inside were very sweet! I love that you can sit down…read moreinside and have ice cream or coffee!

One last stop before heading home from Bham! I'd had this spot bookmarked and it was a short drive…read morefrom where we ate, so we headed on over to get some dessert. This gelateria is tucked away in a cute area. The road is like...cobblestone? Or very uneven and narrow at least. Wasn't super friendly for our car. Probably better to walk from somewhere else nearby. The inside was super weirdly hot, which was unexpected. Fortunately we were getting our goodies to go. There's very limited seating inside but you could maybe grab a spot if you wanted to. I ordered a scoop of hazelnut gelato and husband got chocolate. The flavor selection is somewhat simple and limited but that's not necessarily a bad thing - product seems very high quality. Service was acceptable, quiet and matter of fact. The serving size was generous. Both gelatos were good, but my hazelnut was great! It was so pleasantly nutty and sweet, and the texture was amazing. I'd definitely order this treat again! Give them a try if you're a gelato fan. Yum!

4.5 but rounding up because the vibe was sooooo perfect…read more Came here for caffeine before the drive back up to Huntsville. This is a GORGEOUS coffee shop with a lot of Latin flair. I will say parking was a bit of a pain. I cheated and parked at Chick fil a but I don't think that would've worked if I'd stayed for more than enough time to order and go. Fortunately I was in and out fairly quickly. That said, if I lived in the area, I'd love to hang out for a while. The atmosphere is just perfect. Cool, a tiny bit punk rock, great music, powerful air conditioning, fun stickers and stuff on the tables for local bands, breweries, and celebration of immigrants. Service was super sweet and working diligently. The barista who spoke with me answered my questions happily and made great recommendations. I ordered an iced horchata latte for myself, an iced chocolate Abuelita for my dad, and a chocolate concha to take home to my husband. Our drinks came out quickly and we were on our way. She warmed up the concha without asking, which wound up not being necessary but would've been appreciated had I eaten it immediately. My iced drink was a little over-full and did squeeze out some when I stuck a straw in. Sticky! No big deal, we had wet wipes in the car. The horchata latte was perfection. Sweet, creamy, strong cinnamon and coffee flavors. Exactly how I imagined it would be! My dad said he felt the chocolate Abuelita was a little light on coffee flavor but he rarely drinks iced coffee or "fancy coffee," so YMMV. The concha was tasty, subtly sweet, and soft when I got around to eating it later. Will definitely return on future trips to Birmingham. Thanks so much, Bandido!

Should I be judging a coffee shop on their matcha? I don't know. Maybe not. But I was pretty…read moreunimpressed. Only way I knew matcha was in there is bc it was green. I'm always willing to try again of course. They were also super busy ... but with the amount of people behind the counter, you'd think they could dole out 2 matcha lattes in less than 20mins. Maybe not. Who knows.

I've been here a few times now and have always had a great experience. I loved the Autumn latte…read morespecials they had and have enjoyed sitting outside in the cool autumn weather. Service is good!

If a random stranger came through the city of Birmingham, stumbled around aimlessly for a while and…read morefinally worked up the nerve to ask a local for a suggestion to grab a coffee, Red Cat would likely be at the top of that list. It's one of Birmingham's original coffee shops as coffee culture started to transition from the realms of iHop and Denny's into something that one might actually appreciate. Red Cat opened here in 2008, close to the time when Railroad Park was forming up in front of it as well. Of course, beans are roasted in house. Of course, the views are very pleasant overlooking railroad park across the street. And, what other colors could mugs be other than red? The layout inside is pleasant, although does have a bit of that "overly private" feel. The way that tables are positioned, it's not conducive to having a chat with a stranger. Depending on the vibe one is looking for, that can be a good or a bad thing. Basically, this is where you come if you don't want to be bothered. As a whole, a wonderful spot to enjoy one of their signature Espresso blends.