It was a hot summer day in Birmingham, Alabama. Yeah, I know. Is there any other kind? There is a new ice cream place in Homewood that had a line out the door, so we walked across the street to the O'Carr's ice cream shop. They serve Tillamook (who you calling a mook?) ice cream primarily and some Bluebell. It has that old timey feel and they make sundaes etc. I just got a medium which is apparently four scoops. I picked one (butter pecan) and before I could rattle off my next three, the deal was done. Oh well. They were kind of busy so I let it go. All and all a nice place. read more

After all these years, O'Carrs has maintained their high quality, fresh ingredients and friendly service. This little restaurant gets packed and they now have several outdoor sidewalk tables. It's an absolute treat to dine here! read more

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After lunch I was really wanting some ice cream but there's not many ice cream options in this part of Homewood. As I was walking back to the car, I noticed a grand opening sign for their ice cream shop. It almost looked closed but the restaurant was surely open. I had to ring the bell but someone did come. They serve blue bell and tillamook ice cream. They do not offer samples of their tillamook ice cream which was odd to me. The lady who served us was very nice. I did notice there were no prices listed but I paid about $12 for 2 single scoops in a cup. read more

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A consistent lunch leaning towards a more healthy variety of salads, cheeses and fruit. I could eat there every day and never get tired of it! read more

Great lunch spot! Quick service. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and small fruit bowl. It was delicious.

I visited a restaurant in Homewood this morning, and oh my, they had the "BEST" chicken and rice I've ever tasted. I even got up to check if my mother was in the back cooking! And the banana bread--pure magic. It brought tears to my eyes. My grandmother must have left her recipe there because it was **just that good**. To top it all off, **Tiffany**, our waitress, was an absolute diamond--so professional, attentive, and generous. She made sure we had everything we needed and then some! **With food this incredible and service this outstanding, we will definitely be back.** read more

O’Carr’s Restaurant - Great day. - Sandwiches Near Me - Homewood, Alabama

You can not go wrong with this Birmingham classic. I have been eating here for years and the food is always amazing. The staff is so friendly and helpful. It's the perfect lunch date spot! read more

Took a guest who'd never been to O'Carr's because, let's face it, the place is fabulous! Everything is always so fresh and delicious. While I love so many menu items I went with the classic chicken salad and greens. The dill and grapes in the chicken salad make it a stand out. The dressing is so savory! She had a side of pasta salad which she share with me and is delicious with its pieces of peas and carrots. It was a great meal! read more

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Reddit mentioned this was the best cheesecake in Birmingham so we had to try it out. This place is a part of Homewood history and I can remember going with my grandmother and great grandmother growing up so lots of sweet memories. Their chicken salad is a must. It's so good and I love the variety of crackers. We were seated quickly and the service was great. Very attentive and fast. We had the chocolate cheesecake and my husband said it was the best he's ever had! read more

I have always been a meat and three kind of guy. The chicken salad, the fruit plate and the quiet atmosphere are not always my cup of tea. In my hometown, these type of places were always consider "tea house" type of places. But trust me... I loved these small sandwich small bite type of places. I mean, they are dadgum delicious. In my older years, I feel like I recognize that there was a stigma on places like this. But O'Carrr's bring the heat. Fruit - fresh and delicious with plenty to go around. Cheese - soft, flavorful and never lets me down Chicken salad - The BEE'S KNEES with grapes in the mix and the perfect kind of crackers to get a different flavor for most bits. This place may be labeled as something in your mind. But if you love good food, they should be labeled as just that. read more

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I love this place but i honestly haven't had anything but fruit plates and chicken salads so i might be bias. I stopped in about an hour before closing on Saturday and the shop was unusually slow. It is normally packed when i visit so much that it's hard to enjoy your experience but this day we really got to soak it in. I got the chicken salad and greens. The chicken salad was amazing as always but the greens i wish i could chose the salad that came with it. It was topped with peas and carrots and that just confused me. The salad dressing had a wonderful flavor so i forgave it rather quickly. Customer service was great as always, i will be stopping in next time I'm in town. read more

I'd say my lunch would get a grade of B. Service was good and the ice is amazing. Ordered a roasted turkey sandwich on French bread with Havarti. Turkey was OK but a little dry. French bread was a little hard and parts of it were inedible and there was so little cheese on the sandwich that I felt ripped off. In addition, the cucumbers on my sandwich were well past their prime and very mushy. I would consider giving it another try, but would order the chicken salad plate instead. Overall a very disappointing lunch today. read more

O'Carr's reminds me of a place that has been around for years and is a favorite in this area. Like one of those, oh we can go shopping and we have to go to O'Carr's for lunch. The chicken salad is "famous" it is a distinct chicken salad with grapes and pecans. Served with crackers or salad or on a sandwich. It is good chicken salad but nothing I would have on my must try before I die dishes. The presentation is the fun part. The fruit and cheese plate I actually enjoyed more so than the chicken salad. The fruit was extremely fresh. The bananas were rolled in a cinnamon mix, which was a nice surprise. The fruit was so fresh and delicious. The different cheeses were definitely a hit. I really enjoyed the Gouda and the fresh blackberries. The banana bread that was included with the plate was delicious. It really hit the spot. I noticed a cucumber sandwich on the menu that seemed intriguing so if I go back, I want to try it. The service was amazing. Our server was extremely nice and informative. The parking lot is private, and there is a parking lot attendant. The place is small so not good for large groups, and get there early as it gets packed. Overall I loved the experience of OCarrs; it was a fun first time! read more

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I'm not even sure I can give zero stars. We went to this place at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon. The place was full, but there were a few empty tables and only one other couple in front of us. The empty tables were all dirty. There were five people working and we stood there for over 5 minutes--not one person acknowledged us. They sat the other couple in front of us and a lady walked in to buy a book they were selling. Someone came and signed the book and we still were not acknowledged. They continually walked right past us (it is a small restaurant), but never even made eye contact. It doesn't take much to smile and say, "We'll be right with you!" Finally I asked an older lady if we needed to sit ourselves. She asked if I saw any empty tables. I said a man had come to clear some glasses off one of the tables, but he never came back to clear anything else. After several more minutes we finally left. There is a Chicken Salad Chick close by as well as an Ashley Mac's and an Edgar's who all sell chicken salad! There is nothing special about O'Carr's except for it's rudeness! read more

O'Carrs is iconic. We have had the pleasure of dining here for over 30 years and I have never had a bad meal or bad service. Its a small and charming establishment that makes THE BEST chicken salad you will ever eat...but don't sleep on their other offerings. The broccoli salad, pasta salad, fruit plates, olive cream cheese....all delicious. And the cheesecake.....the best you will ever have, its just unique in how its made and its deliciousness. O'Carrs is a gem! read more

Speedy service! Packed house, which is always a good sign! Chicken salad salad did not live up to the hype, but a fresh and fast choice.

We came to O'Carr's quite by chance when the restaurant next door rudely informed us they were closed (at 1:30 on a Saturday when their hours said open until 3:00) and it was a great decision! We bother got reubens which were tasty. The meltaway sauce they served with carrots was the best part of the meal. Think hummus but better...they will not tell you what's in it, but it's yummy! I could have made a meal on it. The best part of the experience was the service we got. Our waitress was a delight and made sure our every need was met with a smile and a laugh! We will be back to O'Carr's to try their famous chicken salad! But we won't be back to the place next door. read more

O’Carr’s Restaurant - Reuben with pasta salad and meltaway sauce - Sandwiches Near Me - Homewood, Alabama

My mom and I were looking for a quick and easy lunch that we could pick up quickly so we decided on O'Carr's. We called in our order beforehand, so when we pulled up to the curb, someone came out right away and took our payment, they brought us our food and card back, and we were on our way in less than 5 minutes. It had been a really long time since I had O'Carr's and it was just a good as I remembered. I got the chicken salad and crackers plate and my mom got the chicken salad and fruit plate. The chicken salad is so flavorful and has pieces of grapes in it. I also love the crackers that they serve because they are so different from just your everyday saltines and club crackers. Will be back again soon! read more

Great place. We will be back. There chicken salad here is to die for. I love love it. It has big grapes in it and it taste like no other. They serve fruit and chicken salad plate and it comes with big crackers of all kinds. Great for lunch. Great for kids to. The coffee they bring out in your own coffee press and it is so good. read more

I don't know why the current rating has it at 3.5 stars. This spot is outstanding - locals, natives, and college kids alike will sing the praises of this establishment. I graduated from Birmingham-Southern years ago, but always make a point to stop for a chicken salad and fruit plate, often "to-go", from this cafe. Whether it's a business trip stop or a detour from my route to the beach, I have never been disappointed by O'Carrs. Their chicken salad and fruit plate is my standard order because of the freshness and mix of fruit (not your standard fruit medley but fresh fruits that change with the seasons), but don't doubt the magic of their milkshakes. They are the best in town. They handle to-go orders beautifully. I've never had a spill, or leak. It has safely made it from Bham to Nashville and Bham to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi! read more

We have been big fans of O'Carr's for years...saving trips to the cozy dining room for special occasions or for a quick stop when shopping in downtown Homewood. The food has always been delicious and typically artfully arranged on the plate. Their dining room is one of the old-style deli-type places where a lot of tables are packed into a very small footprint. As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, places like O'Carr's seemed doomed for closure...especially since a part of its ambience included the packed dining room. Enter, curbside pick-up! On Saturday we celebrated Yelp's Big Night In event by ordering take out from this favorite local eatery. The quality of the food had not suffered at all and the staff thoughtfully packaged the plates very securely with plastic wrap to preserve the artful presentation. After we arrived at home with our purchases, we set a pretty table on our back porch and, after unwrapping our standard order of chicken salad plate and fruit plate (which we shared), we were treated to an experience that reminded us of actually being in their dining room. The biggest exception was the fact that we had plenty of elbow room! We are really trying to support local restaurants and diners during this time of "social distancing." O'Carr's was an excellent choice and if you are looking for fresh, tasty food that has an amazing value, you won't go wrong with ordering take out from O'Carr's! read more

This is possibly the "ladiest" lady place I've ever been. That's not a bad thing, simply an observation. The menu is mostly salads, chicken, fruit, and tasty desserts. I always know that I can go to O'Carr's for a healthy meal. You know what's not so lady like? The portion sizes. I usually get the 1/4 pound of turkey with greens. It's way beyond enough food for me. The plate is not only adorned with the turkey and greens, but includes crackers, fruit, nuts, and is topped with a perfect vinaigrette dressing. The only reason I can't give five stars, is the seating. It's a small room, so it's usually cramped. At my last visit, they took it a step further and just set a group at our table. Not near our table, but actually sitting with us. It really wasn't a big deal, but totally eliminated any real conversations that might have been had. read more

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My Birmingham friend told me she brings all of her out-of-town friends here. I was no exception. I just arrived from Atlanta, and she suggested "O'Carr's" because they have the best chicken salad. In my head, I was thinking I can get chicken salad in Atlanta ... I met my friend for lunch on Friday and the place was PACKED with mostly women. We ordered the chicken salad & fruit plate because that's what they're well known for. In fact, almost everyone in the restaurant ordered the same plate when I looked around. My friend did not disappoint. Their chicken salad is probably the best I've had. The flavor was absolutely yummy, nutty, not mayonnaisey like most chicken salads. It has some herbs (maybe dill) & grapes, too. I'm thinking there must be some other special ingredients ... something made it taste different. The presentation was nice with a variety of different crackers standing vertically in the chicken salad. They also had quite a sampling of fruit -- slices of red apple, green apple, grapefruit, orange, grapes (seeded though), cherry, mango, peach, nectarine, & then some dried fruits like raisins & banana chips. My friend said the soups & desserts are good, too. Maybe for my next trip to Birmingham. read more

This place has great sandwiches and fresh fruit. I love going here for lunch. It's a great place to have lunch with friends during work or on the weekends. The staff is always friendly and courteous. The only problem is that sometimes it gets really packed inside during lunch, read more

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I went here with my mom and dad for brunch one day. They remembered it from over 15 years ago and it hasn't changed a bit. Fresh and delicious food all day. I had a cauliflower chicken salad that was to die for. It was only $10, and a ton of food! You have to try this place. read more

O’Carr’s Restaurant - Chicken and cauliflower salad. - Sandwiches Near Me - Homewood, Alabama

First timer here, I would say old diner style. We was seated immediately and our server took our drink orders. The staff seem unhappy and wasn't to eager to assist with menu. I had the spiral pasta salad it was good. The dressing however was delicious. My sister had a poached pear salad with pecans and a strawberry creme drizzle. The presentation was beautiful. Would go back for the pasta salad but to go. read more

O’Carr’s Restaurant - Sandwiches Near Me - Homewood, Alabama

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This has been one of my favorite lunch places for years. When you go, try their fruit and cheese plate. It is incredible!!! This is not only a beautiful presentation on the plate, but also enough for two meals. O'Carrs being a quaint cafe style restaurant, my suggestion is to get there early. It gets crowded quickly. Also parking can be hard to find. Enjoy, it is an experience that you won't forget. read more

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Bad news first - the place is crowded... but then again, if people didn't like it... I liked the obligatory chicken salad, which I had in sandwich form. It was well ground up, flavorful, and contained surprisingly large chunks of grapes. Quite a large meal. I also ordered a bowl of fruit - which pushed the meal size over the top. My wife had the chicken salad salad. My son and daughter-in-law repeated our order so I can't pontificate on other dishes; except to say that this 8 year old kid near us ordered the thickest chocolate shake that I have ever seen. He seemed to REALLY enjoy it. The place has some 50's atmosphere. I would go back. read more

Love this place! It's my must-go-to when I am in Birmingham. The best chicken salad and the fruit is always fresh! I love this place and you truly eat by colors. The venue is small and does fill up quick. They have really cool local memorabilia hanging on the walls. I love this place because they have the best chicken salad. They sell THOUSANDS of pounds per week and it's always good. You can order tubs to take home with you and they can pack it on ice if you have a long drive. They have great selections of hot tea and it's served in adorable tea cups. You can order the chicken salad on a sandwich or With fruit and crackers which is my favorite. read more

O’Carr’s Restaurant - Chicken and Fruit Plate - Sandwiches Near Me - Homewood, Alabama

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Amazing Food! Great Dining Experience! This is one of my Favorite "Mom & Pop" restaurants. Love the Chicken salad plate with all the fruit on the side. But my favorite is the Mediterranean Salad. They serve French Press Coffee, which is perfection. read more

O'Carr's is a family owned business established in 1975. It's a great place for lunch. The food is always fresh and consistently delicious!

Soggy food that had been prepared way before, if not a day before, ordering. Ordered right at opening, so food should have been fresh. Fruit bled onto cheese it had sat so long. Bulk, processed turkey on salad. Awful food and service. read more

O'Carr's has the best chicken salad, no contest. I've been trying for years to replicate their recipe. The quaint little bistro is located in downtown Homewood and is the perfect spot for a weekday or weekend luncheon. The location is small and tends to become crowded during peak times, but it is well worth fighting to find a parking spot! read more

O'Carr's chicken salad fruit plate never disappoints!! It would be my "last meal" request. Also, the peanut butter milkshake is delicious!! read more

I have always wanted to try O'Carr's and finally decided to pop in for lunch. That will be the last time I go. I wanted to try the famous chicken salad and when I double checked to see if there were nuts in it (I have an allergy) I was given a very condescending "yes" as if to say "how on earth do you not know that?" I opted for the grilled chicken salad. The establishment looks run down and felt dirty. The staff was not friendly at all. My salad was decent but I was shocked when I paid $12 for it. I did not think it was that high quality. I liked the assortment of crackers it comes with and the balsamic vinaigrette was good. This was a huge let down for me. To be such a Homewood staple, I was left very underwhelmed. read more

Food allergy patients should avoid this establishment. When I asked about the contents of the chicken salad, I was told "grapes and spices." He did not mention that nuts were an ingredient. The nuts (pecans) were so finely chopped that they weren't noticeable until I was significantly through my meal and noticed a piece of pecan large enough to identify. After spending the afternoon and evening in ER, I called the manger the next day. The intention of my call was to ask management to remind wait staff about the seriousness of food allergies; the manager's excuse was that their chicken salad recipe was "proprietary," and that is why they weren't disclosed. She seemed annoyed that I had even called, despite the fact that her and her establishment sent me to the hospital. read more

This is the perfect lunch spot in Homewood! Location is great for a walk around downtown Homewood. If you're looking for something light and healthier this is for you. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! every time i come home i try to get lunch here. their chicken salad and fruit plate is my favorite. my mom knows the family that owns the restaurant and they are very kind and sweet. they are a very hospitable restaurant and love their customers. they have killer milkshakes and cheesecake as well. definitely a lovely lunch place and something you need to try out if you are in the homewood area! read more

I now live in south Florida but when I come back home I try to get to O'Carr's because I love their food. It is really good - anything you order. Yesterday I made it in before they closed - got there at 2 and they close at 3. The service was horrendously horrible. The worst service I've ever received anywhere. We walk in and wait to be seated. The waiter just stands there and looks at us and then walks off. Another waiter - a woman with a horrible scowl - shows us where to sit. Our order is taken normally. After food is brought we don't see the waiter again until we physically have to find him and tell him we want coffee and cheesecake. He brings coffee but no spoons. We have to add cream and sugar stirring w the fork from our meal. There were other service issues but enough of discussing it. Great food. Bad service - I won't be back. read more

There is no cheesecake I've eaten that can compare with that at O'Carr's. Several flavors make the choice difficult!